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Saturday, January 18, 2014
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If you have a question or comment that you would like to send me or you are interested in writing for Syracuse Orange Hoops Center send me an email at jcfinneral16@lacademy.edu.
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Orange Roster
Thanks to ESPN!
| SYRACUSE ORANGE | ||||||
| NO | NAME | POS | HT | WT | CLASS | HOMETOWN |
| 0 | Michael Gbinije | F | 6-7 | 200 | SR | Richmond, VA |
| 1 | Franklin Howard | G | 6-4 | 170 | FR | Suitland, MD |
| 3 | Shaun Belbey | G | 5-10 | 150 | FR | Brick, NJ |
| 4 | Mike Sutton | G | 6-2 | 195 | JR | Norwich, NY |
| 10 | Trevor Cooney | G | 6-4 | 195 | SR | Wilmington, DE |
| 11 | Adrian Autry | G | 6-0 | 160 | FR | Jamesville, NY |
| 13 | Paschal Chukwu | C | 7-2 | 226 | SO | Westport, CT |
| 14 | Kaleb Joseph | G | 6-3 | 165 | SO | Nashua, NH |
| 20 | Tyler Lydon | F | 6-8 | 205 | FR | Elizaville, NY |
| 21 | Tyler Roberson | F | 6-8 | 212 | JR | Union, NJ |
| 23 | Malachi Richardson | G | 6-6 | 195 | FR | Trenton, NJ |
| 25 | Evan Dourdas | G | 6-0 | 170 | FR | Jamesville, NY |
| 32 | DaJuan Coleman | C | 6-9 | 255 | SR | Jamesville, NY |
| 33 | Jonathan Radner | G | 5-10 | 160 | FR | Huntington Woods, MI |
| 34 | Doyin Akintobi-Adeyeye | F | 6-6 | 235 | SO | Uniondale, NY |
| 35 | Chinonso Obokoh | C | 6-9 | 215 | SR | Rochester, NY |
| 54 | Ky Feldman | G | 5-10 | 160 | FR | Agoura Hills, CA |
| 55 | Christian White | G | 5-10 | 180 | SR | Rochester, NY |
Wednesday, January 15, 2014
NCAAM
Sweet 16 : East Region
by James Finneral
(1) North Carolina Tar Heels:
This Tar Heel team is arguably the most talented team in the entire tournament. They took first place in a very competitive ACC. The senior duo of Brice Johnson and Marcus Paige have lead this team to where they are now. Brice Johnson has had a monster year. Johnson has improved his offensive game this season. He can use his athleticism when he is close to the rim, but he has also shown a solid mid-range game. Johnson is also a terrific rebounder and defender. Paige has been a great leader for the Tar Heels. Although he has not shot the ball as well as he would like, Paige has still been productive. Joel Berry completes the back-court with Paige. Berry is a very athletic guard who is very effective at getting to the rim. Isaiah Hicks and Kennedy Meeks provide more size and strength in the post. Hicks is an athletic big who shoots a very high percentage from the field. Meeks is very powerful and difficult for defenders to contain in the post. Justin Jackson is another consistent producer for the Tar Heels. Jackson can play out on the wing, but at 6-7 he can still rise above players when he is close to the rim. The Tar Heels are difficult for any team to match up against.
(5) Indiana Hoosiers:
The Indiana Hoosiers are coming off a huge win against Kentucky and they are ready for the next challenge. The Hoosiers are lead by senior guard, Yogi Ferrell. Ferrel is a playmaker who can score and pass the ball. James Blackmon is the other guard in the back-court for Indiana. Blackmon is a knock down three point shooter, but he is also very athletic and can get to the rim. Thomas Bryant has been great for Indiana down low during the tournament. Bryant has a nice arsenal of post moves to get by defenders. Troy Williams is a wing player for Indiana who has been pretty consistent in terms of production. Williams is very athletic and rebounds very well for a wing player. Lastly Robert Johnson is another guard for Indiana who can shoot the three. When Indiana starts hitting three pointers they are extremely difficult to stop. It will be interesting to see how Indiana deals with the talented roster of North Carolina.
Prediction: North Carolina over Indiana: 82-74
North Carolina has too many weapons of offense for Indiana to contain. Indiana is talented and athletic, but North Carolina presents many matchup problems for them.
(6) Notre Dame Fighting Irish:
Notre Dame has lost some talent since last year, but they are still a very strong team. The Fighting Irish performed well in the tough ACC. This team feeds off the point guard-forward combination of Demetrius Jackson and Zach Auguste. Jackson is one of the most athletic point guards in the entire tournament. He can get to rim as well as shoot the ball. Jackson is also a strong passer who gets his teammates involved. Zach Auguste has been on the receiving end of many of Jackson's passes. Auguste is a strong and physical big man who can push around defenders in the post. Auguste has been a double-double machine for the Fighting Irish this year. V.J. Beachem is a junior forward who has made a tremendous improvement in his game since last year. Beachem is now a vital part of the Notre Dame offense. Junior guard, Steve Vasturia was a big part of Notre Dame's run in last year's tournament. Although he has been struggling with his jump-shot lately, do not be surprised to see Vasturia put up a big game. Bonzie Colson is a tough forward who likes to mix it up down low. Colson is a big piece of Notre Dame's rebounding game and he must play well for Notre Dame to advance. There is no doubt that Notre Dame wants to at least match their performance last year.
