Final Four 2007 Preview Part Two

Did you know that Patrick Ewing played for Georgetown back in the 80's? Did you know that his son plays for Georgetown now? How about John Thompson, Ewing's old college coach, whose son, the aptly named John Thompson III, is the current Hoya coach? If, by chance, you didn't know, the millions of Ewing and Thompson montages over the course of this week will make sure that you never forget. But, aside from these storylines, the Georgetown-Ohio State National Semifinal game is packed with a variety of other important subplots. For instance, both teams boast a top flight center (a real rarity in the college game), as well as a variety of wing players and guards that many teams would love to have. Before taking a look at the individual matchups, lets first examine how each team progressed through the bracket.


#2 Georgetown Hoyas (30-6, Big East Champions)
Tournament wins over: #15 Belmont (80-55), #7 Boston College (62-55), #6 Vanderbilt (66-65), #1 North Carolina (96-84)

Last year, a similar Georgetown team led a renaissance of sorts of the once great program, reaching the sweet 16. While they don't overwhelm physically and aren't a very high-flying team, the Hoyas are successful by playing good defense, and doing just enough on offense. The offense runs through center Roy Hibbert, the guy Patrick Ewing probably wishes his son was. When Hibbert goes out of the game, Big East POY Jeff Green takes over the attack. Theres some other role players (Jonathan Wallace and freshman DaJuan Summers are particularly of note) who are capable of having an impact. Summers is really developing, with 15 points and 7 boards against Vandy in the sweet 16, and 20 and 6 against UNC to get to the Final Four. However, none of these guys, Ewing Jr. included, will have as much impact as the two faces of the revival, Hibbert and Green. This team has been on fire of late, having won 19 of their past 20 games, allowing a stingy 58.6 points over that span. Key for the Hoyas will be keeping their best players out of foul trouble; Hibbert getting into early foul trouble will allow 42-year old Greg Oden to wreak havoc against a smallish front line.

Best Player: F Jeff Green
While the Georgetown offense and defense run through Hibbert, he isn't exactly a polished scorer or defender. Green is the total package: a 6-9 small forward who can guard 4 positions on the court at any time. Also impressive is his offensive game, as he has the speed to get to the rim as well as the size to back down smaller guards. Add in the fact that he has been very clutch this tourney (see the ridiculous shot over two Vanderbilt defenders to win in the second round), and you get a player that is essentially unstoppable. He will be the greatest mismatch for the Buckeyes.

X-Factor: F Patrick Ewing Jr.
The Indiana transfer has had a rocky career so far, but he finally has settled in as a sixth man type of player for the Hoyas. He is still raw, but you can't possibly tell me that an Ewing playing for Georgetown will be a non-factor in the NCAAs.


#1 Ohio State Buckeyes (34-3, Big Ten Champions)
Tournament wins over: #16 Central Connecticut State (78-57), #9 Xavier(78-71), #5 Tennessee (85-84), #2 Memphis (92-76)

Ohio State has been, simply put, a juggernaut this season, with losses coming only to UNC, Florida, and Wisconsin. That means that if you weren't ranked number one at some point this year, you didn't beat the Buckeyes. It is hard really to find weaknesses in this team, which boasts two of the best freshmen in the country in Greg Oden and Mike Conley Jr. This team plays with a much looser style than Georgetown, making more than 7 threes per game. In spite of the mammoth Oden, who would be the best freshman in college almost every year (except for years with Kevin Durant), this team relies more on its guards than its post presence. One of the few flaws in this team is their inexperience, as four freshmen contribute significant minutes. However, Upperclassmen Ron Lewis and Jamar Butler provide leadership, having experience from the tournament last year.

Best Player: C Greg Oden
Oden will most likely be, as much as it pains me to say, the first pick in next year's NBA draft. (On a side note, I get it that it's much harder to find a true center than a forward in the NBA, but how can you objectively take Oden over Kevin Durant, who has proven this year that he is far and away the best freshman in college basketball. When you look at the top 5 in scoring this year in the NCAA, Durant sits in fourth, behind players from VMI, Jackson State, and Rice. These teams are not exactly powerhouses. Texas, however, plays in the Big 12, against good teams night in and night out. Every team in the Big 12 has at least one big athletic stopper, and some have many (see: Kansas). Durant is often double teamed, by good players, and still has enough raw talent to put up 25.6 a game, as well as pull down 11.3 boards. Its not like he flew under the radar either, being the only freshman at the Big 12 media day. Oden is good, and maybe has the potential to be better than Durant at some point, but Sam Bowie was considered a dominant prospect as well, and we all know that passing over Michael Jordan to take Bowie was less than genius. Durant is as close to can't miss as anything we've seen in a long time, and any NBA team with half a brain will take him first. But I digress.) He's long, strong, and can score with his back to the basket, something that Hibbert has trouble doing. He is a defensive menace, and takes away any chance opponents have of getting clean drives to the basket. He has lately gotten into foul trouble, but it hasn't been a consistent problem. He's also finally playing with two wrists, which makes him even scarier.

X-Factor: G/F David Lighty
All of the other star guards get the publicity, but Lighty has been the spark plug for the offense in the past few games. He is 6-6, with a huge vertical, and has pulled down key boards during the tournament. Also, he has range out to the three point line, and he is just as likely to score on a deep jumper as a foray into the lane.


