5 Questions to the Editor

Tweet tweet. Pay's most recent 2-round mock is HERE. I plan on having my final mock tonight or early tomorrow. Tweet tweet.

I threw out a dozen-or-so draft-related questions to the editor (aka Pay) and let him decide which ones he'd address. Also a few random thoughts of my own (shocker!) might sneak their way in.

Question #1: Which Louisville prospect is most likely lottery bound: Terrence Williams or Earl Clark?
Pay: Two months ago, I would have said Earl Clark. After workouts, Williams' stock has risen because teams love his versatility. He may also be the best defender in this draft class, and he won't last past the 12th pick.
Clement: It's just as likely both slip into the late lottery, potentially even back-to-back, as they both slip into the late teens. Personally, I question what position and what type of shooting range either possesses on the NBA level. Nevertheless, I agree with Pay about Williams (slightly) over Clark. He seems more equipped to be a leader, a scorer, and a defender.

Question #2: Which second round prospect most intrigues you?
Pay: Danny Green. On the right team and in the right situation with the right coaching, he will be an All-Star. If you watched him at Carolina like I did, he's not short of desire and concentrated power of will. Unlike most other second-round talents, Green is a 94-foot player, and he has steadily improved his jump shot, defense, and demeanor in the last four years.
Clement: A lot of teams are desperate for a point guard, or depth at the position, and the first round offers tons of depth at the position. However, if you're willing to sweat it out in the second round, FSU's Toney Douglas (admittedly a combo guard) might be the Mario Chalmers of this draft. He has a knack for scoring but also distributes well and can continue to improve on defense.

Question #3: Who is the "safest" selection outside the top 5?
Pay: Tyler Hansbrough. According to NBA GMs and anyone with a pulse, he's a known quantity who will work hard and never quit.
Clement: Ty Lawson. While I'm not sure if he can be an elite point guard in the NBA, his speed, quickness, clutch shooting, and overall work effort (especially fighting through injuries) will keep him in this league for 10+ years.

Question #4: Which team has been the most difficult to analyze and predict in the top 10?
Pay: Memphis. What will they do at #2? They have a major need at the center position, but they do not seem enamored with Hasheem Thabeet who skipped out on a workout. Increasingly, I believe that they will select the best player available (Ricky Rubio) and trade him to the highest bidder (Minnesota).
Clement: Golden State. At #7, they are Donnie Walsh's biggest nemesis right now (if the affection for Curry is legit, which it clearly appears to be). The Warriors and their front office perplex me more and more, especially since Don Nelson is still calling most of the shots, with a roster that needs to downsize rather than adding another lottery selection. Filled with tweeners galore, I don't believe Stephen Curry would fall past them at 7. However, assuming he's already gone (likely to Minnesota), I have no idea what this team is thinking. NONE.

Question #5: Is Milwaukee better off drafting a rookie point guard (i.e. Johnny Flynn or Ty Lawson) or resigning Ramon Sessions?
Pay: From a dollars and sense perspective, you draft a point guard in the 1st round. But, Scott Skiles seems to really like Sessions, so I expect the Bucks to make every effort to re-sign him. Do not be shocked if the Bucks draft a point guard with the 10th pick and sign Sessions, only to trade Sessions, Ridnour, or the point guard taken with the 10th pick.
Clement: I have always felt Sessions could be a very very good point guard in this league. No, he isn't going to be CP3, Deron Williams, or Derrick Rose; however, I grade him higher than any point guard in this draft (even on their potential). With that being said, Milwaukee has made a mess of their cap and the trade market for the underrated Sessions may not be too strong. With a nucleus of Bogut, Redd, and Villenueva, I'd re-sign Sessions and trade down in this draft (targeting perhaps the aformetioned Terrence Williams or even Gerald Henderson).

Random Thought
After dealing players and picks with the Wizards (notably Randy Foye and Mike Miller), the Minnesota Timberwolves have the 5th and 6th overall picks in tomorrow night's draft. Question now becomess, is Minnesota looking for the best two players available? The best guard and best forward? What if Thabeet slips to them? Do they envision a Thabeet/Jefferson/Love front line? Are they going with the best two guards, regardless of position? Do they really expect to draft four guys in the 1st round? Might they be the team who deals up to #2 with Memphis for Ricky Rubio? If I were the GM in Memphis, I'd get whatever I could from Minnesota (as long as I liked someone enough at #5), take Rubio, and then deal the Spanish phenom to the land of a thousand lakes.

As for the rest of the day, check out the Twitter feed (don't you always?), as I'm off to Transformers 2 right now. And no critics, I'm not expecting the next Godfather, Citizen Kane, or even Terminator 2. Instead, I'm anticipating quite a bit of this...

In a word...HELLO!!!!
Credit: Megan-Fox.net

I know, I'm a sexist pig. I'll listen to the lecture from Jessie Spano later.
Although, she has a checkered past herself, you know.

PHSports 1-Round NBA Mock Draft - Version C-L-E-M-E-N-T

It should come as no surprise that I'm simply offering a "counter" to our resident NBA Draft expert (aka Pay). Why? Half is boredom (the school year has just ended for me, my second full-year as a teacher) and the other half is my interest in the draft altogether.

If you could squeeze in some added interest due to a certain (VCU) Ram in the draft (Maynor!)...then you'd understand even further. By the way, be sure to check out the new poll to voice YOUR opinion, too!

Before I embarrass myself any further, enjoy... except it might be helpful to understand that I'm "mocking" who I believe would be the best fit for each team. Does that make it truly a mock draft??? Meh.

Round 1

Anybody who can "accidentally" do something like this seems to be #1 pick potential, right?
Credit: CommercialAppeal.com

1. LA Clippers - Blake Griffin [PF, Oklahoma]
Move Zack Randolph as fast as possible (20 and 10 be darned), wait out B Diddy for another season-plus until he and his U-G-L-Y contract can be moved, and relish the talented trio of Thornton, Gordon, and Griffin and the future to come, even as the Clippers.

