The Water Cooler

Tar Heels Returning Would Help Incoming Freshman

noreply@blogger.com (Matthew Haley) — Sun, 07 Apr 2013 18:30:58 PDT

The learning curve for a freshman making the transition from high school to college is steep, but with the right core mix of veterans the urgency of a freshman to produce immediately decreases. We can look no further than to James Michael McAdoo in 2012. As a freshman McAdoo struggled for much of the season until the light bulb went off where McAdoo was instrumental in North Carolina reaching the elite before losing to Kansas. With the talented veterans North Carolina had in 2012 Roy Williams could allow McAdoo to work through his growing pains in limited minutes without hurting the team. Marcus Paige did not have the same luxury as McAdoo after Kendell Marshal declared for the NBA. If the Tar Heels looking at the NBA all return Kennedy Meeks, Nate Britt and Isaiah Hicks will be the biggest benefactors.

The McDonalds all American game each year receives too much hype for how players perform in the glorified scrimmage. Kennedy Meeks did not perform the way he is capable or wanted to, but his game is going to be highlighted differently in Roy Williams system. Meeks already understands he will become Jonas Sahratian's best buddy when walks on North Carolina's campus this June. Isaiah Hicks has the ability to run the floor and rebound and if he can do those two things consistently he will see solid minutes next year. North Carolina needs improved front court play specifically on the defensive end of the floor, but with a year in the program along with an offseason of weight training Brice Johnson should be one of the most improved players in the league. What the Tar Heel's will need from Meeks or Hicks is to provide another low post presence and provide solid minutes off the bench. Anything else would be just be a nice bonus for North Carolina.

Marcus Paige clearly earned the right to lead North Carolina after performing in clutch situations late in the season. With Dexter Strickland graduating Nate Britt needs to be a solid contributor and a change of pace guy off the bench for North Carolina. With the pace North Carolina wants to run Britt will receive valuable minutes as a freshman.

Situations where freshman have the ability to learn without being thrown completely into action is the best case situation for most players coming out of high school for their long term career. North Carolina with the return of Hairston, McAdoo and Bullock would make the Tar Heels the exception to the rule in 2013-2014.

PJ Hairston Returning to UNC Per Jeff Goodman: PJ's Mother Refutes Report

noreply@blogger.com (Matthew Haley) — Sun, 07 Apr 2013 12:22:56 PDT

According to CBS reporter Jeff Goodman sources say PJ Hairston is returning to North Carolina.

North Carolina's P.J. Hairston is returning to North Carolina, sources told CBSSports. Still not sure about McAdoo and Bullock yet.
— Jeff Goodman (@GoodmanCBS) April 7, 2013

Wendy Mailey PJ's Mother is denying this report saying they have not made a decision at this time according to Andrew Carter from the News & Observer.

P.J. Hairston's mom refutes @goodmancbs report that P.J. Hairston has made up mind to return. “We are still in the process," she says.
— Andrew Carter (@_andrewcarter) April 7, 2013

Roy Williams spoke earlier in the week and to Taylour Zarzour from the Drive that North Carolina was close to having all three return.

Four Corners:Thanks Jalen Rose for Reminding Me How Great 1993 Really Was

noreply@blogger.com (Matthew Haley) — Sat, 06 Apr 2013 13:17:11 PDT

Jalen Rose took to air to remind us all how great the Fab Five were in college and after finally watching the 1993 National Championship game Rose had the following thoughts:

"It upsets me looking at the North Carolina bench, a bunch of no-name players that have championship rings that they can be proud of forever," he said, "and I don't have one."

The Michigan Wolverines were a talented group, but if I were to look at Michigans bench at the end of the game I would not be able to recognize any of them. Outside of the starting five can you name anyone of importance for Michigan? I am unable to that either.

What Jalen Rose is forgetting is that talent does not always equal a better team. If the Michigan Woverines were as talented as Mr. Rose contends then how did they finish 1-5 versus Duke and north Carolina during his career. Their lone victory came via a tip in during the final moments in Hawaii versus North Carolina which happens to be that same team of no-names. At North Carolina and Duke the name that matters is on the front of the chest first, and since he focuses so much energy on the "Fab Five" he fails to credit any other class that was a part of those Michigan teams.

I guess Donald Williams performance in the final four was a no name performance given he scored 25 points on Michigan on 8-12 shooting. Williams was the 1993 final four's most outstanding playing knocking down 10-14 three pointers and he had 109 points for the tournament. Perhaps if one of those fabulous players guarded the arc a little bit better the so called "better team" would have won.

North Carolina was up two when Chris Webber called his timeout which only was allowed to happen because of a missed travel call seconds before that. Regardless of what Jalen Rose believes the better team was North Carolina, and according to the NCAA the Fab Five never existed.

Four Corners: Final Thoughts on Today's Final Four

noreply@blogger.com (Matthew Haley) — Sat, 06 Apr 2013 11:27:10 PDT

espn.com

The Final Four is upon us and in a year where we thought a mid major would come through and cut down the nets Wichita State as a ninth seed is the lone hope in the category of Cinderella. Traditional names such as Boeheim, Pitino, Louisville, Michigan and Syracuse dominate the tournaments headlines. In the wake of the Kevin Ware injury has the emotional tie toward Wichita State and the role of underdog been swayed in favor of the Cardinals? Today we give our last four parting shots of the final four.

One: Officiating may be a major factor in the first game today. The Louisville loss of Kevin Ware hurts their backcourt depth and effiency on the pick and roll. The sophomore had become very confident in this role providing that energy off the bench. Louisville is going to have to divide those sixteen minutes up and their guards are going to have to play smart defensively. Most of Louisvilles fouls come from aggressive trapping and taking chances. Peyton Siva and Russ Smith cannot afford to sit for a long period in this game. Interesting enough Karl Hess is refereeing this game today. He at one time this had a team shooting free throws on the wrong goal.

Two: One shining moment may be watching the Louisville team lift Kevin Ware up to cut down the nets Monday Night in Atlanta. After last week the character of this young man has taken hold of America. The day he is able to play basketball again will be a great day in college hoops.

Three: Syracuse is only giving up 3.9 points per game in transition. The Michigan Wolverines love to run when it is available, but the Orangemen have been sensational on the break. Syracuse forces you into a grind it out half court contest and if the score is in the fifties or low sixties advantage goes to the Cuse.

Four: Trey Burke has been fun to watch this season and will most likely be headed to the NBA. One of the reasons I do not follow the NBA as I did in my younger years is there is no tie to the players. Growing up I watched future pros for mostly four years in college basketball except for a few exception and built an emotional stance on whether or not i wanted them to succeed in the NBA. That would draw me to watching a random Cavaliers game or Hawks on TBS. That is gone now and it does not make the NBA game any worse, but it takes away from my interest.