All in all, Georgetown looks overmatched. Hibbert won't be able to get his easy 8 points a game on cheap alley oops with Oden in the game, and likewise Green and Co. will be forced to take a lot of threes. While they shoot well from deep, its not a facet of the offense that should be a major part. While Green will not be able to be handled one on one, this is one of the few games where he will be double teamed often, since Oden should be able to account for Hibbert without a lot of help. This will help shut down Georgetown's offense. Ohio State has too many people who can run and shoot, and odds are that somebody is bound to catch fire at some point in the game. Look for Oden to have a quiet offensive game, as he will be spending the majority of his time locking down Hibbert, although OSU will try to get Hibbert in foul trouble early by going right at him. Likewise, Georgetown's best strategy is to go directly at Oden, to try and get him on the bench. Expect this game to be in Ohio State's control for the duration.

Ohio State wins, 76-67.

Final Four 2007: National Semi-Finals

This upcoming weekend presents potentially one of the best Final Fours in recent memory. The combination of the overwhelming talent, intriguing story lines, and solid coaching and fundamentals from these teams is unparalleled compared to recent years. As opposed to last year, which needed the captivating story of mid-major George Mason going where no underdog had gone before (To even a greater degree than Providence over John Thompson’s Georgetown in ’85, looking at the disparity between programs), this year in college basketball has certainly been defined by an influx in talent – greatly helped by the NBA rule barring the likes of Greg Oden and Kevin Durant from jumping ship to the pros from high school. Looking at the remaining teams, we have several individual storylines: With all five starters uncommonly returning from last year’s championship team, can Florida repeat? Will Billy Donovan’s success at Florida make him want to switch to a new challenge as a coach for the more prestigious Kentucky program? Does Ben Howland have what it takes to restore UCLA to its dominance under John Wooden in the 60’s and 70’s, or will he once again get close but fall short? Will the youthful exuberance of Greg Oden, Mike Conley Jr. and co. be able to beat the more experienced squads? Is Oden leaving if he has a defining performance on the big stage? Can John Thompson III create his own legacy by winning it all? As these stories matriculate, let’s take a look at how each team got there:

#2 UCLA Bruins (Record, Pac-10 Regular Season Champions)
Tournament wins over: #15 Weber State, #7 Indiana, #3 Pittsburgh, and #1 Kansas

With the loss of point guard Jordan Farmar, who left early for the NBA, the Bruins were in need of a good leader and decision-maker to fill the void. Darren Collison more than fit this description, as he is regarded as one of the most underrated point guards in the country for his poise, clutch shooting, and defensive capabilities that Farmar lacked. Also, the emergence of Josh Shipp, who was injured last year, provided another needed scoring threat. The Bruins have relied on defense, fundamentals and excellent coaching to advance to this point. While at times, their scoring has lacked (UCLA scored 20 points in the first half against Indiana), their staunch defense will keep them in games (During this same stretch, Indiana only scored 13).

Best Player: G Aaron Afflalo – 1st Team All-American speaks for itself
X-Factor: F Luc Richard Mbah a Moute – This “little” big man (He’s only 6’7”) plays with high energy, and provides an additional scoring threat to complement Afflalo, Shipp, and Collison. If he can help somewhat negate the frontcourt advantage Florida has, the Bruins will be in good shape.

#1 Florida Gators (33-5, SEC Regular Season and Tournament Champions)
Tournament wins over: #16 Jackson State, #9 Purdue, #5 Butler, and #3 Oregon

The shocking story after the Gators beat UCLA, 73-57 in the Championship game last year was that Joakim Noah, Al Horford (“The Godfather”), and co. announced that they were returning to go for a repeat title. Disregarding the stretch late in the season when Florida had already locked up a Regular Season title and they lost 3 of 4, this team has been dominant; the combination of effective big men in the post along with athletic guards/forwards who can shoot the 3 makes this team dangerous. Also, the team chemistry for the Gators is incredible. Anyone who puts up with Noah’s screaming on a consistent basis deserves a gold star on behalf of The Sporting Itis. The only issue I find with this team is the fact that they start out slow, and don’t always show that a sense of urgency. While they are capable of turning the switch on and surge to victories, this tactic might not go as well against top-notch talent.

Best Player: F/C Joakim Noah – Emotional leader, athletic big man, solid defensive presence
X-Factor: G/F Lee Humphrey – When this shooter is on target with his 3-pointers, the Gators are virtually unstoppable. His shot was so on target last game that it didn’t just “tickle the twine” – it ripped the net apart.

Like last year, UCLA has struggled at times to put points on the board. They have relied on a smothering defense that has held its Tournament opponents to 50 points per contest. While this statistic is impressive, they have not faced such a complete team with the so many weapons. Pittsburgh featured size with Aaron Gray. Kansas featured skill with Brandon Rush, Russell Robinson, Mario Chalmers, and Julian Wright. Florida essentially has both. If Florida plays with the same aggressive tenacity that led them to the championship last year, the Gators will be playing for the repeat on Monday

Florida wins, 66-56.

Quick Sweet 16 Thoughts

A few random thoughts following the Sweet 16...

-I'm sure that this isn't the first time that someone is complaining about James Brown's broadcasting performance in this tournament. James is great as a football pregame host, but play by play isn't really his thing. CBS should know that now is not the time to host an impromptu version of "Dream Job".