2. Memphis - Hasheem Thabeet [C, Connecticut]
As talented as Rubio may be, Thabeet is a defensive presence that could be paired alongside Marc Gasol not-so-surprisingly well. OJ Mayo and Rudi Gay need a stable point guard, which may not be Mike Conley (Jr.) nor Mr. Rubio.

3. Oklahoma City - James Harden [SG, Arizona State]
I wonder about this guy after seeing his performance in the NCAA Tournament this past season. However, I do realize that Harden would fit nicely in an offense in which Kevin Durant garners a ton of attention. Losing out on Thabeet is a big blow to a team in dire need of an interior defensive presence.

The emerging Spanish-driven interest in anime basketball will soon sweep the U.S.
Wait and see.
Credit: AS.com

4. Sacramento - Ricky Rubio [PG, DKV Joventut]
Excitement has been missing in Sacremento for quite some time. While still young, Rubio could become just as special as Tony Parker in the next half-decade. Seriously.

5. Washington - Stephen Curry [PG/SG, Davidson]
"Earning" the #5 pick was all-too-typical for the lowly Wizards. The real hope for this franchise rests on the (relative) health of Agent Zero. While Evans has all the tools, Curry could be a lethal shooter if Arenas/Butler/Jamison can (somehow) remain healthy for a playoff run down the stretch next season.

6. Minnesota - Tyreke Evans [PG, Memphis]
Minnesota still doesn't have an answer at point guard. Duh. The Foye/Roy debacle a few years back may sting this franchise for the next dozen-or-so years. Ditto for Love/Mayo. Step 1 to rebuilding for the better is taking a young, talented playmaker with leadership qualities which are ever expanding. Enter, Tyreke Evans.

7. Golden State - Jrue Holliday [PG, UCLA]
The last thing Golden State needs is another tweener in the front court. While far from a polished point, Holliday is an outstanding defender (for a 19-year old, especially) who has the ability to find his own shot and those of his teammates.

While it's too early and easy to speculate what might be...it's still fun.
Credit: CarJerks.com

8. New York - Johnny Flynn [PG, Syracuse]
"Six in the City" is a friendly reminder to what this phenom can do at MSG. While the build-up for LeBron includes the purging of BLOATED salaries, there is also a need for talent to surround LeBron, or whomever (Bosh, Amare, Wade, ???) the Knicks throw a max contract at in the summer of 2010.

The YouTube-esque antics of "Cowboy" Bosh might not be necessary if he went continental, US that is!
Credit: NewsTalks650.com

9. Toronto - Jordan Hill [PF, Arizona]
I like Pay's direction here for the Raptors (Ellington), but only if Bosh was going to remain a Raptor. I don't see that happening as the big man will no longer be the most talented NBA player outside of the continental US. While Hill still has plenty of question marks, a top 5-grade from countless scouts and mock draft "experts" is enough to lead me to believe he's (maybe) the right fit to compliment and potentially replace the uber-talented aformentioned Mr. Bosh.

10. Milwaukee - Brandon Jennings [PG, Lottomatica Roma]
I can't tell you much about the kid, as I don't watch ANY international basketball outside of the World Championships and Olympics. Nevertheless, he has a talented skill set and professional experience (limited or not), or so I read. With Sessions a major question mark for the Bucks front office, it never hurts to have quality depth at a vital position ready.

11. New Jersey - DeMar DeRozan [SG/SF, USC]
He's coveted by quite a few teams, so landing at #11 isn't likely. Nevertheless, I don't have the same upside-driven mentality for DeRozan as I do for Holliday (maybe it's because only one of them befuddled my Rams). The Nets, outside of Vinsanity, have a nice core of young talent, with a selection like such only helping their roster continue to emerge.

Even MJ wouldn't be foolish enough to waste another lottery pick, especially on K-Fed's twin right? Right!?!?!?
Credit: SyracuseBlog.com

12. Charlotte - DeJuan Blair [PF, Pittsburgh]
Toughness, attitude, and effort have been a few things missing from MJ's recent draft picks. Blair plays like a Larry Brown-coached player already. Done and done.

13. Indiana - Earl Clark [SF/PF, Lousville]
He clearly appears to have top 5 talent. I just wonder about his body and what position he fits into in the NBA system. I could say more, but I'm perplexed on this guy.

14. Phoenix - Ty Lawson [PG, North Carolina]
A lot of people think Johnny Flynn or Eric Maynor is the "guy" who will replace Steve Nash. Not so fast. Nash has potentially 3-4 more years of quality play in him. Nevertheless, Phoenix isn't exactly building for a title anymore (especially with Amare's contract situation growing ever present); meanwhile, backcourt depth is always a MUST. As for Lawson, the guy proved last season how incredibly gritty and talented he has become.

Playing alonside 50 Cent might work out quite well for one of the draft's most talented seniors.
Credit: AskMen.com

15. Detroit - Eric Maynor [PG, Virginia Commonwealth]
Dealing Billups just to "change things up" was a cataclysmic error. Despite the money it will save in the long run, this team will crack at its very core without a steady point guard. It's unfair and unrealistic to ask any rookie to recapture that role. However, Maynor's pass-first attitude and clutch play in the closing moments are two things this team sorely needs sans-Chauncey.

...at the mid-way point...

So who’s MOCK you got??? Pay’s or mine?

Something tells me I’m on the outside of this mock draft mismatch.
Credit: BoxRec.com

16. Chicago - Terrence Williams [SG/SF, Louisville]
Much like Earl Clark at the 3, I wonder if it's at all realistic to expect Terrence Williams to play the 2 (or for that matter the 3) in the NBA? His raw athleticism in this draft may be unmatched, but somehow I don't see a new age Scottie Pippen. Speaking of the Bulls, Chicago is loaded with talent on a roster lacking a true superstar (Mr. Rose is getting there soon, though). Throw one more onto that heap now.

