The View From The Student Section

Night games abound, Big Ten moves toward future

2011-05-18T10:23:00.163-04:00

Whether or not the advocates of old-school, Midwestern college football are happy about it, the Big Ten made another step towards the revolution of the conference last week after league officials announced that seven games involving Big Ten teams will kickoff after the sun sets next season.

Leading the charge will be last year's co-conference champion, Wisconsin, who will participate in an almost unheard four night games in 2011 --- including a Thursday night match up at home with UNLV on September 1st to be aired on ESPN. The Badgers will also take on new conference foe Nebraska under the lights of Camp Randall Stadium in addition to two road games against 2010 co-conference champs Ohio State and Michigan State the following month.

Joining the night game lineup will be match ups between Nebraska and Ohio State at Memorial Stadium (Oct. 8th), Purdue and Notre Dame (Oct. 1st) in West Lafayette and the first night game in Michigan history when the Fighting Irish travel to the Big House on September 1st.

Spartan Stadium lit up for a night game in 2008.

Michigan State will participate in not one, but two night games at home in 2011, including their season opener against Youngstown State televised on the Big Ten Network. Once a rarity, the Spartans had participated in just eight night games in the 88-year history of Spartan Stadium prior to last year's thriller against Notre Dame, yet the exposure that comes with such match ups has become too much to pass up in recent years.

The slow increase in night games participated in by Big Ten teams is a trend certainly affected by the exposure the conference can get when they partner with ESPN to host these prime time games.

While most of the night games slotted are still taking place on Saturday, the Big Ten has also shown a willingness to participate in non-traditional days like Thursday and Friday. This is a trend made popular in recent seasons by the Big East and non-BCS conferences who agreed to play night games earlier in the week in order to receive air time on ESPN for conference match ups that would usually get lost within the shuffle when competing with the rest of college football Saturday afternoon.

From Nebraska's inclusion as the conference's 12th member, to the logo change and announcement of the Legends and Leaders divisions slated to battle in the brand new Big Ten championship game (likely to occur in either Chicago or Indianapolis), changes are abound that all fans may not be ecstatic over.

The popularity of college football and the lucrativeness that stems with signing television deals with outlets like ESPN for these games has propelled the sport into a future that has little room for the old notion that college games should take place Saturday afternoon. For a conference in a constant need to keep up with the rest of the college football world as it tries to regain respect lost in recent seasons, this is a change Big Ten purists simply need to grit their teeth and accept.

Live Blogging: College Hoops Saturday

2011-03-05T12:57:00.000-05:00

<a href="http://www.coveritlive.com/mobile.php/option=com_mobile/task=viewaltcast/altcast_code=ef388305a4" >College Hoops Saturday</a>

Call me Slick Rick: Pitino makes cheerleader incident into a positive

2011-03-01T21:29:00.001-05:00

Louisville cheerleader Jordan Alcazar is one damn lucky dude.

The Cardinals cheerleader, who infamously tossed a loose ball up into the rafters during the waning moments of Louisville's clash with #6 Pittsburgh, received a technical foul that nearly cost his school the victory at hand. Where most coaches might have had to be restrained from sprinting down the court and slamming Alcazar's bone-headed skull into his microphone (which would be warranted), Louisville head coach Rick Pitino opted for the opposite route.

Instead of demanding the loose cannon rid of his duties as a cheerleader, Pitino has decided to embrace Alcazar's sheer stupidity as an act of passion for his school. Pitino says there are no hard feelings for Alcazar and simply told him to "enjoy your moment of glory, have some fun with it."

Pitino found a way to take a situation as embarrassing and unhip for a school's rep as it gets in college sports, and completely flipped it around and actually made it seem, well, cool.

Sure, Alcazar will undoubtedly see his fair share of ragging and posterizing from opposing fans, but he'll also be able to ride a wave of popularity he would have never seen had Pitino publicly ousted him. And for his restraint, Pitino is awarded with a recruiting tool to demonstrate the type of passion incoming players can expect from their fans and student-body every game.

Win or loss, I personally would not have let someone as closely tied to the team's success as the kids who towel off the court anywhere near the opportunity of costing my team a game ever again. While there might have been a different reaction from the head coach had the toss costed the Cardinals the upset, you still have to tip your cap to Pitino for keeping calm both during and after the game.

Here's to slick Rick and making the best out of what originally looked like nothing short of a train wreck.

N.L. Central Race Could be One for the Ages

2011-02-16T15:49:00.003-05:00

Milwaukee got an ace in Greinke.

It's February in Michigan and oddly enough, the weather outside today mirrors more of an early spring than the typical, frigid late-winter days Midwesterners are accustomed to around Valentine's Day. Though it's just an early peak at what's ahead in a few months, optimism is abound. Much like the weather, with pitchers and catchers reporting this week for spring training, baseball fans can rejoice that another great season is just around the corner.

The fans who might just be the most upbeat about the upcoming season are those of teams from the N.L. Central, which could rival the expected A.L. East battle between the Red Sox and Yankees as the division that will offer fans the best overall pennant race in 2011.

Last season, Cincinnati and St. Louis were the Central's top dogs, as the Reds exceeded preseason expectations en route to a 91-win season and the head-to-head bragging rights over the Cardinals. Cincy will be out to prove they were no one-year wonder in 2011, but may have their hands full after off-season additions bolstered many of the Central squads which, on paper, have seemingly shortened the already small gap between the Reds and the rest of the pack.