-A much better batch of games this time around than compared to the first two rounds. 6 of the 8 games decided by 5 points or less; the Pitt-UCLA game was close for the majority of the game, and even UNLV-Oregon managed to be at least interesting throughout.

-Florida isn't the Florida of last year. They've been too talented not to win the first few games in this tournament, against Jackson State, a hard-working Purdue team, and talented, but not physically imposing, Butler. The guards aren't giving any energy, and Joakim Noah is quickly becoming a candidate for Dancing With The Stars. The only reason Florida even survived Butler was because of the continued dominance of Al Horford, who simply physically embarassed the Bulldogs. Luckily enough for them, Oregon has the same weak inside that Horford and Chris Richard will exploit.

- When will Southern Illinois start to get the same type of credit that Gonzaga gets for being an excellent mid-major team every year? This year marks the sixth in a row that SIU will be dancing, as well as their second sweet 16 appearance since 2001. The Salukis were just one win away from bursting onto the national scene, much like the Zags did in 1999, and actually managed to stay with one of the most dominant teams in college basketball this year in Kansas.

-Tim Floyd's technical foul with about a minute left ruined any chance USC had of coming back. If you didn't get to see this (another flaw of tournament broadcasting-please add another channel of coverage next year, CBS), Floyd threw some small pieces of paper onto the court, in protest of a foul called on Taj Gibson. The result? 4 free throws resulting in a ten point lead for UNC. This was extremely unfair to his team, who actually had a chance to come back.

-Tennessee had the perfect game plan to shut down Ohio State, and in the first half it worked. Greg Oden was on the bench all game with foul trouble, which forced the Bucks to play a more up tempo game. What Tennessee forgot was that OSU was a two seed in the tourney last year without Oden, and Ron Lewis and Jamar Butler were used to running anyways. Add in Mike Conley and David Lighty, amongst others, and you get a team that is probably better suited to a faster-paced game. That's how Ohio State managed to come back, in spite of a great shooting day by Chris Lofton and Co. (51.6% from 3, to be exact)

Two more excellent matchups today in Ohio State V. Memphis and UCLA-Kansas. More analysis and predictions to come.

Some Thoughts on the Tourney's First Weekend...

- This was the most lackluster first two rounds I’ve ever seen. Michael Wilbon called it the worst he’s seen in 25 years. When the most surprising upset is a 5 seed beating a 4 (USC over Texas)…well, that says it all. The two lowest seeded teams to win in the first round were #11 Winthrop and #11 Virginia Commonwealth, and both of those teams were such popular upset picks that they scarcely count as upsets at all.

- Going along with that, this marks the first year since 1995 that no double-digit seed has reached the Sweet 16. The closest we get this year is #7 UNLV, which should’ve gotten a higher seed to begin with, and #6 Vanderbilt, which beat Washington State, the worst #3 seed. We’ve also got mid-major darlings Butler and Southern Illinois, but their recent success helped earn them top seeds, and a high seed removes the entire appeal of a Cinderella story.

- Worst of all, this means that the gutless frontrunners who pick all the top seeds to win in their brackets are leading in pools around the country. And no, I’m not bitter that none of my major upset picks came through.

- I am legitimately depressed that Kevin Durant won’t be playing again this March. He’s far and away the most talented player in the nation, a freakish combination of Tracy McGrady, Kevin Garnett and Dirk Nowitzki, but we won’t have the pleasure of seeing him play for months. I swore that he would have a transcendent tournament that would make Carmelo’s at Syracuse look like child’s play, carrying Texas to at least one impossible win. But alas, USC's defense focused in on him and his teammates couldn't pick up the slack; it was sort of like a Little League team pitching around the kid who weighs 180 pounds and has a mustache.

- On the bright side, there are some players left that have that “I need to watch this game just to see him” quality. My list goes like this (in no order): Acie Law IV, to see if he’ll knock down another game-winner…Greg Oden, to see if he’ll have that dominant game or if he’ll throw an opposing player into a hot dog vendor…Tyler Hansbrough, for his endless double-doubles despite his 1960s athleticism…Jeff Green, to see if he achieves alpha dog status and can make himself a top-5 draft pick…Chris Lofton, for his quick trigger that would make Gilbert Arenas blush…and Joakim Noah, to see if some fan will storm the court and nail him with a chair, making everyone outside of Gainesville drunk with joy.

- I really hate Joakim Noah.

We're Dancin!

**Click Image to See Larger Bracket -- Now in color! **

It's that wonderful time o' the year, ladies and gentiles! The NCAA Tournament is upon us. After devising a brilliant, intricate system for choosing the winner of all 63 games (64 if you include the play-in, which we picked correctly...of course!), we breezed through the brackets with incredible ease, and now present the picks to you, our faithful followers. So scrap whatever you may have thought was the winning combination, scribble down these choices, and walk around sticking your chest out like a pompous ass who thinks he knows all about college basketball.

And if you don't have 20/10 vision, just give the above bracket a little clickaroo and it will come to you in giant, stunning, high-definition internet.

AND, if you're not convinced enough to take our picks at face value, allow David A. and myself to justify ourselves with some brief explanations. We'll address the early-round upsets that everyone loves so much, as well as the picks that matter the most - the Final Four.