My picks for today's games:

Michigan 68 Syracuse 65

Louisville 73 Whicta State 62

NC State's Program May Be Better Without Rodney Purvis

noreply@blogger.com (Matthew Haley) — Sat, 06 Apr 2013 06:41:26 PDT

The last week has been hard for NC State Basketball when you consider that five key players will no longer be part of the program next season. Seniors Scott Wood and Richard Howell were the heart of the program and their leadership will be hard to replace. Lorenzo Brown and CJ Leslie both declared for the NBA, but no one in Raleigh expected them to be back after this year. Mark Gottfried expected to be without all for players during the 2013-2014, but the make up of the program took a turn when Freshman Rodney Purvis decided to transfer. Unhappy with his role at NC State the freshman wanted to find another opportunity where he could play point guard. I have been critical of Mark Gottfried's handling of players this season, but wishing Purvis well is a step forward for NC State.

Mark Gottfried has raised expectations at NC State and if you do not agree with that simply go to PackPride and read the message boards where fans are critical of a coach who in his first two years has achieved back to back NCAA tournaments including a sweet sixteen run last March. North Carolina and Duke fans believe NC state is going to slip back to the old Pack next fall after losing five key players in the rotation, but I say that is wishful thinking. Are they going to win the ACC title after losing four pros off their roster? No, but they are not going to be the team we watched under Sydney Lowe for five seasons. There are several key things that must happen, but NC State could be in the top half of the ACC next year.

TJ Warren is a potential lottery pick and could very well lead the league in scoring next season. He will be the focal point of NC State's offense after shooting 62% from the field this past season as well as 52% behind the arc. The area Warren has to improve in is foul shooting. For a player to shoot over 50% from the three point line I cannot understand how that same player shot 54% from the free throw line.

Tyler Lewis needs to go back and watch game film of NC State from the late eighties and early nineties when Chris Corchiani ran the backcourt. Lewis is undersized and may never become an elite ACC point guard, but he is a solid player who can shoot the basketball a little better than he displayed this year. With the Purvis transfer Gottfried may opt to play Barber and Lewis together at times next season. An area that Lewis showed effectiveness in his 12 minutes per game was an ability to take care of the basketball. The freshman average over a 2-1 assist to turnover ratio for the season. Steve Wojciehowski as a freshman averaged 4.0 points a game on a team that was the worst in the ACC in 1994-1995. Tyler Lewis is not a floor slapper, but he is a savvy point guard who is going to improve. NC State doesn't need him to score twenty a night only to run the offense which he is plenty capable of doing.

Anthony Barber shined Wednesday in the McDonalds all American game with a flash of speed and athleticism that the Wolfpack have to be excited about. The issue for Barber will be can he slow down and be efficient in the half court offense necessary to have an early impact in the ACC. Life as a freshman point guard is never easy, but Barber has the skills to be an elite guard in this league. To ease his transition into college basketball Gottfried may use Barber and Lewis at the same time.

Mark Gottfried has no easy task in front of him for next season however with a fresh start with a lot of new faces may be the very thing to move his program further away from Sydney Lowe. Without any of the expectations that were placed on this years team the 2013-2014 NC State Wolfpack will be able to play loose because few even in their own city are giving them much of a chance next year.

You can follow me on twitter @mandmsportshow

North Carolina Players Leaning Toward a Return to UNC

noreply@blogger.com (Matthew Haley) — Fri, 05 Apr 2013 14:28:32 PDT

Roy Williams spoke with Taylor Zarzour from The Drive in Charlotte regarding North Carolina players James Michael McAdoo, PJ Hairston and Reggie Bullock impending decision on whether to enter the NBA Draft. Williams stated that in his mind they think Hairston, bullock, and macadoo will stay, "they are enjoying school", "and want to do more."

Check out our feature breaking down the games of James Michael McAdoo, PJ Hairston and Reggie Bullock in Analyzing the TarHeel Trio-and the NBA

2014 NFL Draft Will Be Effected by the Trenches Between UNC and South Carolina

noreply@blogger.com (Matthew Haley) — Thu, 04 Apr 2013 23:20:42 PDT

espn.go.com

Clearly Jadeveon Clowney is the number one projected pick for the 2014 NFL draft however NFL teams will be tuned in August 29 to watch UNC left tackle James Hurst match up with Clowney North Carolina visits South Carolina. In the NFL a quarterbacks best friend is his blind side left tackle and if Hurst has a good showing versus Clowney he will climb the draft boards quickly.

If you have not heard of Jadeveon Clowney I suggest you check out the player James Hurst will be attempting to block. You can bet UNC quarterback Bryn Renner hopes Hurst can show the world why he was a five star left tackle when he signed his letter of intent to come to Chapel Hill.

North Carolina Tar Heels Garden Flag (Google Affiliate Ad)

As you can see James hurst has his hands full with Clowney, but James Hurst played as a true freshman in Atlanta against LSU in 2010 in a game that was supposed to be North Carolina’s break out performance until 13 players were unable to play due to the NCAA investigation. James Hurst protected TJ Yates as he had arguably the best game of his career shredding the LSU secondary for 412 yards and three touchdowns. Hurst was almost invisible in his first game which is truly remarkable for a true freshman playing one of the best defensive fronts in the SEC.

This will be one of the more intriguing non skill position match ups in college football this season. For UNC to have any chance against the Gamecocks Hurst will have had to play the game of his career for UNC.

Hall of Fame Break Ups: Franchises Break Ties with Players/Coaches

noreply@blogger.com (Matthew Haley) — Thu, 04 Apr 2013 19:52:00 PDT

You may remember back in the time where your favorite player played primarily for one team their entire career. I can remember watching John Elway lead the Broncos to miracle fourth quarter comebacks or Darrell Green snagging one more interception even after turning 40 years old for the Washington Redskins. For those of you who remember the Steel Curtain or Bradshaw to Swann the free agent era has cause Heroes to turn Villains and at times Enemies to Idols. The recent developments that have cause football fans to wonder where Peyton Manning will play next year started me thinking about some of the all time departures in pro sports. Some of the break-ups were closer to the Baldwin/Basinger divorce than others. Here is a break down of the top 5 Pro football break ups.