One team that made significant upgrades was Milwaukee, who acquired a stud in Zack Greinke from the Royals to headline what they hope will be a much improved rotation in 2011. Though Greinke had an off-year in 2010, the N.L. should be wary of over-looking the impact the 2009 Cy Young winner will have moving over from the A.L. Adding a solid starting pitcher was a must for the Brewers if they wanted to make a jump from just outside the pack to becoming a serious player in the pennant race, and with the type of lineup Milwaukee will put out for Greinke (which he never had in Kansas City), this guy could have a monster year. Throw in another solid starter in Shawn Marcum and a good bullpen guy in Takashi Saito and the Brewers look like one of the most improved teams this off-season.

Though Chicago could not exorcise their demons in 2010, the Cubs have also made adjustments to their pitching staff they hope will make them a factor in the playoff race in 2011. Adding Matt Garza to the front end of a rotation that was lacking multiple quality pitchers was a huge get for the Cubs, and without the constant battles between the A.L. East giants on the schedule, Garza could really flourish with Chicago. The Cubs hope his presence will also help Carlos Zambrano rediscover the passion that has eluded the once-fiery Venezuelan in recent seasons and legitimize his massive contract. Throw in the signing of Kerry Wood 2.0 to the pen, who came over from the Yankees, and Cubs faithful have much more to be optimistic about this spring.

Though Houston may have fallen off a bit and Pittsburgh will more than likely remain irrelevant, the top four teams in the N.L. Central should offer fans with a great pennant race in 2011, and with the star power involved --- it could be one for the ages.

Carmelo for Bynum!? Say it Ain't So!

2011-02-08T18:19:00.002-05:00

Every day there seems to be a new Carmelo Anthony rumor.

Despite being his clear favorite, the Knicks still haven't managed to put an attractive enough deal on the table. Mikhail Prokhorov and the Nets offered everything from draft picks to young prospects to Russian mail-order brides, but aren't a legitimate option unless Anthony has a change of heart about the team. Mark Cuban would love to land the former 'Cuse star for a championship push, but doesn't have nearly enough assets to make it happen. At this point, I'm surprised no one has tried to bring back the Bullets franchise to get Anthony home to his native Baltimore.

The latest bit of trade news involves shipping Carmelo to Los Angeles with Andrew Bynum heading off to Denver in a straight up deal.

Unless this deal is being used as some type of leverage to acquire a better package from the Knicks, the Nuggets might as well be running home whimpering with their tails between their legs. Carmelo to the Lakers? For just Andrew Bynum? Western conference executives all simultaneously became new patients for high blood pressure medication.

For the Nuggets to send a top-5 player to a Western conference rival to join Kobe Bryant and Pau Gasol for the talented, but often injured Bynum and nothing else is nothing short of trade rape. Kind of what the Lakers already did to Memphis when they snagged Gasol from the Grizz for practically their spare change.

Andrew Bynum is a fine player, and would be a solid piece to build a franchise around if he was able to spend less time on the pine and more on the hardwood. However, given the kind of deals they can get elsewhere without shipping him to a conference rival, let's hope this is just a great ploy from Denver.

Say no to trade rape.

15 Years Later, Garnett Still Embodies What's Missing in the NBA

2011-01-29T14:13:00.006-05:00

I think I speak for most men (understatement of the century) when I say that getting hit in your manhood is, well… no laughing matter. There isn’t anything quite like that pain. Excruciating might be the best word for it. Personally, I would rather do just about anything than have to relive the ball taps, sack whacks and nut shots that made walking through the middle school hallway nothing short of a war zone.

That’s why on first glance, Kevin Garnett’s swipe at Channing Frye’s cactus during a three point shot in the Suns’ victory over Boston last night should almost make you want to find KG after the game and personally let him know you're happy to "pay it back," even just for Frye's sake. Almost.

But then you realize this is what makes KG, well, KG. He could care less about your feelings. Once you put on that opposing uniform, you're officially public enemy #1 in his mind. These days even his kicks have a message for you. Whether it’s the closing minutes of game seven of the Finals or just a road game in January that's already a lost cause, you won’t be able to tell the difference if you’re watching Garnett.

It’s not just the "give it your all" every play, teeth-gritting, eyes bulging, chest-pounding, raining sweat, in-your grill passion that still makes Kevin one of the most entertaining players to watch 15 years later. Or the fact that the dude is still playing at a high-caliber so deep in his career. It’s the old school, “I don’t give a $&#! about you” mantra stamped on his forehead from the moment he steps on the court that makes Garnett the ultimate competitor. All in a day and age where that same sentiment once proudly carried by the league's greats has seemingly been replaced with the pre-game hugs, post-game chuckles and friendly twitter banter players prefer with their opponents today.

You might say there was no need to swat at a defenseless shooter with the score the way it was. Sure, the game was a lost cause at the point in the game for the C's, but KG (who received a nice elbow to the face from Mickael Pietrus earlier in the game by the way) knows there isn't an expiration date when you're sending a message. Passion doesn't head to the locker room early.

The league has come a long way to repair its image from the days where players could have an old-fashioned, all-out brawl and not even see a fine or suspension (search Kermit Washington on youtube for some classic footage). But you're clearly mistaken if you believe Garnett's antics stain the league's image any more than the sweat that drenches his jersey game in and game out.