(Note: Teams in bold denote they won for the particular round of interest)

MIDWEST

Butler came flying out of the gates this year, beating Notre Dame, Indiana, Tennessee and Gonzaga in November. However, they’ve split their last eight games and lack the all-important momentum entering the tourney. Old Dominion got an at-large bid out of the Colonial Athletic Association, thanks in large part to a big win at Georgetown. Valdas Vasylius is the guy that makes the Monarchs go, scoring 15.8 per game. The 12-5 games always produce upsets, and this one has as good a chance as any.

Winthrop almost had the upset of the tournament last year, suffering a heartbreaking loss as a #15 to #2 Tennessee in the first round. The Eagles bring back an experienced squad (their top seven scorers are juniors or seniors) that’s still hurting from that defeat. Winthrop’s only four losses this year were to North Carolina, Maryland, Wisconsin and Texas A&M. And those were all on the road. They’ve since won 18 straight, and have an inside-out game that will prove to be too much for Notre Dame.

All of the talking heads are raving about Florida’s shot at going back-to-back. It does look like they have the easiest road of any #1 seed to Atlanta. BUT, if they meet Arizona in the second round, the Wildcats have the athleticism and talent to hang with them. Lute Olson’s club has criminally underachieved this year, but they have what you need to win. Experienced point guard? Check; senior Mustafa Shakur led the Pac-10 in assists. Solid big guy? Check; 6-10 senior Ivan Radenovic averaged 15.2 points and 7.6 rebounds. Go-to scorer? Check; Marcus Williams (16.8 ppg) and Chase Budinger (15.6) both have the talent and versatility to put points up on anyone. Coaching? Check; Lute Olson is one of eight coaches to have been in five Final Fours. The Gators are obviously talented, but there’s always one big dog that bows out early. Florida could be it.

Maryland in the Final Four? What is this, 2002? Juan Dixon and Lonny Baxter are gone, but Gary Williams and his sweat-stained suits remain. DJ Strawberry has emerged as a leader (are we sure this is Darryl’s kid?) and shut-down defender for the Terps, who were the nation’s hottest team before their puzzling loss to Miami in the ACC Tournament. James Gist and Ekene Ibekwe give Maryland a solid inside presence, and guards Mike Jones and Greivis Vasquez are both good ballhandlers on the perimeter. The University of Mass Destruction’s veteran leadership could very well take them all the way to Atlanta.

Bits and pieces: Georgia Tech’s freshmen keep them in it, but they can’t top the Runnin’ Rebels…Wisconsin stifles Texas A&M-Corpus Christi in the first round, but can’t score enough to get by hot-shooting Oregon…Davidson’s Stephen Curry gets his points, but DJ Strawberry bothers him into a poor shooting night…My Miami Redhawks (I'm an MU student) put a scare into the Ducks, but just don’t have the firepower to stick with them.

WEST

Virginia Tech may be the biggest enigma of the NCAA Tourney. The Hokies swept #1 seed UNC, beat Duke, and Maryland but got blown out by BC (80-59) and lost to NC State not once (70-59), not twice (81-56), but thrice (72-64)! That being said, the Hokies should beat the Illini, which boasts one of the least-talented squads of the at-large teams. I think Jim Boeheim might take issue with the Illini being here. Oh well, good luck in the NIT!

Southern Illinois beat up on a Final Four team, the Washington University [in St. Louis] Bears. Well how could we say this? The tourney hasn't even started...well it has for Division III, and while the Bears are talented, they aren't exactly Holy Cross. Hailing from the Patriot League, we have confidence in the Crusaders; the champion has won in the first round each of the past two years (see: Bucknell over Arkansas, 2006; Bucknell over Kansas, 2005).

We could imagine Greg Gumbel trying to find a way to paint the battle between the Duke Blue Devils and the Pittsburgh Panthers as something other than what it is: two programs that have a history of success over the past decade, but have struggled mightily in scoring points and just aren’t that talented this year. Pitt center Aaron Gray will be limited by the depth of Duke’s big men. Without Gray, Pitt is limited in the scoring department. Duke wins in a low-scoring bout.

The tradition-rich programs of Duke and UCLA meet in the Sweet 16, where Ben Howland seems to have both the skill and experience advantage. The Bruins feature one of the best floor managers in the country, Darren Collison and All-American guard, Aaron Afflalo. We feel that UCLA will take advantage of their superior guards and last year’s breakout player, Luc Richard Mbah a Moute will make a strong impact.

Kansas potentially has five players that will one day play in the NBA. The Jayhawks have a balanced scoring distribution (5 players score between 9 and 13 points per game) and a more experienced squad after last year’s early exit. Julian Wright is one of the most talented players in the tourney and will prove so in the big stage. The talent and success in clutch situations (see: Kansas vs. Texas in the Big 12 Championship game) will allow the ‘Hawks to get the upper hand in a close one.

Bits and Pieces: Virginia Commonwealth and Wright State have potential to upset Duke and Pitt, respectively. Eric Maynor and VCU have an opportunity to exploit Paulus (The basketball version of Rex “Tex” Grossman), McRoberts and Co. and Wright State is one of the hottest teams in the country.

EAST

Arkansas is being called one of the worst teams in the tournament, undeserving of a bid, and should just feel lucky to be there. Thing is, the underachieving big-conference teams that get in at the last minute always seem to prove their doubters wrong. The Hogs had a dreadful mid-season run, but ended the year with five straight SEC wins before falling to Florida in the conference tournament. USC is talented, but Trojan fans should look forward to the OJ Mayo era instead. You know, until it ends prematurely after a huge booster scandal.