5. Mike Shanahan
Mike Shanahan was hired by the raiders in 1988, but after a 7-9 finish Al Davis as usual grew impatient with Shanahan. After a 1-3 start in 1989 the Raiders fired Shanahan. Shanahan after serving as offensive coordinator for San Fransisco reunited with John Elway in 1995 and led the Broncos to back to back Super Bowl Victories. Who got the better end in this break up? Shanahan

4. Barry Sanders
Barry Sanders had the best runs in the history of the NFL just to return to original line of scrimmage. What he did not ever have was a quality head coach or a an elite quarterback to take any pressure off of him. Think about this: while being the defensive focus each week Barry Sanders ran for 15, 269 yards while averaging 5.0 yards per carry. He did this with the following signal callers under center: Rodney Peete, Scott Mitchell, Charlie Batch, Andre Ware, Chuck Long and Erik Kramer. Barry pulled the oldest trick in the book to break away from the lions ("its not you its me") to tell the world he was retiring from Pro Football that he just was not interested in playing anymore. The disorganization of a joke of a franchise caused the rest of pro football fans to lose out on seeing the most explosive back ever to just walk away from the game. End the end Barry may have won out because my last memory of Sanders is making all pro linebackers miss wide open tackles instead of seeing an aging superstar fade in the desert.

3.Marcus Allen
Marcus Allen can be rembered for his play in the 1984 Super bowl where he gashed the Washington Redskins and my childhood hero John Riggins for 192 yards and a 38-9 victory. Marcus Allen eventually ran into Al Davis' doghouse and he never could escape. Without free agency Allen was trapped and reduced to a role player playing fullback next to phenom Bo Jackson. Allen kept quiet until a Monday Night football game where he spoke out about his treatment from Davis. In 1993 free agency allowed Allen to leave the Raiders and he signed with their arch rivals the Kansas City Chiefs. In five years with Chiefs Allen rushed for 44 touchdowns. The question never answered was why the Hall of Famer was put out to pasture as a third down back and Al Davis robbed football fans what could have been the most exciting play in Marcus Allens career. Although the chiefs did not win a Super Bowl the Raiders clearly lost after Allen's departure and the career ending injury of Bo Jackson. Once again karma bites Al Davis.

2. Brett Favre
I could not make a decision if Brett belonged at the top of the list or even on the list. Indecision and Brett Favre, that never happens. Favre is on this list because he is ultimate middle school break up. Before practice he was retiring, during practice he was gonna play one more year, after practice he was going to retire and then just before bed he tells the Packers he loves them and he will not leave them. The next day he calls a press conference and retires. As ridiculous as that rant sounded it is about as close to reality with Favre as you can get. Finally the Packers had to be the woman in the relationship and tell him they were moving on with Aaron Rodgers. Favre left and joined the NY Jets where he left the Jets under even more drama than he created with the Packers. Considering that Favre became involved in sexual harassment suit with the Jets and the Packers won a Super Bowl I will say Green Bay got the last word in this fun field drama.

1. Joe Montana
Joe Montana won 4 super bowls for the San Fransico 49ers, and the last thing anyone wanted to see was Joe Montana playing football in another uniform. Montana was injured in a playoff game against the NY Giants in 1991. This injury cause him to miss all of 1991 and most of 1992 season. During this time Quarterback Steve Young started to emerge as a star in the league throwing for nearly 3500 yards and 25 TDs in 1992. Young led San Fransisco to a 1994 Super Bowl win and MVP honors while Montana finished his career in Kansas City 1994, but did lead the Chiefs to the AFC championship game against the Buffalo Bills in 1993. In the case of Montana you cannot blame him or 49ers for parting ways after the injuries he had suffered along with having a future hall of fame signal caller to replace him. Joe Montana belongs at number one on this list and not because of the drama it cause amongst players and the organization, but the arguments it created with the teams own fan base plus putting Favre number one just gives more attention to that wrangler jean wearing drama filled egomaniac. Steve Young may be in the Hall of Fame, but Joe Montana is the reason everyone knows about the "West Coast.

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Clemson Tiger Tajh Boyd Heisman Campaign Starts with Georgia

noreply@blogger.com (Matthew Haley) — Thu, 04 Apr 2013 19:50:16 PDT

Tajh Boyd chose to return to Death Valley and will be a Heisman candidate in Chad Morris' offense as his campaign can officially begin with a statement win over the Georgia Bulldogs with quarterback Aaron Murray. Boyd answered any questions about his toughness in the win over LSU in the Chick Fil A Bowl on New Years Eve.

LSU who had six defensive players declare for the NFL this year hit Boyd time and time again only to watch him clutch passes all night. Boyd was sharp throughout the game and answered any questions about whether he could face an NFL style blitz. Time after time with pressure in his face Boyd made a last second throw while getting knocked to the ground. Dabo Swinney’s Tigers are poised to take their program to that next level and college football fans will see early in the season if they are ready.

The Tigers have several key positions to figure out this spring before they open with Georgia on August 31, 2013 at 8:00pm on ABC. The offense has to find replacements for key losses at running back and receiver, but the bigger question is the Clemson defense. In the second year under Brent Venables the Tigers will be more familiar with his system and able to produce better results as they did down the stretch in 2012. They will have to be sharp right off the bat as Aaron Murray did not come back to Georgia for an exhibition tour before graduating to the NFL. The Bulldogs were very close to playing for the national title and are looking to compete with Alabama, Texas A&M and Florida for the SEC championship.

Andre Ellington will graduate and leave Clemson University for life in the National Football League. Ellington was a punishing runner who was perfect for Chad Morris offense. Ellington rushed for over one thousand yards this past season with eight touchdowns and the back could be dangerous out the backfield with nearly three hundred yards receiving including a 52 yard touchdown. Ellington will not just be missed running the ball because his knowledge of the passing game and the experience to pick up a blitz can be a quarterback’s best friend. Roderick McDowell is the second leading rusher among running backs with 450 yards this past year and the senior will get his chance this spring to earn the number one spot. Talented freshman Zack Brooks has watched quietly learning the game behind a veteran group. Brooks one of the most anticipated players in the 2012 class enrolled last spring and will have the luxury of a full year on campus when he heads to spring practice to make his case for more playing time. McDowell and brooks will be challenged by two incoming freshman Tyshon Daye and Wayne Gallman, but they have the advantage of experience in this offense.

Sammy Watkins will be back and for college football fans we can only hope there are no off field issues this summer. The electrifying player Fort Meyers Beach Florida will be needed as Clemson lost the best wide receiver in the during the 2012 season when DeAndre "Nuk" Hopkins declared for the NFL. The Chick Fil A bowl sealed the deal as Hopkins was dominant against a LSU defense with a ton of NFL talent. The question for Clemson is who will turn into that second option for Tajh Boyd and provide the possession type catches that Hopkins was brilliant at providing.

College Football Before and After the BCS

noreply@blogger.com (Matthew Haley) — Thu, 04 Apr 2013 19:49:15 PDT

The BCS or Bowl Championship Series was created to give us the best two teams in college football rather the old system where the voters would crown a national champion each year and in some cases two schools could claim the title as national champions of college football. However since the inception of the BCS we have as much controversy as before and the new playoff format is supposed to solve the issues found within the BCS.