Most people will watch the highlight of last night's game and shake their head and call Garnett dirty. And they wouldn't necessarily be wrong. But in an era of basketball where guys would rather buddy up and form a super group to fast track toward a title, it's nice to see there's still one guy around willing to keep the heart of what makes this game so great beating.

OJ Mayo's Suspension Might be just what he Needed

2011-01-28T21:54:00.004-05:00

Mayo in h.s.

OJ Mayo may have just punched his ticket out of Memphis.

The disgruntled Grizzlies' guard was suspended by the NBA for 10 games this week after testing positive for dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA), a banned substance under the league's anti-drug program (which is interestingly enough allowed by MLB) that Mayo was unaware was banned by the NBA.

Already the hottest topic from the NBA version of the cheerleader's table in high school, Mayo's name has been popping up in trade rumors in recent weeks having fallen out of the starting lineup in Memphis, and his recent suspension could end up being just what he needed to get a new employer.

Though Mayo was adamant in his allegiance to the Grizz earlier in the season, he has since become more indifferent to the idea of being traded to another organization and given a chance to reestablish himself as one of the best young scorers in the league.

"If something was to happen, I just hope it's to a winning organization," Mayo said. "I just want to be part of an organization that's winning. But for the time being, I'm happy here in Memphis."

Mayo has started in just 15 of the team's 45 games this season (he started all 82 games in both of his first two seasons) and despite management's insistence that there is no plan to get rid of the former USC star, they opted to give point guard Mike Conley a new contract over Mayo, whose rookie contract runs up following this season.

After drafting Kansas' Xavier Henry in the lottery last draft, Memphis has been left with an excessive amount of young guards competing for playing time. This year, Mayo has seen his minutes decrease to 28 a game, and his scoring average dip to 12.2 ppg after averaging 18.5 and 17.5 in his first two seasons. These are not encouraging numbers for a young player looking to develop his game.

While Mayo has had his fair share of issues over his basketball career--- including an alleged assault of a referee during high school and was determined ineligible by the NCAA for receiving improper benefits while at USC--- he has shown flashes of great potential as a pro and received praise from superstar peers Kobe Bryant and Allen Iverson along the way.

Once tabbed as the next great thing in high school, Mayo headlined what has become one of the most talent-rich high school classes (2007) in recent memory, as Kevin Love, Eric Gordon and Russell Westbrook all have seemingly blossomed before our eyes into the NBA's next superstars.

Given his scoring ability, Mayo could easily re-join his classmates one day down the line if he ends up on a squad that better fits his playing style. The scary thing now is that with his down stats and recent suspension lingering, contending teams should be able to snatch Mayo from the Grizzlies' paws at a real bargain in hopes of making a push towards the playoffs.

Like Ronnie and Sammie from The Jersey Shore, at this point I think it's in both parties' best interest to move on and start over with other people. Lets just hope for OJ's sake, Grizz management doesn't pop him in the jaw for talking to other teams.

Don't Count out Melo-Nets quite yet

2011-01-19T22:29:00.009-05:00

To say the trade rumors concerning Carmelo Anthony over the past couple months have grown irritating for all parties--fans included--would be an understatement. With every article, podcast and update from Chris Broussard on Sportscenter, it's safe to say the trade negotiations have become melodramatic (sorry, I just had to do it) and a little too much like a Taylor Swift song.

The worst thing to happen for either side was to have the trade talks become as public as they did, with Denver looking incapable of jumping on what is easily the best deal they will find and the Nets looking like Khloe to the Knicks' Kim Kardashian, with little more leverage than being "pretty close" to the glitz and glamor NYC offers Anthony.

Heading into the season, the Nets were all about changing their image and heading into the right direction as they plan on their departure from the Garden State into Brooklyn in 2012, and even threw a few jabs at their "rivals" and future neighbors along the way. A top-5 draft pick in Derek Favors, all-star caliber pieces in Brook Lopez and Devin Harris, and the signing of a couple solid role players would suggest they would have a chance at snagging at least one big name as early as this season to help open the new arena.

Fast forward to January and things look about as bleak for NJ as they did a year ago when the franchise was playing Russian Roulette with the worst record in the league's history. Though the team has made considerable strides under new coach Avery Johnson, a combination of a disappointing season from the team's centerpiece, Lopez, and the unexpected rise into relevance that Amare Stoudemire catapulted among arriving in New York was the last thing NJ needed.

With the report of the Nets pulling out of Melo sweepstakes, it would be easy to assume owner Mikhail Prokhorov and the New Jersey brass are scurrying back with their tails between their legs after being unable to reach an agreement with both Denver and Anthony that would keep the former Syracuse star in uniform for the long term. And that's what they want you to think.

It would be foolish to count out the savvy Prokhorov now after he has put all his chips on the table. This is the same guy that has been nicknamed the Russian Mark Cuban. This is the crazy, jet ski-riding, ladies-man billionaire (he's worth over 13 billion) who proclaimed that the Nets would be world champions by 2015 after his purchase of the team.

So don't be surprised if there's a bit of poker strategy going on here, as the Nets clearly hold the best cards and have to be sitting back patiently and giggling at the Knicks' sheer incompetence to put together a comparable deal despite being Melo's largely preferred destination.