17. Philadelphia - Jeff Teague [PG, Wake Forest]
I don't think Teague will be much of an NBA talent. I do think he can adapt well as a backup point guard though. In fact, I can't think of a better role model than Andre Miller, who was never meant to be a backup (like Teague will be).

18. Minnesota (from Miami) - James Johnson [SF, Wake Forest]
Another guy I'm very low on. Johnson doesn't appear to be more than an 8 and 5 guy. Fortunately for him, teams are in desperate need to overpay such players.

Mr. MOP would see plenty of open shots thanks to the work of Joe Johnson and company.
Credit: Flickr.com

19. Atlanta - Wayne Ellington [SG, North Carolina]
Ellington could go anywhere from the lottery to late first round. What the Final Four MOP needs is to find a team who doesn't need him to score. Instead, he can become a lethal assassin off of the bench, still securing 15-20 minutes a game, as a 3rd or 4th option on the court. Dell Curry and Dale Ellis had different bodies and skill sets than Ellington, but would be great sources of inspiration for the talented former Tar Heel.

20. Utah - Tyler Hansbrough [PF, North Carolina]
Doesn't it fit perfectly? Whether its Boozer or Milsap (or both?) that eventually bolts, Mr. College Basketball the past four seasons could emerge as a talented first-tier reserve for Jerry Sloan and the Jazz.

21. New Orleans - Chase Budinger [SF, Arizona]
While the team definitely took a step back last season after 2007's promising playoff run, not all is lost - especially if Tyson Chandler can restore his health - for Byron Scott's squad. Instead of looking for a long-term project at the center position, why not take an NBA-ready shooter who can be unselfish and still a scorer at the same time?

22. Dallas - Gerald Henderson [SG, Duke]
Unlikely to fall half this far, Henderson's defensive toughness and ability to attack the hoop would be isolated well by an already established playoff-equipped team. A new alternative for Jason Kidd may not fall far enough to 22…I think.

Remember when he was the projected #1 pick? Me neither.
Credit: Photobucket

23. Sacramento (from Houston) - BJ Mullens [C, Ohio State]
Alongside Rubio (selected #4), Mullens has been labeled a #1-pick before. However, Mullens’ fall won't be to #4; but instead likely outside the lottery. Despite several young names already in their frontcourt, Mullens might do well in relative obscurity in SacTown, alongside a talented young point guard who can mature - language barrier or not - alongside him (aka Mr. Rubio).

24. Portland - Sam Young [SF, Pittsburgh]
The PG position still isn't solved - sorry Steve Blake - in Portland. Nevertheless, Sam Young is the exact type of player a playoff team wants. If his defense and weak-side rebounding improve, this is a guy who in 2 to 3 years could become a talented contributor every night. Staying in school may not have improved his draft stock much, but his game is far more polished.

25. Oklahoma City (from San Antonio) - Gani Lawal [PF, Georgia Tech]
Another guy I just don't like. Sorry ACC fans, but I am suspect about some of your outgoing bigs.

Not this Toney. The nickname “Lights Out” still available though?
Credit: BlueCorner.com

26. Chicago (from Denver through Oklahoma City) - Toney Douglas [PG/SG, Florida State]
Now HERE is an ACC guy I love. While Chicago may be wise to deal this pick (and potentially their earlier selection), Douglas can provide instant offense and underrated defensive ball hawking. Sign me up!

27. Memphis (from Orlando) - Austin Daye [SG/SF, Gonzaga]
The name I likely "forgot" way too late in the game. If Daye can competently shoot the NBA three, he may start in 2-3 seasons (for good). If he can't, he's a slasher (at best) who better become a good team defender if he wants more than 4-5 minutes a night anytime soon.

28. Minnesota (from Boston) - Darren Collison [PG, UCLA]
Three picks in the 1st round means the Timberwolves can continue finding pieces OR continue making costly errors in judgment. While I predict a foreign selection here, for the future, I chose Collison to cement their need for point guard depth IMMEDIATELY.

29. LA Lakers - Omri Casspi, SF, Maccabi Tel Aviv.
I'm stealing what Pay said word for word. It was perfect.
One of the most talented young players in Europe over the last two years, Casspi has an inside/outside game that’s more of the finesse and flair style. If Casspi does not get a 1st-round promise, then he will withdraw from the draft as he did last year.

In case you were watching Olympic basketball, you might’ve remembered this talented import.
Credit: News.com.AU

30. Cleveland - Patrick Mills [PG, St. Mary's]
I doubt very very much this is the pick. Nevertheless, LeBron needs playmakers badly. Honestly, I see the Cavaliers trying to secure a big man (Randolph, Sheed, BOSH!?!?!) by any means necessary. Mo Williams is a complimentary piece, but not enough of a #2. While Mills would be lucky to be a starting point guard in the NBA in the next couple seasons, he offers playmaking ability and international experience a few too many experts are underestimating. Until draft night...MOCK YEAH!!!



PS: Check out and vote in the new POLL!!!!

11 National Championship Game Questions

10 would be too cliche and 12 would be too much. So what do we do? 11!!!

If the Spartans want a realistic chance, exit Thabeet and insert Hansbrough in this picture.
Easier said than done, Clement.
Credit: Yahoo! Sports

1) The oddsmakers have UNC as 7 1/2-point favorites. Which side are you on?

2) Which Tar Heel will walk out MOP with a win: Lawson, Hansbrough, Ellington, or Green?

3) Which Spartan will walk out MOP with a win: Lucas, Morgan, Sutton, or Lucious?

4) Which coach is most likely to earn a third, not just second, national championship?

5) Is this UNC team (Hansbrough, Lawson, Ellington, Green) better than 2005's (May, Felton, McCants, M. Williams) national championship team?

6) What is the largest halftime deficit the Spartans could realistically overcome? Is their a deficit too large for the Heels?

