After a month-long blogging hiatus, I am back to give you the news from the sport I cover best: basketball. We have seen many players moving around this summer which has sent Baron Davis and Marcus Camby to LA, Elton Brand to Philly, and Maggette to Golden State to name only a few. However, all of these events pale in comparison to Team USA. Coach Krzyzewski's team has had more pressure put on them than ever before with some even claiming that if we fail this year, we'll never win another one.
Nonetheless, I simply cannot see our boys losing over in China. Jason Kidd and a team-oriented Kobe Bryant are the veterans on a team that has been playing and practicing together since two summers ago.
LeBron James has even gone ahead and guaranteed a win which, as most of us already know, is not always a smart thing to do in sports. If you've read my past blogs, you already know my stance on guarantees. They are extremely dumb and only put more pressure on the guarantor's team.
I would be even more skeptical of James's statement had Team USA not dominated last year at the FIBA Americas Championship, which included an impressive 91-76 victory of Argentina in the final.
The keys for Team USA will be the same as they were last summer. The main one is to play as a team out on the court and not try to do everything one-on-one. Another is to get up and down the court (the way Coach K has been preaching to them about). After all, they usually have the five most athletic players on the court. Finally, they need to play team defense and that goes for everyone, including Carmelo.
Speaking of basketball on a worldly stage, Brandon Jennings, an Arizona commit, has recently decided to forgo college all together and spend his one year out of high school playing over in Europe. Frankly, I think it's for the best. The NBA is becoming more and more European in the way they play the game of basketball which is why a year over there for Jennings can do nothing but good for him. Besides, he was going to be a one-and-done anyway.
In Las Vegas, meanwhile, rookies Jerryd Bayless and Donte Greene were busy lighting up their opponents, averaging 30 and 23 points respectively. Some other rookies that made an impact were Anthony Randolph (21 ppg, 8 rpg), Kevin Love (18 ppg, 14 rpg), and Marreese Speights (18 ppg, 10 rpg). Non-rookies, such as Quincy Douby (22 ppg) and Ramon Sessions (15 ppg, 7 apg, 5 rpg), also made an impact.
At the Orlando Pro Summer League, Michael Beasley put on a show with 28 points and 9 rebounds in his first professional basketball game. However, the man who was taken ahead of Beasley, Derrick Rose, has had a rough start. He sat out of the past two games due to injuries and has averaged 5 turnovers per game.
Also in Orlando, Russell Westbrook has had a decent summer league so far, proving the doubters wrong. For people like me though, he has just reassured us that a ROY award isn't an impossible feat next season.
After all this, you must still keep in mind that a summer league is a summer league and that great numbers in July don't translate to good number in the regular season. They provide only an inkling of what the player is capable of doing at the pro level. Besides, many of these players (especially those playing for postseason contenders) won't even get significant playing time this season.
So there you have it. That's the summer news for professional basketball right now. Be sure to tune in tomorrow night to watch Team USA take on Canada in an exhibition game. It will, hopefully, not be much of a game, but it will still be fun to watch America's best basketball team play. Here's a cool video for you:
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Poll Results: Every voter agreed that Kobe Bryant will go down in NBA history as a top ten player to ever play, but no one thinks he's good enough to be top 5.
Showing posts with label Derrick Rose. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Derrick Rose. Show all posts
Thursday, July 24, 2008
Friday, June 27, 2008
A Wild Night in New York
There were many surprises announced by both the commissioner and the deputy commissioner last night in New York at the NBA Draft. From Russell Westbrook going at #4 to Brook Lopez dropping to #10 and from Jason Thompson being chosen at #12 to DeAndre Jordan and Mario Chalmers having to wait until the second round to hear their names called. No one could have predicted such a thing for one of the deepest draft class's in recent memory. But it was also one of the youngest in recent memory as twelve freshmen were drafted last night.
No surprise was the fact that Derrick Rose, Michael Beasley, and OJ Mayo went 1-2-3 to kick off the draft. Surprising at #4 was Russ Westbrook, the combo guard out of UCLA who was considered by many to be the best defensive guard in the draft. Another surprising selection in the top ten was Danilo Gallinari, whose dad roomed with Coach D'Antoni while Mr. Gallinari played professionally in Italy. However, D'Antoni claims that Danilo has the tools to become a great player in the League, and if you're a Knicks fan, you have to at least be happy with that.
I was also somewhat shocked to see Joe Alexander's and DJ Augustin's names off the board before Jerryd Bayless's and Anthony Randolph's. It was also surprising to see Brook Lopez fall to #10, where the Nets scooped up the second-best center in the draft. What a night for Nets fans! The two biggest winners of the draft has to be them and Portland, both of which were helped tremendously in their aspirations to reach the postseason. Another thing I don't get is why Sacramento didn't trade down a few picks, possibly with Phoenix. Jason Thompson, maybe the biggest surprise pick of the draft, would have still been available and the Suns would have been able to grab Brandon Rush, the one they've been showing the most interest in all along.
Let me know sound off on Roy Hibbert. This guy has bust written all over him and he will be just another benchwarming seven-footer in the NBA. Athleticism is so much more crucial in the League than in college, and Hibbert lacks in that department tremendously. Once he has to guard guys his own size or be guarded by guys as tall as him, he'll be ineffective and useless out on the court.
Next are the Suns. What the hell do they think they're doing? Grant Hill was someone I could live with. Shaq was pushing the envelope with me. Robin Lopez just puts me over the top. They are slowly but surely becoming a half-court walk-it-up team like the Spurs. Now I understand why they got rid of D'Antoni, but I don't understand the reason. They were in contention to win it almost every year so why change? I'm making a bold prediction: Phoenix won't make the playoffs next season.
There were two surprises, in my mind, at the end of the first round. One of them was Donte Greene, someone I had going in the mid-lottery. He dropped all the way down to 28, where has was drafted by the Grizzlies. The second surprise was JR Giddens going in the first round. I saw him as a great pick in the early to mid-second round, but why the first? Why gamble like that when you're the defending world champions? However, Boston redeemed themselves when they traded for Bill Walker, a phenomenal talent who has the potential to be great.
The second round saw seven foreign players drafted, which brings me to another point. Foreign players have the highest chance of being a bust (i.e. Darko Milicic) yet they also have the highest chance of being a steal (i.e. Manu Ginobili). My point? Wait until the second round to draft your European players. You never know; you may get lucky. Also, this shows how weak foreign scouting is even in this modern age.
The second round also featured four players that I could see easily going in the first round: Mario Chalmers at 34, DeAndre Jordan at 35, Chris Douglas-Roberts at 40, and Bill Walker at 47. Walker and CDR are the two that are most puzzling to me. Obviously, the scouts were scared away by the unorthodox methods and injury problems, respectively. However, I would think that at least one scout would see past that and see that one or both of these players has the chance to be a future all-star, if not a solid starter for years to come.
That concludes my breakdown of the deepest and yougest draft class I've ever seen. Good luck to them wherever they play next year whether it be overseas, in the NBA, or in the D-League. Also, a congrats goes out to Semih Erden of Turkey, who had the honor of being drafted last at pick #60.
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No surprise was the fact that Derrick Rose, Michael Beasley, and OJ Mayo went 1-2-3 to kick off the draft. Surprising at #4 was Russ Westbrook, the combo guard out of UCLA who was considered by many to be the best defensive guard in the draft. Another surprising selection in the top ten was Danilo Gallinari, whose dad roomed with Coach D'Antoni while Mr. Gallinari played professionally in Italy. However, D'Antoni claims that Danilo has the tools to become a great player in the League, and if you're a Knicks fan, you have to at least be happy with that.
I was also somewhat shocked to see Joe Alexander's and DJ Augustin's names off the board before Jerryd Bayless's and Anthony Randolph's. It was also surprising to see Brook Lopez fall to #10, where the Nets scooped up the second-best center in the draft. What a night for Nets fans! The two biggest winners of the draft has to be them and Portland, both of which were helped tremendously in their aspirations to reach the postseason. Another thing I don't get is why Sacramento didn't trade down a few picks, possibly with Phoenix. Jason Thompson, maybe the biggest surprise pick of the draft, would have still been available and the Suns would have been able to grab Brandon Rush, the one they've been showing the most interest in all along.
Let me know sound off on Roy Hibbert. This guy has bust written all over him and he will be just another benchwarming seven-footer in the NBA. Athleticism is so much more crucial in the League than in college, and Hibbert lacks in that department tremendously. Once he has to guard guys his own size or be guarded by guys as tall as him, he'll be ineffective and useless out on the court.
Next are the Suns. What the hell do they think they're doing? Grant Hill was someone I could live with. Shaq was pushing the envelope with me. Robin Lopez just puts me over the top. They are slowly but surely becoming a half-court walk-it-up team like the Spurs. Now I understand why they got rid of D'Antoni, but I don't understand the reason. They were in contention to win it almost every year so why change? I'm making a bold prediction: Phoenix won't make the playoffs next season.
There were two surprises, in my mind, at the end of the first round. One of them was Donte Greene, someone I had going in the mid-lottery. He dropped all the way down to 28, where has was drafted by the Grizzlies. The second surprise was JR Giddens going in the first round. I saw him as a great pick in the early to mid-second round, but why the first? Why gamble like that when you're the defending world champions? However, Boston redeemed themselves when they traded for Bill Walker, a phenomenal talent who has the potential to be great.
The second round saw seven foreign players drafted, which brings me to another point. Foreign players have the highest chance of being a bust (i.e. Darko Milicic) yet they also have the highest chance of being a steal (i.e. Manu Ginobili). My point? Wait until the second round to draft your European players. You never know; you may get lucky. Also, this shows how weak foreign scouting is even in this modern age.
The second round also featured four players that I could see easily going in the first round: Mario Chalmers at 34, DeAndre Jordan at 35, Chris Douglas-Roberts at 40, and Bill Walker at 47. Walker and CDR are the two that are most puzzling to me. Obviously, the scouts were scared away by the unorthodox methods and injury problems, respectively. However, I would think that at least one scout would see past that and see that one or both of these players has the chance to be a future all-star, if not a solid starter for years to come.
That concludes my breakdown of the deepest and yougest draft class I've ever seen. Good luck to them wherever they play next year whether it be overseas, in the NBA, or in the D-League. Also, a congrats goes out to Semih Erden of Turkey, who had the honor of being drafted last at pick #60.
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Thursday, June 26, 2008
Denis and GOAT's NBA Mock Draft
This was a post that I co-wrote on FanNation.com with Denis24. I hope you enjoy it.
Denis says:
1. Chicago Bulls select.....PG Derrick Rose
Rose is a terrific athlete and at 6-3, 196 lb., he has great size for a PG. What really hurt Michael Beasley though is that the Bulls just figured out today that Beasley is acctually listed at 6-7. Sure, many people argue that Miami won a title with Udonis Haslem as their starting power forward, but what the Heat had back then that they don't contain now is a healthy Shaq. With the association evolving into a guard-oriented league, Derrick Rose is the favorite at No. 1. Rose is also the safest selection because Rose's defense is much more developed then Beasley's. Beasley still doesn't have the leadership and intangibles that the #1 pick needs to have.
Denis' pick: Derrick Rose
GOAT says:
I agree. Rose is the best pick the Bulls could make. I'm not so sure Beasley is big and strong enough to bang with the big guys of the NBA just yet, and that hurts his chances with Chicago, someone who is in need of a banger down low. However, you're completely right. The League is becoming more guard-oriented and Rose has a bright future in it.
GOAT's pick: Derrick Rose
Denis says:
2. Miami Heat select.....SF/PF Michael Beasley
You guessed it, Michael Beasley is the No. 2 selection here. He is a better athlete than people give him credit for. Along with his NBA ready body, he has the rebounding skills to make him one of the best in the NBA, even being 6-7, as was reported by the Chicago Bulls. He reminds many people of Carmelo Anthony, and that is what he will turn out to be in my opinion. His jumpshot is flawless, although he doesn't play like a 6-7 wing. His post skills are top-notch while he still is one of the quickest forwards in the draft. You will see him starting in the All-Star game in the future, I can guarentee it.
Denis' pick: Michael Beasley
GOAT says:
No argument from me here. He's the obvious choice with the second pick. You also have to love the fact that he's a lefty. It makes him difficult to guard as it is awkward for the defender to play the left hand. He's the perfect fit in Miami and should be great playing alongside Dwyane Wade.
GOAT's pick: Michael Beasley
Denis says:
3. Minnesota Timberwolves select..... C Brook Lopez
Yes, I'm going with the surprise pick here, Brook Lopez. I am not one of those people that are buying all the hype and jumping on the O.J. Mayo bandwagon. Mayo acctually averaged more turnovers (3.5) than assists (3.3), which is a major problem in my opinion. I don't understand if he is a shooting guard or point guard, so there are many questions with him. Lopez has great strength and post skills for a collegiant bigman, but what people don't give him enough credit for is his jump shot, which is ranked 9 out of 10 according to NBAdraft.net. If you want to move Al Jefferson back to his natural position, drafting this stud center would really help. Lopez acctually registerd a rare triple-double against Mayo's USC team, with 18 points, 11 rebounds and 12 blocks. Don't be surprised if the T'Wolves trade this pick.
Denis' pick: Brook Lopez
Goat says:
I hate to keep agreeing with you, but Lopez is my pick here as well. The T'Wolves would absolutely love to give Jefferson a solid frontcourt mate, and Lopez is the perfect guy for them. Not only is he a great scorer, but he's also an underrated defender, ranking 8 out of 10 on NBADraft.net. Some are worried about his athleticism, or lack thereof. I wouldn't worry all that much. His post skills are top-notch and he is fundamentally sound. Denis, you better be disagreeing with me on the fourth pick.
GOAT's pick: Brook Lopez
Denis says:
4. Seattle SuperSonics select..... SG O.J. Mayo
Since both OJ Mayo and Jerryd Bayless are combo guards, I just have to take the best player here, and that is OJ Mayo. Mayo is such an explosive scorer that he can make plays from anywhere on the court. I just don't believe Bayless has the special swagger or leadership about him to carry a team like OJ Mayo does. Mayo's defensive ability and NBA range is what make him stand out in my mind to be the forth pick in this very talented draft. But what really impressed the scouts out there is his outstanding 41" vertical.
Denis' pick: OJ Mayo
GOAT says:
Here is where we disagree. I believe the Sonics will take Jerryd Bayless. Mayo has as many questions marks as a game of 20 Questions. His character is up in the air, and he has been criticized for being a ballhog at times. Seattle definitely does not want that problem. To top it all off, OJ averaged more turnovers than assists last season (3.5 TO to 3.3 AST). Bayless, on the other hand, is much more team-oriented and turns the ball over less while dishing out more assists. OJ may have the higher vertical, but Jerryd is just as good of an athlete as Mayo.
GOAT's pick: Jerryd Bayless
Denis says:
5. Memphis Grizzlies select..... PF Kevin Love
If Memphis makes this move, they will be getting a gifted bigman with an amazing basketball IQ. He can mix his game up greatly, playing anywhere from physical to finesse basketball. This is also a selection based on desperate need at the power forward position. They have Hakim Warrick, Brian Cardinal, Darko Milicic, and Jason Collins, which isn't very good from a talent perspective. Kevin Love would bring some needed help, which is a combination of his mid-range jump shot and his back-to-the-basket post moves.
Denis' pick: Kevin Love
GOAT says:
I agree that Love is the best choice here. Some people have said that OJ Mayo would be chosen here. However, the Grizzlies already have Mike Conley and Rudy Gay in the backcourt. Is there really a need for a player such as OJ? Take Love and have him play alongside Warrick. In a few years, they'll be very competitive in the ultra-tough Southwest.
GOAT's pick: Kevin Love
Denis says:
6. New York Knicks select..... PG/SG Jerryd Bayless
The Knicks have been praying that Bayless would fall to their laps at No. 6. Bayless may not be the playmaker they are looking for, but he sure is athletic and skilled, and that is what the Knicks are looking for. With Jamaal Crawford and Jerryd Bayless in the backcourt, this team could acctually be decent. But of course, nothing could change the Knicks, that's for sure. Bayless just might be the next Gilbert Arenas because his potential is so huge. I wouldn't be surprised to see his excellent floor speed make contributions in New York.
Denis' pick: Jerryd Bayless
GOAT says:
Mike D'Antoni will be taking OJ Mayo with this pick. I don't think Bayless will still be on the board by now, and Mayo gets the nod over Russell Westbrook. His defense and scoring abilities are top-notch, but has some room for improvement with his passing and leadership. We can only hope that the bright lights of NYC don't have him doing stuff he shouldn't be.