Besides, if Khloe Kardashian can snag an NBA superstar anything is possible, right?

Nets Picking up Some Big Steals

2010-07-10T12:51:00.000-04:00

As the massive shadow set by LeBron's signing with Miami has engulfed just about all media coverage on free agency, the New Jersey Nets have been quietly picking up some nice, solid young pieces. Many would view the Nets free-agency expedition a failure so far after whiffing on top targets LeBron James, Chris Bosh, Dwyane Wade, Carlos Boozer and Amar'e Stoudemire. However, Mikhail Prokhorov and his buddies are getting some talented young guys that could turn out to be real steals looking back on this summer.

I absolutely love NJ's signing of Travis Outlaw. Outlaw has been in the league 7 seasons, but is still only 25 and will now have the chance to get the type of playing time he's never been given (he's started just 32 games out of 400) since joining the league out of high school. He's been a solid sixth-man for the majority of his career in the league and has had the type of 4th-quarter resume that has tabbed him the nickname "Mr. Fourth Quarter." I think Travis has the chance to flourish under Avery Johnson and in the Nets system, and it will be interesting to see how he performs with the chance to be a starter.

The Nets have also been reported to have offered Warriors SG Anthony Morrow a contract for $12 million over three years. The Warriors would probably like to match the Nets offer sheet, but all signs point to the contrary considering they just absorbed David Lee's $80 million contract after trading for the former Knick. Morrow is a great outside shooter, reliable free-throw shooter and is still just 24 years old.

These are two names ESPN won't be rushing to hold "decision" specials for, but both should have nice impacts on the Nets and their eventual rise out of the NBA's basement.

It's Deja Vu all over again in Chicago

2010-07-07T16:52:00.000-04:00

If you're a Chicago Bulls fan, waking up this morning to hear that Chris Bosh has decided to team up with D-Wade in Miami had to feel like a bad dream -- and for some, even a recurring one. Bosh's signing with the Heat sent a ripple effect that has all but guaranteed Chicago from getting any of the three top free agents with Wade remaining in Miami and LeBron highly unlikely to choose Chicago without Bosh.

In just a few days, Chicago has gone from the front of the pack to win the services of the biggest free-agent of all time, to the team who has been passed by the Knicks. Yes, the same Knicks team that had as much of a perceived chance at competing for King James as South Africa did in the World Cup is now sitting in a pretty nice spot after snatching up Amar'e Stoudemire.

The worst part about all of this is that this isn't the first time Bulls fans had high hopes heading into a vaunted free-agency period -- only to be shunned like Lindsay Lohan applying for a babysitter job. For those of you who aren't already cringing, remember the summer of 2000? That was the summer the Bulls were poised to sign at least two of the group of Tim Duncan, Tracy McGrady, Grant Hill and Eddie Jones. As you're hopefully figuring out, the Bulls were completely turned away by all four -- setting off another decade of banner seasons in Chicago. Bulls management was on a mission to make sure they didn't repeat history in 2010, but it appears another belly-flop is in order.

You have to wonder how much influence Dwyane Wade has had on his friends. Sure, he met with the Bulls twice and showed legitimate interest that surprised many considering the way he bad-mouthed the franchise in previous weeks, but it seems like that was more of a sick joke at this point. These guys are all close-- there's little doubt Wade relayed some of his negative perceptions about the way the Bulls "treat their former players" if it meant convincing them that Miami was a better option.

You can try and look at the bright side and the fact that Chicago is now more than likely going to end up with either Carlos Boozer/David Lee and Mike Miller. Or you can face the reality that upper management failed to get the job done and with the way the power is shifting around the Eastern Conference, there's probably little more than 7-seeds in the near future. At least there's the Cubs, right?

Worse Proposed Max Contract: Joe Johnson or Rudy Gay?

2010-07-01T17:17:00.000-04:00

Here I was thinking the Knicks would be the team to vastly overspend on one of the "max" players not named James, Wade, Nowitzki or Bosh. Seems like the Hawks and Grizzlies have beaten NY out to proposing contracts to players more overpriced than JaMarcus Russell.

News is already breaking on the first day of the free agency apocalypse that the Hawks have prepared to send their 29-year old, past his prime, second-option at best, guard Joe Johnson a contract that would keep him in Atlanta -- for the hefty price of $119 million over six years. Ouch.

This contract just screams irresponsible on so many levels. Not only is Johnson coming off a playoff performance that was nothing short of horrendous, but to think he will be worth that kind of money in even three years is ludicrous.

Memphis Grizzlies fans have another five years of misery headed their way if reports are true that the team is throwing all their chips in to keep Rudy Gay in town. The contract would be worth over $81 million, the most Memphis could offer under the collective bargaining agreement. I understand the need to keep Gay, but why did they need to offer, and offer this kind of money, now?

The Grizzlies have the grace period of 7 days guaranteed to them so that they could match any contract offered by another team, so jumping the gun and shoving $80+ mill. for a player that isn't even an all-star is a real head scratcher. Don't get me wrong, Gay is a nice player, but not 80 million nice.

So what's your call? Which of these two proposed contracts is worse? Sound off in the comment section below!

Rutgers Snags Biggest Recruit from Florida?