Are we really better off today than we were before the BCS?

Do you enjoy the college bowl games more today than you did in the 70's, 80's or 90's? I for one watched more bowl games when the major games were all on New Years day. Yes I did channel surfing, and missed parts of games however it is easier explain to my wife that the few weeks following new years there will be several nights where I will be consumed with BCS games. For all you married men out there think about how New Years Day used to be. You woke up and the cotton bowl started around 11:30 and you had games until the Orange and Sugar Bowl capped off the night before heading back to work or school two days later. In the present bowl arrangement I have to prioritize which games I want to see and because many happen during the work week with late starts I end up missing some of the best college football of the year. You may say be a man stay up late it won't hurt you, but I am man enough to admit I need more sleep as I get older and if I have a choice between the Orange bowl between Clemson/West Virginia or my kids weekly basketball game the kid wins every time.

The BCS may give us a title game, but do we still have a clear champion every season? Even last year we had a national champion who did not win their own conference. I am not hear to debate whether or not you win your conference should effect your ability to compete for a title, but it does add some cloudiness on whether or not the system works. Any format that depends heavily on rankings created by writers or anyone one watching games has built in bias.

One of the great pieces of college football is debating the rankings each and every week and at the end still arguing over who should be the national champions. The BCS said it would crown a true national champion. Does it every really crown a true champion?, and with new playoff structure will we be any closer to knowing who the best in college football than we were the last time Notre Dame brought a title to South Bend?

Top Five Coaches From College to the NFL

noreply@blogger.com (Matthew Haley) — Wed, 03 Apr 2013 17:49:51 PDT

Chip Kelly is the new kid from the college ranks on the block. Nick Saban who is one of the best college head coaches of all time figured out quickly the NFL was not his cup of brandy. There are numerous other examples of successful college head coaches who flopped at the next level, but today we will focus on top five the guys who made the transition seamless.

Number Five: Dennis Green

Although Dennis Green never won a super bowl his teams in Minnesota were always competitive and close t reaching that next level. Green who is more popular right now for his Coors Light commercial was motivator and a coach players loved playing for. Green always appeared to be a players coach, but you could always tell he had control of the team. Green had his first losing season in 2001 after a decade of winning seasons in Minnesota.

Number Four: Marv Levy
Marv Levy prior to joining the NFL ranks coached at New Mexico and Levy struck gold in Buffalo with Jim Kelly and their no huddle offense. Levy doesn't get the credit he should for being an offensive innovator but the way he utilized Thurman Thomas in the screen game (just ask Dolphins fans in the playoffs) to the crossing patterns of Andre Reid. The Bills are remembered for losing four super bowls, but the Bills are truly the original Best show on Turf that was even better because they played outside.

Number Three: Tom Coughlin
Coughlin after coaching at Boston College took the Jaguars to the AFC championship game and has won two Super Bowls in New York. Coughlin's teams have found magic in two separate seasons where they looked dead yet somehow turned it around to make runs in the playoffs. In the first Super Bowl win Coughlin's team beat an undefeated New England Patriots team, but the game before New York had to travel to Green Bay and defeat Brett Favre.

Number Two: Jimmy Johnson

While Jimmy Johnson is remembered for the many locker room moments after a big where he yells "How Bout Them Cowboys" he could equally be remembered as a coach who flopped if he was given the same amount of patience given to some of the coaches who were recently fired. Give Jerry Jones credit here as he knew the rebuilding would take time and as much as we like to harp on his recent draft room blunders Jonson and Jones made the move to require what felt like Minnesotas entire draft of the late eighties and early nineties when they sent Herschel Walker in his blockbuster trade. Jimmy Johnson took the 1-15 Dallas Cowboys and turned them into a back to back super bowl champion team.

Number One: Bill Walsh

The West Coast Offense. Need I say more to knowledgeable football fans for why Bill Walsh should be number one on this list? The Cincinnati Bengals had Walsh right under their nose yet let him go when Coach Paul Brown appointed a Bill to run the team. Bill "Tiger" Johnson was selected as Brown's successor and Bill Walsh resigned immediately. Walsh would later coach at Stanford for two successful seasons when the San Francisco 49ers came calling. Walsh like Jimmy Johnson had a terrible record as a first year coach with the 49ers posting a 2-14 record. In 1979 Walsh selected a quarterback in the third round named Joe Montana from Notre Dame. Walsh who was jilted by the Bengals would go on to win three Super Bowls including two against the Bengals.

We live in a day where coaches are fired after one bad season and rarely does any coach have the luxury of an owner willing to stand by through a few years of growing pains as Walsh and Johnson were given. There is an art to knowing when to pull the trigger and fire a head coach. All of the coaches on this list had all pro quarterbacks to work with throughout their careers, which should make Chip Kelly and any other college coach ready to jump to the NFL very picky about which city they choose..

As always send us your comments in 140 characters or less @mandmsportshow

Why My Cleveland Launcher is the Club I Trust

noreply@blogger.com (Matthew Haley) — Wed, 03 Apr 2013 12:09:57 PDT

Hitting Cleveland Launcher off the Tee

The doctors told my parents the long medical term for the illness I was born with, but to put it in simple terms my arms were lacking the radius bone. That could have stopped me from experiencing the many things in life that i have been fortunate to enjoy. When I first picked up my junior golf set that my parents purchased for me I had no idea of the adventures it would take me on throughout life.

In high school I was the MVP of our golf team in both my junior and senior seasons but one aspect of my game limited me from taking my game to the next level. I made up for it with a relentless short game and a mental toughness that you find on tour, but physically I just could muster the same shots as I grew older. I developed a love of the game through frustration and success, but that frustration of being short off the tee kept me from playing the game in a way that my golfing friends could. then one summer I stopped in Carolina Custom Golf in Raleigh NC to pick up some golf balls on my way to meeting a friend at a local course. I saw a club that caught my eye and I went over to check it out. My clubs are a little bit altered than the regular golfers, and this makes finding new clubs a bit challenging. My irons all have driver length shafts in them and my woods are all extended as well.

When I picked up this club and tested it out in their indoor range with the regular shaft in it I knew this was the club for me. This Cleveland Launcher made me think right away that this club was for me. I spoke to the local representative who showed me the extension we could put in it and it would be ready in a few days. A few days later I set up another afternoon match with my friend Bryan, and on the way to the course I stopped at a local driving range to try out my new club. Within a few swings i knew this had been a great investment because right away I was carrying the ball 20 yards further than before and I was certain my opportunities for birdies were going to increase.

Many of the new course layouts have par fours that average around 400 yards and unless you can drive the ball over 200 it makes reaching a green in regulation more difficult. With my Cleveland Launcher i was averaging over 200 yards a drive and sometimes up to 225-235 depending on how dry the ground was. What this has done for my game is increase the number of holes where reaching the green in two is a illegitimate possibility.