GOAT's pick: OJ Mayo
Denis says:
7. Los Angeles Clippers select..... SG Eric Gordon
With his talent still being available, the Clippers have to pick Eric Gordon. His combination of strength and athleticism is just outright amazing. His jumpshot seems so smooth when you watch him play. Defensively, he has the potential to be a lock-down defender in this league because ofthe physical tools he has. I know that they are weak at other positions, but if Maggette and Brand decide to depart from the team, that will clear some space up to go out and fill those wholes, and right now, Gordon is definately the right choice here.
Denis' pick: Eric Gordon
GOAT says:
Eric Gordon is the right pick for the Clippers. You're right on the money with him. He has the potential to be a very good defender along with being an accomplished scorer. Some are comparing him to Mitch Richmond, which I can understand with his kind of ability. He's quite small for a 2-guard though and may have to play some time at the point guard position. That's my only real concern with him.
GOAT's pick: Eric Gordon
Denis says:
8. Milwaukee Bucks select..... SF Anthony Randolph
Milwaukee would love to have Danilo Gallinari on their team, but reports have it that Galinari refuses to work out for the Bucks, leading to some speculation that he doesn't want to be the next Yi Jianlian. Both didn't want to come to the US and play in a city like Milwaukee. That may cause some problems in the future, but for now, Randolph is the safest and best pick. He's a long and lenghty wingman with tremendous upside. He is a very raw talent and could eventually turn into the next Lamar Odom or Tayshaun Prince. His overall talent, along with his untapped potential, can make him a really good starting small forward in this league some day.
Denis' pick: Anthony Randolph
GOAT says:
I, too, think Milwaukee will take Randolph with the ninth pick. He's pretty athletic and he plays bigger than he really is. His potential is through-the-roof, and Randolph has great size to play the 3. Some have Joe Alexander going at this position, but I believe he is overrated. He gets reckless and doesn't play fundamentally-sound all that much or all that well. On the flip side, if Randolph wants to make an impact at the next level, he needs to bulk up.
GOAT's pick: Anthony Randolph
Denis says:
9. Charlotte Bobcats select..... SF Danilo Gallinari
Their is no big man available with the talent to go this high on the board, so I wouldn'd be surprised if the 'Cats traded this pick in the situation. But if I'm forced to predict, it'd have to be the best player available, Danilo Gallinari. This player's an absolute stud. He has basketball in his blood and his intangibles are off the charts. Scouts love his jump shot, plus they believe he has point guard skills in an 6-8 body. We are hearing some Gerald Wallace rumors, and, let's face it, Adam Morrison is and forever will be, a total bust in the NBA.
Denis' pick: Danilo Gallinari
GOAT says:
I don't think Gallinari is what they're looking for. They already have Gerald Wallace and Adam Morrison and all that. Why add on? They need a big guy. DeAndre Jordan is the pick here. Some weren't expecting him to be chosen until later, but he's the best big guy left at this point. He has the potential to be the next Dwight Howard and features much athleticism and good size. I got to see him play at Madison Square Garden against Washington. He finished the game with 8 points, 11 rebounds, and 3 blocks yet his presence in the lane seemed to deter penetration from the Huskies.
GOAT's pick: DeAndre Jordan
Denis says:
10. New Jersey Nets select..... SF/PF Joe Alexander
I know you might be surprised to see DJ Augustine and Russell Westbrook still on the board, but that just isn't what the Nets are looking for. Joe Alexander is their man here, even though I know you will disagree. His winner's mentality and untapped potential combine to give him one of the biggest upsides in the draft. His athleticism is just amazing, and you never know what move he will make on the perimeter, which makes him so unpredictable. Some people are really bashing him, but after the performances he put up in the Big East Tournament and March Madness, I don't see how he doesn't go at least in the top 15, if not top 10.
Denis' pick: Joe Alexander
GOAT says:
You bet I'm disagreeing. I'll take Donte Greene from Syracuse with this pick. I'm not so sure he'll get chosen here as much as I am sure that he's the better of the two players. He's just as athletic as Alexander yet features a much better jump shot. Greene, just like your pick, has much potential and is a very good penetrator. Last season, Greene, with much less experience than Alexander had at WVU, averaged one point and one rebound more while averaging the same amount of assists, steals, and blocks.
GOAT's pick: Donte Greene
Denis says:
11. Indiana Pacers select..... PG/SG Russell Westbrook
If DJ Augustine and Russell Westbrook are still available, the Pacers would probably select Westbrook because of his quickness and athleticism, while playing the combo guard position. The problem with him is his heighth at SG, but his lenghth makes up for that. He really gets to the lane effortlessly, and he is a real gym rat. Indiana needs to replace Jamaal Tinsley, who is on his way out of Indiana.
Denis' pick: Russell Westbrook
GOAT says:
Yeah, it's pretty obvious that Tinsley's days are numbered in a Pacers uniform so they're looking to pick up a guard, and Russell Westbrook will be that guard. You forgot to mention the outstanding defense he plays and is considered by many to be the best defensive guard in the draft. Although bulking up and getting stronger would help him against the bigger point guards in the NBA. Russ will be able to play the 1 no problem; he's an underrated ball-handler and passer, and he's exactly what Indiana needs and wants.
GOAT's pick: Russell Westbrook
Denis says:
12. Sacramento Kings select..... C Roy Hibbert
This might be a very questionable selection here, but Roy Hibbert is the best available big man, and that is what they need. He's a center with great size and strength around the basket. He has soft hands to go along with his excellent post moves. The only question I have with Hibbert is his quickness and athleticism. He will immidiately become one of the best half-court defenders on the Kings roster.
Denis' pick: Roy Hibbert
GOAT says:
Key word is half-court. He'll be playing in the Western Conference where they get up and down the floor, and he won't be able to keep up. Ron Artest may be on his way out of Sacramento, and that's the exact reason why they'll be taking Joe Alexander with this pick. He's one of the most athletic people in the entire draft class, and truly plays above the rim when he drives. If he wants to succeed though, he must work on his fundmentals and his jump shot.
GOAT's pick: Joe Alexander
Denis says:
13. Portland Trailblazers select..... PG DJ Augustin
DJ Augustin is one of the only true point guards in this year's draft. He is the kind of guy that looks for his teammates first, and that's why he averaged 6.7 ppg. His quickness with the ball and leadership ability is what intrigues Portland the most. I don't believe in Steve Blake and Jarret Jack being solid starting point guards, while Sergio Rodriguez is entering his first year in the league. The Blazers also aquired the 27th selection, where they can go with either Ante Tomic or Nicolas Batum. The Blazers also had trade talks with the Nets about Richard Jefferson, the Suns about Leandro Barbosa, and the Grizzlies about a deal that would package the No. 13 pick and the expiring contract of Raef LaFrentz to Memphis for No. 5, Brian Cardinal, and Jason Collins. We'll just have to wait and see.....
Denis' pick: DJ Augustin
GOAT says:
I agree with their taking Augustin at #13. The only weakness I really see in Portland's starting lineup is at point guard, and what they need is a true point guard. DJ Augustin will facilitate and make those around him better. In two years, the Blazers will be an obvious pick to make the playoffs because of this guy even though they're in the ultra-tough Western Conference. For the record though, I think Tomic isn't worth a first-round selection and Batum will be off the board by then.
GOAT's pick: DJ Augustin
Denis says:
14. Golden State Warriors select..... C Kosta Koufos
Koufos has been rising in most people's draft boards, and for one reason: he's playing more physical. He's a very skilled bigman to say the least. He can score the basketball from both inside and out, reminding some people of Utah's Mehmet Okur. Defensively, he will be able to handle the big and talented centers in the West. Don't be surprised to see Robin Lopez go here if the Anderson Varejao trade rumors don't pan out, because both Varejao and Lopez are hustle players, but as of right now, Koufos' offensive skills and Biedrins' defensive and rebounding ability are a perfect complement for each other.
Denis' pick: Kosta Koufos
GOAT says:
Golden State doesn't really have any glaring weakness that they need to address in the draft. They finished the season above .500 and are set pretty well down low with Biedrins and Al Harrington. I say they take the best available in Danilo Gallinari. He's a good scorer who possesses a good jump shot and all the right intangibles. Gallinari could step in right away and make a difference in games. He's also a pretty good passer for a forward.
GOAT's pick: Danilo Gallinari
Rest of the Draft:
Denis says:
15. Phoenix Suns: SG/SF Brandon Rush
16. Philadelphia: PF/C Robin Lopez
17. Toronto: PG Mario Chalmers (If in fact the Jermaine O'neal deal goes down)
18. Washington: PF Darrell Arthur
19. Cleveland: PF Jason Thompson
20. Denver Nuggets: PF/C Marreese Speights
21. New Jersey: C DeAndre Jordan
22. Orlando: C JaVale McGee
23. Utah Jazz: PF/C Alexis Ajinca
24. Seattle: PF/C Serge Ibaka
25. Houston: SF Donte Greene
26. San Antonio: SF/PF Ryan Anderson
27. Portland: SG/SF Nicolas Batum
28. Memphis: PF JJ Hickson
29. Detroit: SG Chris Douglas-Roberts
30. Boston: SG Courtney Lee
GOAT says:
15. Phoenix: Brandon Rush
16. Philadelphia: Nicolas Batum
17. Toronto: Roy Hibbert (O'Neal was never all that reliable)
18. Washington: Darrell Arthur
19. Cleveland: Chris Douglas-Roberts
20. Denver: Marreese Speights
21. New Jersey: Robin Lopez
22. Orlando: Jason Thompson
23. Utah: JaVale McGee
24. Seattle: Ryan Anderson
25. Houston: Alexis Ajinca
26. San Antonio: Omer Asik
27. Portland: JJ Hickson
28. Memphis: Mario Chalmers
29. Detroit: Courtney Lee
30. Boston: Bill Walker
Watch the 2008 NBA Draft June 26th, 2008, on ESPN at 7 p.m.-12 a.m. ET
Denis says:
1. Chicago Bulls select.....PG Derrick Rose
Rose is a terrific athlete and at 6-3, 196 lb., he has great size for a PG. What really hurt Michael Beasley though is that the Bulls just figured out today that Beasley is acctually listed at 6-7. Sure, many people argue that Miami won a title with Udonis Haslem as their starting power forward, but what the Heat had back then that they don't contain now is a healthy Shaq. With the association evolving into a guard-oriented league, Derrick Rose is the favorite at No. 1. Rose is also the safest selection because Rose's defense is much more developed then Beasley's. Beasley still doesn't have the leadership and intangibles that the #1 pick needs to have.
Denis' pick: Derrick Rose
GOAT says:
I agree. Rose is the best pick the Bulls could make. I'm not so sure Beasley is big and strong enough to bang with the big guys of the NBA just yet, and that hurts his chances with Chicago, someone who is in need of a banger down low. However, you're completely right. The League is becoming more guard-oriented and Rose has a bright future in it.
GOAT's pick: Derrick Rose
Denis says:
2. Miami Heat select.....SF/PF Michael Beasley
You guessed it, Michael Beasley is the No. 2 selection here. He is a better athlete than people give him credit for. Along with his NBA ready body, he has the rebounding skills to make him one of the best in the NBA, even being 6-7, as was reported by the Chicago Bulls. He reminds many people of Carmelo Anthony, and that is what he will turn out to be in my opinion. His jumpshot is flawless, although he doesn't play like a 6-7 wing. His post skills are top-notch while he still is one of the quickest forwards in the draft. You will see him starting in the All-Star game in the future, I can guarentee it.
Denis' pick: Michael Beasley
GOAT says:
No argument from me here. He's the obvious choice with the second pick. You also have to love the fact that he's a lefty. It makes him difficult to guard as it is awkward for the defender to play the left hand. He's the perfect fit in Miami and should be great playing alongside Dwyane Wade.
GOAT's pick: Michael Beasley
Denis says:
3. Minnesota Timberwolves select..... C Brook Lopez
Yes, I'm going with the surprise pick here, Brook Lopez. I am not one of those people that are buying all the hype and jumping on the O.J. Mayo bandwagon. Mayo acctually averaged more turnovers (3.5) than assists (3.3), which is a major problem in my opinion. I don't understand if he is a shooting guard or point guard, so there are many questions with him. Lopez has great strength and post skills for a collegiant bigman, but what people don't give him enough credit for is his jump shot, which is ranked 9 out of 10 according to NBAdraft.net. If you want to move Al Jefferson back to his natural position, drafting this stud center would really help. Lopez acctually registerd a rare triple-double against Mayo's USC team, with 18 points, 11 rebounds and 12 blocks. Don't be surprised if the T'Wolves trade this pick.
Denis' pick: Brook Lopez
Goat says:
I hate to keep agreeing with you, but Lopez is my pick here as well. The T'Wolves would absolutely love to give Jefferson a solid frontcourt mate, and Lopez is the perfect guy for them. Not only is he a great scorer, but he's also an underrated defender, ranking 8 out of 10 on NBADraft.net. Some are worried about his athleticism, or lack thereof. I wouldn't worry all that much. His post skills are top-notch and he is fundamentally sound. Denis, you better be disagreeing with me on the fourth pick.
GOAT's pick: Brook Lopez
Denis says:
4. Seattle SuperSonics select..... SG O.J. Mayo
Since both OJ Mayo and Jerryd Bayless are combo guards, I just have to take the best player here, and that is OJ Mayo. Mayo is such an explosive scorer that he can make plays from anywhere on the court. I just don't believe Bayless has the special swagger or leadership about him to carry a team like OJ Mayo does. Mayo's defensive ability and NBA range is what make him stand out in my mind to be the forth pick in this very talented draft. But what really impressed the scouts out there is his outstanding 41" vertical.
Denis' pick: OJ Mayo
GOAT says:
Here is where we disagree. I believe the Sonics will take Jerryd Bayless. Mayo has as many questions marks as a game of 20 Questions. His character is up in the air, and he has been criticized for being a ballhog at times. Seattle definitely does not want that problem. To top it all off, OJ averaged more turnovers than assists last season (3.5 TO to 3.3 AST). Bayless, on the other hand, is much more team-oriented and turns the ball over less while dishing out more assists. OJ may have the higher vertical, but Jerryd is just as good of an athlete as Mayo.
GOAT's pick: Jerryd Bayless
Denis says:
5. Memphis Grizzlies select..... PF Kevin Love
If Memphis makes this move, they will be getting a gifted bigman with an amazing basketball IQ. He can mix his game up greatly, playing anywhere from physical to finesse basketball. This is also a selection based on desperate need at the power forward position. They have Hakim Warrick, Brian Cardinal, Darko Milicic, and Jason Collins, which isn't very good from a talent perspective. Kevin Love would bring some needed help, which is a combination of his mid-range jump shot and his back-to-the-basket post moves.
Denis' pick: Kevin Love
GOAT says:
I agree that Love is the best choice here. Some people have said that OJ Mayo would be chosen here. However, the Grizzlies already have Mike Conley and Rudy Gay in the backcourt. Is there really a need for a player such as OJ? Take Love and have him play alongside Warrick. In a few years, they'll be very competitive in the ultra-tough Southwest.
GOAT's pick: Kevin Love
Denis says:
6. New York Knicks select..... PG/SG Jerryd Bayless
The Knicks have been praying that Bayless would fall to their laps at No. 6. Bayless may not be the playmaker they are looking for, but he sure is athletic and skilled, and that is what the Knicks are looking for. With Jamaal Crawford and Jerryd Bayless in the backcourt, this team could acctually be decent. But of course, nothing could change the Knicks, that's for sure. Bayless just might be the next Gilbert Arenas because his potential is so huge. I wouldn't be surprised to see his excellent floor speed make contributions in New York.
Denis' pick: Jerryd Bayless
GOAT says:
Mike D'Antoni will be taking OJ Mayo with this pick. I don't think Bayless will still be on the board by now, and Mayo gets the nod over Russell Westbrook. His defense and scoring abilities are top-notch, but has some room for improvement with his passing and leadership. We can only hope that the bright lights of NYC don't have him doing stuff he shouldn't be.
GOAT's pick: OJ Mayo
Denis says:
7. Los Angeles Clippers select..... SG Eric Gordon
With his talent still being available, the Clippers have to pick Eric Gordon. His combination of strength and athleticism is just outright amazing. His jumpshot seems so smooth when you watch him play. Defensively, he has the potential to be a lock-down defender in this league because ofthe physical tools he has. I know that they are weak at other positions, but if Maggette and Brand decide to depart from the team, that will clear some space up to go out and fill those wholes, and right now, Gordon is definately the right choice here.