2010-06-30T12:01:00.001-04:00

Rutgers strong hold on the state of Florida seems to be getting tighter and tighter with each recruiting class Greg Schiano and company haul in. It began with the Scarlet Knights scooping up the overlooked, yet talented guys who were shunned by in-state powerhouses Florida, Miami and FSU. However, the past few seasons the Scarlet Knights have more than held their own in competition for the state's top athletes.

Schiano may have gotten his most-hyped recruit from Florida since taking over in Piscataway with the recent verbal from Cocoa High's Chevelle Buie. The four-star athlete is the 6th-ranked all-purpose back in the country* and possesses the type of sub-4.4 speed that snagged him offers from Florida, Georgia, LSU, Florida State, Clemson and Georgia Tech among several others. At 5'7" he isn't a bruiser, but is a solid 160 lbs. according to Rivals, and reports from sources say he's probably another 10-15 heavier than that reported weight.

There's little doubt in my mind after watching some of his game tape that if he was two or three inches taller, Buie would be a five-star recruit even more sought after as RB. Regardless, the kid can flat out play and he has to be up there with Rutgers best commits from Florida during Schiano's tenure.
*according to Rivals.com

Check out this highlight video of Buie in action last season as junior:

Why is Anyone Surprised Scottie Reynolds Wasn't Drafted?

2010-06-26T12:20:00.001-04:00

Thursday night, the NBA draft concluded with a slew of talented college players left out. This draft also marked the longest point in the history of the draft that it took for a senior to be drafted --23rd--by a large margin. This year was also the first time since 1976 that a AP first-team All-American went undrafted despite being eligible.

I understand the significance behind this statistic, but how can anyone be more than mildly surprised that no team wanted to take Scottie Reynolds? Sure, Scottie was a fine college player who stunned the county when he took Nova to the Final Four as a junior, but college success doesn't measure anywhere near potential does at this point in the game.

Reynolds lacks the necessary skills you need to be a solid point guard in the NBA and at 6'1" doesn't come close to the height you need to play shooting guard. And to tell you the truth, if we're going to talk about his college success, I find it odd that of all the articles I've read about this story -- including Jeff Eisenberg's The Dagger on Yahoo! Sports -- all seem to forget to mention Reynolds terrible performance this year, in his last college games during the NCAA tournament. In his 2010 NCAA Tournament performance, we saw his #2 seeded Wildcats narrowly defeat a #15 seed in Robert Morris by three and then they followed that up by losing to a #10 seed in St. Mary's. That's like putting on a great performance for an entire concert and then tripping, spraining your ankle and then face-planting off the stage at the end -- not exactly a great lasting impression.

Reynolds was far from "draft material" in both games -- missing 13 of 15 shots from the floor against Robert Morris and then bellyflopping with a 2 for 11 performance in his final college game on top of that. But where are these stats when people are pulling out all of this information of his career at Nova and asking why such an "elite" college player went undrafted? Selective journalism at its finest, folks.

Look, Scottie Reynolds the person is a class act and a stand-up guy that should have the chance to make an NBA Summer League team and if not, at least a team overseas. He had a nice college career and is obviously a pretty talented guy to have put up the numbers he did in the Big East. I'm not saying his 2010 performance was the sole reason he went undrafted, but pairing that with the lack of physical tools given to him and it's certainly not looking like a great resume. I hope Reynolds gets a chance to prove the teams who passed on him wrong and make an impact at the next level, but as journalists and fans lets make sure we look at the big picture before freaking out next time.

Draft Day Steals

2010-06-25T11:12:00.003-04:00

When it comes to selecting a prospect in the NBA Draft, it's about as hit-and-miss as it comes. Even those "can't-miss"players can turn out to be a huge busts -- just ask Michael Jordan about that. Especially now with today's draft, where virtually every top prospect is under 20 years old and is selected on more hype and promise than ever before. This can give you anything from Dwight Howard to Kwame Brown or Derrick Rose to Sebastian Telfair.

Here are a few guys who I think have the potential to be big-time steals based off where they were selected.

Eric Bledsoe, Los Angeles Clippers, Drafted by OKC at # 18

John Calipari and Kentucky flashed the NBA-equivalent of a one-night stand not once, not twice, but four times yesterday. I hate the one-and-done for college basketball's sake -- and how John Calipari abuses it more than Lindsay Lohan does a bottle of liquor -- but the league has got to love it. Bledsoe was a five-star prospect in high school and would've been a big star if he hadn't decided to share the spotlight with #1 pick John Wall last year at Kentucky. If anything, I think what Bledsoe did in showing he can play the combo guard role pretty well should have helped his stock. Sure, he's a little unproven as a PG and is by no means ready to start next year, but he'll benefit from playing behind a guy like Baron Davis and having some time to develop.

Xavier Henry, Memphis Grizzlies, #12

Henry was a big-time prospect in high school and played on a stacked team at Kansas last season so he didn't have the eye-popping stats some may have expected from him. Henry is the kind of kid who was bound to be successful in whatever he chose to do in life and the Grizzlies will be thrilled about his coachability and positive, level-headed demeanor. He's got an NBA-ready body, is a solid defender and will give Memphis the perimeter threat that outside OJ Mayo and Mike Conley they have been lacking.

