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NCAA Basketball - SportDime

The Draft and Freddy Adu

June 23rd 2011 18:59
Derrick Williams is going to be a star. Nothing more, nothing less.

Also, it is about time Bradley gave Freddy some time in the Gold Cup. He should be a mainstay on the squad now, whether it be starting, or most likely coming on as a sub and bringing some pace to the side.



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Bracket Busters - Utah State Aggies

January 31st 2011 20:48
Utah State Aggies
Utah State Aggies


When “Utah State” is mentioned, most people think of Mormonism – and that would be a decent assumption. This religious view for a majority of the students at Utah State University is actually a positive thing for the basketball team. Why? Well, because some players choose to go on a Latter Day-Saints (LDS) Mission for one to two years. Not only are they helping others out, but the players are maturing. The maturity that is gained gives the Aggies a huge advantage on the basketball court and is a big reason to why the team has been so successful. Six players for Utah State have been on their LDS mission (Bendall, Brown, Formisano, Jardine, Newbold, and Wesley). Of the six, four of them average at least 19 MPG and have led their team to another fine start to a season – 20-2 overall, 9-0 in WAC play.


Utah State is one of the most all-around teams in the nation. They don’t really have a go-to-guy, but if you had to pick someone, it would be Senior F Tai Wesley. He is a hardnosed player who works the entire time he is on the court and is the leading scorer for the Aggies at 14.3 PPG. Wesley also hauls in 7.8 RPG to help out frontcourt mates Brady Jardine and Nate Bendall in that respect.

Jardine and Bendall are two big's that are the opposite of flashy, but get the job done. Jardine is the unsung hero of the team and comes off the bench but on any given night can play starter’s minutes. He is averaging 7.9 RPG in only 23 MPG. His spark off the bench has been huge for the Aggies this season and will continue to be the rest of the way.

Junior G Brockeith Pane is a transfer from Houston and is playing in his first season for Utah State. He is a solid guard who plays very good defense and can make tough passes. However, his jump shot still needs to be improved, especially if he expects to help the Aggies this year and next, where he will be the go-to-guy in the 2011-12 season.

Senior G Pooh Williams has had a tough time with his shot this season (39.5 FG percent), but has shown promise at times. He will need to figure it out soon in order to be an asset, rather than a liability to the Aggies cause in the WAC tournament and possibly the NCAA tournament.

Most successful teams have a bench guy that can score to give a spurt when the team needs it, and the Aggies have Senior G Brian Green to fill that role. Green is shooting 47 percent from the three-point line this year and is averaging 11.8 PPG. His work ethic on the court makes up for his lack of size at the two guard position.

Key Wins: Long Beach State

Key Losses: at BYU, at Georgetown

Prediction: 7-1 the rest of the way to finish at 27-3 (15-1 in conference), wins conference tournament to go to 30-3, nine seed in the NCAA tournament with a first round loss. I really like what this team brings to the table and if Green gets hot, they could earn an upset in the first round and give a top team in the second round fits.

Fun Fact: The average age of a Utah State basketball player is 21.35 years.

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Best Day Ever

January 27th 2011 20:00
NCAA


Today is special in so many ways. ESPN is showing not one, but two west coast games tonight. Duke is playing and not on national television. Stephen Bardo is doing a game. Overall, we are getting seven games tonight, not counting ESPNU because we don’t get that in the sticks.

The games from worst to first:

7. Cleveland State @ Illinois (Chicago), 7pm CT, Local Broadcast

Cleveland State is tied in first in the Horizon League and Illinois (Chicago) is dead last. The Vikings haven’t won a meaningful game all season and have losses at West Virginia, at Butler, and at Valparaiso. Cleveland State should win easily, but weirder things have happened; Illinois (Chicago) beat Illinois earlier this season at the United Center.

Verdict: Might TiVO, might not.