Denis' pick: Eric Gordon
GOAT says:
Eric Gordon is the right pick for the Clippers. You're right on the money with him. He has the potential to be a very good defender along with being an accomplished scorer. Some are comparing him to Mitch Richmond, which I can understand with his kind of ability. He's quite small for a 2-guard though and may have to play some time at the point guard position. That's my only real concern with him.
GOAT's pick: Eric Gordon
Denis says:
8. Milwaukee Bucks select..... SF Anthony Randolph
Milwaukee would love to have Danilo Gallinari on their team, but reports have it that Galinari refuses to work out for the Bucks, leading to some speculation that he doesn't want to be the next Yi Jianlian. Both didn't want to come to the US and play in a city like Milwaukee. That may cause some problems in the future, but for now, Randolph is the safest and best pick. He's a long and lenghty wingman with tremendous upside. He is a very raw talent and could eventually turn into the next Lamar Odom or Tayshaun Prince. His overall talent, along with his untapped potential, can make him a really good starting small forward in this league some day.
Denis' pick: Anthony Randolph
GOAT says:
I, too, think Milwaukee will take Randolph with the ninth pick. He's pretty athletic and he plays bigger than he really is. His potential is through-the-roof, and Randolph has great size to play the 3. Some have Joe Alexander going at this position, but I believe he is overrated. He gets reckless and doesn't play fundamentally-sound all that much or all that well. On the flip side, if Randolph wants to make an impact at the next level, he needs to bulk up.
GOAT's pick: Anthony Randolph
Denis says:
9. Charlotte Bobcats select..... SF Danilo Gallinari
Their is no big man available with the talent to go this high on the board, so I wouldn'd be surprised if the 'Cats traded this pick in the situation. But if I'm forced to predict, it'd have to be the best player available, Danilo Gallinari. This player's an absolute stud. He has basketball in his blood and his intangibles are off the charts. Scouts love his jump shot, plus they believe he has point guard skills in an 6-8 body. We are hearing some Gerald Wallace rumors, and, let's face it, Adam Morrison is and forever will be, a total bust in the NBA.
Denis' pick: Danilo Gallinari
GOAT says:
I don't think Gallinari is what they're looking for. They already have Gerald Wallace and Adam Morrison and all that. Why add on? They need a big guy. DeAndre Jordan is the pick here. Some weren't expecting him to be chosen until later, but he's the best big guy left at this point. He has the potential to be the next Dwight Howard and features much athleticism and good size. I got to see him play at Madison Square Garden against Washington. He finished the game with 8 points, 11 rebounds, and 3 blocks yet his presence in the lane seemed to deter penetration from the Huskies.
GOAT's pick: DeAndre Jordan
Denis says:
10. New Jersey Nets select..... SF/PF Joe Alexander
I know you might be surprised to see DJ Augustine and Russell Westbrook still on the board, but that just isn't what the Nets are looking for. Joe Alexander is their man here, even though I know you will disagree. His winner's mentality and untapped potential combine to give him one of the biggest upsides in the draft. His athleticism is just amazing, and you never know what move he will make on the perimeter, which makes him so unpredictable. Some people are really bashing him, but after the performances he put up in the Big East Tournament and March Madness, I don't see how he doesn't go at least in the top 15, if not top 10.
Denis' pick: Joe Alexander
GOAT says:
You bet I'm disagreeing. I'll take Donte Greene from Syracuse with this pick. I'm not so sure he'll get chosen here as much as I am sure that he's the better of the two players. He's just as athletic as Alexander yet features a much better jump shot. Greene, just like your pick, has much potential and is a very good penetrator. Last season, Greene, with much less experience than Alexander had at WVU, averaged one point and one rebound more while averaging the same amount of assists, steals, and blocks.
GOAT's pick: Donte Greene
Denis says:
11. Indiana Pacers select..... PG/SG Russell Westbrook
If DJ Augustine and Russell Westbrook are still available, the Pacers would probably select Westbrook because of his quickness and athleticism, while playing the combo guard position. The problem with him is his heighth at SG, but his lenghth makes up for that. He really gets to the lane effortlessly, and he is a real gym rat. Indiana needs to replace Jamaal Tinsley, who is on his way out of Indiana.
Denis' pick: Russell Westbrook
GOAT says:
Yeah, it's pretty obvious that Tinsley's days are numbered in a Pacers uniform so they're looking to pick up a guard, and Russell Westbrook will be that guard. You forgot to mention the outstanding defense he plays and is considered by many to be the best defensive guard in the draft. Although bulking up and getting stronger would help him against the bigger point guards in the NBA. Russ will be able to play the 1 no problem; he's an underrated ball-handler and passer, and he's exactly what Indiana needs and wants.
GOAT's pick: Russell Westbrook
Denis says:
12. Sacramento Kings select..... C Roy Hibbert
This might be a very questionable selection here, but Roy Hibbert is the best available big man, and that is what they need. He's a center with great size and strength around the basket. He has soft hands to go along with his excellent post moves. The only question I have with Hibbert is his quickness and athleticism. He will immidiately become one of the best half-court defenders on the Kings roster.
Denis' pick: Roy Hibbert
GOAT says:
Key word is half-court. He'll be playing in the Western Conference where they get up and down the floor, and he won't be able to keep up. Ron Artest may be on his way out of Sacramento, and that's the exact reason why they'll be taking Joe Alexander with this pick. He's one of the most athletic people in the entire draft class, and truly plays above the rim when he drives. If he wants to succeed though, he must work on his fundmentals and his jump shot.
GOAT's pick: Joe Alexander
Denis says:
13. Portland Trailblazers select..... PG DJ Augustin
DJ Augustin is one of the only true point guards in this year's draft. He is the kind of guy that looks for his teammates first, and that's why he averaged 6.7 ppg. His quickness with the ball and leadership ability is what intrigues Portland the most. I don't believe in Steve Blake and Jarret Jack being solid starting point guards, while Sergio Rodriguez is entering his first year in the league. The Blazers also aquired the 27th selection, where they can go with either Ante Tomic or Nicolas Batum. The Blazers also had trade talks with the Nets about Richard Jefferson, the Suns about Leandro Barbosa, and the Grizzlies about a deal that would package the No. 13 pick and the expiring contract of Raef LaFrentz to Memphis for No. 5, Brian Cardinal, and Jason Collins. We'll just have to wait and see.....
Denis' pick: DJ Augustin
GOAT says:
I agree with their taking Augustin at #13. The only weakness I really see in Portland's starting lineup is at point guard, and what they need is a true point guard. DJ Augustin will facilitate and make those around him better. In two years, the Blazers will be an obvious pick to make the playoffs because of this guy even though they're in the ultra-tough Western Conference. For the record though, I think Tomic isn't worth a first-round selection and Batum will be off the board by then.
GOAT's pick: DJ Augustin
Denis says:
14. Golden State Warriors select..... C Kosta Koufos
Koufos has been rising in most people's draft boards, and for one reason: he's playing more physical. He's a very skilled bigman to say the least. He can score the basketball from both inside and out, reminding some people of Utah's Mehmet Okur. Defensively, he will be able to handle the big and talented centers in the West. Don't be surprised to see Robin Lopez go here if the Anderson Varejao trade rumors don't pan out, because both Varejao and Lopez are hustle players, but as of right now, Koufos' offensive skills and Biedrins' defensive and rebounding ability are a perfect complement for each other.
Denis' pick: Kosta Koufos
GOAT says:
Golden State doesn't really have any glaring weakness that they need to address in the draft. They finished the season above .500 and are set pretty well down low with Biedrins and Al Harrington. I say they take the best available in Danilo Gallinari. He's a good scorer who possesses a good jump shot and all the right intangibles. Gallinari could step in right away and make a difference in games. He's also a pretty good passer for a forward.
GOAT's pick: Danilo Gallinari
Rest of the Draft:
Denis says:
15. Phoenix Suns: SG/SF Brandon Rush
16. Philadelphia: PF/C Robin Lopez
17. Toronto: PG Mario Chalmers (If in fact the Jermaine O'neal deal goes down)
18. Washington: PF Darrell Arthur
19. Cleveland: PF Jason Thompson
20. Denver Nuggets: PF/C Marreese Speights
21. New Jersey: C DeAndre Jordan
22. Orlando: C JaVale McGee
23. Utah Jazz: PF/C Alexis Ajinca
24. Seattle: PF/C Serge Ibaka
25. Houston: SF Donte Greene
26. San Antonio: SF/PF Ryan Anderson
27. Portland: SG/SF Nicolas Batum
28. Memphis: PF JJ Hickson
29. Detroit: SG Chris Douglas-Roberts
30. Boston: SG Courtney Lee
GOAT says:
15. Phoenix: Brandon Rush
16. Philadelphia: Nicolas Batum
17. Toronto: Roy Hibbert (O'Neal was never all that reliable)
18. Washington: Darrell Arthur
19. Cleveland: Chris Douglas-Roberts
20. Denver: Marreese Speights
21. New Jersey: Robin Lopez
22. Orlando: Jason Thompson
23. Utah: JaVale McGee
24. Seattle: Ryan Anderson
25. Houston: Alexis Ajinca
26. San Antonio: Omer Asik
27. Portland: JJ Hickson
28. Memphis: Mario Chalmers
29. Detroit: Courtney Lee
30. Boston: Bill Walker
Watch the 2008 NBA Draft June 26th, 2008, on ESPN at 7 p.m.-12 a.m. ET
Friday, May 30, 2008
Word on the NBA Street
Last night, I witnessed the greatest player since Jordan close out on of the best teams of this decade. I am, of course, referring to Kobe Bryant and the San Antonio Spurs, respectively. Tim Duncan had his fourth career triple-double with 19 points, 15 rebounds, and 10 assists which would have made news had Kobe not been...well, himself. Bryant finished with 39 points and scored 17 of them in the final period. He completely dominated and led his team back from being down 17 points in the first half.
To any average fan, it would seem as though Kobe was the one who fueled such a comeback. However, the average fan would be wrong. This comeback was ignited while Kobe, Derek Fisher, and Lamar Odom were on the bench. Jordan Farmar had a great game, showing viewers that he definitely has a future in this league, with eight points, three assists, and a steal in only 17 minutes of playing time. Lamar Odom and Pau Gasol helped out tremendously on the boards with eight and nineteen, respectively.
For the Spurs, they saw yet another tough game for Manu Ginobili. He was nursing a bum ankle while the Lakers forced him to use his off hand on penetration to the basket. The result? Nine points on 3-for-9 shooting from the field. Another problem, which is unusual for such an experienced team, has been their inability to close out games. They had a 20-point lead in Game 1 which they also ended up losing. I can only wonder what those "tweaks" Duncan was referring to after the game will be.
In the East (or Midwest for tonight's game), the Celtics will be looking to close out the Pistons on the road in Game 6. I firmly believe this game will be going the full seven games, and Detroit will win at home tonight. However, I do not see Boston losing at home in Game 7 so either way, all those nostalgic fans will get their wish and have a nice ol' Celtics/Lakers rematch that they've been waiting for.
The key for the Pistons is none other than Rasheed Wallace. I've said it all series long, and I'll reiterate it time and again. 'Sheed is essential if Detroit wants any hope at forcing a Game 7 back in Boston. He needs to bust his ass on defense and, also, to make Kevin Garnett work on both ends of the floor by taking it hard to the basket and becoming an offensive force. In their Game 5 heartbreaking loss, Wallace scored 18 points on 6-for-12 shooting, which is a good game for him. But he didn't play his hardest on the defensive end against Garnett. He allowed KG to score 33 points on 11-for-17 shooting which, in my mind, was the simple and direct reason Boston won.
Now I'll take you much farther south in this blog to the land of NBA superstar-hopefuls in Orlando, Florida, the home of the League's annual pre-draft camp. First, I'd like to congratulate the Bulls on their superior luckiness. Next, I'd like to point out that either choice, Michael Beasley or Derrick Rose, would at least help your franchise somewhat in the future. But, in my humble opinion, Rose is the better choice. This is a Chicago team that has been looking to ship Hinrich elsewhere in order to get someone that could fill their frontcourt void. If that goes through, Rose would be the floor general and playmaker that he has proven he can be. My mock draft goes as follows:
1. Derrick Rose, PG, Chicago Bulls
2. Michael Beasley, SF, Miami Heat
3. Brook Lopez, C, Minnesota Timberwolves
4. Jerryd Bayless, SG, Seattle SuperSonics
5. Kevin Love, PF, Memphis Grizzlies
6. OJ Mayo, SF, New York Knickerbockers
7. DeAndre Jordan, C, Los Angeles Clippers
8. Eric Gordon, SG, Milwaukee Bucks
9. Darrell Arthur, PF, Charlotte Bobcats
10. Russell Westbrook, PG, New Jersey Nets
I'm not completely sold on Anthony Randolph yet, and I'm not so sure many NBA scouts are either, which is why I have him going anywhere from 11-13. I also expect Gallinari to go somewhere in the 11-13 range as I'm not buying the whole Italian/D'Antoni connection with the Knicks. I would now like to warn NBA general managers of three draft busts although, sadly, 99% of GMs don't read my blog:
OJ Mayo- His many run-ins with the law is an obvious concern, but you can't forget his selfish and conceited decision-making that appears in his game from time to time. OJ can be very turnover-prone as well when he tries to do too much on the floor. All in all, there are way too many concerns and question marks about not only his game but also his image.
Roy Hibbert- All the success he has had thus far has been due to height and great teammates. He's not athletic and doesn't have the explosive first step to attack the rim in the post. When he plays against others of his size, he tends to be outplayed. Hibbert isn't a very good rebounder for being 7'2" and will struggle tremendously at the next level.
Donte Green- Many would be attracted by his athleticism and versatility. I, however, am not so easily fooled. His shot selection is downright terrible and, for as athletic as he is, Green doesn't get to the free throw line all that much. Finally and maybe most importantly, he's afraid of contact. In the NBA, the contact is ten times that of college.
I'd also be concerned with taking players such as Anthony Randolph, Eric Gordon, and Joe Alexander. The thing I love about the NBA Draft is that for every major bust, there is always that one great steal that no one sees coming. Well, almost no one. Here are my three "steals"...
Lester Hudson- This guy will most likely go down in college basketball history as "that guy from the mid-major school who recorded a quadruple-double". Nonetheless, he would be a perfect pick for the late first round. He can play both guard positions and put the ball in the hoop all the while making himself hard to guard.
Trent Plaisted- One of the premier big men in college this past season would be a great pick in the late first or early second round come draft day. He is a fantastic rebounder and a decent scorer even though he doesn't possess the athleticism and potential of someone like DeAndre Jordan. I find it difficult to believe NBADraft.net thinks he's just another Greg Foster.
JR Giddens- He's projected as a late second rounder but will do a lot better in the NBA than in college. His athleticism is out-of-this-world and plays tough on both ends of the floor. The only thing missing is the ability to attack the basket hard, which should be easy for NBA coaches to corral since he is such a phenomenal athlete.
So there you have it. Those are my views on the NBA world, from Los Angeles to Boston to Orlando and everywhere in between. Have a nice week and, hopefully, the Pistons can extend the series to seven games tonight.
----- -----
To any average fan, it would seem as though Kobe was the one who fueled such a comeback. However, the average fan would be wrong. This comeback was ignited while Kobe, Derek Fisher, and Lamar Odom were on the bench. Jordan Farmar had a great game, showing viewers that he definitely has a future in this league, with eight points, three assists, and a steal in only 17 minutes of playing time. Lamar Odom and Pau Gasol helped out tremendously on the boards with eight and nineteen, respectively.
For the Spurs, they saw yet another tough game for Manu Ginobili. He was nursing a bum ankle while the Lakers forced him to use his off hand on penetration to the basket. The result? Nine points on 3-for-9 shooting from the field. Another problem, which is unusual for such an experienced team, has been their inability to close out games. They had a 20-point lead in Game 1 which they also ended up losing. I can only wonder what those "tweaks" Duncan was referring to after the game will be.
In the East (or Midwest for tonight's game), the Celtics will be looking to close out the Pistons on the road in Game 6. I firmly believe this game will be going the full seven games, and Detroit will win at home tonight. However, I do not see Boston losing at home in Game 7 so either way, all those nostalgic fans will get their wish and have a nice ol' Celtics/Lakers rematch that they've been waiting for.
The key for the Pistons is none other than Rasheed Wallace. I've said it all series long, and I'll reiterate it time and again. 'Sheed is essential if Detroit wants any hope at forcing a Game 7 back in Boston. He needs to bust his ass on defense and, also, to make Kevin Garnett work on both ends of the floor by taking it hard to the basket and becoming an offensive force. In their Game 5 heartbreaking loss, Wallace scored 18 points on 6-for-12 shooting, which is a good game for him. But he didn't play his hardest on the defensive end against Garnett. He allowed KG to score 33 points on 11-for-17 shooting which, in my mind, was the simple and direct reason Boston won.