North Carolina and Texas in the Sweet Sixteen. This could be the game during which Dick Vitale’s head actually explodes. Both teams are led by precocious youngsters, but Kevin Durant is in a class by himself. Carolina’s Brandan Wright looks to be the perfect counterpart for Durant – tall, lanky, and quick. But the reasoning behind this pick is that Durant is basically destined for greatness, and that NCAA Tournament wins over New Mexico State and Arkansas do not equal greatness. The Tar Heels have more talent overall; Tyler Hansbrough should have his way inside, and their bench is certainly deeper. UNC has the coaching advantage too. Roy Williams is one of the top coaches in the nation, and Rick Barnes realizes that he has the most talented player in America on his team only occasionally. But all of that logic aside, this is the game in which Kevin Durant puts the cap on one of the greatest individual seasons in recent memory.

If Maryland was the nation’s hottest team, then Georgetown now is the nation’s hottest team. The Hoyas have won 15 of their last 16, including five wins over ranked opponents. Roy Hibbert is a mountain of a man in the middle, and he alters more shots than anyone east of Greg Oden. Jonathan Wallace needs to have a big tournament for Georgetown to make it all the way to the Final Four; you just can’t win without solid guard play. But the one player who can steal some of Durant’s spotlight is Jeff Green. The 6-9 junior can do a little bit of everything, and has been playing extremely well as of late. Every top team needs a leader, and Green is just that for the John Thompson III’s team.

Bits and pieces: Tom Izzo teams always perform well, and Michigan State tops Marquette…Washington State is not a good #3 seed, but they still manage to make the Sweet Sixteen…Texas Tech beats Boston College, Bob Knight berates reporters with a hint of a smile…Vanderbilt beats George Washington in the worst-played game of the tournament…

SOUTH

In the battle of middle-to-southern Ohio, Ohio State shouldn't have too much trouble handling Oklahoma transfer (and Columbus Brookhaven High School graduate) Drew Lavender and the Xavier Musketeers, but it should be noted that the game is played not far away from Xavier in Lexington, Kentucky.

The athleticism and versatility of the Memphis Tigers should neutralize Nick Fazekas and the Nevada Wolfpack. While many don't predict Memphis to make it too far due to their soft schedule, they still have won 22-straight games. Calipari has this team ready.

Acie Law IV will have something to say in this tournament. The star player for the Aggies has proven to be one of the most clutch players in the country. His rainbow three over Kevin Durant in their most recent game was arguably the top play of the season. Texas A&M should handle Memphis in the Sweet 16.

Ohio State's size will be too much for A&M. The talented guards for each side neutralize each other, but the deciding factor in this Elite 8 matchup will be Old Man River, Greg Oden. Throughout the season, he hasn't played big in big games. Defenses have swarmed him and he hasn't yet responded well to the pressure. This game should be his defining moment, as he helps lead his team into the championship game.

Bits and Pieces: Similar to the experts and pundits that often get these brackets completely wrong, we picked most of the favorites in this bracket. The lone exception was picking Texas A&M over the Memphis Calipari Tigers. We had long debates on whether Nevada would beat Creighton or if Albany could upset Virginia and Jim Calhoun's protege, Coach Dave Leitao. In the end, we felt that the lower seeds in this bracket just weren't that good.

FINAL FOUR

We're in Atlanta! The hot streak of Maryland may finally end in the National Semifinal game, as a simply better Kansas Jayhawk team comes to town and plays the Terps tough. Each team has similar strengths in balanced scoring, hard-nosed defense, and excellent coaching, but Kansas also has NBA prospects. Gary Williams might sweat through 3 shirts, but he may have some trouble stopping Rush, Wright, and Chalmers.

The Georgetown Hoyas and Ohio State Buckeyes have two of the best true big men in the business in Roy Hibbert and Greg Oden, respectively. Assuming the defense of these two neutralize each other, the primary factor will be the guard play, which the Buckeyes have in abundance with Mike Conley Jr., Daequan Cook, Ron Lewis, and Jamar Butler. Georgetown is a major liability in this department, and while they do feature star swingman, Jeff Green, the glaring lack of a true point guard will prove costly.

NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP GAME

Drew Gooden's alma mater, Kansas, lacks a dominant big man from preventing Mr. Oden from having a big game. That being said, in every other facet of the game, the Jayhawks are more than adequate in producing points to offset this. When KU played Kevin Durant, the recipe for winning wasn't to stop the star, but to limit the other players' impact on the game instead. The length of Rush, Wright, and Arthur will limit the effectiveness of the Buckeyes supporting cast, as shots will be contested and it will be tougher to drive on this team. In the end, the National Championship will be a stage for Julian Wright to boost his draft status the way Carmelo Anthony did a few years ago.

And all along we thought it'd be Durant.

NFL Mock Draft, Take 2

With the NFL Combine done with, many players have seen their stocks soar or drop based on a bunch of gentlemen with clipboards watching them run around in t-shirts. Now that they’ve been timed in the various dashes, shuttles, leaps and other tests, teams are getting better ideas as to who they really want to pick. With star players getting cut, others getting signed and still more getting traded, rosters around the league are getting scrambled like eggs. And with that in mind, it’s only proper that we tireless minds at The Sporting Itis give you, our faithful reader (no typo), another mock draft.