UNC Commit PJ Hairston makes Ridiculous 3/4-court Backwards shot

2010-06-22T22:57:00.000-04:00

These crazy trick shots are popping up so much lately the NBA might have to consider making this an event All-Star Weekend. Check out this 3/4-court backwards shot from North Carolina commit PJ Hairston: They say dude has NBA-ready 3-point range, but this is just ridiculous...

To Draft Evan Turner or Not...

2010-06-20T13:50:00.000-04:00

By snatching up the 2nd pick in the draft, the Sixers have fallen into a pleasant conundrum. With John Wall to Washington as much of a sure thing as the Mets finding a way to choke at the end of the season, Philadelphia will have to wrestle with the decision of whether or not to draft the college basketball player of the year, Evan Turner. Certainly something that falls under the category of a "good problem."

The question surrounding Turner to Philly is less about the Ohio State swingman's game and more about the excess of forwards needy of playing time that it would leave them. By drafting Turner, the 76'ers would be overloaded with talented swing men with star Andre Iguodala, Thaddeus Young and Turner who need to be on the court. Throw in the fact that they just took in veteran forward Andre Nocioni and you can see the problem at hand.

The most likely scenario to follow would be to move the expensive Iguodala or Young elsewhere and hand the starting spot to Turner. This could either be done draft day in order to acquire a big man or down the road after easing him into the rotation. It's more than likely the Sixers would move Iguodala, who would probably be hesitant to take a decreased role with the team than a guy like Young would.

Should the Sixers decide to pass on Turner, they would be deciding to stick with already solid combination of proven forwards and select a big man like Derrick Favors to help bolster their front court, which just shipped away Samuel Dalembert. Favors has the upside to become a star down the line and has the athleticism and length many players could only dream of having.

Should Turner develop into the Magic Johnson-esque star some analysts have compared him to and Favors turns into a bust, Philly fans would complain until the end of time. It might be me, but if the national player of the year falls right into your lap, you take him.

Better Celebration Speech: KG or Artest?

2010-06-18T11:24:00.001-04:00

When Kevin Garnett and the Celtics defeated the Lakers in the 2008 finals, KG gave what was one of the craziest and most hilarious post game interviews I've ever seen. The equally-intense Ron Artest gave a post game interview with ESPN that might have been just as classic, or maybe even better. So what do you guys think? Take a look at the videos below and sound off in the comment box about which championship celebration interview was the best!

Did Boise State Jump the WAC too Early?

2010-06-16T18:35:00.001-04:00

While conference expansion will probably prove to be little more than a minor shift on what was anticipated as a massive game-changer for all of college sports -- things aren't settled out just yet. Boise State made what seemed like a no-brainer when they chose to bolt the WAC for the confines of the more competitive Mountain West. Just a few days later, that no-brainer is looking more like a trigger-happy decision.

As the Pac-10 looks to continue to expand despite being rejected by the upper-echelon on the Big 12, it seems as if the Broncos may have missed out on a huge opportunity to join a guaranteed BCS conference. Just a few hours ago it was reported that fellow Mountain West member and BCS-crasher Utah has been offered a slot to become 12th member of the Pac-10 and there's little doubt in my mind that the Broncos would also be on the conference's radar.

If the Mountain West decides not to expand, or can only add a few less than desirable programs, a conference that was on the fast track to becoming a BCS conference with Boise's addition will be in serious jeopardy of becoming one. Without Utah, the Mountain West does not have the type of pull to get the guaranteed BCS bid by 2012 -- something schools like TCU and Boise deserve at this point in the game.

A Lesson in Responsible Blogging

2010-06-15T21:34:00.000-04:00

I am, as everyone in Spartan country is, overjoyed that Tom Izzo is returning to Michigan State. The anticipation of his destination was overwhelming and agonizing as a fan and student knowing what coach brings to the program and the opportunity at a third-straight Final Four appearance on the horizon.

What irked me the most during the Izzo to Cleveland saga was the countless amount of bloggers breaking news from their own sources. Bloggers should never break news. I'm sorry but I find it impossible to believe that you have the inside sources capable of breaking the news that Izzo has signed with Cleveland. That's right, I'm talking about you Waiting for Next Year.

As funny and unconvincing as it is to read this, I found it even more amusing that five days after you "broke the news" that Izzo had signed with Cleveland he announced his is not leaving MSU and is planning to remain the Dean of Green for the rest of his coaching career. What a joke.

Blogs can be an outstanding place to find nice opinionated articles and a plethora of information and tools that are unavailable to other forms of media. As a fellow blogger and a journalist -- do us all a favor and stick to what you do best.

You got Nebraska, Why add Anyone Else?

2010-06-13T21:30:00.000-04:00

Just a few months ago, the Big Ten was looking to expand merely to give themselves the chance at a conference championship game in order to put them on even ground with the rest of the BCS conferences. Fast forward to June and what started as a proposition with little impact outside of the Midwest has turned into a movement of seismic proportions set to redefine the entire collegiate landscape.

While Big Ten commish Jim Delaney will be understandably tempted to match the Heidi Montag-esque makeover being made to the Pac-10 with one for his own conference, why look to add any more teams? With the addition of Nebraska, the Big Ten was able to give themselves the chance for a conference title game and add a university with incredible history, a passionate fan base and a great academic reputation. What else could you possibly need?

Unless the Big Ten can snag Notre Dame, which still seems highly unlikely -- there's no reason to expand to more than two divisions of six. Adding teams like Missouri, Syracuse, Rutgers or Pitt would be purely based on the media markets that surround them and would be a foolish move.