Now I'll take you much farther south in this blog to the land of NBA superstar-hopefuls in Orlando, Florida, the home of the League's annual pre-draft camp. First, I'd like to congratulate the Bulls on their superior luckiness. Next, I'd like to point out that either choice, Michael Beasley or Derrick Rose, would at least help your franchise somewhat in the future. But, in my humble opinion, Rose is the better choice. This is a Chicago team that has been looking to ship Hinrich elsewhere in order to get someone that could fill their frontcourt void. If that goes through, Rose would be the floor general and playmaker that he has proven he can be. My mock draft goes as follows:
1. Derrick Rose, PG, Chicago Bulls
2. Michael Beasley, SF, Miami Heat
3. Brook Lopez, C, Minnesota Timberwolves
4. Jerryd Bayless, SG, Seattle SuperSonics
5. Kevin Love, PF, Memphis Grizzlies
6. OJ Mayo, SF, New York Knickerbockers
7. DeAndre Jordan, C, Los Angeles Clippers
8. Eric Gordon, SG, Milwaukee Bucks
9. Darrell Arthur, PF, Charlotte Bobcats
10. Russell Westbrook, PG, New Jersey Nets
I'm not completely sold on Anthony Randolph yet, and I'm not so sure many NBA scouts are either, which is why I have him going anywhere from 11-13. I also expect Gallinari to go somewhere in the 11-13 range as I'm not buying the whole Italian/D'Antoni connection with the Knicks. I would now like to warn NBA general managers of three draft busts although, sadly, 99% of GMs don't read my blog:
OJ Mayo- His many run-ins with the law is an obvious concern, but you can't forget his selfish and conceited decision-making that appears in his game from time to time. OJ can be very turnover-prone as well when he tries to do too much on the floor. All in all, there are way too many concerns and question marks about not only his game but also his image.
Roy Hibbert- All the success he has had thus far has been due to height and great teammates. He's not athletic and doesn't have the explosive first step to attack the rim in the post. When he plays against others of his size, he tends to be outplayed. Hibbert isn't a very good rebounder for being 7'2" and will struggle tremendously at the next level.
Donte Green- Many would be attracted by his athleticism and versatility. I, however, am not so easily fooled. His shot selection is downright terrible and, for as athletic as he is, Green doesn't get to the free throw line all that much. Finally and maybe most importantly, he's afraid of contact. In the NBA, the contact is ten times that of college.
I'd also be concerned with taking players such as Anthony Randolph, Eric Gordon, and Joe Alexander. The thing I love about the NBA Draft is that for every major bust, there is always that one great steal that no one sees coming. Well, almost no one. Here are my three "steals"...
Lester Hudson- This guy will most likely go down in college basketball history as "that guy from the mid-major school who recorded a quadruple-double". Nonetheless, he would be a perfect pick for the late first round. He can play both guard positions and put the ball in the hoop all the while making himself hard to guard.
Trent Plaisted- One of the premier big men in college this past season would be a great pick in the late first or early second round come draft day. He is a fantastic rebounder and a decent scorer even though he doesn't possess the athleticism and potential of someone like DeAndre Jordan. I find it difficult to believe NBADraft.net thinks he's just another Greg Foster.
JR Giddens- He's projected as a late second rounder but will do a lot better in the NBA than in college. His athleticism is out-of-this-world and plays tough on both ends of the floor. The only thing missing is the ability to attack the basket hard, which should be easy for NBA coaches to corral since he is such a phenomenal athlete.
So there you have it. Those are my views on the NBA world, from Los Angeles to Boston to Orlando and everywhere in between. Have a nice week and, hopefully, the Pistons can extend the series to seven games tonight.
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Wednesday, April 9, 2008
The Season That Was
This is the time of year when every diehard college basketball fan is suddenly saddened. He is forced to watch the NBA, which he considers second-rate basketball viewing. Every Saturday, he misses the sound of Dickie V and Digger arguing about whom will win on that particular day. I am one of those people. I thrive on the game of college basketball. It's a necessity in my life. I guess I'll have to pay attention to my Suns now, but I'd much rather watch Duke or Memphis play.
The purpose of this blog is to recap the memories of this season. It is also to list what I believe to be some of the best players and teams in the country. But, first, I'd like to say how enjoyable this season was. Great freshmen, a lot of elite teams, and a nice cinderfella run in March. The upsets weren't as plentiful as some would hope but it was still a good tournament.
This year was chalk full of games between closely matched teams. We had the pleasure of watching #2 Duke take down #3 North Carolina. We also saw one of the most hyped regular season games ever in #1 Memphis versus #2 Tennessee. Quite recently, we watched games such as #10-seeded Davidson lose a close one to eventual champion, Kansas. But what topped them all? The National Championship game in San Antonio. The Kansas Jayhawks defeated the Memphis Tigers in a thrilling overtime event.
I am aware that many of you reading this blog also read my thirteen Game-Planning blogs I posted throughout the year. In those, I previewed 63 games. My record was 39-24 and went undefeated only one week. My bright spots had to have been picking Vanderbilt over Tennessee and Texas over the heavily-favored UCLA Bruins.
To start the lists, I will give you my Top Twenty Players from the 2007-08 college basketball season. Before you jump into that, however, check out a Bruce Pearl pregame speech...
20. Russell Westbrook, UCLA Soph. Guard. This breakout star has been possibly the biggest reason the Bruins had such a successful year. He was a stat stuffer who helped on both ends of the floor in any way he could. To not put him on this list would be wrong as he had as good a year as any of these guys save the top five or so.
Stats: 13 pts, 4 reb, 4 ast, 2 stl
19. A.J. Abrams, Texas Jr. Guard. He was the shooter that thrived off Augustin's penetration. Their weave offense was effective partly because of this guy and that is why he makes the list. He had two games with 30+ points and fourteen games in which he reached the 20-point mark.
Stats: 17 ppg, 3 rpg, 2 spg, 2 apg
18. Darrell Arthur, Kansas Soph. Forward. Last year, Arthur was playing behind a couple different big guys. This year, however, he has flourished into a top big man in the country. In the National Championship, he got Joey Dorsey in foul trouble and proceeded to dominate the game finishing with 20 points and 10 rebounds. He would have been higher if he had stayed more consistent throughout the year.
Stats: 13 ppg, 6 rpg, 1 bpg
17. Brook Lopez, Stanford Soph. Forward. The highlight of the season for Brook almost had to be the effort he put forth in the NCAA Tournament against Marquette. He put up 30 points, which included the game-winning shot. He is a very talented player but probably needs to average more rebounds per game with his kind of height. If he does, the Pac-10 better watch out.
Stats: 19 ppg, 8 rpg, 2 bpg, 79% FT%
16. Scottie Reynolds, Villanova Soph. Guard. The Virginia native was a huge factor for the Wildcats on both ends of the floor. He had eleven games with 20+ points and seven games with 3+ steals. Without him, I doubt they would have made it out of the first round of the tournament. He had a very solid game against Clemson with 21 points.
Stats: 16 ppg, 3 apg, 3 rpg, 2 spg
15. D.J. White, Indiana Sr. Forward. He was the force inside for the roller coaster ride that was the Indiana Hoosiers basketball season. White averaged a double-double per game and was possibly more valuable to the team than the fabulous freshman, Eric Gordon. The difference between the two was consistency in which the senior had the edge.
Stats: 17 ppg, 10 rpg, 2 bpg, 61% FG%
14. Ty Lawson, North Carolina Soph. Guard. The leader of one of the best fastbreaks in the nation and a key contributor to a team that made it to the Final Four before losing to the champion Jayhawks. In games that Lawson had at least five assists, the Tar Heels were undefeated. To leave him off this list would be an injustice. He deserves it and had a fantastic season. I can only hope he doesn't turn pro and stays a few more years.
Stats: 13 ppg, 5 apg, 3 rpg, 2 spg
13. Chris Lofton, Tennessee Sr. Guard. What started as a year full of Player of the Year consideration ended as a disappointment. Tennessee lost in the Sweet 16 and Lofton struggled during the beginning of the year. Nonetheless, he had a good finish to the year save the NCAA Tournament in which he averaged a paltry 10 points per game.
Stats: 16 ppg, 3 rpg, 2 apg, 38% 3p%
12. Mario Chalmers, Kansas Jr. Guard. The Final Four Most Outstanding Player comes in at #12 on my list. Some would disagree but I believe it's about right. I mean, he did have eight games in which he was held to single digits in scoring. In the tournament though, he really stepped up his game. Chalmers averaged 15 points, 3 steals, and 3 assists on the road to a National Championship.
Stats: 13 ppg, 4 apg, 3 rpg, 3 spg, 47% 3p%
11. Shan Foster, Vanderbilt Sr. Guard/Forward. Most guys who average 20 points in a tough conference will make this list. Foster was huge at times for the Commodores. He scored 20+ point in his last six regular season games including outbursts of 42 against Mississippi State and 32 against Tennessee, both tournament teams.
Stats: 20 ppg, 5 rpg, 2 apg, 47% 3p%
10. Darren Collison, UCLA Jr. Guard. After missing a couple games early in the year, he returned to lead the Bruins to a 29-4 record when he took the floor. His high point came when he hit the game-winning runner against Texas A&M in the tournament. He finished the game with 19 points. Also, Collison scored 20+ points on six occasions, all of which were victories.
Stats: 15 ppg, 4 apg, 3 rpg, 2 spg, 53% 3p%
9. Eric Gordon, Indiana Fr. Guard. He was probably one of the top five most prolific scorers in college basketball this past season but really looked like an inexperienced freshman at times and that is why he is relatively low at #9. When he was healthy, Gordon was held to single digits in scoring only once.
Stats: 21 ppg, 3 rpg, 83% FT%
8. Derrick Rose, Memphis Fr. Guard. This guy is one of the fastest and most exciting players to watch and I have had the pleasure of watching him throughout the season. His averages are extremely good for someone that young in basketball and showed poise at times during the NCAA Tournament. #8 is a good spot for him.
Stats: 15 ppg, 5 apg, 5 rpg, 47% FG%
7. Chris Douglas-Roberts, Memphis Jr. Guard. CDR was the best scorer to reach the Final Four, in my opinion. He averaged a remarkable 28 points per game in the tournament and really stepped it up when it counted. He even drew a couple box-and-ones against him which allowed his teammates to get open and score. Memphis better hope CDR stays for next season.
Stats: 18 ppg, 4 rpg, 41% 3p%, 54% FG%
6. Kevin Love, UCLA Fr. Center. Love has led the Bruins to the Final Four and has averaged a double-double along the way. Without him, I doubt UCLA makes it past the Sweet 16. Not only did he score and rebound, but he also drew double teams that opened it up for other players on his team.
Stats: 18 ppg, 11 rpg, 60% FG%, 35% 3p%
5. Luke Harangody, Notre Dame Soph. Forward. It's ironic that one of the best player in the country had his best game of the year in a losing effort. I am, of course, referring to when Gody had 40 points and 12 rebounds against Louisville. However, it should be noted that he scored in double figures every game except one this season.
Stats: 20 ppg, 11 rpg, 50% FG%
4. D.J. Augustin, Texas Soph. Guard. This player is the best point guard in college basketball. He is my choice for the Cousy Award and has reached 10 assists in a game four times this year. D.J. can also boast the fourteen times he has scored at least 20 points in a game this past season.
Stats: 19 ppg, 6 apg, 3 rpg, 38% 3p%
3. Stephen Curry, Davidson, Soph. Guard. The best scorer in the country comes in at #3. He has scored in double digits every single game and had a 7-game streak of 20+ points. Curry has also scored 35+ points in six games. His run in the NCAA Tournament was nothing short of spectacular and an argument could be made for him to appear higher on this list.
Stats: 26 ppg, 5 rpg, 3 apg, 2 spg, 44% 3p%
2. Tyler Hansbrough, North Carolina Jr. Forward. Possibly the hardest worker in the country is #2 because of how important he was to North Carolina's deep tournament run this season. He scored in double figures for points every single game he played in this season and grabbed 15+ rebounds in three games. In my opinion, Psycho T could have easily been number one on this list. It was almost a toss-up.
Stats: 23 ppg, 10 rpg, 2 spg, 81% FT%
1. Michael Beasley, Kansas State Fr. Forward. Believe it or not, this freshman's campaign was even more impressive than that of Kevin Durant last year. He scored in double digits every game except one in a loss to Xavier. Beasley even pulled down double digits in rebounding in all but four games. It's too bad he can't stay a couple more years on a college campus.
Stats: 26 ppg, 12 rpg, 2 bpg, 38% 3p%, 53% FG%
Now is the time for me to hand out the 2008 College Basketball Awards. Enjoy...
The Petey Sessoms Award: Every year, this award is presented to the relatively unknown player coming from a small conference that plays extremely well against the big schools in the NCAA Tournament. I would like to give credit to fellow FanNation member, Agganis Lives, for the idea of this award. So without any further delay, the award goes to Stephen Curry of Davidson. He averaged 32 points, 3 rebounds, 4 assists, and 3 steals in his four tournament games. The runner-ups for this award were Tyrone Brazelton and Courtney Lee, both of Western Kentucky.
The Bob Cousy Award: This is an annual award given to the best college point guard in the country. My pick, which is the same as the Basketball Hall of Fame's pick, is D.J. Augustin of Texas. I ranked him as the fourth best player in college earlier in this blog. He averaged 19 points and 6 assists this season. The runner-ups for this award are UCLA's Darren Collison, North Carolina's Ty Lawson, Memphis's Derrick Rose, and Davidson's Jason Richards.
The Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Award: This particular award goes to the most dominant big man in college basketball each year. There was a lot of competition for it this year but it rightfully is awarded to Tyler Hansbrough of North Carolina. He averaged 23 points and 10 rebounds per game this season and was never held to less than 12 points in a game. The runner-ups for this award were UCLA's Kevin Love, Notre Dame's Luke Harangody, and Indiana's D.J. White.
The Pistol Pete Award: Each year, I give this to the best scorer in college basketball. It does not necessarily go to the player with the best average though. The winner is Kansas State's Michael Beasley. He averaged 26 points per game and had thirteen games in which he scored 30 or more points. The runner-ups were Lester Hudson of UT-Martin and Stephen Curry of Davidson.
The Oscar Robertson Award: This final award goes to that player who led his team in every way possible: scoring, rebounding, passing, playing defense, etc. The winner of the Robertson Award goes to Memphis's Derrick Rose. He is the second freshman to receive an award (the other was Beasley). Rose gets this one due to his all-around good averages of 15 points, 5 assists, and 5 rebounds. The runner-ups for this award were Darren Collison and Russell Westbrook of UCLA, Mario Chalmers of Kansas, and Scottie Reynolds of Villanova.
For the final part of this blog, I give to you the Top Ten Teams of the college basketball season...
10. Xavier (30-7)- The Musketeers are tenth in my rankings after falling to UCLA in the Elite Eight. They were led by Josh Duncan (12 pts, 5 reb) and Drew Lavender (11 pts, 5 ast). I doubt they will make it this far next season due to the losses of both Duncan and Lavender. Nonetheless, they had a very good run this year and had impressive wins over Indiana, Virginia, and Dayton (twice).
9. Wisconsin (31-5) - After claiming the Big Ten Championship, the Badgers proceeded to advance to the Sweet 16 before falling to Davidson. In my opinion, they had the best team in the conference and, despite not having the most talent, won games that got them such a successful season. They were led by Brian Butch (12 pts, 7 reb), Trevon Hughes (11 pts, 3 reb, 3 ast), and Marcus Landry (11 pts, 6 reb).
8. Tennessee (31-5) - Most teams would look upon being the best team in their conference and making it to the Sweet 16 as an accomplishment. Sadly, for the Vols, this year was full of expectation and they failed to meet most of it. They were led by Chris Lofton (16 pts), Tyler Smith (14 pts, 7 reb, 3 ast), and Wayne Chism (10 pts, 6 reb).
7. Louisville (27-9) - The Cardinals, after a extremely slow start, finished the season strong and proved to be the team everyone had expected entering the year. They finished 12-3 after their sixth loss at UConn. Some of those twelve wins included Marquette, Georgetown, Pitt, Notre Dame, and Tennessee. They were led by a plethora of players including Padgett (11 pts, 5 reb), Clark (11 pts, 8 reb), Williams (11 pts, 7 reb, 5 ast), Smith (11 pts, 4 reb), and Caracter (8 pts, 5 reb).