Prediction: Cleveland State

Question of the Game/Season: Can Cleveland State double the Cavs' win total this season? Cleveland State may play around 30 to 35 games, while the Cavs get 82. Time will tell.

6. Oregon State @ California, 10pm CT, Comcast

At least tonight the Chicago Bears report won’t get in the way of my precious Pac-10 Thursday night game. Usually this is the only Pac-10 game we get during the week. Last week, the Chicago Bears report overlapped the first half of the Arizona @ Washington game – it was infuriating to say the least.

Verdict: Watch during commercials of St. Mary's and Gonzaga and TiVO

Prediction: California

Question of the Game: Can the deep bench of Oregon State handle California on the road?

5. Vanderbilt @ Mississippi State, 6pm CT, ESPN2

I was tempted to put this sixth, but thought better of it because Vanderbilt is ranked. I really don’t have much use for SEC basketball but I definitely want to see the Commodores play at some point this season.

Mississippi State has had problems this season, to put things lightly. Renardo Sidney got into a fight with former teammate Elgin Bailey (who has now transferred to SE Louisiana) in Hawaii while in the stands waiting for the Hawaii/Utah game to begin. If Sidney can get his act together, he could be a top player in the SEC.

Verdict: Watch during commercials of Michigan State and Michigan and TiVO

Prediction: Vanderbilt

Question of the Game: John Jenkins of Vanderbilt and Renardo Sidney of Mississippi State get to show their value on national television. Who will outshine the other?

4. Michigan @ Michigan State, 6pm CT, ESPN

This rivalry is much more intense on the football field, but neither team likes each other. The young Wolverines are big underdogs here on the road, but they are capable of hanging with anybody if they can get open looks from the three-point line. All of their Big Ten road games have turned into blowouts this season, but if things are going to change at some point this season, tonight could be it.

Michigan State just lost talented but struggling G Korie Lucious for the season after being suspended by coach Tom Izzo. Lucious was only averaging 6.5 PPG but provided depth for the Spartans. This is the last thing Michigan State needed as they continue to struggle in a season where there were high hopes, but now an NCAA birth isn’t even guaranteed.

Verdict: Watch

Prediction: Michigan State

Question of the Game: How will the Spartans handle the adversity of losing teammate Korie Lucious?

3. Illinois @ Indiana, 8pm CT, Big Ten Network

Illinois is coming off a tough home loss to Ohio State and faces their border rival, the Indiana Hoosiers. These two usually have close games and this one could go down to the wire. Bruce Weber’s Illini are a different team on the road and struggle against lesser opponents.

Indiana has some good players, it’s just a matter of how they are going to play game-in and game-out. F Christian Watford and G Verdell Jones III have Illinois on upset-alert tonight and I wouldn’t be surprised if they pull this one out.

Verdict: Will TiVO and flip back and forth with the UCLA – Arizona game.

Prediction: Illinois

Question of the Game: Can Illinois get someone to take control of a ballgame consistently, or will Verdell Jones III and co. take advantage and steal a game at home?

2. UCLA @ Arizona, 8pm CT, ESPN2

This game is going to decide who jumps to second place in the Pac-10 and it should be a good one. UCLA can compete with any team in the nation if they are on, but if they aren’t, they are capable of losing to anyone. The Bruins have defeated BYU this season and played Kansas really close in Lawrence, but loses to VCU and Montana are a black eye on their schedule.

The best team Arizona has beaten is Washington State and they could use this win to pad their resume for Selection Sunday. If the Wildcats want to keep pace with Washington, they need this home win.

Verdict: Watch

Prediction: Arizona

Question of the Game: Neither team has shown much consistency - can either of them tonight?

1. St. Mary’s @ Gonzaga, 10pm CT, ESPN2

Now this is what I’m talking about. I miss the days when I would be flipping the channels late at night, and all of a sudden, I hear Jimmy Dykes commentating on a late West Coast Conference game. Dykes won’t be doing tonight’s game, but beggers can’t be choosers.

