We took a two week hiatus because, well the NFL gets boring week after week and Stormin and Dean are not one-dimensional creatures. We lost interest as it is difficult to really give a shit about something week after week when at the end of the day it has no impact on our lives. If it impacts your life, we suggest either finding a life or ending the pathetic one you lead now.
The Dean Browski Show

Yet another week behind us, and still a bunch more in front of us. If the girls to the left can teach us anything, they remind us that bending over backward doesn’t help anyone. However, bending over forward, that can actually be helpful!. Dean needed some help this past weekend, with his picks that is. Stormin and Stress had good weekends, and the race for the most wins tightens up.
The Dean Browski Show

6 weeks of data and experiences should make us all better over the course of the remainder of the season. Just like those girls in the pic to the left, every day is an audition. Every day you need to prove yourself. Everyday you need to show that you have what it takes. Stress and Dean are tied atop the standings, with Stormin within striking distance but not within stabbing distance.The Dean Browski Show

Week 5 in the NFL. Stress has a lead on Dean in the Picks Pool, with Stormin picking up the rear.The Dean Browski Show

The 2014-15 NFL season is upon us, which means Dean and Stormin are also upon you. Don’t act like you don’t like it!The Dean Browski Show

The 2014-15 NFL season is upon us, which means Dean and Stormin are also upon you. Don’t act like you don’t like it!The Dean Browski Show For listeners of this episode, here is the link to the last time Penn St. played Rutgers and Mike McQueary was the QB who is now speculated to have had gambling interests in the outcome of the game. The Nittany Lions were 20 point favorites and up 18 at the time of the last minute deep TD throw. There was even a quick little cat fight between Joe Paterno and Doug Graber at the hand shake.

The 2014-15 NFL season is upon us, which means Dean and Stormin are also upon you. Don’t act like you don’t like it! The Dean Browski Show

UNDEFEATED
Shrink. Shrank. Shrunk. Oh you Arizona Wildcats! Just when we were getting used to a 3 team race for last man standing, you done went and got whacked at Cal on Saturday night when most of the college b-ball world was still trying to process the epic Duke vs. Syracuse banger in the Dome that just went down. On top of that, you said goodbye for the season to starting 4 and main interior scoring threat, Brandon Ashley. Not good out in the desert. Not good at all.

Wichita State – 23-0 (Yawn. 2 more double digit W’s vs. Loyola Chi-town and Evansville -both at home. Evansville did lead by 15 in the middle of the first half for what that’s worth. And now here comes the one little game that most Missouri Valley Conference fans predicted would be the Shockers undoing on Wednesday night at the home of Larry Joe Bird in Terre Haute, IN, Indiana State. The Sycamores are 17-5 and fully capable of making this a one team list next week. Get your rest, Wu Shock.

Syracuse – 21-0 (Well, you gotta hand it to the Orange. A road win at Wake Forest and then they take complete control of the ACC with an instant classic W over the Dookies. CJ Fair and Tyler Ennis had every answer. And that length and athleticism is impressive. Ask Jabari Parker about it. Home games against Notre Dame and Clemson this week should have the Orange at 23-0 before heading to the Pete at Pitt on 2/12.)

GAMES OF THE WEEK

2/3/14: #16 Iowa State at #19 Oklahoma State – 9 PM – ESPN (The Cowboys and the pre-season fave for Player of the Year, Marcus Smart (9 for 32 in OK St’s last 2 games!), have lost 3 of 4 and are reeling since losing interior force Michael Cobbins for the season. Cyclone City has lost 3 of 5. Something’s gotta give.)

2/4/14: Mississippi at #18 Kentucky – 7 PM – ESPN U (Hey you little freshmen Wildcats? You wanna see how a senior parties? Wait! Marshall Henderson is clean and sober and letting fly like always – no partying here! (19 3’s launched in a single game this week. IN. ONE. GAME.) Surely Rupp Arena will be happy to see him and the Rebs, who could use a Dance defying at large bid resume building win. Second place at stake in the SEC.