6. Davidson (29-7) - The Wildcats had a very impressive season for one of the smallest schools in Division I. After getting ripped off and been given a 10 seed, they rallied behind sharpshooter, Stephen Curry (26 pts, 5 reb, 3 ast), and senior leader, Jason Richards (13 pts, 8 ast, 3 reb), to advance all the way to the Elite Eight before falling at the hands of eventual champion, Kansas. They finished with a perfect conference record of 20-0.
5. Texas (31-7) - The Longhorns lost their conference championship and lost their regional final. However, their season was nothing short of remarkable for what was considered to be a down year following the loss of superstar Kevin Durant. They were a guard-heavy team led by D.J. Augustin (19 pts, 6 ast), A.J. Abrams (17 pts), and Damion James (13 pts, 10 reb).
4. North Carolina (36-3) - After clinching a #1 seed in the NCAA Tournament, the Tar Heels proceeded to demolish their opponents until the Final Four was reached. They then were routed by the champion Jayhawks. They were led by Tyler Hansbrough (23 pts, 10 reb), Ty Lawson (13 pts, 5 ast, 3 reb), and Wayne Ellington (17 pts, 5 reb). North Carolina were the ACC Tournament Champions and the Charlotte Regional Champions.
3. UCLA (35-4) - Yes, I'll admit it. I picked this very team to win the NCAA Tournament. They had a good run, too, before falling short in the Final Four for the third straight year. Nonetheless, they were regional and conference champions and claimed a #1 seed in the tourney. They were led by Kevin Love (18 pts, 11 reb), Darren Collison (15 pts, 4 ast, 3 reb), Russell Westbrook (13 pts, 4 reb, 4 ast), and Josh Shipp (12 pts, 3 reb, 2 ast).
2. Memphis (38-2) - The Tigers had the most wins for a college team in history yet they didn't quite get what they wanted as they lost to Kansas in the National Championship. The Achilles' heel of this team took 39 games before it caught up to them as they gave away the game on free throws. Memphis was led by Chris Douglas-Roberts (18 pts, 4 reb), Derrick Rose (15 pts, 5 reb, 5 ast), and Joey Dorsey (7 pts, 10 reb).
1. Kansas (37-3) - National Champions. I'm pretty sure that sums up the entire season for these guys. Nothing is more gratifying than winning it all before leaving the school for either the NBA or the working world. They beat the best of the best in defeating two #1s in the tournament. They were led by Mario Chalmers (13 pts, 4 ast, 3 reb), Brandon Rush (13 pts, 5 reb), and Darrell Arthur (13 pts, 6 reb). Congratulations, Kansas.
Now, I could write a couple thousand words describing how fantastic March Madness was and recapping all the entertaining games and plays that occured. However, I think that one simple video from YouTube would bring it all together very nicely. Enjoy and have a great week!
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The purpose of this blog is to recap the memories of this season. It is also to list what I believe to be some of the best players and teams in the country. But, first, I'd like to say how enjoyable this season was. Great freshmen, a lot of elite teams, and a nice cinderfella run in March. The upsets weren't as plentiful as some would hope but it was still a good tournament.
This year was chalk full of games between closely matched teams. We had the pleasure of watching #2 Duke take down #3 North Carolina. We also saw one of the most hyped regular season games ever in #1 Memphis versus #2 Tennessee. Quite recently, we watched games such as #10-seeded Davidson lose a close one to eventual champion, Kansas. But what topped them all? The National Championship game in San Antonio. The Kansas Jayhawks defeated the Memphis Tigers in a thrilling overtime event.
I am aware that many of you reading this blog also read my thirteen Game-Planning blogs I posted throughout the year. In those, I previewed 63 games. My record was 39-24 and went undefeated only one week. My bright spots had to have been picking Vanderbilt over Tennessee and Texas over the heavily-favored UCLA Bruins.
To start the lists, I will give you my Top Twenty Players from the 2007-08 college basketball season. Before you jump into that, however, check out a Bruce Pearl pregame speech...
20. Russell Westbrook, UCLA Soph. Guard. This breakout star has been possibly the biggest reason the Bruins had such a successful year. He was a stat stuffer who helped on both ends of the floor in any way he could. To not put him on this list would be wrong as he had as good a year as any of these guys save the top five or so.
Stats: 13 pts, 4 reb, 4 ast, 2 stl
19. A.J. Abrams, Texas Jr. Guard. He was the shooter that thrived off Augustin's penetration. Their weave offense was effective partly because of this guy and that is why he makes the list. He had two games with 30+ points and fourteen games in which he reached the 20-point mark.
Stats: 17 ppg, 3 rpg, 2 spg, 2 apg
18. Darrell Arthur, Kansas Soph. Forward. Last year, Arthur was playing behind a couple different big guys. This year, however, he has flourished into a top big man in the country. In the National Championship, he got Joey Dorsey in foul trouble and proceeded to dominate the game finishing with 20 points and 10 rebounds. He would have been higher if he had stayed more consistent throughout the year.
Stats: 13 ppg, 6 rpg, 1 bpg
17. Brook Lopez, Stanford Soph. Forward. The highlight of the season for Brook almost had to be the effort he put forth in the NCAA Tournament against Marquette. He put up 30 points, which included the game-winning shot. He is a very talented player but probably needs to average more rebounds per game with his kind of height. If he does, the Pac-10 better watch out.
Stats: 19 ppg, 8 rpg, 2 bpg, 79% FT%
16. Scottie Reynolds, Villanova Soph. Guard. The Virginia native was a huge factor for the Wildcats on both ends of the floor. He had eleven games with 20+ points and seven games with 3+ steals. Without him, I doubt they would have made it out of the first round of the tournament. He had a very solid game against Clemson with 21 points.
Stats: 16 ppg, 3 apg, 3 rpg, 2 spg
15. D.J. White, Indiana Sr. Forward. He was the force inside for the roller coaster ride that was the Indiana Hoosiers basketball season. White averaged a double-double per game and was possibly more valuable to the team than the fabulous freshman, Eric Gordon. The difference between the two was consistency in which the senior had the edge.
Stats: 17 ppg, 10 rpg, 2 bpg, 61% FG%
14. Ty Lawson, North Carolina Soph. Guard. The leader of one of the best fastbreaks in the nation and a key contributor to a team that made it to the Final Four before losing to the champion Jayhawks. In games that Lawson had at least five assists, the Tar Heels were undefeated. To leave him off this list would be an injustice. He deserves it and had a fantastic season. I can only hope he doesn't turn pro and stays a few more years.
Stats: 13 ppg, 5 apg, 3 rpg, 2 spg
13. Chris Lofton, Tennessee Sr. Guard. What started as a year full of Player of the Year consideration ended as a disappointment. Tennessee lost in the Sweet 16 and Lofton struggled during the beginning of the year. Nonetheless, he had a good finish to the year save the NCAA Tournament in which he averaged a paltry 10 points per game.
Stats: 16 ppg, 3 rpg, 2 apg, 38% 3p%
12. Mario Chalmers, Kansas Jr. Guard. The Final Four Most Outstanding Player comes in at #12 on my list. Some would disagree but I believe it's about right. I mean, he did have eight games in which he was held to single digits in scoring. In the tournament though, he really stepped up his game. Chalmers averaged 15 points, 3 steals, and 3 assists on the road to a National Championship.
Stats: 13 ppg, 4 apg, 3 rpg, 3 spg, 47% 3p%
11. Shan Foster, Vanderbilt Sr. Guard/Forward. Most guys who average 20 points in a tough conference will make this list. Foster was huge at times for the Commodores. He scored 20+ point in his last six regular season games including outbursts of 42 against Mississippi State and 32 against Tennessee, both tournament teams.
Stats: 20 ppg, 5 rpg, 2 apg, 47% 3p%
10. Darren Collison, UCLA Jr. Guard. After missing a couple games early in the year, he returned to lead the Bruins to a 29-4 record when he took the floor. His high point came when he hit the game-winning runner against Texas A&M in the tournament. He finished the game with 19 points. Also, Collison scored 20+ points on six occasions, all of which were victories.
Stats: 15 ppg, 4 apg, 3 rpg, 2 spg, 53% 3p%
9. Eric Gordon, Indiana Fr. Guard. He was probably one of the top five most prolific scorers in college basketball this past season but really looked like an inexperienced freshman at times and that is why he is relatively low at #9. When he was healthy, Gordon was held to single digits in scoring only once.
Stats: 21 ppg, 3 rpg, 83% FT%
8. Derrick Rose, Memphis Fr. Guard. This guy is one of the fastest and most exciting players to watch and I have had the pleasure of watching him throughout the season. His averages are extremely good for someone that young in basketball and showed poise at times during the NCAA Tournament. #8 is a good spot for him.
Stats: 15 ppg, 5 apg, 5 rpg, 47% FG%
7. Chris Douglas-Roberts, Memphis Jr. Guard. CDR was the best scorer to reach the Final Four, in my opinion. He averaged a remarkable 28 points per game in the tournament and really stepped it up when it counted. He even drew a couple box-and-ones against him which allowed his teammates to get open and score. Memphis better hope CDR stays for next season.
Stats: 18 ppg, 4 rpg, 41% 3p%, 54% FG%
6. Kevin Love, UCLA Fr. Center. Love has led the Bruins to the Final Four and has averaged a double-double along the way. Without him, I doubt UCLA makes it past the Sweet 16. Not only did he score and rebound, but he also drew double teams that opened it up for other players on his team.
Stats: 18 ppg, 11 rpg, 60% FG%, 35% 3p%
5. Luke Harangody, Notre Dame Soph. Forward. It's ironic that one of the best player in the country had his best game of the year in a losing effort. I am, of course, referring to when Gody had 40 points and 12 rebounds against Louisville. However, it should be noted that he scored in double figures every game except one this season.
Stats: 20 ppg, 11 rpg, 50% FG%
4. D.J. Augustin, Texas Soph. Guard. This player is the best point guard in college basketball. He is my choice for the Cousy Award and has reached 10 assists in a game four times this year. D.J. can also boast the fourteen times he has scored at least 20 points in a game this past season.
Stats: 19 ppg, 6 apg, 3 rpg, 38% 3p%
3. Stephen Curry, Davidson, Soph. Guard. The best scorer in the country comes in at #3. He has scored in double digits every single game and had a 7-game streak of 20+ points. Curry has also scored 35+ points in six games. His run in the NCAA Tournament was nothing short of spectacular and an argument could be made for him to appear higher on this list.
Stats: 26 ppg, 5 rpg, 3 apg, 2 spg, 44% 3p%
2. Tyler Hansbrough, North Carolina Jr. Forward. Possibly the hardest worker in the country is #2 because of how important he was to North Carolina's deep tournament run this season. He scored in double figures for points every single game he played in this season and grabbed 15+ rebounds in three games. In my opinion, Psycho T could have easily been number one on this list. It was almost a toss-up.
Stats: 23 ppg, 10 rpg, 2 spg, 81% FT%
1. Michael Beasley, Kansas State Fr. Forward. Believe it or not, this freshman's campaign was even more impressive than that of Kevin Durant last year. He scored in double digits every game except one in a loss to Xavier. Beasley even pulled down double digits in rebounding in all but four games. It's too bad he can't stay a couple more years on a college campus.
Stats: 26 ppg, 12 rpg, 2 bpg, 38% 3p%, 53% FG%
Now is the time for me to hand out the 2008 College Basketball Awards. Enjoy...
The Petey Sessoms Award: Every year, this award is presented to the relatively unknown player coming from a small conference that plays extremely well against the big schools in the NCAA Tournament. I would like to give credit to fellow FanNation member, Agganis Lives, for the idea of this award. So without any further delay, the award goes to Stephen Curry of Davidson. He averaged 32 points, 3 rebounds, 4 assists, and 3 steals in his four tournament games. The runner-ups for this award were Tyrone Brazelton and Courtney Lee, both of Western Kentucky.
The Bob Cousy Award: This is an annual award given to the best college point guard in the country. My pick, which is the same as the Basketball Hall of Fame's pick, is D.J. Augustin of Texas. I ranked him as the fourth best player in college earlier in this blog. He averaged 19 points and 6 assists this season. The runner-ups for this award are UCLA's Darren Collison, North Carolina's Ty Lawson, Memphis's Derrick Rose, and Davidson's Jason Richards.
The Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Award: This particular award goes to the most dominant big man in college basketball each year. There was a lot of competition for it this year but it rightfully is awarded to Tyler Hansbrough of North Carolina. He averaged 23 points and 10 rebounds per game this season and was never held to less than 12 points in a game. The runner-ups for this award were UCLA's Kevin Love, Notre Dame's Luke Harangody, and Indiana's D.J. White.
The Pistol Pete Award: Each year, I give this to the best scorer in college basketball. It does not necessarily go to the player with the best average though. The winner is Kansas State's Michael Beasley. He averaged 26 points per game and had thirteen games in which he scored 30 or more points. The runner-ups were Lester Hudson of UT-Martin and Stephen Curry of Davidson.
The Oscar Robertson Award: This final award goes to that player who led his team in every way possible: scoring, rebounding, passing, playing defense, etc. The winner of the Robertson Award goes to Memphis's Derrick Rose. He is the second freshman to receive an award (the other was Beasley). Rose gets this one due to his all-around good averages of 15 points, 5 assists, and 5 rebounds. The runner-ups for this award were Darren Collison and Russell Westbrook of UCLA, Mario Chalmers of Kansas, and Scottie Reynolds of Villanova.
For the final part of this blog, I give to you the Top Ten Teams of the college basketball season...
10. Xavier (30-7)- The Musketeers are tenth in my rankings after falling to UCLA in the Elite Eight. They were led by Josh Duncan (12 pts, 5 reb) and Drew Lavender (11 pts, 5 ast). I doubt they will make it this far next season due to the losses of both Duncan and Lavender. Nonetheless, they had a very good run this year and had impressive wins over Indiana, Virginia, and Dayton (twice).
9. Wisconsin (31-5) - After claiming the Big Ten Championship, the Badgers proceeded to advance to the Sweet 16 before falling to Davidson. In my opinion, they had the best team in the conference and, despite not having the most talent, won games that got them such a successful season. They were led by Brian Butch (12 pts, 7 reb), Trevon Hughes (11 pts, 3 reb, 3 ast), and Marcus Landry (11 pts, 6 reb).
8. Tennessee (31-5) - Most teams would look upon being the best team in their conference and making it to the Sweet 16 as an accomplishment. Sadly, for the Vols, this year was full of expectation and they failed to meet most of it. They were led by Chris Lofton (16 pts), Tyler Smith (14 pts, 7 reb, 3 ast), and Wayne Chism (10 pts, 6 reb).
7. Louisville (27-9) - The Cardinals, after a extremely slow start, finished the season strong and proved to be the team everyone had expected entering the year. They finished 12-3 after their sixth loss at UConn. Some of those twelve wins included Marquette, Georgetown, Pitt, Notre Dame, and Tennessee. They were led by a plethora of players including Padgett (11 pts, 5 reb), Clark (11 pts, 8 reb), Williams (11 pts, 7 reb, 5 ast), Smith (11 pts, 4 reb), and Caracter (8 pts, 5 reb).
6. Davidson (29-7) - The Wildcats had a very impressive season for one of the smallest schools in Division I. After getting ripped off and been given a 10 seed, they rallied behind sharpshooter, Stephen Curry (26 pts, 5 reb, 3 ast), and senior leader, Jason Richards (13 pts, 8 ast, 3 reb), to advance all the way to the Elite Eight before falling at the hands of eventual champion, Kansas. They finished with a perfect conference record of 20-0.
5. Texas (31-7) - The Longhorns lost their conference championship and lost their regional final. However, their season was nothing short of remarkable for what was considered to be a down year following the loss of superstar Kevin Durant. They were a guard-heavy team led by D.J. Augustin (19 pts, 6 ast), A.J. Abrams (17 pts), and Damion James (13 pts, 10 reb).
4. North Carolina (36-3) - After clinching a #1 seed in the NCAA Tournament, the Tar Heels proceeded to demolish their opponents until the Final Four was reached. They then were routed by the champion Jayhawks. They were led by Tyler Hansbrough (23 pts, 10 reb), Ty Lawson (13 pts, 5 ast, 3 reb), and Wayne Ellington (17 pts, 5 reb). North Carolina were the ACC Tournament Champions and the Charlotte Regional Champions.
3. UCLA (35-4) - Yes, I'll admit it. I picked this very team to win the NCAA Tournament. They had a good run, too, before falling short in the Final Four for the third straight year. Nonetheless, they were regional and conference champions and claimed a #1 seed in the tourney. They were led by Kevin Love (18 pts, 11 reb), Darren Collison (15 pts, 4 ast, 3 reb), Russell Westbrook (13 pts, 4 reb, 4 ast), and Josh Shipp (12 pts, 3 reb, 2 ast).