Izzo better have a Calhoun-type lock on the refs if his team can avoid Lawson drawing double-digit fouls on the entire depth chart of Michigan State.
Credit: Yahoo! Sports

7) I hate to say it, but could an injury to Lawson's toe (which seems as close to 100% as possible) be the best shot for the Spartans?

8) How large of an upset would the Spartans pull if they can go Giants over Patriots in a championship game "rematch"? In the span of ten years, is this potential storied upset most comparable to 1999's UConn over Duke (Dookies favored by 7, in case you forgot)? Do you have a better one?

9) Whose 3-point shooting is more important to their team winning? Is there a method to forcing Ellington into early misses in Izzo's playbook?

10) Will this game need an extra session like last year's title game (Kansas vs. Memphis)?

11) Mario Chalmers moment-time. Down 3, and you have the ball, with less than 10 seconds to go. Is Lawson or Lucas passing or taking the shot themselves? (Better question: is either coach calling for the foul?)

I hope all these answers are, in fact, answered. However, I remain Dr. Skeptismo.
We'll hopefully get more from Pay tomorrow - and perhaps myself - as tipoff approaches.
As for my score prediction...let's just say I have one team by 25+. I see shades of Duke/UNLV in '90, not '91.

That should say plenty. And yes, I'm saying the all-time largest margin of victory may be in danger.

Beware Tark. That record may be in trouble. Seriously.
Admittedly, this cover is MUCH better.
Credit: CNNSI.com

InClement Weather: Final Four Harsh Realities

In case you didn't know, none of us have to suck up to anyone when we post.
Often we post with our hearts over our heads (okay, this is the "royal we" as in me, or I), but we also don't pull punches in order to keep people reading.

Those who still do read us (thank you!) know this by now.

With that in mind, the Final Four tips off in a little over 2 hours and I have 10 things you need to know about EACH game.

#1. UConn @ #2. Michigan State [6:07 p.m.]

I don't expect Walker and the Huskies to be down very often today. Not at all.
Credit: LATimes.com

1) Yes, I declared this a road game for the Huskies. It won't matter though. It'll be the equivalent of them playing in MSG @ St. John's. They won't be fazed one bit.
2) Playing these, or any, tournament games in gigantic football stadiums is lame beyond belief. The court looks ridiculous, I keep waiting for a terrible injury on a hustle play out of bounds on the sideline, and the idea of charging over $100 a ticket to sit a mile away is a joke.
3) Jim Calhoun is not a moral coach. However, he's a winner. Guess which one of those most fans and alumni want? Me included.
4) Tom Izzo is so short it's bordering on evil.
5) I don't know if I see a star pro on Michigan State. I do, however, on UConn with Thabeet, Walker, and (maybe) A.J. Price.
6) If Michigan State wants to win, they have to use up every foul possible in order to foul out Thabeet. It only took the Orange nearly 5 OTs to do it. Good luck, Spartans.
7) A.J. Price is a fantastic player. However, I don't think he can lead this team to two more victories and ultimately a national championship. Not without Jerome Dyson by his side.
8) Stanley Robinson is UConn's "Danny Green". As for the Spartans, they'll need at least 2 or 3 "Danny Green's" of their own to pull off the upset.
9) If Sutton can shoot a ridiculous number, perhaps 5 of 8 from behind the arc, than the Spartans can score - for a while, at least - with the Huskies.
10) UConn will do this evening what they've done EVERY game this tournament. They'll start red hot, clamp down early on the glass, and their opponent will only tease us with a few futile comebacks. I know Missouri had a brief lead, but the key word was brief. UConn is winning this game because of an edge in talent and a (very slim) edge in coaching. This won't be an entertaining game.

UCONN wins, 72-63.

Note: Pay is a long-time loyal Tar Heel fan. I know I sound a little "Jim Rome-esque" saying Tar Heel fan, but I am not calling out Pay. He's too smart of a fan not to realize what's at stake and how amazingly good his team's chances are.

#1. North Carolina vs. #3. Villanova

Yes, I'll be discussing the one known as Psycho T. Let the emotions fly!!!
Credit: MSV.com

1) What do these rankings mean anymore honestly? You tell me.
2) North Carolina is an overwhelming favorite in my mind. I mean by a HUGE margin, too.
3) I picked Villanova to emerge out of the East because of how they matched up against Pitt. I still would've given the Panthers a much better shot to take down the Tar Heels. Much much better.
4) Despite the previous two sentences, I don't hate Villanova. Not even close. They are, in fact, be one of the few non-Orange Big East teams I can stand rooting for. I just don't like this matchup for them at all.
5) If Wayne Ellington makes 2 of his first 3 shots, Jay Wright and his team are in serious trouble.
6) I previously wondered out loud - on more than one occassion - if Scottie Reynolds hurt this team more than he helped it. Clearly, I was wrong. And no, it didn't take a breathtaking 3/4 court drive for the game-winner to prove me wrong. That just helped.
7) Dante Cunnigham is in a bit of a mess today. Why? He loves that 16-18 foot jump shot; however, it doesn't take an analyst like John Thompson (whose said it all tournament long) to tell you that Cunnigham must dominate inside, rather than outside, if the Wildcats have the slightest chance tonight. Even if the jumpers start to fall early.
8) Pay brought up an excellent point via text. North Carolina has had a week to deal with "Villanova and the baseline". I typically give Roy Williams the benefit of the doubt with extra time. Especially if it's 5 days over 1.
9) Ty Lawson has become the face of North Carolina. That makes them much more likeable for people like me, who kinda cringe with Hansbrough. It's not because he hustles, he's white, or because he's a Tar Heel. It's because it just doesn't feel right. Much like the famed-celebration against the Hokies in last year's ACC tournament quarterfinals (after an amazing shot), the guy just irks most of us more than a little bit. True Tar Heel fans don't need to cry for him to be respected. The hate, or distaste, has everything to do with the realization of how hard he works, how talented he is, and how much our teams need a guy just like that. So take a deep breath Tar Heel fans, you - or your star player - don't have to be liked, admired, and respected by every one. Nobody should want that.
10) You come up with a scenario in which Villanova wins. A realistic one. And I don't mean losing by 1 or by 99. That doesn't matter. You come up with a scenario where the Wildcats, in '09 and not '85, advance. I honestly can't. And Tar Heels fans, don't give me a "scared prediction" because you don't want to predict a blowout.