The Big Ten is built on tradition and was lucky enough to snag a team that, outside of Notre Dame, is about as Big Ten down to its core as it comes. So why mess with something that doesn't need to be fixed?

Time to See What Lane Kiffin is Made Of

2010-06-11T13:29:00.004-04:00

Lane Kiffin's task of proving to the college football world that he is more than a hype man just got a whole lot harder.

Kiffin, a coach who has seemingly done little in the winning department in his head coaching experience, took over a position at his Alma mater that seemed almost too good to be true. Turns out, it was. Already under the pressure of returning the program to dynasty status, Kiffin now absorbs the mess left for him by previous administration that will put a serious strain on his biggest asset -- recruiting.

Just keeping guys from bolting Southern Cal will be a challenge in itself, as the NCAA's rule will allow any juniors and seniors to transfer without having to sit out a year and flexibility for transfer for the incoming freshmen, who have already endured a coaching change when Pete Carroll snuck out of town for Seattle.

With a two-year postseason ban, a reduction of 20 scholarships and a serious black eye on the face of this proud franchise, it will be interesting to see how Kiffin will continue his recruiting dominance of top recruits without the opportunity to compete for a national championship, or even a bowl game, for two seasons.

Meanwhile, the foundation of USC's touted class is about as stable as this table -- there's only so much it can hold. Expect news from impact incomers such as Seantrel Henderson, Kyle Prater, Dillon Baxter, Markeith Ambles, as well as from top 2011 prospects who have verbally committed to being Trojans, in the next few days. Note even QB Matt Barkley's departure would surprise me at this point.

Just about the only thing we do know is that we can expect a whole lot less of this from USC the next two years.

Real Men of Genius-Hopeless Notre Dame Fan [Video]

2010-06-10T15:24:00.000-04:00

College football is still a while away, but it's never too early to watch a classic Bud Light "Real men of genius" gem. Enjoy:

Rock, Chalk, Anyone?

2010-06-10T11:47:00.001-04:00

With the first domino of conference expansion falling, everybody needs to brace for what could be a complete shift in the balance of the college football world. But what seems to be forgotten is the impact that these changes will have on college hoops. People were upset and worried about the possibility of an expanded NCAA tournament, but it needs to be realized that conference expansion could be just as of a game-changer to the college basketball landscape.

As Big 12 teams are being adopted left and right by everyone from the Big Ten, Pac-10 and Brangelina, it seems as if Kansas -- yes the Kansas that has over 2,000 wins and three national championships -- can't seem to find a new home.

Kansas' basketball resume alone should have already have their foot in the door for a Big Ten spot and the conference would be out of their mind to not take up the Jayhawks. Can you imagine Michigan State and Kansas battling it out every season for a Big Ten championship? That match up alone could easily turn into an instant classic and with years of battling it out -- would rival UNC-Duke as the hottest ticket in the game.

As far as football, I love the addition of Nebraska but it's unlikely that they will be more than a middle of the pack team in hoops any time soon. The Big Ten has the Kansas City television market and one of the top three college basketball programs at their knees begging -- sure sounds like a no-brainer to me.

Dorothy, We're Not in West Virginia Anymore...

2010-06-08T13:23:00.006-04:00

During his seven-season stint as the head coach at West Virginia, Rich Rodriguez transformed the program into an annual national contender -- taking the Mountaineers to four consecutive New Year's Day Bowls, winning three Big East championships and the first back-to-back top 10 finishes in school history.

However, since skipping town to come to Ann Arbor, Rodriguez has found that trying to use the same techniques that brought him top recruits to Morgantown is met with as much resistance and unwelcoming as he would face should he try to step foot back in West Virginia today.

I'm sorry to say it Dick-Rod, but you're not in West Virginia anymore.

Recruiting is a whole different monster at a school like Michigan -- and he has been rudely reminded that players of the questionable academic and criminal standing that were shuffled into the back door at WVU won't even set foot on campus in Ann Arbor.

Rodriguez's most-prized asset from his 2010 football recruiting haul, DeMar Dorsey, is having quite a bit of trouble getting the same thumbs-up from the university admission's office as he did from the football staff. Dorsey, the Big Ten's highest-rated recruit according to ESPN recruiting, has not yet been admitted to the university -- probably due to a legal past that includes two arrests as a juvenile. (He was acquitted on a charge of robbery with a deadly weapon in 2008 and had a previous charge of burglary dismissed.)

While Dorsey has been given the academic clearing to play at a FBS program, he hasn't been given one from Michigan and may have to re-open his recruitment should he not be admitted to U-M -- something you never want to hear from one of your top-impact players.

For years, Rodriguez was allowed to bring in controversial recruits to West Virginia -- such as Pacman Jones and RB Noel Devine -- who had a questionable academic and legal past in his native Florida. Since his departure from Morgantown, head coach Bill Stewart has had more than his share of troubles trying to straighten out Rodriguez's recruits, but has somehow managed to keep the program on an even keel despite the mess left for him.

While Rodriguez may have more name-brand impact to use in recruiting across the nation now that he's in Ann Arbor, he's found that getting borderline-eligible prospects into the school is two times more difficult than it was in Morgantown. There are no exceptions at a university that prides itself on its academic reputation like U-M.