To say there are must-wins in mid-major conferences in the regular season may be a stretch, but if there is a must-win for Gonzaga, this is it. The Bulldogs have wins against Marquette and Baylor, but if they slip up in the WCC tournament, they may need this win on Selection Sunday.

Verdict: Watch

Prediction: Gonzaga

Question of the Game: Who outshoots who – the Zags’ Steven Gray or the Gaels Micky McConnell?


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NHL Draft and Ohio State

January 26th 2011 21:00
NHL


NHL All-Star Draft

I don’t get excited about any of the all-star games, but I am intrigued by the NHL All-Star game coming up soon. The game is really irrelevant in the big picture of things, but the NHL is trying something new this year – a couple things actually. The NHL has picked captains for the two all-star teams – Nicklas Lidstrom and Eric Staal. Both captains get to actually pick their teams this year in a draft. Personally, I would like to see the Sedin brothers on two different teams.

The Guardian Project will be unveiled where NHL mascots are portrayed as super heroes. I am not as excited about this aspect, but at least they are trying something. Maybe somehow these characters and their story will get more kids involved in hockey? Who knows. There will be different offshoots of this program and it will be interesting to see how it works out.

Ohio State Buckeyes


Ohio State beats Purdue

Ohio State showed just how vulnerable Purdue can be, and how good they themselves are. The number one ranked Buckeyes were relentless throughout the game, building a 20 point lead by halftime and winning by 23.

The way they look right now on both ends of the court, the Buckeyes are a Final Four pick and should be one of the favorites to come away with the title this April.

For Purdue to have any shot at beating a team that is as good as Ohio State, JaJuan Johnson and E’Twaun Moore both have to be on, and Moore wasn’t. Moore just couldn’t get it going and finished 4/13 from the field.


Funny of the Day: Stanley Hudson in Punch-Out?

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Harvard Basketball?

January 25th 2011 20:00
Harvard Basketball
Harvard Basketball


When someone attends an Ivy League school, academics come first. However, in the past few years, they have shown they can play basketball, too


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Bracket Busters - St. Mary's Gaels

January 21st 2011 17:40
St. Mary's Gaels
St. Mary's Gaels


When one thinks of the West Coast Conference, Gonzaga automatically comes to mind – and for good reason. Gonzaga has been very successful under coach Mark Few, recording at least 23 wins in all of 11 seasons he has been the head coach for the Bulldogs. However, they may now have a perennial contender to the WCC championship – the St. Mary’s Gaels


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Big Ten Weekend Preview

January 19th 2011 18:15
Big Ten Conference


As usual, the Big Ten basketball season has brought us home court upsets and many tight games. These next few games shouldn’t stray from that statement


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Bracket Busters - Oakland Golden Grizzlies

January 18th 2011 17:45
Oakland Golden Grizzlies
Oakland Golden Grizzlies


The Oakland Golden Grizzlies' record could be very deceiving to someone who hasn't seen them play. They are 12-8 (7-0 in conference) and played one of the toughest out of conference schedules in the nation. All of Oakland’s losses were away from home except their loss to Horizon League leader Valparaiso, 103-102. Their road/neutral losses include games at West Virginia, at Purdue, at Wright State, at Illinois, Michigan State (at Auburn Hills), at Michigan, and at Ohio State


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Bracket Busters - Coastal Carolina

January 14th 2011 18:53
Coastal Carolina Chanticleers


Coastal Carolina has started off the season at 15-2 and 6-0 in the Big South Conference. Coach Cliff Ellis has an interesting group of players, and just claimed his 600th career win at Liberty on January 8th. Not only was the win big because of Ellis’ milestone, but it was a battle of undefeated conference teams, and Coastal Carolina is now in the driver’s seat to retain the title of Big South Regular Season Champions


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Bracket Busters - USC Basketball

January 12th 2011 18:48
USC Basketball

USC


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