After experiencing the success with my Launcher I have purchased a Cleveland Hybrid that I use for shots between 160-170 yards. The combination between my driver and hybrid has made many of my iron obsolete. I dont hit anything below a 5 iron and the preciseness that the hybrid has given me allows me to be more aggressive on approach shots.

I can tell you that Cleveland golf has changed my game for the better. I am not a PGA pro, but I dare any of them to be as successful in the game of golf with the challenges I have faced. The golf clubs do not replace my practice habits, desire to be good or my attitude, but the technology has helped me enjoy a game a little more than a club made out of persimmon would.

Fired Rice: Mike Rice Out as Rutgers Coach After Video of Abusive Tactics Released

noreply@blogger.com (Matthew Haley) — Wed, 03 Apr 2013 07:27:43 PDT

www.ibtimes.com

Rutgers AD Tim Pernetti did today what should have been done months ago when he terminated Mike rice's contract to be the head basketball coach at Rutgers. After first viewing the disturbing footage from Mike Rice's practices at Rutgers University, Pernetti suspended the coach for three games and he was fined 50,000 dollars.

The bigger issue is that Pernetti who is charged to oversee the athletic programs and well being of student athletes just brushed this video under the rug as if it would go away. I cannot imagine finding out my child was treated at a practice of any sport in this way.

Tom Pernetti stated he wanted to "regain the trust of Rutgers community." Perhaps the first step would be resigning because how can any parent trust their child's well being while participating in the athletic's program at Rutgers under his watch.

Geno Smith Responds to Nolan Nowrocki's Draft analysis

noreply@blogger.com (Matthew Haley) — Wed, 03 Apr 2013 06:38:25 PDT

Mike Rice Was Suspended. Should He Have Been Fired?

noreply@blogger.com (Matthew Haley) — Tue, 02 Apr 2013 13:05:20 PDT

The following video shows Mike Rice the head coach of Rutgers engaging in behavior that should not be tolerated by any school. I will let the video speak for itself. The question is how was this coach only suspended for this behavior. If a high school teacher or coach treated their players this way they would find themselves unemployed.

Four Corners: Wolfpack Defections and the Final Four

noreply@blogger.com (Matthew Haley) — Tue, 02 Apr 2013 10:39:05 PDT

www.themajors.net

As the tournament season closes we look at four story lines and how they will play out for NC State and this week's final four.

One: Mark Gottfried is going to earn his contract in 2013/2014 as the Wolfpack will feature a team much like North Carolina did this year. With five players no longer in the program NC State will turn to McDonald's All American Anthony Barber and rising sophomore TJ Warren to keep the ship steady in Raleigh. Many are pointing to the demise of NC State with Purvis transferring however Mark Gottfried knew CJ Leslie and Lorenzo Brown were not going to be there next year. The last thing Gottfried needs in his program is a player who is unhappy. If the Wolfpack can secure Desmond Lee then I predict you will see them in the top half of the ACC next season.

Two: As Kevin Ware was laying on the court with the worst injury I have ever witnessed, and yes I was watching Monday Night football when Joe Theisman's career ended, his character to tell his teammates and brothers to win the game will go down in basketball lore forever. Knick's fans point to Willis Reed's entrance that propelled them to a title however Kevin Ware is now the new ultimate motivator. I for one will be pulling for him to recover to court and wont mind him knocking down a few shots versus North Carolina.

Three: I cannot root for Jimmy Boeheim of Syracuse and I am wondering if i am being too harsh on the Orangemens Coach. From his brash comments regarding Bernie Fine to mocking the ACC Boeheim has rubbed me the wrong way. Unlike Pitino who wins at a high level his arrogance is a turn off and although he has went to the final four in four different decades I would say it took him four decades to reach four final fours.

Four: Trey Burke has been spectacular in the NCAA tournament, but the sophomore will need to show every bit of patience as he did in the Kansas game. Burke has an uncanny ability to hit big shots, but the Orangemen will try to entice Burke and company to shoot from deep behind the arc. Michigan will need to show patience against the zone to create quality open looks at the basket. This is something none of Syracuse's opponents have been able to do.

Who do you have winning the final four?

As always you can follow me on twitter @mandmsportshow

Jesse's Final 4 Prediciton

noreply@blogger.com (Jesse Wachtel) — Tue, 02 Apr 2013 07:38:32 PDT

Here we are, the final weekend of college basketball is finally upon us. With the end of March, comes the end of March Madness. Four teams left, four coaches trying to prepare their squads for arguably the biggest stage in collegiate sports. Here is an in-depth preview and final predictions for each team.

#9 Wichita St vs #1 Louisville Saturday 6:09 pm

#9 Wichita St

The Wichita State Shockers have had an remarkable run that seems to have been overshadowed by Florida Gulf Coast during their run. The Shockers are 30-8 overall, 12-6 in the MVC. The Shockers are a force to be reckoned with, as they have had major wins over VCU and Creighton in the regular season. March has been kind to the shockers as their tournament run includes victories over #8 Pitt, #1 Gonzaga, #13 La Salle, and #2 Ohio St. This team is for real, at least they have proven so recently.
Tournament W's: VCU, Pitt, Gonzaga, Ohio St.
Top Scorer: Cleanthony Early, 13.7 ppg (27.7 ppg in NCAA's)

#1 Louisville

Louisville is the best team in the tournament...period. The school is prepared for greatness as they have run through the tournament with an average winning margin of 21.7 ppg. As a #1 seed they have had an easier route to the final four than Wichita St., but that doesnt mean they havent dominated. Louisville is the only #1 seed to live up to expectations this season, as we have seen Gonzaga, Indiana, and Kansas all suffer defeats. With the 22 point win over Duke this past weekend, Louisville became my immediate favorite to win the whole enchilada. Watch for the Cardinals to run away from Wichita St. on Saturday.

Tournament W's: NC A&T, Colorado St., Oregon, Duke

Top Scorer: Russ Smith 18.9 ppg (31.2 in NCAA's)

#4 Michigan vs #4 Syracuse Saturday 8:49 pm

#4 Michigan

Michigan has had a fantastic season. At 30-7 with wins over a handful of exceptional squads, Michigan has proven that they deserved the #4 seed if not higher. This team shoots the lights out every game; John Beilein has taught this team how to shoot smart, how to take high percentage shots. It shows. In the Wolverines win over #1 Kansas, they shot a hair under .500 as they played with one of the best defensive teams in the country. Michigan doesnt get phased by big games; neither does Syracuse. Watch for an incredible game Saturday evening.