North Carolina wins, 80-65.

In case you missed it...here it is again.

10 Questions to the Editor - Bracket Style

Since Pay is our resident bracket expert, I decided to speak with a friends, a few comments from Fannation, and see if we can't get him to get to the bottom of a couple of pressing questions.

10 to be exact.

Better yet, we're surprising him with them.
Lucky him, right?

Call Me Crazy #1: Is Hasheem Thabeet - despite the dominance of Blake Griffin and sound steadiness of Tyler Hansbrough - the new frontrunner for the Naismith?
Credit: CNNSI.com

ACC Country
1) With FSU enjoying plenty of recent success, who has a tougher road to an at-large birth in the crowded ACC: Virginia Tech or Boston College?
2) Is Maryland only a miracle-run in the ACC Tourney away from returning to the Big Dance?

Big East Talk
3) Cincinnati appears to be on the upswing while Georgetown remains stuck in the abyss after a tough loss at the Carrier Dome. Meanwhile, Notre Dame shakes off 7-straight losses - many of them ugly ones - to destroy Louisville. Last night, West Virginia pounds Villanova and reminds us about their dangerous talent. Assuming UCONN, Pitt, Marquette, Louisville, Villanova, and (maybe) even the Cuse are locks for March Madness...what happens to the "rest of the field", including the aformentioneds (Georgetown, Cincinnati, Notre Dame, West Virginia) as well as Providence.

CAA Speak
4) Do you think a darkhorse can emerge come CAA Tournament time, or do you believe VCU/Mason are the odds on favorites - even with a talented Northeastern team tied atop the standings - to cut down the nets in Richmond?

Big Ten Bias
5) Will Penn State right the ship, or are they looking more and more like an early bloomer who will fade well before Selection Sunday?

Missouri Valley Time
6) With an impressive showing Bracketbuster weekend (more below), can Northern Iowa and Creighton secure bids, assuming one of them wins the conference championship over the other?

Pac-10 Pontification
7) I can't figure out this conference one bit. Can we get a sentence or two on the postseason "likelihoods" for Arizona, USC, and Cal?

WCC
8) What's the best case (realistic) scenario for St. Mary's - sans Patty Mills - right now? If he can return before tournament time, how much can the Selection Committee take into account his injury and their play before it? Is that fair to do so?

Free-for-All
9) Who is this year's San Diego (winning their conference tournament unexpectedly and then making noise opening weekend of the tournament)? Maybe Portland/Nevada/Niagara/Belmont? Okay, probably not Belmost.

Bracketbusting
10) What are your favorite Bracketbuster matchups? Who has the most to gain from the weekend's matchups? Who has the most to lose? Individual team or conferences may apply.

Call Me Crazy #2: Is it possible that Ty Lawson - not Psycho T - is the most pivotal Tar Heel for Roy's Boys winning a 2nd national championship?



Good night and good luck, good sir.

InClement Weather: Midnight Musings

Here are twenty-or-so random thoughts running throw my head, sitting in front of my computer screen at 12:36am.

I'll try my best to make them relevant, my friends.

Memo to Greg Oden:
1) Everyone owns a digital camera.
2) Anyone can upload to YouTube
3) Don't ever trust girls wearing outfits like THAT.
4) Seriously bro. Watch the knees!!!
Credit: Deadspin

1) I'm glad the election frenzy is nearly a month behind us. As excited as I was (especially being an 8th grade Civics teacher), it's nice to focus on what "really matters".
2) LeBron James (5) already has more 50 point games than Larry Bird (4). Did you know that Iverson (11) and Kobe (23!) lead the way with active players with 50+-point outings?
3) Ramon Sessions is gonna be a very good point-guard in the NBA for a long time. Gee, I wonder which two writers on this staff predicted that?
4) The Wizards should be embarrassed losing to a 7-man Knicks squad tonight. Especially since they gave up 7 treys to the Q. Pathetic.
5) When's Lost coming back? Seriously? WHEN!?!?

6) Dan Patrick still remains the best thing on radio...but not on television.
7) Pete Prisco of CBSSportsline.com HATES my Jets. GOOD! He can dine with Peter "Always a Fatty" King. Yeah, that nickname is perfect.
8) I hate how much impact November games have on the selection status come mid-March for the NCAA tournament. I think dates of these early pre-conference games should come into effect when you count wins and losses.
9) There might not be a better ending than Friday afternoon's hoopla between Xavier (Santos!) and Virginia Tech.
10) Texas beat Oklahoma on a neutral field. Therefore, they deserve a higher BCS ranking than the Sooners.

11) Casino Royale was supposed to be the "return" of the Bond franchise. After Quantum of Solace...the franchise has slipped big time again (thanks Mr. Director!).
12) Brazilian film City of God is the best movie none of you have ever seen. Rent it!
13) Major League Baseball needs to hand out its awards during the postseason. Even if Pujols has to receive his MVP on vacation in San Juan or on his recliner in the Lew.
14) Props to Mike Mussina. Going out without a ring but with a 20-win season. Props.
15) Psycho T will be Psycho T soon enough. Be patient UNC fans.

16) Alabama vs. Florida can't be half the stinker Texas Tech/Oklahoma was, right? PLEASE!!!
17) The Heisman trophy grows more irrelevant with every passing year.
18) Elton Brand had to enjoy that game-winning bucket against the Clippers more than he showed. Right?
19) Stay healthy Greg Oden. Please. Please. Please.
20) I really am pulling for Oregon State to win the Civil War. Just like I pulled for the Union army.