2. Memphis (38-2) - The Tigers had the most wins for a college team in history yet they didn't quite get what they wanted as they lost to Kansas in the National Championship. The Achilles' heel of this team took 39 games before it caught up to them as they gave away the game on free throws. Memphis was led by Chris Douglas-Roberts (18 pts, 4 reb), Derrick Rose (15 pts, 5 reb, 5 ast), and Joey Dorsey (7 pts, 10 reb).
1. Kansas (37-3) - National Champions. I'm pretty sure that sums up the entire season for these guys. Nothing is more gratifying than winning it all before leaving the school for either the NBA or the working world. They beat the best of the best in defeating two #1s in the tournament. They were led by Mario Chalmers (13 pts, 4 ast, 3 reb), Brandon Rush (13 pts, 5 reb), and Darrell Arthur (13 pts, 6 reb). Congratulations, Kansas.
Now, I could write a couple thousand words describing how fantastic March Madness was and recapping all the entertaining games and plays that occured. However, I think that one simple video from YouTube would bring it all together very nicely. Enjoy and have a great week!
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Tuesday, April 8, 2008
Jayhawks Cut Down the Nets
As all of you know, Kansas defeated Memphis 75-68 in overtime last night. If you did not know that, where the hell have you been? At any rate, we got to see a nice little collapsing done by the Tigers in the last 2:12 of regulation. They were up by nine points and just needed to make their free throws to win the National Championship and go 39-1. After making all four free throws in the first two times they were fouled, Memphis shot themselves in the foot. They went 1-5 on free throws in the end of regulation and gave Kansas a chance at the end only being down by three. The Jayhawks came down and got the ball to the Most Outstanding Player, Mario Chalmers, who sank a tough three-pointer to tie the game and send it into overtime.
In the extra session, Kansas made sure they took advantage of Joey Dorsey not being in the game. Their first eight points of overtime were scored on either dunks or layups. The momentum shifted and the Kansas Jayhawks were National Champions. Now I'm about to tell you the little reasons as to why Memphis lost and why Kansas won this game.
I know Kansas was playing pretty good defense, but Derrick Rose needed to assert himself on the offensive end much earlier in the game than midway through the second half. For awhile, Rose looked as if he didn't want any part of playing in the game. He was passing up shots left and right and wasn't even attempting to drive on his man. Their somewhat large lead in the last two or three minutes was credit to his stepping up on offense when Kansas went box-and-one on Chris Douglas-Roberts.
One of Kansas's goals for the second half was to get the big guys for Memphis in serious foul trouble. They accomplished that goal. Joey Dorsey fouled out with 3:36 to go in the game. Kansas outrebounded the Tigers 11-4 for the rest of the game. I can't help but think that wouldn't have happened had Dorsey still been in there.
Next I would like to take the time to credit the Jayhawks with fantastic defense. When the shot clock was dwindling down they put enormous pressure on Memphis's offense. This caused tough shot attempts that usually did not go in. In transition, Kansas recorded a lot of steals by picking the Memphis guards' pockets. Mario Chalmers and Sherron Collins had four and three steals in the game, respectively.
The announcers kept mentioning how terrible Kansas was shooting from deep. What about Memphis? They were only two percent better. The difference, however, is that the Tigers shot TEN MORE three-pointers than the Jayhawks. Not it looks as if Kansas didn't shoot that bad considering what Memphis was doing, right? I thought Coach Cal could have gone to his bench a little more though. Only six players logged more than five minutes in the game. Last time I checked, Memphis goes a whole hell of a lot deeper than that. Mack and Kemp were the two, especially, that could have been very useful down the stretch.
Bottom line is this: the game was won and lost on coaching decisions. In my opinion, Bill Self outcoached John Calipari and that was the difference in the game. Two big things down the stretch made this clear. The first was when Memphis was up three right before Chalmers hit the game-tying three-pointer. Calipari should have had his team fouling so Kansas could only get two points. He had three timeouts; he could have used one to make it very clear to his players (Derrick Rose, I'm looking at you) that they needed to foul in that particular situation. The second thing was the strategy for the last play in regulation after Kansas tied it up with two seconds to go. They could have thrown the ball to halfcourt, which they did, AND CALLED A TIMEOUT! This would give them the chance to draw up a game-winning play from 45 feet, instead of 90.
It's not all bad for Memphis though. Derrick Rose proved that he is a freshman and will make mistakes in huge games like this. All that aside, he had a pretty fantastic end to regulation. He finished the game with a MOP-worthy 18 points, 8 assists, 6 rebounds, and 2 steals. Chris Douglas-Roberts was also sensational with a game-high 22 points. On the opposite side of this, Darrell Arthur was fantastic scoring 20 points for the winners. Chalmers, Brandon Rush, and Sherron Collins all finished in double figures for scoring.
So congratulations to the Kansas Jayhawks and to Bill Self for coaching a great game and having his players ready to go. Congratulations to the Memphis Tigers on a successful season. 38-2 is nothing to be ashamed of. I'll have a blog coming out later this week with team and player ranking to finish the season. Have a good week!
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Poll Results: When asked who would win the Charlotte Regional, 50% of voters were right in saying North Carolina would come out victorious. The other 50% said Tennessee would win it. They were, in fact, wrong.
In the extra session, Kansas made sure they took advantage of Joey Dorsey not being in the game. Their first eight points of overtime were scored on either dunks or layups. The momentum shifted and the Kansas Jayhawks were National Champions. Now I'm about to tell you the little reasons as to why Memphis lost and why Kansas won this game.
I know Kansas was playing pretty good defense, but Derrick Rose needed to assert himself on the offensive end much earlier in the game than midway through the second half. For awhile, Rose looked as if he didn't want any part of playing in the game. He was passing up shots left and right and wasn't even attempting to drive on his man. Their somewhat large lead in the last two or three minutes was credit to his stepping up on offense when Kansas went box-and-one on Chris Douglas-Roberts.
One of Kansas's goals for the second half was to get the big guys for Memphis in serious foul trouble. They accomplished that goal. Joey Dorsey fouled out with 3:36 to go in the game. Kansas outrebounded the Tigers 11-4 for the rest of the game. I can't help but think that wouldn't have happened had Dorsey still been in there.
Next I would like to take the time to credit the Jayhawks with fantastic defense. When the shot clock was dwindling down they put enormous pressure on Memphis's offense. This caused tough shot attempts that usually did not go in. In transition, Kansas recorded a lot of steals by picking the Memphis guards' pockets. Mario Chalmers and Sherron Collins had four and three steals in the game, respectively.
The announcers kept mentioning how terrible Kansas was shooting from deep. What about Memphis? They were only two percent better. The difference, however, is that the Tigers shot TEN MORE three-pointers than the Jayhawks. Not it looks as if Kansas didn't shoot that bad considering what Memphis was doing, right? I thought Coach Cal could have gone to his bench a little more though. Only six players logged more than five minutes in the game. Last time I checked, Memphis goes a whole hell of a lot deeper than that. Mack and Kemp were the two, especially, that could have been very useful down the stretch.
Bottom line is this: the game was won and lost on coaching decisions. In my opinion, Bill Self outcoached John Calipari and that was the difference in the game. Two big things down the stretch made this clear. The first was when Memphis was up three right before Chalmers hit the game-tying three-pointer. Calipari should have had his team fouling so Kansas could only get two points. He had three timeouts; he could have used one to make it very clear to his players (Derrick Rose, I'm looking at you) that they needed to foul in that particular situation. The second thing was the strategy for the last play in regulation after Kansas tied it up with two seconds to go. They could have thrown the ball to halfcourt, which they did, AND CALLED A TIMEOUT! This would give them the chance to draw up a game-winning play from 45 feet, instead of 90.
It's not all bad for Memphis though. Derrick Rose proved that he is a freshman and will make mistakes in huge games like this. All that aside, he had a pretty fantastic end to regulation. He finished the game with a MOP-worthy 18 points, 8 assists, 6 rebounds, and 2 steals. Chris Douglas-Roberts was also sensational with a game-high 22 points. On the opposite side of this, Darrell Arthur was fantastic scoring 20 points for the winners. Chalmers, Brandon Rush, and Sherron Collins all finished in double figures for scoring.
So congratulations to the Kansas Jayhawks and to Bill Self for coaching a great game and having his players ready to go. Congratulations to the Memphis Tigers on a successful season. 38-2 is nothing to be ashamed of. I'll have a blog coming out later this week with team and player ranking to finish the season. Have a good week!
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Poll Results: When asked who would win the Charlotte Regional, 50% of voters were right in saying North Carolina would come out victorious. The other 50% said Tennessee would win it. They were, in fact, wrong.
Sunday, February 24, 2008
Volunteers On Top
As almost all of you probably already know, Tennessee defeated Memphis 66-62 last night as the #2 team in the nation upset the undefeated #1 team. Coming into the game, all of America was thinking that the Tigers had the rebounding edge in the game. Shockingly, they were outrebounded by Tennessee 46-31 as JaJuan Smith and J.P. Prince led the way with 10 and 8 rebounds, respectively.
You know, there's a saying: live by the three, die by the three. I would say that's what happened to Memphis in the game. They started the game 7 of 11 from deep, but somehow they only had a two or three possession lead over the Vols. Bruce Pearl had the perfect gameplan. It was to pack it in with a 2-3 zone so Memphis couldn't drive. He was relying on his team's ability to hold off the Tigers' initial shooting surge and just stay in the game. They did and when Memphis went cold, Tennessee took over the game.
Memphis really struggled from the line...more than usual. They shot a horrendous 47% from the charity stripe. There are a couple of positives that Memphis can take from this game though. They shot terribly in the second half. They missed a ton of free throws. They didn't execute. They didn't rebound like they normally do. But somehow, someway it was still a one or two possession game down the stretch. If the Tigers play to their full potential, there is not one team in the country that can beat them.
The Tigers definitely proved that they can shut down any top scorer in the country. Their defense on Chris Lofton was nothing short of spectacular. They held him to seven points on 2-11 shooting and didn't even let him make one three. I would also like to comment on J.P. Prince. He was the spark off the bench that Tennessee needed. I've seen him have two great games so far this season and his 13 points and 8 rebounds against the #1 team in the nation was amazing. Derrick Rose, playing in the first huge game of his career, came up huge for Memphis. He started the game making two three-pointers and continued that to finish with 23 points, 5 rebounds, 5 assists, and 4 steals in 31 minutes of play. Chris Douglas-Roberts also had a decent game with 14 points, 4 rebounds, 2 assists, and 3 steals.
The player of the game has to be, in my opinion, Tyler Smith of Tennessee. He ended up with 16 points, 6 rebounds, and 3 steals. Most important of those 16 points were the two recorded on a turnaround jumper with thirty seconds left to play in the game. In my opinion, he was the key in keeping the Vols in the game when Memphis was shooting the ball so well in the first half.
The last two things I would like to mention are free throw shooting and Doneal Mack. With the free throws, Tennessee was 4-4 in the last five minutes while Memphis was ony 1-5 in that same time period. Ironic considering what Coach Calipari was quoted as saying before the game which was basically him telling the media that Memphis will make their free throws down the stretch and that free throws is not a concern with the team. What is he watching? They were terrible from the line against UAB down the stretch as well! Finally, I'd like to talk about the bad shooting game that Memphis's "sharpshooter", Doneal Mack, had. He couldn't get his shot going for his life. He was 0-6 on field goals and 0-5 from the field.
That's all I have to say about this game. Congrats, Tennessee but I still think Memphis will be the team to beat in March. The Volunteers are #1 for the first time in men's basketball history and Memphis's home winning streak (the longest in the country) has come to an end.
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You know, there's a saying: live by the three, die by the three. I would say that's what happened to Memphis in the game. They started the game 7 of 11 from deep, but somehow they only had a two or three possession lead over the Vols. Bruce Pearl had the perfect gameplan. It was to pack it in with a 2-3 zone so Memphis couldn't drive. He was relying on his team's ability to hold off the Tigers' initial shooting surge and just stay in the game. They did and when Memphis went cold, Tennessee took over the game.
Memphis really struggled from the line...more than usual. They shot a horrendous 47% from the charity stripe. There are a couple of positives that Memphis can take from this game though. They shot terribly in the second half. They missed a ton of free throws. They didn't execute. They didn't rebound like they normally do. But somehow, someway it was still a one or two possession game down the stretch. If the Tigers play to their full potential, there is not one team in the country that can beat them.
The Tigers definitely proved that they can shut down any top scorer in the country. Their defense on Chris Lofton was nothing short of spectacular. They held him to seven points on 2-11 shooting and didn't even let him make one three. I would also like to comment on J.P. Prince. He was the spark off the bench that Tennessee needed. I've seen him have two great games so far this season and his 13 points and 8 rebounds against the #1 team in the nation was amazing. Derrick Rose, playing in the first huge game of his career, came up huge for Memphis. He started the game making two three-pointers and continued that to finish with 23 points, 5 rebounds, 5 assists, and 4 steals in 31 minutes of play. Chris Douglas-Roberts also had a decent game with 14 points, 4 rebounds, 2 assists, and 3 steals.
The player of the game has to be, in my opinion, Tyler Smith of Tennessee. He ended up with 16 points, 6 rebounds, and 3 steals. Most important of those 16 points were the two recorded on a turnaround jumper with thirty seconds left to play in the game. In my opinion, he was the key in keeping the Vols in the game when Memphis was shooting the ball so well in the first half.
The last two things I would like to mention are free throw shooting and Doneal Mack. With the free throws, Tennessee was 4-4 in the last five minutes while Memphis was ony 1-5 in that same time period. Ironic considering what Coach Calipari was quoted as saying before the game which was basically him telling the media that Memphis will make their free throws down the stretch and that free throws is not a concern with the team. What is he watching? They were terrible from the line against UAB down the stretch as well! Finally, I'd like to talk about the bad shooting game that Memphis's "sharpshooter", Doneal Mack, had. He couldn't get his shot going for his life. He was 0-6 on field goals and 0-5 from the field.
That's all I have to say about this game. Congrats, Tennessee but I still think Memphis will be the team to beat in March. The Volunteers are #1 for the first time in men's basketball history and Memphis's home winning streak (the longest in the country) has come to an end.
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Saturday, January 5, 2008
The Good & The Bad of The Top 8
So here I was at my computer. Sitting. I was trying so very hard to think a good blog idea that people will read. Then it hit me. Break down what's good and what's bad about the AP Top 8. However, some may have opened this thinking I was referring to college football. I am most certainly not. I'm talking basketball. You can leave this page. Now, for those of you who actually want to read this blog, continue on. But, first, here are the eight teams that will face my criticism.
1. North Carolina Tar Heels (14-0; 1,772 votes)
2. Memphis Tigers (12-0; 1,744 votes)
3. Kansas Jayhawks (13-0; 1,667 votes)
4. Washington State Cougars (12-0; 1,534 votes)
5. UCLA Bruins (13-1; 1,499 votes)
6. Michigan State Spartans (12-1; 1,419 votes)
7. Georgetown Hoyas (10-1; 1,324 votes)
8. Tennessee Volunteers (12-1; 1,259 votes)
I'll start with number eight and work my way down the list in descending order.
#8 Tennessee Volunteers
Key Players: Chris Lofton (15 pts, 4 reb, 3 ast), J.P. Prince (14 pts, 4 reb, 3 ast), Tyler Smith (13 pts, 6 reb, 4 ast).
The Good: It's truly a collective effort with this group. They have six players averaging at least 8 points per game, and eight players are averaging at least 18 minutes of playing time. This all indicates that Bruce Pearl is getting his players to buy into the kind of system he wants them to play, which is to pressure the team on defense and run with the ball when they get it. After suffering a 19-point loss to #16 Texas, Tennessee has won seven straight games with wins over Xavier and Gonzaga. They have a couple tough tests coming up with Mississippi, Vanderbilt, and Ohio State.
The Bad: Chris Lofton is not playing the basketball he's capable of playing out on the court. His sophomore and junior seasons were successful when he averaged 17 and 21 points, respectively. However, there has been a significant drop-off and he's averaging only 15. He has had four games with ten or less points. He only had four all of last season, two of which came when he was injured. Next is the problem I have with their frontcourt. Their "big guy" down low is only 6'9", and he's only averaging five rebounds. Their next tallest guy is Tyler Smith who, at 6'7", is putting up decent numbers but still lacks the great rebounding total (his average is 6). That will kill them against a good rebounding team like Mississippi.
March Forecast: I see this team making a run to the Sweet 16, but not much farther than that. As I mentioned earlier, they just don't have a good interior player.