Tournament W's: South Dakota St., VCU, Kansas, Florida

Top Scorer: Trey Burke 18.8 ppg (37.7 ppg in NCAA's)

#4 Syracuse

In early March, Jim Boeheim made a remark about how he was ready to go golf and be done with basketball. Good thing the team didnt take the same mentality. After a 17 point loss to Louisville in the final Big East tournament, Boeheim remarked "Well, you know, I'm pretty much ready to go play golf somewhere." The Orange was ready for March Madness though. With a dominating performance throughout the tournament so far, Syracuse is in the drivers seat and its their game to lose, or win. They have been here before, Boeheim is a basketball genius, watch for the Syracuse Orange to play a great game with Michigan and to squeek it out at the end.

Tournament W's: Montana, Cal, Indiana, Marquette

Top Scorer: C.J. Fair 14.3 ppg (34.7 ppg in NCAA's)

Predictions:
#1 Louisville 81, #9 Wichita St. 67
#4 Syracuse: 65, #4 Michigan 61

Final: #1 Louisville 75, #4 Syracuse 68

NFL Analyst Nolan Nowrocki Attacks Geno Smith's Character

noreply@blogger.com (Matthew Haley) — Tue, 02 Apr 2013 06:27:27 PDT

In No NFL Quarterback Saviors in the 2013 NFL Draft? I broke down the top quarterback prospects for the 2013 NFL draft. When analyzing this class the question that came to my mind as with any Dana Holgerson quarterback is being careful examining statistics and to truly study the players throwing motion and they perform in pressure situations.For Geno Smith the Texas Tech and Kansas State games both threw up red flags when it comes to the Mountaineer signal caller. This is all based on on the field observations from watching college football throughout the year.

Nolan Nowrocki's analysis of Geno Smith went to another level of examining the player off the field. The NFL is a billion dollar industry and I have no problem with examining every aspect of a player even if it puts them in a bad light. The issue I have with Nowrocki in this article is he does not reference any sources of his information. You do not have to disclose the person you received the information however at least reference the general source whether it was coaches or players who provided the information.

Nowrocki states in his Scouting Report "Needed to be coddled in college — cannot handle hard coaching." That is a statement that can destroy a quarterbacks reputation. This could be said by any other position on the fieldand would have little impact on their draft stock, but a quarterback is the face of a franchise. This all may be true of Geno Smith and if it is I would be upset if my team over drafted him however this idea of writing pieces about a players character and work ethic without crediting any specific sources or having first hand knowledge is reckless.

As always you can tweet me your opinion at @mandmsportshow

Lessons Learned Through Leslie at NC State

noreply@blogger.com (Matthew Haley) — Mon, 01 Apr 2013 15:07:39 PDT

CJ Leslie announced today he was going to enter the NBA draft as if that was a big surprise. I never understood CJ Leslie as a collegiate player. In order to be a high draft pick you typically need to dominate the competition at your level, but there nights where Leslie appeared as if he would rather be anywhere else than on the floor for NC state. Watching Richard Howell and Scott Wood pour their hearts into their performance I cannot help but wonder if Leslie's nonchalant mannerism create discontent in a locker room of a team picked to win the ACC.

Through individual workouts you will see his name rise the next few months because with his combination of athleticism and height he will work out well in preparing for the draft. CJ Leslie's talent has never been a question but his level of commitment or interest in games has been. Roy Williams likes to say he should not have to coach effort and he is correct, but players need to be held accountable regardless of their perceived ability.

CJ Leslie was allowed to play game after game where he appeared disinterested yet his playing time never suffered. Mark Gottfried may have demonstrated an ability to recruit talented players to NC State however there is learning process in holding these players accountable. Leslie had a few moments where we could see his potential, yet he never reached that consistent level a team needs from the star player.

Gottfried had no problem benching Rodney Purvis for decreased production, but this tactic was never used to motivate Leslie. What separates the great recruiters in college basketball from guys who are great coaches is that once those players on campus it is all about production regardless if you are a junior or a freshman. Mark Gottfried is the right man in Raleigh and the lessons he learned with Leslie will pay off in years to come.

Wolfpack fans may be panicking a little today after losing Wood, Howell, Brown, Leslie and Purvis, but Anthony Barber is going to be a very good point guard in this league and if Gottfried can keep TJ Warren in town as well as sign junior college player Desmond Lee NC State will rebound from their loss of players quicker than expected.

Previewing the ACC Top Receivers to Watch in 2013

noreply@blogger.com (Matthew Haley) — Mon, 01 Apr 2013 08:34:51 PDT

The ACC spring football season is in full force and many of the leagues leading receivers graduated or will be drafted in the NFL. Looking at this years group there a few players that offenses will scheme to get the ball into their hands as often as possible as well as some new guys who should rise to the surface. This is a hard position to judge without seeing production first. Here is our quick look at guys you must watch on Saturdays. There will be a few new players this year to jump on the scene as Quinshad Davis did last year, but as my motto we will hold off until halfway through the year to reevaluate each position.

1. Sammy Watkins: Clemson

Watkins is the most dynamic player in the ACC and with Nuk Hopkins heading to the NFL Watkins after a subpar Sophomore season for his standards will look to light up the scoreboard with his star quarterback Tahj Boyd returning to Death Valley. Watkins averaged over 70 yards per game even with Hopkins leading the league at 108 yard per contest. Watkins biggest obstacle may be his decision making away from the field after being suspended for marijuana possession last spring.

2. Quinshad Davis: North Carolina

Davis arrived in Chapel Hill as a highly recruited wide receiver and late in the season Davis delivered the hype. In a Thursday night game versus Virginia the freshman had 16 receptions for 178 yards. With the departure of Erik Highsmith, Davis will be featured more in the Tar Heels up tempo offense. As Sammy Watkins enjoys having veteran Tahj Boyd back at Clemson Davis will have the luxary of senior Bryn Renner who is one of the most efficient signal callers in the country.

3. Jamison Crowder: Duke

Crowder may have been the befactor of having senior Connor Vernon on the field, but the sophomore averaged 80 yards per game while hauling in 8 touchdowns.

4. Alex Amidon: Boston College

Amidon set BC records in receiving in 2012 grabbing 78 receptions for over 1200 yards and seven touchdowns. With Chase Rettig having another year of experience this duo is looking to improve in 2013 with more wins under new coach Steve Addazio.

5. Stefon Diggs: Maryland

Diggs was impressive in first year in College park. Diggs will need to increase his receptions to move up the list but after averaging over 15 yards per catch he is one of more explosive receivers in the league.

6. Michael Campenaro: Wake Forest

Campenaro again will be the focus for quarterback Tanner Price and the Demon Deacon offense. Campenaro is a great route runner but inconsistent performances hurt him last season. The deacons cannot have Campenaro catch two balls and hope to win very many games.