1. Raiders – JaMarcus Russell, QB, LSU

The mammoth Bayou Bengal has all but put on the Silver & Black at this point. Scouts across the league are all raving about his talent, and Aaron Brooks’ recent release conveniently opens up the Raiders #2 jersey. However, Oakland could throw a wrench in the whole draft if they trade Randy Moss and take Calvin Johnson.

2. Lions – Joe Thomas, OT, Wisconsin

All accounts say that the Lions and head coach Rod Marinelli love Thomas, not just because of his talents but because of his work ethic and attitude. Of course, the last can’t-miss left tackle to go #2 overall was super-bust Robert Gallery.

3. Browns – Adrian Peterson, RB, Oklahoma

Peterson ran a 4.38 40, was outstanding in college, and durability seems to be his only possible issue. More than Peterson, though, most Browns fans just DON’T want Brady Quinn.

4. Buccaneers – Calvin Johnson, WR, Georgia Tech

This fella looks prepared to dominate right away. Johnson is a freakish combination of Randy Moss’ speed and Terrell Owens’ physicality, but without the arrests or suicide attempts. The Lions still might be crazy enough to take him at #2, and pending the Moss trade the Raiders could.

5. Cardinals – Gaines Adams, DE, Clemson

The Cards have a good offense in place, and just need to put some playmakers on the other side of the ball. Adams has emerged as the top defender in the draft, and surely adding him will convince people that this is finally the year that Arizona turns it around.

6. Redskins – Alan Branch, DT, Michigan

The Potomac Drainage Basin Indigenous Persons (naming credit to ESPN’s Gregg Easterbrook) need some young blood on their defensive line, and Branch is a big ol’ run-stuffin’ QB-sackin’ running back-tacklin’ fella who fills the void.

7. Vikings – Ted Ginn, WR, Ohio State

Minnesota's front office might be a bit hesitatnt to take a smallish, speedy receiver after the Troy Williamson selection, but Ginn is certainly more polished and at least has enough talent as a kick returner to make an impact right away.

8. Texans – Levi Brown, OT, Penn State

The Ahman Green acquisition gives the Tejans a talented (if fragile) running back who should take some pressure off the passing game. Now they need someone to block for him – and keep David Carr from getting planted onto his backside.

9. Dolphins – Brady Quinn, QB, Notre Dame

Miami (which spells “I maim” backwards; see, words are fun!) is in desperate need of a pigskin tosser, and without many outstanding quarterbacks in this draft they’ll probably pull the trigger on Notre Dame’s golden boy here.

10. Falcons – LaRon Landry, S, LSU

Aside from Michael Vick not being able to throw an intermediate out pattern, the defensive backfield is the Dirty Birds’ biggest concern. Landry is a talented all-around prospect, and has compared himself to Ronnie Lott. For what that’s worth.

11. 49ers – Jamaal Anderson, DE, Arkansas

The Niners have upgraded their secondary with the signings of cornerback Nate Clements and safety Michael Lewis. If they can improve their front seven, they could be a legit playoff contender next year.

12. Bills – Leon Hall, CB, Michigan

With Clements leaving for the redder and golder pastures of San Francisco, the Bills’ secondary is left young and inexperienced. Adding Hall would give Buffalo a handful of talented young defensive backs along with Terrence McGee, Donte Whitner and Ashton Youboty.

13. Rams – Amobi Okoye, DT, Louisville

St. Louis’ defense has been a problem since the Kurt Warner-led Greatest Show on Turf was around. Problem is, the current offense isn’t good enough to win games all by its lonesome. Okoye will be an unusually young 20 year-old rookie, giving him all kinds of crazy upside.

14. Panthers – Patrick Willis, LB, Ole Miss

Carolina certainly underachieved last year, but doesn’t have any gaping holes. Middle linebacker Dan Morgan is oft-injured and getting older, and Willis is an athletic player in that same mold.

15. Steelers – Darrelle Revis, CB, Pittsburgh

The surprise release of Joey Porter could send the Stillers looking for a linebacker (perhaps they’d like to convert Florida’s Jarvis Moss to OLB), but their secondary could also use some work.

16. Packers – Marshawn Lynch, RB, Cal

Ahman Green’s departure virtually guarantees that Green Bay will take Lynch. The only way they won’t is if he’s taken earlier or if they make a bid for one of the other free agent running backs.

17. Jaguars – Reggie Nelson, S, Florida

The Jags have long been stiff against the run, but tend to struggle against top tier passing games. Nelson is a gambler in the secondary who should be able to create some turnovers, making a good defense even better.

18. Bengals – Jarvis Moss, DE, Florida

Moss is a big, lean, fast defensive end and sort of resembles another former Gator, Jevon Kearse. Better than that for the Cinmates, he doesn’t look like he’ll end up in an Ohio Correctional Facility.

19. Titans – Dwayne Jarrett, WR, USC

Vince Young emerged as a great leader, now he just needs better teammates to throw to. With former USC coordinator Norm Chow calling the plays, it seems like a natural fit for Tennessee to add a Trojan receiver. They could also look at a cornerback if they decide they’ve had enough of Pacman Jones’ antics.

20. Giants – Marcus McCauley, CB, Fresno State

The Giants were 28^th in the league in pass defense last year, so defensive back is clearly a priority. McCauley isn't a gambler and didn’t record an interception last season, but did hold some of the Pac-10’s top receivers (like Dwayne Jarrett) to quiet outings.