#7 Georgetown Hoyas
Key Players: DaJuan Summers (13 pts, 6 reb, 2 ast), Roy Hibbert (12 pts, 6 reb, 2 ast), Jonathan Wallace (10 pts, 2 reb, 3 ast).
The Good: The Hoyas are 11-1 and look ready to run the table in the Big East, as long as Pitt stays out of their way. They are 7-0 at home this season and have very good depth with nine players averaging at least 18 minutes of play per game. Patrick Ewing Jr. has been playing pretty well as of late as well. In the big game with Memphis, he posted a nice stat line of 10 points, 4 rebounds, 1 assist, and 1 steal. His problem? Shooting from the outside. Back to the team as a whole though, Georgetown has outscored their opponents by an average of 73-52 since the loss to Memphis.
The Bad: The have played a weak schedule so far with the exception of Memphis, whom they lost to. Roy Hibbert was downright terrible in that game as well with only 6 points, 6 rebounds, 0 free throws attempted, 3 turnovers, and 4 personal fouls. Of the top 8 teams, I think Georgetown is the second weakest behind Washington State. I watched the entire game against the Tigers, and NOT ONE player stepped up for them at the end. They don't have a go-to player, and, in my humble opinion, Roy Hibbert is overrated.
March Forecast: Not much more than a Sweet 16 for this team. I wouldn't be the least bit surprised if they got knocked off in one of the early rounds.
#6 Michigan State Spartans
Key Players: Raymar Morgan (18 pts, 7 reb, 2 ast), Drew Neitzel (14 pts, 3 reb, 5 ast).
The Good: Raymar Morgan has emerged as a threat down low and has combined with Neitzel to form one of the better inside-outside combinations in the country. They've had a couple good wins as well, which include beating Texas, BYU, and NC State. They lost to highly-ranked UCLA by only five points. They have a very good chance at winnning the Big Ten with their biggest opponents being Indiana and Wisconsin. Goran Suton is doing a decent job for the Spartans on the boards, averaging 8 rebounds per game to go along with his 9 points.
The Bad: If Morgan or Neitzel has a rough game, then the team may be in serious trouble. Against Kevin Love and UCLA, Morgan went for only 10 points and 2 rebounds, well below his season averages. They lost that game. It's their major area of concern when they lean so heavily on two players like that.
March Forecast: This team is definitely capable of getting to the Elite 8, depending on the draw. They may even sneak into the Final Four. Now winning when they get that far? It most likely will not happen because teams with good big men will start to shut down Morgan.
#5 UCLA Bruins
Key Players: Kevin Love (17 pts, 10 reb, 2 ast), Josh Shipp (15 pts, 3 reb, 3 ast), Russell Westbrook (12 pts, 3 reb, 6 ast).
The Good: What's not to "love"? (pun not intended) The Bruins have impressive wins over Michigan State, Stanford, Cal, Davidson, and Maryland, all of which may be dancing come March. They have a big game coming up against #4 Washington State. It will be a tough test and will prove how serious of contenders they are. More good news is that this team has recovered from most of the injuries they had earlier in the season. Darren Collison is back averaging 12 points, 3 rebounds, and 4 assists. UCLA has eight players averaging at least 18 minutes of PT, and five players are averaging double figures in points.
The Bad: This team falters once in awhile from behind the arc. Against Texas, the shot a whopping 29% from deep. The inexperienced Love also has trouble in big games, which is natural for freshmen like himself. He had only 11 points and 5 rebounds in the game. Another underclassman, Westbrook, had trouble scoring only 7 points and 2 rebounds. These young guys for UCLA have trouble when the games become more meaningful. I just hope for their sake they don't crumble at the end of the season when even more pressure is put on them.
March Forecast: This team is very skilled, and I'd say they are a Elite 8/Final Four team depending, of course, on who stays healthy and who responds well at the end of games.
#4 Washington State Cougars
Key Players: Derrick Low (13 pts, 2 reb, 1 ast), Kyle Weaver (12 pts, 5 reb, 4 ast), Aron Baynes (12 pts, 7 reb).
The Good: The Cougars have six players logging a lot of minutes for them right now (22+). All six are averaging at least 9 points per game. They are riding a 13-game winning streak (they're undefeated) and have posted wins over Washington and Gonzaga to name a few. The have two big games coming up against USC and UCLA. As a team, Washington State shoots 77% from the line, 34% from deep, and 50% from the field, all of which are decent numbers. They defeat their opponents by an average score of 69-50. The Cougars have held their opponents under 50 points seven times in thirteen games, which is a credit to their defense. They average 7 steals and 4 blocks per game.
The Bad: Their cupcake schedule will be the downfall of them. They've been playing teams like Boise State, Mississippi Valley State, Baylor, Portland State, Citadel, North Carolina A&T, etc. They could quite possibly lose four of their next five games and fall tremendously in the rankings. Washington State has one, maybe two, good teams they've played, and they've only won by an average of four points.
March Forecast: The Sweet 16 will be as far as this team will go. Struggling with teams like Air Force and Baylor, the Cougars can't compete with the powerhouses of tough conferences.
#3 Kansas Jayhawks
Key Players: Darrell Arthur (14 pts, 6 reb, 1 ast), Darnell Jackson (13 pts, 7 reb, 1 ast), Mario Chalmers (12 pts, 3 reb, 5 ast).
The Good: Kansas is 14-0 and have wins over Arizona, USC, Georgia Tech, and Boston College. They've won those games by an average of ten points. They also have depth. Eight Jayhawks average 17+ minutes of playing time. Kansas also averages 11 steals and 6 blocks per game. They shoot 39% from deep and 53% from the field. And, finally, they've scored 85 points or more in nine of their fourteen games. This team can put the ball in the basket better than a lot of teams that are ranked this high.
The Bad: Free throw shooting is crucial come tournament time. Kansas shoots just 64% from the charity stripe. Darrell Arthur averages a horrid 3.1 turnovers to every assist. Darnell Jackson and Sasha Kaun aren't much better. Back to the free throw concern though, their best player at shooting them is Brandon Rush...at 76%. They haven't one guy that they can depend on to sink free throws at the end of games. This problem will be the death of the team.
March Forecast: Elite 8 or a Final Four is where this team will probably be at the end of March. However, as I mentioned earlier, they won't make it to the National Title Game because of their free throw shooting.
#2 Memphis Tigers
Key Players: Chris Douglas-Roberts (17 pts, 5 reb, 2 ast), Derrick Rose (14 pts, 5 reb, 5 ast), Joey Dorsey (8 pts, 10 reb, 1 ast).
The Good: This team may very well be the most talented team in the entire nation. They may also be the best team in the nation. The Tigers go about 9 or 10 deep, but they'd almost have to with the frenetic pace that they play at. It's hard enough for teams to keep up with them, let alone actually beating them at the end of the game when Memphis still has fresh legs coming in and the other team is tired. They shoot a lot of three-pointers and are decent at making them with 37% of them making it through the hoop. Memphis averages 9 steals and 7 blocks per game, which have only helped them to their fantastic 13-0 start. Of all the undefeated teams left, I think they have the best shot of anyone at going the distance undefeated. The Tigers have had impressive wins over Oklahoma (by 10), UConn (by 11), USC (by 4), Georgetown (by 14), and Arizona (by 13).
The Bad: Free throw shooting should be a major concern of John Calipari. His team shoots an absolutely abysmal 57% from the line. Their best is Doneal Mack with 75%. However, NOT ONE other person on the team shoots even 70%. The only other possible problem for Memphis is the incredibly weak conference schedule. They play in Conference-USA, which doesn't boast many top teams, yet they have managed nice wins over tough teams in their non-conference schedule.
March Forecast: The Final Four and beyond for Memphis. They are definitely one of the two best teams in the country. After watching the Clemson vs. North Carolina game recently, it's very possible to say they are the BEST team in the country.
#1 North Carolina Tar Heels
Key Players: Tyler Hansbrough (22 pts, 10 reb, 1 ast), Wayne Ellington (18 pts, 4 reb, 2 ast), Ty Lawson (13 pts, 3 reb, 6 ast).
The Good: If not for the loss of Bobby Frasor, I may be even more excited about the chances this team has at a national title. With the scare that was provided to UNC by Clemson recently, I think this makes the Tar Heels even more dangerous when March rolls around. They've proved that they can come through in the clutch. North Carolina basically has six players that receive most of the playing time and contribute most of the scoring. As a team, they shoot 38% from deep, 74% from the line, and 50% from the field. Danny Green and Wayne Ellington are the ones you need to watch out for when they spot up from deep during a game. North Carolina has beaten, most notably, Davidson, BYU, Ohio State, Valparaiso, and Clemson. However, none of those teams are currently ranked with the exception of Clemson.
The Bad: They've had a weak non-conference schedule as they have faced a total of ZERO ranked teams. They also are without the services of Bobby Frasor, as I mentioned earlier. If Lawson gets in foul trouble, they don't have a reliable backup point guard to go to. Those are my only two worries with this deep, well-coached, and experienced Tar Heel team.
March Forecast: Anything less than being at the Final Four will be a huge disappointment for this team. I don't see them falling out early in March either.
That's all I have to say in regards to the main premise of this blog. But I'm not done, and you should definitely not stop reading this blog. I will now talk about my overly premature Final Four picks. It's very early, but I'll go with North Carolina and Memphis as the sure ones. I'll put Kansas in their as well. For the fourth spot, I don't think it will be anyone else that was mentioned in this blog. It may be UCLA or Michigan State, but I'll go with the Texas Longhorns. D.J. Augustin and A.J. Abrams make this one of the tougher backcourts to defend in the country. For more on the very impressive Clemson/UNC game, click on this link. Have a good day!
Poll Result- 60% of voters thought that Pitt would make it as far as the Sweet 16 in the NCAA Tournament this year while 20% thought they would lose in the 1st or 2nd round. Also worth mentioning is the 20% that thinks the Panthers are going to make it to the Final Four this season.
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1. North Carolina Tar Heels (14-0; 1,772 votes)
2. Memphis Tigers (12-0; 1,744 votes)
3. Kansas Jayhawks (13-0; 1,667 votes)
4. Washington State Cougars (12-0; 1,534 votes)
5. UCLA Bruins (13-1; 1,499 votes)
6. Michigan State Spartans (12-1; 1,419 votes)
7. Georgetown Hoyas (10-1; 1,324 votes)
8. Tennessee Volunteers (12-1; 1,259 votes)
I'll start with number eight and work my way down the list in descending order.
#8 Tennessee Volunteers
Key Players: Chris Lofton (15 pts, 4 reb, 3 ast), J.P. Prince (14 pts, 4 reb, 3 ast), Tyler Smith (13 pts, 6 reb, 4 ast).
The Good: It's truly a collective effort with this group. They have six players averaging at least 8 points per game, and eight players are averaging at least 18 minutes of playing time. This all indicates that Bruce Pearl is getting his players to buy into the kind of system he wants them to play, which is to pressure the team on defense and run with the ball when they get it. After suffering a 19-point loss to #16 Texas, Tennessee has won seven straight games with wins over Xavier and Gonzaga. They have a couple tough tests coming up with Mississippi, Vanderbilt, and Ohio State.
The Bad: Chris Lofton is not playing the basketball he's capable of playing out on the court. His sophomore and junior seasons were successful when he averaged 17 and 21 points, respectively. However, there has been a significant drop-off and he's averaging only 15. He has had four games with ten or less points. He only had four all of last season, two of which came when he was injured. Next is the problem I have with their frontcourt. Their "big guy" down low is only 6'9", and he's only averaging five rebounds. Their next tallest guy is Tyler Smith who, at 6'7", is putting up decent numbers but still lacks the great rebounding total (his average is 6). That will kill them against a good rebounding team like Mississippi.
March Forecast: I see this team making a run to the Sweet 16, but not much farther than that. As I mentioned earlier, they just don't have a good interior player.
#7 Georgetown Hoyas
Key Players: DaJuan Summers (13 pts, 6 reb, 2 ast), Roy Hibbert (12 pts, 6 reb, 2 ast), Jonathan Wallace (10 pts, 2 reb, 3 ast).
The Good: The Hoyas are 11-1 and look ready to run the table in the Big East, as long as Pitt stays out of their way. They are 7-0 at home this season and have very good depth with nine players averaging at least 18 minutes of play per game. Patrick Ewing Jr. has been playing pretty well as of late as well. In the big game with Memphis, he posted a nice stat line of 10 points, 4 rebounds, 1 assist, and 1 steal. His problem? Shooting from the outside. Back to the team as a whole though, Georgetown has outscored their opponents by an average of 73-52 since the loss to Memphis.
The Bad: The have played a weak schedule so far with the exception of Memphis, whom they lost to. Roy Hibbert was downright terrible in that game as well with only 6 points, 6 rebounds, 0 free throws attempted, 3 turnovers, and 4 personal fouls. Of the top 8 teams, I think Georgetown is the second weakest behind Washington State. I watched the entire game against the Tigers, and NOT ONE player stepped up for them at the end. They don't have a go-to player, and, in my humble opinion, Roy Hibbert is overrated.
March Forecast: Not much more than a Sweet 16 for this team. I wouldn't be the least bit surprised if they got knocked off in one of the early rounds.
#6 Michigan State Spartans
Key Players: Raymar Morgan (18 pts, 7 reb, 2 ast), Drew Neitzel (14 pts, 3 reb, 5 ast).
The Good: Raymar Morgan has emerged as a threat down low and has combined with Neitzel to form one of the better inside-outside combinations in the country. They've had a couple good wins as well, which include beating Texas, BYU, and NC State. They lost to highly-ranked UCLA by only five points. They have a very good chance at winnning the Big Ten with their biggest opponents being Indiana and Wisconsin. Goran Suton is doing a decent job for the Spartans on the boards, averaging 8 rebounds per game to go along with his 9 points.
The Bad: If Morgan or Neitzel has a rough game, then the team may be in serious trouble. Against Kevin Love and UCLA, Morgan went for only 10 points and 2 rebounds, well below his season averages. They lost that game. It's their major area of concern when they lean so heavily on two players like that.
March Forecast: This team is definitely capable of getting to the Elite 8, depending on the draw. They may even sneak into the Final Four. Now winning when they get that far? It most likely will not happen because teams with good big men will start to shut down Morgan.
#5 UCLA Bruins
Key Players: Kevin Love (17 pts, 10 reb, 2 ast), Josh Shipp (15 pts, 3 reb, 3 ast), Russell Westbrook (12 pts, 3 reb, 6 ast).
The Good: What's not to "love"? (pun not intended) The Bruins have impressive wins over Michigan State, Stanford, Cal, Davidson, and Maryland, all of which may be dancing come March. They have a big game coming up against #4 Washington State. It will be a tough test and will prove how serious of contenders they are. More good news is that this team has recovered from most of the injuries they had earlier in the season. Darren Collison is back averaging 12 points, 3 rebounds, and 4 assists. UCLA has eight players averaging at least 18 minutes of PT, and five players are averaging double figures in points.
The Bad: This team falters once in awhile from behind the arc. Against Texas, the shot a whopping 29% from deep. The inexperienced Love also has trouble in big games, which is natural for freshmen like himself. He had only 11 points and 5 rebounds in the game. Another underclassman, Westbrook, had trouble scoring only 7 points and 2 rebounds. These young guys for UCLA have trouble when the games become more meaningful. I just hope for their sake they don't crumble at the end of the season when even more pressure is put on them.
March Forecast: This team is very skilled, and I'd say they are a Elite 8/Final Four team depending, of course, on who stays healthy and who responds well at the end of games.
#4 Washington State Cougars
Key Players: Derrick Low (13 pts, 2 reb, 1 ast), Kyle Weaver (12 pts, 5 reb, 4 ast), Aron Baynes (12 pts, 7 reb).
The Good: The Cougars have six players logging a lot of minutes for them right now (22+). All six are averaging at least 9 points per game. They are riding a 13-game winning streak (they're undefeated) and have posted wins over Washington and Gonzaga to name a few. The have two big games coming up against USC and UCLA. As a team, Washington State shoots 77% from the line, 34% from deep, and 50% from the field, all of which are decent numbers. They defeat their opponents by an average score of 69-50. The Cougars have held their opponents under 50 points seven times in thirteen games, which is a credit to their defense. They average 7 steals and 4 blocks per game.
The Bad: Their cupcake schedule will be the downfall of them. They've been playing teams like Boise State, Mississippi Valley State, Baylor, Portland State, Citadel, North Carolina A&T, etc. They could quite possibly lose four of their next five games and fall tremendously in the rankings. Washington State has one, maybe two, good teams they've played, and they've only won by an average of four points.