See ya next time...

Carolina Is Better Without Hansbrough

When you read this headline, you probably asked the following questions:

“Is this guy on crack?”

“He knows we’re talking about Tyler and not Ben Hansbrough, right?”

“Really, … Is this guy on crack or other elicit drugs that severely impair judgment?”

Due to a stress reaction, Hansbrough is out with an indefinite timetable and the unanimous preseason #1 team in college basketball is without two of its starters (defensive ace Marcus Ginyard is out until December). It would be preposterous to even suggest that Carolina is better off without Psycho T, his 22.6 points and 10.2 rebounds per game and his utterly Caucasian style of celebration. However, they are.

After a catastrophic national semifinal loss against eventual champion Kansas, the Tar Heels faithful were anticipating of its three best players – Tyler Hansbrough, Wayne Ellington, and Ty Lawson. Following a chain of events that saw Hansbrough indicate that he is coming back for his senior season, Ellington performing miserably in preparation for the draft and Lawson driving under the influence (also suffered an injury during workouts), the only losses for the Heels were reserves Quentin Thomas (graduation) and Alex Stepheson (transfer). Meanwhile, this did not stop Roy Williams and his staff from recruiting, as they anticipated losses and reloaded with the likes of PF Ed Davis (top 15 recruit), PF/C Tyler Zeller (top 25 recruit), PG Larry Drew and SG Justin Watts.

With a team that can go 12 deep, it would have been - even for a master psychologist like Roy Williams - to satisfy all players with the necessary playing time. This playing time will allow, especially in non-conference play will allow for Davis and Zeller to grow at an accelerated pace. That said, if Hansbrough is out for the next month, he will miss games against Kentucky, Michigan State, either Alabama or Oregon as well as a matchup versus either Notre Dame or Texas. In short, that’s a lot of growing up to, but it’s better to grow up in November and December rather than being thrown into the fire when conference play begins and everyone throws their best effort at the unquestioned pre-season #1 team in all of the land. Additionally, time without Hansbrough will allow for Lawson, Ellington and Danny Green (and even Bobby Frasor) to demonstrate their leadership abilities.

In the immediate, the injuries all but force Green from his preferred sixth man role which saw a giant leap in his production. This situation also forces the hand of a more welcomed yet significant problem. Unlike last year, the Tar Heels will have three able-bodied point guards in Lawson, Frasor and Drew. If the Heels play their cards right, they can pace Lawson, who was only “quick” as opposed to “blazing” towards the end of the season as he recuperated from an injury. Assuming Hansbrough’s stress reaction does not get aggravated and rehabilitates effectively, the Tar Heels will take a team with two to three additional key contributors over the loss of their best player during non-conference play.

Running Commentary for Saturday's Games

Note: Clement stepping in for Pay...just for today.

2:00 pm Late start after a late lunch for me. Ohio State leading 29 to 25 at the half. Ugly shooting to open the game with both teams under 25% in the opening ten minutes. Oden out of foul trouble at the moment; however, he's clearly rushing shots and appears frustrated on offense.

2:45 pm Xavier on a furious run of incredible shot-making. They are leading 55-44 and the first #1-seed is officially on the ropes. Oden with 4 fouls and now it's time for Conley Jr./Lewis/Cook and co. to start making smart shots or the #1 team in the country is TKO'd.

3:14 pm Ron Lewis just capped an incredible comback by the Buckeyes with a 3-pointer with 2 seconds to go to tie the game at 62. Should they have fouled him before he released the near 27-footer? Overtime is upon us...

3:30 pm Following an early Musketeer basket, Conley Jr. drains an open three for the first of his 11 overtime points, 7 of which were unanswered, to give the Buckeyes the lead and the eventual win. The Buckeyes escape Lexington and are the first official entrant to advance to the Sweet 16, despite a valiant effort from the kids at Xavier.

5:00 pm – Things may be getting chippy between the Terps and Bulldogs in the second half. Both teams flopping quite a bit. Meanwhile, A&M and Louisville tied at 28-28 at the half in a quiet game.

5:23 pm – Horrid charging call on DJ Strawberry with 39 seconds to go, preventing the Terps a golden opportunity for a tie. Maryland decided not to foul, Graves with a beautiful pass but a missed three. However, Butler grabs the loose ball and is fouled with less than 4 seconds left. 1 of 2 free throws are made. Crone tips an in-bound and then a second in-bound, with less than .7 left, results in a loose ball that Jones can’t corral. Butler advances to the Sweet Sixteen in one of the better second-round games of the past few tournaments. Time to turn out attention to the Cardinals & Aggies

5:50 pm – A&M leads 50-46 with Law (19) and Kirk (14) battling Sosa (22) as we enter under 12-minutes. Georgetown just tipped with BC and ditto Vandy/Wash. St.

6:00 pm – VCU tips off with Pitt finally. Early baskets for Aaron Gray and BA Walker.

6:20 pm – They’ve called it “snowy” Buffalo a sickening amount of times. Kevin Harlan terrible on the mic as usual. Not having the package from DirecTV is brutal. A&M trails Louisville with 1 minute to go 69-68. Far too many whistles all game long, consistent or not. BC has taken the lead for the first time on G-Town 24-21 under 6 minutes. VCU trails 24-17 as their lack of size and strength is apparent today.

6:25 pm – Deep three missed from Sosa and a Pompay loose ball rebound ends up in Law’s hands with 1.7 seconds left. Not the best three attempt from Sosa that hits the front of the rim. Law IV sinks the first free throw. 71-69. Second one coming. No timeout left for Louisville. A few subs enter. Second free throw is good [26 points for Law now]. Sosa’s heave from half-court is no-good as it hits the top of the backboard. A&M advances to the Sweet Sixteen to face the winner of Nevada/Memphis on Sunday.