2/5/14 – #4 Wichita State at Indiana State – 8:05 pm – ESPN 3 – (Well, this is as big as it gets in the Valley this year. The Shockers have the biggest bulls eye in a Mid-Major conference since the Murray State Racers of ’11-’12. Terre Haute oughta be on fire. Would a win get the Sycs an at- large dance sniff?)

2/5/14 – #5 San Diego State at Boise State –9:15 pm – CBS Sports Network – (The Aztecs and coach Steve Fisher of Fab 5 fame tackle a tough Bronco outfit on the road as the Broncos try to build their own dance resume. Long and springy Aztecs gaining serious national love.)

2/6/14 – #22 UConn at #7 Cincinnati – 7 pm – ESPN (The Bearcats have won 14 straight with as little fanfare as you’ll see. The Huskies and Shabazz Napier visit Ohio.)

2/8/14 – #10 Michigan at #17 Iowa – 2 pm – ESPN (Tough loss for Wolverines at Indiana this weekend. Young Roy Marble, Jr. and the Hawks try to defend the Carver.)

PLAYER OF THE YEAR

#1) Doug McDermott – Sr. – Creighton – 25 ppg and 7.1 rbg. 39 and a game winner against St. John’s this week. This exercise is about academic. Dougie Fresh has got this on lock.

#2) CJ Fair – Sr. – Jr. – Syracuse – 17.2 ppg and. 28 in the Dome against Duke. The silky smooth lefty may be the only one with a shot at Dougie’s crown should the ‘Cuse keep winning and the Jays slide a bit with Dougie playing badly in the slide.

#3) Cleanthony Early – Sr. – Wichita State – 16.2 ppg, 6.5 boards. His highest spot to date for Early. Defend that 0 and play as smooth as he has and he’s here for awhile.

#4) Jabari Parker – Fr. – Duke – 18 and 8 boards. Rejected at the rim in the Dome multiple times. Not to be deterred. 15 and 9 before fouling out on a tough charge call in the waning minutes.

#5) Xavier Thames – Sr. – San Diego State – 18 ppg. Averaged 27.5 and 5 in two Aztecs wins. Dean Browski himself left with a shrug after watching him play in person two weeks back.

BRACKET BUSTERS

#1) Harvard Crimson – 17-3, 4-0 in the Ivy. The Crimson rise to the top. Home W’s over Penn and Princeton over the weekend. Tommy Amaker’s boys are not going to be a welcome partner for anyone in the Dance. Currently tracking somewhere around a 10 seed in the dance. Can they run the Ivy table? 2/22/14 at Princeton will be a banger.

#2) Delaware Fightin’ Blue Hens – 16-7, 8-0 in the Colonial Athletic. 10 and counting for the Hens after a harrowing 62-61 escape against 6-16 UNC Wilmington on Saturday. Forward Carl Baptiste is starting to give the Hens an inside presence to go along with their guards now. Saint Dougie and friends will be in the house for the Colonial Athletic Conference title game on 3/10/14. Hens looking more and more like they’ll surely be there.

#3) Green Bay Phoenix – 18-4, 8-1 in the Horizon. 12 game wins streak was snapped in the confounding 15 point loss to Valparaiso doesn’t help at large chances for the Phoenix. 7-1 Alec Brown did not play in the loss however.

#4) Toledo Rockets – 17-2, 5-1 in the MAC (West). 5 straight wins after a two game losing streak. Balance? The entire Rockets starting 5 averages at least 10 ppg. They average 83.2 ppg, good for 12th in the nation. Guard Rian Pearson stirs the drink. A W at Boston College and 5 road wins might not be enough of a case for an at large. Keep winning Rockets.

#5) Indiana Purdue at Ft Wayne Mastodons – 18-6, 6-1 in the Summit. They take the spot of conference foe, North Dakota State as the Bison fell by 4 at 11-11 Denver on Saturday. The Mastodons have won 5 of 6.