March Forecast: The Sweet 16 will be as far as this team will go. Struggling with teams like Air Force and Baylor, the Cougars can't compete with the powerhouses of tough conferences.
#3 Kansas Jayhawks
Key Players: Darrell Arthur (14 pts, 6 reb, 1 ast), Darnell Jackson (13 pts, 7 reb, 1 ast), Mario Chalmers (12 pts, 3 reb, 5 ast).
The Good: Kansas is 14-0 and have wins over Arizona, USC, Georgia Tech, and Boston College. They've won those games by an average of ten points. They also have depth. Eight Jayhawks average 17+ minutes of playing time. Kansas also averages 11 steals and 6 blocks per game. They shoot 39% from deep and 53% from the field. And, finally, they've scored 85 points or more in nine of their fourteen games. This team can put the ball in the basket better than a lot of teams that are ranked this high.
The Bad: Free throw shooting is crucial come tournament time. Kansas shoots just 64% from the charity stripe. Darrell Arthur averages a horrid 3.1 turnovers to every assist. Darnell Jackson and Sasha Kaun aren't much better. Back to the free throw concern though, their best player at shooting them is Brandon Rush...at 76%. They haven't one guy that they can depend on to sink free throws at the end of games. This problem will be the death of the team.
March Forecast: Elite 8 or a Final Four is where this team will probably be at the end of March. However, as I mentioned earlier, they won't make it to the National Title Game because of their free throw shooting.
#2 Memphis Tigers
Key Players: Chris Douglas-Roberts (17 pts, 5 reb, 2 ast), Derrick Rose (14 pts, 5 reb, 5 ast), Joey Dorsey (8 pts, 10 reb, 1 ast).
The Good: This team may very well be the most talented team in the entire nation. They may also be the best team in the nation. The Tigers go about 9 or 10 deep, but they'd almost have to with the frenetic pace that they play at. It's hard enough for teams to keep up with them, let alone actually beating them at the end of the game when Memphis still has fresh legs coming in and the other team is tired. They shoot a lot of three-pointers and are decent at making them with 37% of them making it through the hoop. Memphis averages 9 steals and 7 blocks per game, which have only helped them to their fantastic 13-0 start. Of all the undefeated teams left, I think they have the best shot of anyone at going the distance undefeated. The Tigers have had impressive wins over Oklahoma (by 10), UConn (by 11), USC (by 4), Georgetown (by 14), and Arizona (by 13).
The Bad: Free throw shooting should be a major concern of John Calipari. His team shoots an absolutely abysmal 57% from the line. Their best is Doneal Mack with 75%. However, NOT ONE other person on the team shoots even 70%. The only other possible problem for Memphis is the incredibly weak conference schedule. They play in Conference-USA, which doesn't boast many top teams, yet they have managed nice wins over tough teams in their non-conference schedule.
March Forecast: The Final Four and beyond for Memphis. They are definitely one of the two best teams in the country. After watching the Clemson vs. North Carolina game recently, it's very possible to say they are the BEST team in the country.
#1 North Carolina Tar Heels
Key Players: Tyler Hansbrough (22 pts, 10 reb, 1 ast), Wayne Ellington (18 pts, 4 reb, 2 ast), Ty Lawson (13 pts, 3 reb, 6 ast).
The Good: If not for the loss of Bobby Frasor, I may be even more excited about the chances this team has at a national title. With the scare that was provided to UNC by Clemson recently, I think this makes the Tar Heels even more dangerous when March rolls around. They've proved that they can come through in the clutch. North Carolina basically has six players that receive most of the playing time and contribute most of the scoring. As a team, they shoot 38% from deep, 74% from the line, and 50% from the field. Danny Green and Wayne Ellington are the ones you need to watch out for when they spot up from deep during a game. North Carolina has beaten, most notably, Davidson, BYU, Ohio State, Valparaiso, and Clemson. However, none of those teams are currently ranked with the exception of Clemson.
The Bad: They've had a weak non-conference schedule as they have faced a total of ZERO ranked teams. They also are without the services of Bobby Frasor, as I mentioned earlier. If Lawson gets in foul trouble, they don't have a reliable backup point guard to go to. Those are my only two worries with this deep, well-coached, and experienced Tar Heel team.
March Forecast: Anything less than being at the Final Four will be a huge disappointment for this team. I don't see them falling out early in March either.
That's all I have to say in regards to the main premise of this blog. But I'm not done, and you should definitely not stop reading this blog. I will now talk about my overly premature Final Four picks. It's very early, but I'll go with North Carolina and Memphis as the sure ones. I'll put Kansas in their as well. For the fourth spot, I don't think it will be anyone else that was mentioned in this blog. It may be UCLA or Michigan State, but I'll go with the Texas Longhorns. D.J. Augustin and A.J. Abrams make this one of the tougher backcourts to defend in the country. For more on the very impressive Clemson/UNC game, click on this link. Have a good day!
Poll Result- 60% of voters thought that Pitt would make it as far as the Sweet 16 in the NCAA Tournament this year while 20% thought they would lose in the 1st or 2nd round. Also worth mentioning is the 20% that thinks the Panthers are going to make it to the Final Four this season.
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Thursday, December 13, 2007
Game-Planning 5
College basketball is starting to heat up. For all of you not paying attention, you should start...now! The games this week? Ehh, they're okay. Not the greatest week but a week of basketball nonetheless. Highlighting this week will be a top ten matchup, a game you should watch but probably don't know much about, and (for all you East Coasters) a game far, far away that is worthy of attention.
1st Quarter- Kansas at Georgia Tech
Winner: Kansas
Why They'll Win: Yes, I know picking the number 3-ranked team in the nation to beat an unranked team, but it should be a decent game. The Jayhawks are led by Darrell Arthur (14 pts, 5 reb), Mario Chalmers (12 pts, 4 reb, 5 ast), and Darnell Jackson (11 pts, 7 reb), who has emerged as the leading rebounder for Kansas. Interesting for Kansas is their depth. They have eight guys averaging 18+ minutes per game and another player getting a solid 13 minutes each game. The Jayhawks' biggest win to date has been over USC, which they won by four points. Currently, they sit at 9-0. Georgia Tech is 4-4. A lousy record, yes, but they aren't too shabby. They only lost to #15 Indiana by four points and have posted a win over Notre Dame. The Yellow Jackets are headed by Anthony Morrow (16 pts, 6 reb), Lewis Clinch (14 pts, 2 reb, 3 ast), and Jeremis Smith (10 pts, 7 reb, 3 ast).
When To Watch: Tuesday, December 18th at 7pm eastern time on ESPN.
2nd Quarter- Arizona at UNLV
Winner: Arizona
Why They'll Win: Yes yes, I understand. Another lousy matchup, but maybe not as lousy as some would presume. The Runnin' Rebels are 7-2 and unranked but have a good core of players. I am referring to Curtis Terry (14 pts, 3 reb, 4 ast), Wink Adams (13 pts, 4 reb, 3 ast), and Joe Darger (13 pts, 6 reb). Sadly, they will lose because they just can't compete with the big schools. They played #6-ranked Louisville and were completely demolished in the 20-point loss. Six days later? They were upset by UC-Santa Barbara. The Wildcats, however, are ranked 21st in the AP poll and have already defeated Texas A&M to help their 6-2 record. Arizona also played Kansas, a game in which they lost by four points. The fabulous freshman, Jerryd Bayless, shoulders the scoring load with his 20 points per game to go along with 4 rebounds and 5 assists. Also, helping out are sophomores Chase Budinger (17 pts, 5 reb, 4 ast) and Jordan Hill (13 pts, 6 reb).
When To Watch: Wednesday, December 19th at 10pm eastern time on CSTV.
Halftime Thoughts-
As many of you already know, David Arseneault set the record for most assists in a single game recently. He had 34 dishes in that game. Very astounding. But what's more astounding is the team he plays for. That team, Grinnell College, often shoots more than 50 threes a game. Grinnell was 23 for 86 on 3-pointers off Arseneault's passses ONLY! He also had 22 points in the game. Also making noise were the two scorers of the game. John Grotberg had 49 points on his 14-28 shooting from deep, and Keith Chamberlain had 39 points and 14 rebounds (ironic, huh?).
Rotoworld.com Hot Topic: The forum is buzzing with topics of all sorts but the biggest one had to have been about Derrick Rose. The topic starter claimed he was the next big thing because of his amazing debut game. Call it what you will, this kid can flat-out play. He has everything it takes to succeed at any level of basketball he plays at. I can only hope he stays at Memphis for a few more years. In the thread, someone also mentioned OJ Mayo. Mayo is a headcase and a legal problem waiting to happen. He has also been complained to take too many shots and has been on the receiving end of many a "ballhog" chants.
I recently found an article seeding the NCAA tournament already. I must say, I agree completely with the number one seeds of Memphis, Kansas, North Carolina, and Texas. The two seeds are good for the most part as well. However, I am not yet sold on Pitt being a 3 seed nor am I sold on Clemson being a 3 seed. I think Texas A&M (4), Louisville (6), and Ohio State (9) will all be moved up come March.
3rd Quarter- Gonzaga vs. Oklahoma
Winner: Gonzaga
Why They'll Win: The Sooners are unranked yet sit fairly well with a 7-3 record. They lost to Memphis but only by ten points, and they lost to USC by eleven points. If Oklahoma didn't have a game between Stephen F. Austin and the Zags I would probably have them winning this one. But, sadly, they do not and I don't think they'll win. Oklahoma is led by Blake Griffin (13 pts, 8 reb, 2 ast) and Longar Longar (12 pts, 7 reb) but won't be able to overcome Gonzaga's Austin Daye (12 pts, 5 reb). No contest though, the Bulldogs have the edge in the backcourt. Jeremy Pargo (12 pts, 4 reb, 6 ast) is part of a long line of good, solid Gonzaga point guards. Matt Bouldin (13 pts, 5 reb, 2 ast) also helps out Pargo in the backcourt.
When To Watch: Thursday, December 20th at 9pm eastern time on ESPN2.
4th Quarter- Pitt vs. Duke
Winner: Duke
Why They'll Win: As I mentioned earlier, I really don't think Pitt is as good as everyone claims. The Panthers are led by Sam Young (18 pts, 8 reb), DeJuan Blair (11 pts, 9 reb), and Levance Fields (10 pts, 4 reb, 6 ast). To the contrary, Pitt hasn't played a team worth mentioning in this blog. Duke is their first real test of the season and I think that will be tough for an team without much big game experience. Moving on...Duke is led by Kyle Singler (14 pts, 7 reb), DeMarcus Nelson (12 pts, 6 reb, 3 ast), and Jon Sheyer (11 pts, 5 reb, 3 ast). Let me start off by saying that this year's Blue Devils are NOTHING like last year's Blue Devils. Already, they claimed wins over #13 Marquette and #20 Wisconsin, not to mention a tough win over mid-major Davidson.
When To Watch: Thursday, December 20th at 7pm eastern time on ESPN.
There ya have it. That wraps up this week's edition of Game-Planning. I hope you enjoyed reading it and next week's will be a Christmas Special, but won't come out until Friday. Have a good weekend, everyone.
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1st Quarter- Kansas at Georgia Tech
Winner: Kansas
Why They'll Win: Yes, I know picking the number 3-ranked team in the nation to beat an unranked team, but it should be a decent game. The Jayhawks are led by Darrell Arthur (14 pts, 5 reb), Mario Chalmers (12 pts, 4 reb, 5 ast), and Darnell Jackson (11 pts, 7 reb), who has emerged as the leading rebounder for Kansas. Interesting for Kansas is their depth. They have eight guys averaging 18+ minutes per game and another player getting a solid 13 minutes each game. The Jayhawks' biggest win to date has been over USC, which they won by four points. Currently, they sit at 9-0. Georgia Tech is 4-4. A lousy record, yes, but they aren't too shabby. They only lost to #15 Indiana by four points and have posted a win over Notre Dame. The Yellow Jackets are headed by Anthony Morrow (16 pts, 6 reb), Lewis Clinch (14 pts, 2 reb, 3 ast), and Jeremis Smith (10 pts, 7 reb, 3 ast).
When To Watch: Tuesday, December 18th at 7pm eastern time on ESPN.
2nd Quarter- Arizona at UNLV
Winner: Arizona
Why They'll Win: Yes yes, I understand. Another lousy matchup, but maybe not as lousy as some would presume. The Runnin' Rebels are 7-2 and unranked but have a good core of players. I am referring to Curtis Terry (14 pts, 3 reb, 4 ast), Wink Adams (13 pts, 4 reb, 3 ast), and Joe Darger (13 pts, 6 reb). Sadly, they will lose because they just can't compete with the big schools. They played #6-ranked Louisville and were completely demolished in the 20-point loss. Six days later? They were upset by UC-Santa Barbara. The Wildcats, however, are ranked 21st in the AP poll and have already defeated Texas A&M to help their 6-2 record. Arizona also played Kansas, a game in which they lost by four points. The fabulous freshman, Jerryd Bayless, shoulders the scoring load with his 20 points per game to go along with 4 rebounds and 5 assists. Also, helping out are sophomores Chase Budinger (17 pts, 5 reb, 4 ast) and Jordan Hill (13 pts, 6 reb).
When To Watch: Wednesday, December 19th at 10pm eastern time on CSTV.
Halftime Thoughts-
As many of you already know, David Arseneault set the record for most assists in a single game recently. He had 34 dishes in that game. Very astounding. But what's more astounding is the team he plays for. That team, Grinnell College, often shoots more than 50 threes a game. Grinnell was 23 for 86 on 3-pointers off Arseneault's passses ONLY! He also had 22 points in the game. Also making noise were the two scorers of the game. John Grotberg had 49 points on his 14-28 shooting from deep, and Keith Chamberlain had 39 points and 14 rebounds (ironic, huh?).
Rotoworld.com Hot Topic: The forum is buzzing with topics of all sorts but the biggest one had to have been about Derrick Rose. The topic starter claimed he was the next big thing because of his amazing debut game. Call it what you will, this kid can flat-out play. He has everything it takes to succeed at any level of basketball he plays at. I can only hope he stays at Memphis for a few more years. In the thread, someone also mentioned OJ Mayo. Mayo is a headcase and a legal problem waiting to happen. He has also been complained to take too many shots and has been on the receiving end of many a "ballhog" chants.
I recently found an article seeding the NCAA tournament already. I must say, I agree completely with the number one seeds of Memphis, Kansas, North Carolina, and Texas. The two seeds are good for the most part as well. However, I am not yet sold on Pitt being a 3 seed nor am I sold on Clemson being a 3 seed. I think Texas A&M (4), Louisville (6), and Ohio State (9) will all be moved up come March.
3rd Quarter- Gonzaga vs. Oklahoma
Winner: Gonzaga
Why They'll Win: The Sooners are unranked yet sit fairly well with a 7-3 record. They lost to Memphis but only by ten points, and they lost to USC by eleven points. If Oklahoma didn't have a game between Stephen F. Austin and the Zags I would probably have them winning this one. But, sadly, they do not and I don't think they'll win. Oklahoma is led by Blake Griffin (13 pts, 8 reb, 2 ast) and Longar Longar (12 pts, 7 reb) but won't be able to overcome Gonzaga's Austin Daye (12 pts, 5 reb). No contest though, the Bulldogs have the edge in the backcourt. Jeremy Pargo (12 pts, 4 reb, 6 ast) is part of a long line of good, solid Gonzaga point guards. Matt Bouldin (13 pts, 5 reb, 2 ast) also helps out Pargo in the backcourt.
When To Watch: Thursday, December 20th at 9pm eastern time on ESPN2.
4th Quarter- Pitt vs. Duke
Winner: Duke
Why They'll Win: As I mentioned earlier, I really don't think Pitt is as good as everyone claims. The Panthers are led by Sam Young (18 pts, 8 reb), DeJuan Blair (11 pts, 9 reb), and Levance Fields (10 pts, 4 reb, 6 ast). To the contrary, Pitt hasn't played a team worth mentioning in this blog. Duke is their first real test of the season and I think that will be tough for an team without much big game experience. Moving on...Duke is led by Kyle Singler (14 pts, 7 reb), DeMarcus Nelson (12 pts, 6 reb, 3 ast), and Jon Sheyer (11 pts, 5 reb, 3 ast). Let me start off by saying that this year's Blue Devils are NOTHING like last year's Blue Devils. Already, they claimed wins over #13 Marquette and #20 Wisconsin, not to mention a tough win over mid-major Davidson.
When To Watch: Thursday, December 20th at 7pm eastern time on ESPN.
There ya have it. That wraps up this week's edition of Game-Planning. I hope you enjoyed reading it and next week's will be a Christmas Special, but won't come out until Friday. Have a good weekend, everyone.
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