6:30 pm – Pitt looks real strong against VCU, who after a 5-8 start is 2 of their last 15 from the field. Pitt takes a 29-19 lead with a little over 5 minutes to go. Poor subs by Grant and a lack of execution on offense seems apparent. Shuler’s deep three cuts it to 7. BC leads Georgetown 30-26 at the half [Dudley with 10 and Rice with 12 while Hibbert and Green have 2 fouls each] AND Washington State, behind Low's 10 points, with a 33-25 halftime lead.

6:48 pm - VCU completely outsized and outmatched by Pitt, who leads 41-26. Rebounding is decidedly with the Panthers who are shooting well over 50%. Grant can't find a quick-fix and hot-headed Maynor had an early technical. He won't allow bigger name schools to push him around, even though the refs always do to mid-majors not named Gonzaga. Meanwhile, VCU is stangnant with the ball shooting 31% (including 2-9 from 3-point territory). Aaron Gray has been solid and Pitt has been very physical inside the paint. Fameni is clearly affected with the broken nose and mask. VCU will need a miracle second-half run to have any chance of not losing by double-digits at this rate.

7:33 pm – Status check: Georgetown holding on against BC 54 to 52 with 3 minutes to go. Vanderbilt trails Washington State 59 to 57 with 2 and change. Pitt had the lead at 19 and it is now 13 after Graves picks up his fourth foul at the 10:10 mark. VCU needs key plays and shots from its backcourt and to continue its successful press. Huge miss by BA Walker after a steal. Kendall playing extremely well.

7:40 pm – Byars with a contested layup miss and Washington State has the ball in a 60-60 game with 24.1 left. Washington State hasn’t scored a field goal in over 7 minutes. VCU trails 10 at the under-8 timeout with Maynor shooting 2 free throws. Georgetown has pulled away from BC with 14 seconds left.

7:41 pm – Georgetown victorious 62-55 and advances to the Sweet Sixteen. Weaver stone-cold bricks a top-corner three with 3 seconds to go for WASU. Byars calls a timeout and the officials are searching to find how much time is on the clock. Vandy should get a second for a final prayer before overtime.

...things get a little crazy here with both games...

7:43 pm - Maynor strokes two free throws and its 58-50 with 6:45 left. Pitt returns with 4 straight to push it back to 12. Time is running OUT for the Rams. 0.5 seconds left for Vandy and the pass sails out of bounds after brief contact with a Cougar. OVERTIME.

7:50 pm – 5 minutes to go and an 11-point Pitt lead. Pellot-Rosa deep three takes it down to 8. 5 seconds again called against Pitt. They aren’t saved by a 'timeout-call' this time. 4:46 left. BA for 3 and its 63-58. Harlan finally acknowledges VCU talent outside of Maynor (who is struggling mightily).

7:58 pm – Tie game in Sacramento. Vanderbilt and Washington State tied at 60. 8.7 seconds to go and its Commodore basketball. My sleeper pick is oh so close to a big upset tonight. Turnover to the Cougars on the in-bound and an amazing block by Byars on a layup attempt the other way! Oh my! 1.2 seconds left for Vandy at mid-court. Could we be at double-overtime? Shades of Gonzaga/Arizona from 2003 are dancing through my head. Timeout Vandy.

7:59 pm – Pellot-Rosa with a crazy reverse layup. Might’ve turned an ankle. Pitt up only 3. Meanwhile, Vandy almost turns the ball over. GREAT no-call. How much time is left? 0.01? Sloppy work. Byars almost worked a foul call. But again, a great no-call by the refs (no Al Thornton-esque moments needed). VCU on a 30-14 run when it was once 51-32.

8:00 pm - BA Walker pulls up with an amazing deep three from the top of the key. If it was Pitt, Harlan would’ve said, “Right between the eyes!” TIE-GAME! TIE-GAME! 67-67 at 1:40 off of another turnover. Oh My Oh My! Anthony Grant is HYPED to say the very least.

8:03 pm – Double overtime for Vandy and Washington State. Instant Classic in the works…

8:04 pm –Chants of “VCU” finally emanating from the crowd. Maynor brings the ball up…

8:05 pm – Pellot-Rosa with a man’s rebound and a stronger put-back. RAM LEAD by 2. Sam Young pretty breakaway layup to tie it, the press got bit. Just like against Duke with Nelson. Shucks. 47 seconds left. Ram ball. Panthers pick up loose ball with 19 off a Pellot-Rosa 3-point miss. Sloppy and rushed shot. Dang. 10 seconds. Foul call with 2 seconds left. Minor contact after the shot. Odd call. Check that: bad call. 2 shots. Anderson blocked it before the foul. Tough tough call with 2 ticks left against Pellot-Rosa who got a little hand after the ball was released and the shooter was comin' down. VCU would’ve had a breakaway, potentially 3 on 1. Imagine. Just imagine if the call went against a Duke, UNC, Syracuse, or UCLA. Imagine the ATTENTION it might get…

8:06 pm – First shot is no good. Second shot…no good as well! Pitt offensive rebound. Jump ball call, it seems as the clock expires. Overtime…apparently. Apparently. Pitt wants 0.2 seconds or so on the clock. Refs checking the clock. Overtime it is.

8:11 pm – Vanderbilt upsets Washington State 78 to 74. A 3-seed is down. Could another be on the way? Probably not, but we’ll watch, hope, and pray anyways…

8:12 pm - Pitt up 4. Fields with the craziest of threes. You knew it would go in with the clock down to 3 and a wild shot being ready to be flung from behind the arc. Pro Pitt-commentators ecstatic for him. Dixon looks so unnerved on the sidelines still.

8:15 pm – Fameni tanks a 18-footer. Horrid execution. Things are getting scary near the 2-minute mark for VCU. Will Pitt score on every OT possession? Ramon 3. Pitt is unstoppable in OT thus far. Up 7 at78-71. Figures. Figures…

8:20 pm – MSU tips off with UNC. Beware of the evil that is Izzo.