Analyzing The Tar Heel Trio and Their NBA Prospects

noreply@blogger.com (Matthew Haley) — Mon, 01 Apr 2013 05:26:44 PDT

In 2008 the North Carolina fan base had a collective exhale when Tyler Hansbrough, Danny Green, Wayne Ellington and Ty Lawson declared they were returning to Chapel Hill for another run at the national title. Although the fan base would have been unhappy, had any of those players left after the final four run you could understand why. The NBA draft is so fickle and every time I read how a player is thinking of leaving early I remember Scotty Thurmon from Arkansas. Thurmond led Arkansas to the National Championship over Duke in 1994 and back to the title game in 1995. Thurmon says his coach and NBA execs gave them feedback he would be a first round pick, but instead of playing in the NBA Thurmond spent his career in the CBA and playing over seas before moving back to Little Rock where he lives today.

The typical off season in Chapel Hill has begun as North Carolina has three players thinking about the NBA. The difference this season is that the team had zero marquee wins unless you count beaten ninth seed Villanova in the NCAA tournament. Their best wins in the regular came over NC State and UNLV who both lost in their first game in the NCAA tournament. The Tar Heels were 1-6 versus Duke, Miami and NC State. The NBA is not about individuals however most top players come off teams that win at the collegiate level. Are any of the three North Carolina players ready for the NBA or would another year in Chapel Hill increase their preparedness?

James Michael McAdoo has the athleticism NBA teams desire and his ability to run the floor and score in transition are the strengths of his game. My question about JMM at the next level is what is his go to move? In his two years in Chapel Hill when he catches the ball on the block you do not see a repertoire of post moves you need to be a successful NBA forward. I read all the time where analysts are describing JMM as a face the basket type player and he did hit the elbow jumper on a more consistent basis however most of those games came against the ACC's weaker opponents. McAdoo struggled throughout the year to finish over taller rangy players. One might argua than many post players are offensively raw coming out of college and i would agree with that statement however does JMM play defense and rebound well enough to make up for his deficiencies on offense? This may be coming across as harsh criticism of McAdoo but this is a piece on if he is ready for the NBA today. With a year to develop a post move or increase his range JMM will set himself up for being drafted and prepared to play which will put him in a better spot for his second contract which is key in the NBA.

Reggie Bullock is a very good shooter and can play excellent defense. The NBA is about creating your own shot however as we saw with Reggie Miller a team can be willing to screen for a sharp shooter. I question whether he would be drafted in the first round if he came out this year because he is not the type of player you build a team around. Reggie will be a good piece for a team to add in the right situation. There are a couple of areas that Reggie could add to his game that would allow him to be more versatile for a NBA team. Bullock is 6-7 has under used his size while he has been a Tar Heel. As good of a shooter as Rashad McCants was for North Carolina he was equally as good posting up other teams guards. Reggie Bullock would increase his stock by developing a post move to take advantage of his height. Bonzi Wells made a living in the NBA of being a dependable shooter, but could also use his height over smaller shooting guards in the league. Bullock has the ability to put up points on the scoreboard, but can he create his own shot to find shots at the next level?

PJ Hairston has the tools necessary to play at a high level in the NBA, but the question is he consistent enough for a team to take a chance on him at this point in his career. We all can see the range he has from behind the arc and he has the ability to rebound from the guard position. Hairston is lottery pick material in 2014, but would be a steal for any team in the top part of the second round. The question for Hairston has to be do I go to the league now as a late first round or possibly second round pick or come back and put himself in position for all American honors in Chapel Hill. Hairston is a fan favorite in Chapel Hill, but like many other players who leave before accomplishing great things on the court with Championships and individual awards his place in Tar Heel history would take a hit. As big of a knucklehead Rashad McCants was at times on the court at UNC fans still love him because of 2005. My guess would be Hairston is a player who wants to be successful in the NBA and understands he has a little work left undone in Chapel Hill. Besides can you leave UNC after the final Duke game?

As always you can follow us on twitter @MandMSportshow.

No NFL Quarterback Saviors in the 2013 NFL Draft?

noreply@blogger.com (Matthew Haley) — Sun, 31 Mar 2013 20:21:58 PDT

Andrew Luck, Robert Griffin III and Russell Wilson have all propelled their teams to wining ways in their first year in the National Football League. The Redskins struck lightning in a bottle with RG3 and Seahawks fans are all pointing to Wilson as the choice for rookie of the year. Andrew Luck just came in to Indianapolis where their fans know great quarterbacking after watching Peyton Manning and simply created optimism for another fifteen years of all pro type play. Both Luck and Griffin III were expected to help right away as they were the first two picks in the 2012 NFL draft, but Pete Carroll saw something in Russell Wilson and started him despite signing Matt Flynn to a big deal in the off season. The 2012 NFL draft may turn out to be one of the best ever when it is all said and done with Brandon Weeden and Ryan Tanneyhill added to the mix however the 2013 NFL Draft does not look as promising for teams who are in desparate need for a quarterback. There are some solid players at the position yet selecting one with a high pick in the draft would be a high risk come April.

Jeff Gross/Getty Images

Matt Barkley: USC

Had Barkley declared a year earlier he may have been one of the top picks in the 2012 NFL draft, but after a somewhat disappointing year where he missed the Notre Dame game due to injury can teams really take a chance picking Barkley with a top first round pick? As desperate as Arizona and Kansas City may be this draft they may be better off picking one of several players in the second or third round of the draft than risking one on Barkley.

Geno Smith: West Virginia

Geno Smith may be the player that I would take a chance given his combination to throw and be a threat to run when needed. Just like RG3 Smith is a better passer than the typical spread option quarterback and given the right system Smith could be a solid pro. The question that comes with any Dana Holgerson quarterback is you have to be careful becoming too excited over statistics and truly study the players throwing motion and how he does in pressure situations.The Texas Tech and Kansas State games both threw up red flags when it comes to the Mountaineer signal caller.

Tyler Wilson: Arkansas

In fairness to Wilson the Bobby Petrino scandal did more to hurt him this season than opposing defenses. John L. Smith was not equipped to run this team and we did not see Wilson's best performances. Tyler Wilson has the size to compete in the NFL, but when looking at his junior year at Arkansas his struggles against Alabama and LSU are games that concern me when projecting how well he will do against the blitzing defenses in the NFL. Again this season against stingy defenses he had a tendency to turn the ball over and you cannot do that and have a long career in the NFL.

Mike Glennon: NC State

Mike Glennon is my sleeper pick in this years draft and will play a long time if chosen by the right team. Tom O'brien may not have been able to win with NFL quarterback talent in Raleigh however he has done a good job identifying guys who can play at the next level. Glennon gets compared to Matt Ryan because O'brien coached both but I think Glennon has a little better touch on the football and utilizes crossing routes as good as anybody in college football.