Others to watch: Stony Brook – 16-7, 8-1 in the America East, Stephen F. Austin LUMBERJACKS – 18-2, 7-0 in the Southland, North Dakota State – 16-6, 5-2 in the Summit, American Eagles – 14-7, 10-0 in the Patriot League, Georgia State – 15-6, 8-0 in the Sun Belt

UNSUNG PLAYER RISING
Billy Baron – Sr., Canisius Golden Griffins, 23.7 ppg, 4.8 rpg, 4.7 assists. The nation’s 5th leading scorer has helped the Golden Griffins (Love!) to 7 wins in their last 8 games with high scoring prowess. The Griffins now sit alone atop the strangely intriguing MAAC Conference race. Shooting 47% from the field and 90% from the line, the 6-2 Baron has 5 30 point games and hasn’t scored lower than 9 in a game all season.

Now then… the hoop landscape is starting to take shape across conferences. Contenders are rearing their heads. Pretenders are crawling back to their holes. Yet unlike college football, each and every single D-I team (I’m talking to you Grambling!) is still alive and still has a shot to dance – multiple losses be damned.

UNDEFEATED
If Saint Dougie had an intern, I’d tell her to please let me know when the last time we’ve reached February and still had three undefeated teams because we are sure getting close. This is getting crazy and while winning on the road in conference play, no matter the opponent, is difficult, I fully believe that Wichita State and Arizona have a damn fine look at getting to at least their conference tournaments unscathed. Good for them. Good for you. Good for all of us hoop heads. Syracuse? I believe their path to the zero is paved with landmines. For now, let’s analyze.

Wichita State – 21-0 (2 road W’s, whacking Illinois State and Drake by 15 and 17 respectively. On one hand, it’s Illinois State and Drake. On the other hand, Wichita State on the road in the Valley is getting an entire arena and city’s passion and best game planning to try and knock them down. Wu Shock ain’t having it. Simply ain’t having it. 5 more road games in the conference and circle the one at Indiana State, a mere game behind Wu at 7-1 in the league.)

Arizona – 20-0 (Dispatched injury depleted Colorado and a so-so Utah squad at home by 12 and 9 respectively. While neither win was super impressive and the ‘Cats failed to reach 70 points in either game, the results are the results. Plenty of potential L’s for Arizona but at Stanford and at Cal this week poses two tough road venue tests.)

Syracuse – 19-0 (A one game week and a less than impressive W over Miami on the road on Saturday. The ‘Cuse hasn’t scored 70 in either of their last 4 W’s. And yet, here they are. Are they deep enough? Do they shoot it well enough? Is Boeheim grouchy and cantankerous enough?)

GAMES OF THE WEEK
While last week didn’t have a super slate of games, this week is much, much better. Consider:

1/27/14 – #16 Duke at #17 Pitt – 7 pm – ESPN – Oakland Zoo, meet the Devil. Devil, meet the Oakland Zoo.
Who guards little Lamar Patterson for the Devils? Bonus footage: Lamar Patterson rapping at the 1 minute mark!
1/27/14 – #8 Ok St at #23 Oklahoma – 9 pm – ESPN – Fresh off his temper tantrum, poor game and apology on Saturday, Mr. Smart takes the Cowboys to OK for the bedlam game.
1/28/14 – #7 Michigan St. at #12 Iowa – 7 pm – ESPN – Wounded Sparty vs. surging Iowa. Another Big 10 WAR.
1/29/14 – #16 Iowa St at #6 Kansas – 9 pm – ESPNU – Is Deandre Kane able? Is Kansas really peaking into a win it all team? Embiid and Wiggins going 1-2 or 2-1 in the NBA draft? Story lines abound.
1/30/14 – #13 Cincinnati at #7 Louisville – 7 pm – ESPN – The American Conference’s first super showdown. Sean Kilpatrick is a big physical slept on guard for Mick Cronin’s Bearcats. Russ Smith has something to say.
2/1/14 – #16 Duke at #2 Syracuse – 6:30 pm – ESPN – They’ve been camping out for tickets to this game for a month already. The Devils in the Dome. Shooting beats a zone and Duke has shooting.