DeMar Dorsey may be a blue-chip recruit and an impact player at a position that is of need (of many) at Michigan, but it's more than likely that the guy will never wear maize and blue in his life. With Rodriguez already teetering on the edge with both fans and university members for a terrible product on the field and NCAA rule violations, Rich better not force this issue in too hard and push any more buttons in Ann Arbor.

Ah, it's a great time to be a Spartan.

[UPDATE]: Rodriguez and Michigan have lost another member of its 2010 football class, as linebacker Antonio Kinnard will have to play at a prep school or junior college for a season because he was unable to pass university requirements. One holdup with his academic eligibility was passing a portion of the Ohio Graduation tests, a requirement in Ohio. In other news, Dorsey has moved on to Louisville after being denied admission to Michigan.

5 Toughest Non-Conference Schedules for 2010

2010-06-06T21:16:00.002-04:00

The out of conference schedule has become a major component in the selection of BCS teams and for teams like Boise State -- can give a drastic boost to credibility. Non-conference games bring out the best of college football -- the battle for conference bragging rights. Fans can put the smack talk to rest and let the players grind it out on the gridiron as we get early indications of national title contenders and which conferences will hold the power come bowl season.

Here are the five toughest non-conference schedules for 2010 built to make a heavyweight or break down a pretender.

#5 Cincinnati (@ Fresno St., Indiana St., @ North Carolina St., Oklahoma, Miami (OH))

With the size of the Big East, Cincy is able to add five non-conference games to its schedule and will have a pretty formidable stretch to open 2010. Starting the season out in Fresno should be a real test for new coach Butch Jones and the Bearcats as the Bulldogs feature an experienced offensive line and should still be a pretty good team despite losing star RB Ryan Matthews to the N.F.L. Indiana State will be a walk-through, but another road match up at North Carolina State against QB Russell Wilson and the Wolfpack offense could be a challenge. The Bearcats then travel home to take on national contender Oklahoma in a game that could turn ugly for Cincy real fast. Following that up with a game against Miami (OH) and you can see why they will have a lot on their plate come opening day.

#4 UCLA (@ Kansas St., Houston, @ Texas)

The Bruins will spend a good deal of time in Big-12 country in non-conference play and open the season in Manhattan against a Kansas State team that will be seeking some revenge for last year's 23-9 loss in LA with an opening day victory. Houston could provide a real problem for UCLA in week three, as QB Case Keenum and the Cougars signature aerial assault might be too much for the Bruins' defense. UCLA saved the best for last with an incredibly tough road game at Texas -- who may have lost some premier talent but will still be a top-5 team, as QB Garrett Gilbert showed in the championship game that he has the moxie to step into pressure.

#3 Florida State (Samford, @ Oklahoma, BYU, Florida)

The Seminoles should be a contender in the ACC in 2010 and could become a player in the big picture if they find a way to take care of the teams on their arduous non-conference schedule. Samford won't be much more than an extended practice for what could be a real dandy in Stillwater week two. Oklahoma is a national contender again in 2010, but I wouldn't be surprised if Landry Jones and the Sooners run in to trouble against the FSU defense. BYU may not have Max Hall calling the shots anymore, but certainly won't lay down for Florida State and could catch them by surprise if not taken seriously. The Seminoles might have thought they caught Florida in a down year with Tim Tebow out of Gainseville, but Urban Meyer has assembled so much talent across the field that the Gators will be a top ten team yet again. With this match up at home in the season finale, we'll already have a pretty good gage at how this game will pan out for the in-state rivals.

#2 Oregon State (@ TCU, Louisville, @ Boise St.)

Oregon State made the most of their small amount of non-conference slots for 2010, taking on three FBS teams -- two of which are roadies against top-5 teams. The Beavers will have a major test in their season opener against TCU at Cowboys Stadium -- which should be jam-packed with Horned Frog faithful. TCU returns nearly everyone from last year's 12-1 team on offense and will rely on QB Andy Dalton to make up for the big losses on the defensive side of the ball -- where the Rodgers brothers should create a major mismatch for TCU. The game with Louisville may not provide a lot of hype, but will be ready to play under new coach Charlie Strong. Lastly, the Beavers will travel to the infamous Blue Turf in Boise to take on national title contender BSU. Calling this a big game for both schools would be an understatement.

#1 Miami (FL) (Florida A&M, @ Ohio St., @ Pittsburgh, South Florida)

Randy Shannon and the Canes have the talent across the board to resemble the Miami teams of old, but will have the daunting task of what I believe is the most challenging out-of-conference schedule in the country in 2010. Sure, the home opener against Florida A&M will be a breeze -- but road games against Big Ten and Big East favorites Ohio State and Pitt will be a telling sign of what this team is made of. Both teams feature Heisman candidates on offense in Terrelle Pryor and Dion Lewis in addition to stout defenses. Should the Canes come out of those match ups victorious, they would propel into the national title picture and QB Jacory Harris into the front of the Heisman pack. The season-finale against in-state South Florida will not be as important as it would have been the past couple years, but you can bet the Bulls will be motivated to play up.

Honorable Mention:
North Carolina (vs. LSU in Atlanta, Georgia Tech, @ Rutgers, East Carolina)
Pittsburgh (@ Utah, New Hampshire, Miami (FL), FIU, @ Notre Dame)