Tyler Bray: Tennessee

Bray put up over 3000 yards this past fall for the volunteers with 34 touchdowns however accuracy was a problem for the Junior. Tyler Bray has had issues with maturity and if I were a general manager the only way I am signing this guy is to a free agent contract. A draft pick on Bray is a waste and Tennessee fans are probably glad to see him go. We only list him because ESPN and others will talk about he physical skills he has, but the best quarterbacks in the NFL are leaders.

Landry Jones(Oklahoma), Matt Scott (Arizona) and Zac Dysert (Miami OH) all will figure in to discussions about who teams can draft this fall. We chose to highlight the first five we believe have the best chances of squeaking into the first round even as ridiculous as drafting Bray with a high pick will be.

The NFL year is solid when you look at overall players however when you have the number one pick in a year without a legitimate NFL quarterback to choose from at the top spot it is hard to be excited about the draft.

Always follow up with your comments on twitter at @MandMSportshow.

Clemson Has Big Shoes to Fill in 2013

noreply@blogger.com (Matthew Haley) — Sun, 31 Mar 2013 20:20:24 PDT

Clemson fans breathed a sigh of relief when Tajh Boyd announced he was returning to Death Valley this past Tuesday. The rising senior was clutch in the Chick Fil A Bowl win over LSU who had 10 players declare for the NFL this year with six coming from the defensive side of the ball. Boyd was sharp throughout the game and answered any questions about whether he could face an NFL style blitz. Time after time with pressure in his face Boyd made a last second throw while getting knocked to the ground. With Boyd back Clemson will be the odds favorite to win the Atlantic division, but the Tigers have other shoes to fill on the offensive side of the ball.

Andre Ellington will graduate and leave Clemson University for life in the National Football League. Ellington was a punishing runner who was perfect for Chad Morris offense. Ellington rushed for over one thousand yards this past season with eight touchdowns and the back could be dangerous out the backfield with nearly three hundred yards receiving including a 52 yard touchdown. Ellington will not just be missed running the ball because his knowledge of the passing game and the experience to pick up a blitz can be a quarterbacks best friend. Roderick McDowell is the second leading rusher among running backs with 450 yards this past year and the senior will get his chance this spring to earn the number one spot. Talented freshman Zack Brooks has sit back quietly learning the game behind a veteran group. Brooks one of the most anticipated players in the 2012 class enrolled last spring and will have the luxury of a full year on campus when he heads to spring practice to make his case for more playing time. McDowell and brooks will be challenged by two incoming freshman Tyshon Daye and Wayne Gallman, but they have the advantage of experience in this offense.

Sammy Watkins will be back and for college football fans we can only hope there are no off field issues this summer. The electrifying player Fort Meyers Beach Florida will be needed as Clemson lost the best wide receiver in the during the 2012 season when DeAndre "Nuk" Hopkins declared for the NFL. The Chick Fil A bowl may have sealed the deal as Hopkins was dominant against a LSU defense with a ton of NFL talent. The question for Clemson is who will turn into that second option for Tajh Boyd and provide the possession type catches that Hopkins was brilliant at providing.

The Clemson Tigers will be a preseason top ten team and face Georgia in their season opener. With a win over Aaron Murray and the Dawgs anything other than an undefeated season and BCS bid for the Tigers will be a disappointment.

Rick Pitino: What Could Have Been and Where He Is Today

noreply@blogger.com (Matthew Haley) — Sun, 31 Mar 2013 19:50:27 PDT

Rick Pitino won his 300th game as the Louisville basketball coach and that made me start thinking where is Pitino when it comes to the all time great coaches. We all know Pitino as the mastermind behind the press with Providence and Kentucky but coach Pitino now sits with 640 wins as a collegiate head coach. Think about the moment when he left Kentucky for the NBA and the Boston Celtics. He was sitting at 340 wins when he left college coaching a second time. Had Pitino stayed with Kentucky he would have at least 108 more wins during that span and when he coached the New York Nicks his Providence team would have won approximately 48 more putting Pitino near the 800 mark as a 60 year college coach. Hardly an age destined for retirement.

When I ask the question about who is the best college coach Pitino's name rarely comes up any more and I wonder if it is because of the scandal or that working at Kentucky made him larger than life. Pitino can flat out coach as Dick Vitale likes to say as he discusses coaches in the upcoming NCAA tournament.

From the days of the old five star camp where he was pressing Dave Odom's squads to the roaming the sideline at Louisville rick Pitino has been good for college basketball. Despite his personal issues that came to public light because he was been extorted and would not allow that Pitino has always ran a clean basketball program. Never does Pitino come up when fans discuss the dirtiest college coaches.

Rick Pitino has yet another solid team entering the NCAA tournament from Louisville. They have holes just like the other teams with a chance to win it all, but I wouldn't count Pitino out from taking his team to Atlanta the last weekend in March.

Five Bold Predictions for Easter Basketball

noreply@blogger.com (Matthew Haley) — Sun, 31 Mar 2013 11:05:47 PDT

Florida versus Michigan and Louisville versus Duke sounds as if it were an NCAA final four weekend, but for two of these teams their season will come to a halt at the end of the day. Half of the final four is set with the Shockers from Wichita State continuing their magical run after defeating Ohio State, and the Orangemen throttled Marquette in rout to their fourth final four under Jim Beiheim. With two games to go we give you our five bold predictions for today's games.

One: Michigan will not win if the Gators shooting percentage is anywhere near the Jayhawks on Friday night. Kansas shot 54.5% overall including 37% from behind the arc. The Wolverines depended on spectacular shooting at the end of the game by Trey Burke overcoming a 14 point deficit.

Two: There will be fewer than six blocks today in Dallas between Michigan and Florida combined. With Withey gone from the tournament the basket will be a little easier to drive increasing the flow to today's game.

Three: Seth Curry torched Michigan State Friday night however the senior from Charlotte has been hampered with lower leg injury all year. Louisville's pressure will take it's toll on Curry forcing the offensive burden on Rasheed Sulaimon and Quin Cook who has a disastrous sweet sixteen game.

Four: Gorgui Dieng will have more points today than in the match up from November 24. Yes that was a bit sarcastic because the center from Senegal did not play in the first meeting. Mason Plumlee led Duke in scoring in the previous meeting with sixteen points. Dieng's presence will have an impact on Plumlee and the Blue devil's aility to score inside.

Five: If the opportunity arises Rick Pitino will guard the inbound passer in a late game situation if the Cardinals are up one or two points with only a few seconds to play. The last thing anyone needs is Ryan Kelly and Christian Laettner doing a commercial centered around the "Shot Part Deux."