PLAYER OF THE YEAR
#1) Doug McDermott – Sr. – Creighton – 24, 7 boards, the quietest 23/5/3 ever in the rout of Nova, 14/10 in a 5-15 from the field in a win over Georgetown (He’s human!)
#2) Nick Johnson – Jr. – Jr. – Arizona – 17 ppg. Nick had his usual 18 and 22 in wins over Colorado and Utah this week, shooting 50% from the field. His defense and leadership are huge as well.
#3) Nik Stauskas – So. – Michigan – 18.5 ppg, 4 boards, 4 assists. Welcome, Nik. Welcome, Canada. Is there a player more improved and hotter right now in the country? No Mitch McGary and Nik puts the Wolverines on his back. 23, 26 and 19 in his last 3 as the Wolverines won 3 straight games against Top 10 opponents.
#4) Jabari Parker – Fr. – Duke – 18 and 8 boards. Two weeks off the report, now back on following 15.5 ppg and 14.5 boards per game in Duke’s routs over Miami and Florida State.
#5) CJ Fair – Sr. – Syracuse – 17 and 6 boards. The numbers have been slightly down but every time the Orange need a play, Fair delivers. 19-0 is a big factor in his Player of the Year consideration

BRACKET BUSTERS
#1) Green Bay Phoenix – 17-3, 7-0 in the Horizon. 12 straight wins. Double digit wins over Oakland and Detroit at home for Mr. Keifer Sykes and company. 7-1 Alec Brown riding shotgun as well. Clinging to that win at Virginia as resume builder should things go bad in the Horizon Tournament. Green Bay seems headed to the dance as somewhere around an 11 or 12 seed. Don’t sleep.
#2) Toledo Rockets – 17-2, 5-1 in the MAC (West). 5 straight wins after a two game losing streak. Balance? The entire Rockets starting 5 averages at least 10 ppg. They average 83.2 ppg, good for 12th in the nation. Guard Rian Pearson stirs the drink. A W at Boston College and 5 road wins might not be enough of a case for an at large. Keep winning Rockets.
#3) Harvard Crimson – 15-3, 2-0 in the Ivy. The Ivy was quiet over the last two weeks as mid-terms went down for the student athletes. Harvard is almost back at full health and blasted Dartmouth by 30 yesterday. 12-3 Princeton visits Harvard Friday night for a monster match.
#4) North Dakota State Bison – 15-5, 4-1 in the Summit. Sporting a W over Notre Dame at Notre Dame is nice. Taylor Braun is nicer. Dude leads team in scoring (19 ppg.), rebounding (5.1 rbg), dimes (4.1 apg) and steals (1.9 spg). He’s on a mission and we all should hope to see this competitor in the Dance come March. However, the Mastodons of Indiana-Purdue at Ft. Wayne are lurking in the Summit as well.
#5) Delaware Fightin’ Blue Hens – 14-7, 6-0 in the Colonial Athletic. This team is seriously on the rise. 8 straight wins with a high octane 3 and 4 guard offense. Devon Saddler is a monster. As he and the Hens shrugged off a brutal early schedule with brutal losses – ready? – losses by 2,2,4,5 & 7 amongst their 7 – this team is rising rapidly. Not much juice on the non-con, the Hens will have to rise out of the CAA Tourney in Baltimore come March to dance.

Others to watch: Stony Brook – 15-6, 7-0 in the America East, Mercer Bears – 17-5, 8-1 in the Atlantic Sun, Northern Colorado Bears – 13-4, 7-1 in the Big Sky, Stephen F. Austin LUMBERJACKS – 18-2, 7-0 in the Southland.

A new feature this week… UNSUNG PLAYER RISING
Ike Izotam – Sr., Quinnipiac Bobcats, 16.6 ppg, 11.7 rpg. Saint Dougie took this dude in during the ESPN Tip Off Marathon in the 9 am game at LaSalle. Couldn’t stop watching this musclehead Barkley’esque rebounding machine. 6-7, 240 and never stops. Has the Bobcats at a sneaky 7-3 in the MAAC and also has them leading the country in rebounding. I like Ike.