8:21 pm –VCU is desperate to say the least. Layup by Pellot-Rosa with 1:15 left to cut it to 5. Pitt breaks the press as we go under a minute.

8:23 pm – Shot clock ticking down. Maynor rebound and down to Shuler. Down 3 at 80-77 off of a Shuler layup off of his own miss. Commercial time. “This is our country” Chevy commercials plagued the NFL Playoffs and continue now. I’d do a lot of harm to the advertising team who created this slogan. I honestly would.

8:25 pm –Pellot-Rosa was scoreless in the 1^st half. He has 17 in the second half. Anderson foul on Young. He bricks the first. Can VCU back out? Possession arrow to VCU. Second free throw…missed. Maynor with a pretty layup after driving to the hoop with relative ease. 1-point game with 22.6 left. I wonder if a kickout-3 might've been more effective, despite all the time. Very close to a steal with 4 guys surrounding Cook. Correct foul call. Pitt up 1 at 80-79. Foul after a good press attempt, Cook drains the first. Kendall can’t look…he’s on the bench b/c he fouled out. Chicken. Second free throw…is good. 3-point game. 19.1 left. Now they make them...

8:26 pm – Brick from Walker at the top of the key. Anderson tips it out near half-court, somehow to a Pitt player and over two Rams it appeared. Foul on Walker. It’s over. Walker’s shot just wasn’t right. I wish Pellot-Rosa had a look, as Walker off of the screen isn’t as strong as Walker straight-up or Jesse creating his own shot.

8:29 pm – Young back at the line. Makes the first and second. 5-point game. Somebody call LJ. And whoever fouled him. Miss by Walker. Pitt in the Sweet Sixteen. VCU better be a top 5 story of the tournament. Check that, top 3.

8:30 pm - One day mid-majors will get the benefit with better non-calls. That foul call at the end of regulation should’ve led to a block and a fast break for VCU. I will never forget that 30/70, not 50/50 call, going against us. I may be the only one. And if you think I’m bitter…I’ll monitor you closely for every close call you pine for after a game. Whoever you are.

8:48 pm - Great 3-point play by Hansbrough. He's going to get eaten for lunch with his post moves and shoulder leans in the NBA. Especially from Dwight Howard. Nevertheless, it's definitely working at UNC. 36-31 with both teams shooting well. Spartans 5-9 from 3-point land. UNC still seems a lock tonight with this pace. The Texas/USC winner has a ton of conditioning to do with Lawson upcoming. UCLA is about to get underway, I believe. Late tip to say the VERY least. See you at halftime...

9:04 pm - UCLA tips off with Indiana as they trade baskets. Meanwhile, UNC 41-33 at the half. Hansbrough with an IMPRESSIVE 19 points. Wow.

9:58 pm - UNC and Michigan State going back and forth. Lawson is lightning quick and the Spartans have a ton of guys in foul trouble. Meanwhile, Neitzel with a crazy drive to the hoop to get a 1-point lead. This feels a lot like Arizona/Gonzaga, especially with Dick Enberg calling the game, in 2003. I reference that twice today. State leads 59-58.

10:30 pm - Just too much NC late as they power past the pesky Spartans 81-67. Strong games for Hansbrough and Lawson. Just about everyone, outside of UNC & USC fans are hoping for Durant and co. to get past USC. I think...

11:00 pm - Despite a near miraculous comeback, Indiana falls short to UCLA mostly due to their own doing. Several missed free throws, a terrible turnover down 2 with 30 ticks left, and poor three-point shots took the Hoosiers down. UCLA 54 to 49 over Indiana. Night ova!

We Hold These Truths To Be Self-Evident

Some truths we hold to be self-evident. First, George Mason from Seasons 1 & 2 of "24" looks oddly familiar to George Mason men's head basketball coach Jim Larranaga, whose upstart Patriots fell just short of defeating Virginia Commonwealth for the CAA title. I wonder if he ever did the YMCA dance at CTU like Coach L during Midnight Madness. Anywho, Gonzaga (West Coast) and Niagara (Metro Atlantic) also took home the automatic bids on Monday night. The second truth is that Coach K does not take responsibility for his players. EVER. Remember the Laettner stomp? Third, Billy Packer is Billy Packer, and this means he'll make an asinine statement prior to play in the NCAA tournament. Last year, it was his reaction to George Mason being in the field (we've not forgotten about Seth Davis). This year, he's a couple weeks early.

Tuesday is the least busy day of Championship Week, so I wanted to address the Duke/UNC fiasco at the close of their game on Tuesday. Bill Simmons encapsulates my thoughts on Duke and the most recent lack of responsibility shown forth by Coach K.

In his now-second most recent column which can be found at ESPN, he states: "Congrats to Coach K for questioning why Hansbrough was still in the game and inadvertently using Isiah Thomas' "he was asking for it" defense. And the Duke fans wonder why everyone hates Duke. If the roles were reversed, and this had happened to McRoberts, Coach K would have shown up for the news conference covered in McRoberts's blood, fighting back tears, urging for the offending UNC player to be suspended for the entire ACC tournament and basically looking like Jackie Kennedy in Dallas after the JFK shooting. God, I hate Duke."

(Editor's Note: The link for this article now takes you to another article, so visit ESPN.com and hope that they put it back up.)

The only thing possibly worse than watching a team's best player get his nose broken in the last 15 seconds of a decided game is watching Billy Packer tell us, the viewers - who have a good view and some who can replay at their disposal - the intent of Gerald Henderson (who just about murdered Hansbrough's face). The replays actually show that Henderson could have stopped himself from the vicious elbow when Hansbrough was stripped of the ball. Packer proceeded to deflect all attention away from Henderson and even referred to his flagrant foul and eventual ejection as a "tough break" for Duke.

It'll be a "tough break" for viewers if we have to hear his worthless drivel during the NCAA Tournament. I call on the readers of this blog and beyond to mute Packer (or at least talk over him) so that we don't have to hear him narrating during his frequent hallucations.