21. Broncos – Adam Carriker, DE, Nebraska

The grand plan of bringing in the crappy former Browns’ d-line didn’t quite work out as planned, so the Broncos will look to this big versatile Cornhusker to help them out.

22. Cowboys – Aaron Ross, CB, Texas

Dallas’ defense went from a strength to a weakness as the season went on, and they gave up a lot of big pass plays. Ross, a native Texan, should be able to help them out.

23. Chiefs – Robert Meachem, WR, Tennessee

Eddie Kennison never was and never will be a #1 receiver. Meachem might not be either, but the Chieftains need some options on the outside to keep defenses from focusing in on Larry Johnson and Tony Gonzalez.

24. Patriots (from Seahawks) – Dwayne Bowe, WR, LSU

Tom Brady might go homicidal if he doesn’t get a decent wideout to throw to soon. Luckily for Mr. Gisele Bundchen, this draft has a lot of big, talented targets, and Bowe would be a nice pickup this low.

25. Jets – Lawrence Timmons, LB, Florida State

Eric the Mangina led the Jets to a surprising playoff berth, but the defense still has a ways to go, especially when it comes to stopping the run. Timmons is athletic and versatile, and oughta help the J-E-T-S shore up the D-E-F-ense.

26. Eagles – Paul Posluszny, LB, Penn State

Philly’s ‘backers are getting old and were never that good anyways. Scouts say Posluszny has a great work ethic and a high motor. But that just means he’s white. Still, he’s a good player.

27. Saints – Michael Griffin, S, Texas

The Saints were feel-good story of the season, but if they want to keep improving they need a defense that will keep them in games.

28. Patriots – Daymeion Hughes, CB, Cal

Aside from Asante Samuel, New England’s secondary is pathetic. Unless Ellis Hobbs and Chad Scott inspire something deep inside the Pats front office, they will most certainly choose a defensive back.

29. Ravens – Kenny Irons, RB, Auburn

The release of Jamal Lewis (though he may be re-signed) makes running back an immediate need for the Ravens, and while Peterson and Lynch are far and away the top two backs, Irons is still a talented player and a good pick.

30. Chargers – Anthony Gonzalez, WR, Ohio State

Like the Chiefs need to take pressure off of Johnson and Gonzalez, the Chargers need a deep threat to take pressure off of LaDainian Tomlinson and Antonio Gates.

31. Bears – Greg Olsen, TE, Miami

Olsen was very impressive at the combine and emerged as the top tight end prospect. Desmond Clark is a decent player, but Olsen would give Chicago a faster, more versatile receiving option down the middle of the field.

32. Colts – Brandon Siler, LB, Florida

Despite their sudden resurgence during the playoffs, Indy’s defense still leaves a lot to be desired. Siler is a fast defender who would fit well into Tony Dungy’s defense.

Others who could sneak into the first round: Justin Blalock (OT, Texas), Ben Grubbs (OG, Auburn), Arron Sears (OT, Tennessee), Quentin Moses (DE, Georgia), Charles Johnson (DE, Georgia), Tank Tyler (DT, NC State), H.B. Blades (LB, Pittsburgh), Jon Beason (LB, Miami)

Living The Dream

I must be in college basketball Heaven.

Duke’s most recent losses at the hands of the UNC Tar Heels and the University of Mass Destruction Fighting Turtles has me thinking what a fortunate year it has been for me.

Growing up, I was a fan of both the Georgetown Hoyas and the Tar Heels. I loved the perennial big men that came out of Georgetown. The Patrick Ewing era was before I was born, but I remember the dominance of Alonzo, Dikembe, and Mike Sweetney – not to mention fan-favorite Ruben Boumtje-Boumtje – all coached under the tutelage of the great John Thompson. They also had this little guy from Hampton, better known as “The Answer”.

As for the Tar Heels…where should I start? Michael Jordan begins and ends any discussion on the matter, but there were several others that have contributed to my love for the Carolina Blue. I remember Vince Carter’s crazy dunks. I remember thinking that Antawn Jamison was the best basketball I’d ever seen. I remember Ed Cota showing the true characteristics of a point guard; he was always poised, had excellent decision-making, and performed best in clutch situations. I remember thinking that Raymond Felton was the quickest basketball player ever, regardless of the level of play. Most of all, I remember Rashad McCants, who truly depicted the swagger and confidence that playing for UNC basketball entails. From Sean May to Joseph Forte to Shammond Williams to Tyler Hansbrough, I’ve grown up to appreciate them all.

Along the way, I’ve also developed a rooting interest for teams like Maryland (mostly due to the emotional story about Juan Dixon, who, despite several barriers that threatened his progress, led the Terrapins to National Title in 2002) and Ohio State (more due to the fact that they featured the likes of Scoonie Penn and Michael Redd than because OSU plays in my home state), but my allegiance stays with the Hoyas and above all else, the Tar Heels.

After giving you a quick background of where I’m coming from, you can understand why I’m smiling these days. Ohio State is unanimously ranked #1 in both the AP and the Coaches Poll, Georgetown won the Big East Conference regular season title, and Maryland enters the Atlantic Coast Conference tournament as one of the hottest teams in the country. By the way, UNC is #1 in the ACC tourney after beating Duke TWICE this season!

There’s a broad range of emotions I feel when certain teams win or lose; on a scale from 1 to 10 (1 being depression and 10 being happiest I've ever felt), when North Carolina won the National Championship in 2005, I was at about a 9. But when the Heels beat Duke 75-73 in the Dean Smith Center earlier that year, I was at about a 15. The discrepancy in these numbers leads me to ask the question: was beating Duke that much more important than winning the championship? Yes and No. A win over Duke carries a LOT of weight, but a National Championship is a validation that you were the best in the country. The only explanation then for why I was so happy must be that Carolina won, and more importantly, Duke lost.

It wasn’t always this way. In fact, I liked Elton Brand and Shane Battier. I admired Corey Maggette’s athleticism. Worst of all, Jason (now Jay) Williams was my favorite player in college basketball. My delusional years of contentment for the Blue Devil program cannot and should not be accepted…I was a kid and I didn’t know any better. Luckily, it all changed though when a man named Jonathan Clay, but better known as “J.J.” stepped foot on campus.

Over his four years as a college basketball player, J.J. Redick became the embodiment of all that is ideal in the sport; he had an obvious passion for the game, possessed one of the most pure jump shots ever, and let his game speak for itself. While this was all true, he didn’t deserve any of these accolades entering as a freshman. He was put on this impossibly high pedestal, and reveled in the glory. A walking contradiction, Redick complained about the intense and often one-step-too-far mode of heckling by opposing fans – and rightfully so – but he also used his fame to promote his “deep” Duke-educated poetry. He also notably struggled in NCAA Tournament play in his career, but is still regarded as one of the best college players to come around in years.

Contributing to my dislike of Duke is the bias formed by Dick Vitale, Jay Bilas, and virtually anyone associated to the Entertainment and Sports Programming Network when talking about the Blue Devils. Vitale, especially, seems to be so infatuated with the young “Diaper Dandies” of Duke, even if they don’t really deserve any of the credit (See: Lee Melchionni, Shavlik “I don’t hate gay people, just don’t bring your gayness on me” Randolph, and Sean Dockery). While it is unprofessional to take sides when announcing a nationally televised basketball game, it seems like the announcers for Duke games walk that thin line of professionalism. As opposed to flat-out saying, “I want Duke to win this game,” they go for more subtle approaches, such as hyping up mediocre players. For instance, they’ll say, “Lee Melchionni is deadly from three-point range, so the defense better keep a close watch for where he is on the court” or “DaMarcus Nelson was a high-school All-American, just like LeBron James and Carmelo Anthony, so you’d better watch out.” Of course I’m exaggerating these statements, but you get my point. Announcers love their Duke basketball!

People regard Duke Coach Mike Krzyzewski for his brilliance in promoting fundamental basketball on offense and defense, but also for teaching the players the significance of balancing academics at such a prestigious program with the demands of basketball. Maybe he’s teaching them to value academics because they aren’t very likely to succeed in the NBA (see: William Avery, Mike Dunleavy Jr., Trajan Langdon, Dahntay Jones, Bobby Hurley, Cherokee Parks, Roshown McLeod, and "Gayness" Randolph). Maybe he’s just a good, moral guy. Either way, I found out that this is somewhat of a façade after Duke players started defecting to the NBA. First Maggette and Brand left, then the likes of Avery, Carlos Boozer, Dunleavy, and Luol Deng all dropped out early. There are about 5-10 coaches I would consider superior in college basketball and Coach K is one of them. But he should not have a reputation for which he has not altogether earned; in present-day big-time college basketball, academics may be important but many of these players only seek to position themselves for the NBA (see: Durant, Oden, Wright). And I haven’t even mentioned his menacing, belittling disdain for all referees. When he’s complaining about a call, I learned, he’s not showing his passion for the game. He’s cussing out the refs.

This year, the Duke bias has been especially clear after the controversial end to the Clemson game, in which the referees added an inordinate amount of time to the clock, allowing Duke to hit a game-tying shot. Also, this past week, the powers that be struck again; although Duke and Maryland boasted the exact same records (22-7 overall, 8-6 in ACC), Duke was ranked 14th in the Coaches Poll, while Maryland was unranked. Having been swept by Carolina and Maryland in the same season has left Duke in bad shape. While their ticket is certainly punched having an impressive strength of schedule and 22 wins, they better keep watch because the ACC is starting to crack down on officiating asymmetries. Somewhere along the lines, they’ll stop listening to Coach K’s every beckon and call, especially after the questionable elbow at the end of the Duke-UNC game that left Tyler Hansbrough in a bloody mess. But then again, I’m a wishful thinker.

With March Madness rapidly nearing, I have many things to look forward to. I get to see how Greg Oden and Mike Conley’s clutch performances in the regular season translates to tournament play, if Kevin Durant can take the Longhorns all the way (a la ‘Melo in his freshman year with Syracuse), if Florida has the tools for a repeat title, and if Brandan Wright, Ty Lawson, and “Psycho T” can step it up and take UNC to the Final Four. I'll also get to see whether Kansas finally gets over its postseason funk and if a few of the mid-majors make names for themselves like George Mason did last year. Throughout the Big Dance, though, I’ll be rooting for one thing above all: a Duke loss.

I mean Josh McRoberts cried during the Blue Devils’ first game against UNC earlier this year. Who does he think he is, Adam Morrison?