(7) Wisconsin Badgers:
Wisconsin is another team that is trying to at least replicate what they did last year. The Badger's run to the national championship game last year was nothing short of phenomenal. They have lost some strong players, but they still have Nigel Hayes. Hayes has assumed a leadership position on this Badger team. Hayes is an extremely athletic player who is very affective at driving to the basket. Hayes has been a reliable scoring source for Wisconsin all season. Junior guard, Bronson Koenig is coming off an amazing game winning shot against Xavier. Koenig is a strong three point shooter that the Badgers will need in order to advance in the tournament. Forward, Ethan Happ has been a strong contributor for Wisconsin in his freshman season. Happ gives the Badgers some size and rebounding down low. Vitto Brown is another forward for Wisconsin who could have an impact in the game. Brown is a tough guy to contain in the post, but he has also displayed his shooting range this season. In the past two games Wisconsin has shown that they want a championship badly and they do not care who they have to go through to get there.
Prediction: Notre Dame over Wisconsin: 75-73
These two teams are both hungry, but Notre Dame has the more talented roster. The Wisconsin big men may be strong, but they have no one that will be able to contain Zach Auguste. Look for both Auguste and Jackson to have big games for the Fighting Irish.
Sweet 16: West Region
by James Finneral
The top four seeds in the West region still remain in the tournament. Here is a look at these four great teams and predictions for the two games.
(1) Oregon Ducks:
The Oregon Ducks have made a lot of noise out of the Pac-12. They have plenty of quality wins under their belt and have earned a number one seed in the tournament. The Oregon front-court is the heart of their team. Dillon Brooks is an athletic forward who plays above the rim. Brooks is also a strong mid-range shooter and can hit a three with time. Elgin Cook is a pretty similar player to Brooks. They can both attack and rebound. Chris Boucher is the man in the middle for the Ducks. He is long and lanky and makes his presence known on the defensive end Boucher is an affective rebounder and shot blocker, but he has also shown some offensive game as well. Tyler Dorsey has been a great addition to this Oregon team. Dorsey is a tall point guard with great court vision. He can also stretch defenses with his three point range. This is a very hungry and talented Oregon team.
(4) Duke Blue Devils:
Duke would love to match what it did last year. Although the Blue Devils are talented, they will have much more work to do to win a national championship. As a sophomore, Grayson Allen has become a superstar. He is very athletic and has a knack for scoring the ball. Brandon Ingram is the one man threatening Ben Simmons for being the number one selection in this year's draft. Ingram is 6-9, but he plays like a guard. He has a strong handle and a nice jump shot. When Ingram gets in the post he uses his length to get over defenders. Luke Kennard is a freshman guard who has been a strong scorer for Duke this season. Kennard can shoot the three with time so defenses have to be aware of that. Matt Jones stretches the defense for Duke with his knock down three point jumper. Down low Duke has Marshall Plumlee who is a big strong guy who grabs a ton of rebounds. This year's Blue Devils may not be as talented as last year's, but they still have quite a bit of fire power.
Prediction: Duke over Oregon: 70-67
Oregon will have it's runs in this game, but they will not be able to find an answer for Brandon Ingram. There is no one on Oregon who matches up well with Ingram so expect him to have a big game. This is another game that should come down to the wire.
(3) Texas A&M:
After a double overtime scare against Northern Iowa, the Texas A&M Aggies have to look forward to playing Oklahoma on Thursday. This team is lead by two star seniors, Danuel House and Jalen Jones. House is a big time athlete. Although he is 6-7 he plays out on the wing and looks to attack the basket. Jones is a pretty similar player to House. Jones is about the same size as House and he likes to go to the rim as well. House and Jones are not three point marksmen by any means, but they do have range to the arch. Freshman, Tyler Davis is a big body in the post. Davis plays like a pretty traditional big man, taking most of his shots from inside the post. Davis, House and Jones all attack the glass and grab many rebounds. Lastly senior, Alex Caruso has been a leader for the Aggies this year. Caruso gets his teammates involved, but he also has the ability to shoot the ball and attack the rim. This is one of the strongest Texas A&M teams in a while.
(2) Oklahoma Sooners:
The Oklahoma Sooners are the best they have been since the Blake Griffin season. Buddy Hield is the front runner for the Player of the Year Award. Hield is an incredible scorer who can hurt defenses in a variety of ways. The common misconception about Oklahoma is that Buddy Hield is the whole team and they do not have other good players. Although Buddy Hield puts on a show, Oklahoma is loaded with other great players. Isaiah Cousins is very athletic and shoots the lights out. Jordan Woodard is another guard for Oklahoma who is a great three point shooter. Hield, Cousins and Woodard are the reason that Oklahoma has been the best three point shooting team in the country this year. Down low the Sooners have senior, Ryan Spangler. Spangler is a strong forward who averages nearly a double-double per game. Khadeem Lattin has also been a key piece for the Sooners down low. Lattin is very athletic and causes issues for the opposing teams that try to come in the post. This Oklahoma team has the talent to take it the distance in this tournament.
Prediction: Oklahoma over Texas A&M : 80-74
Oklahoma will shoot the ball very well like they always do and Texas A&M will not be able to match them. The Sooner front-court should be able to contain the front-court of Texas A&M.
Sweet 16: South Region
by James Finneral
Buddy Hield is helping his team and himself
by James Finneral
After being named the Big 12 Conference Player of the Year, the country was eagerly awaiting for what Buddy Hield had in store for his senior season. So far this year Hield has not failed to amaze us.
Playing in one of the toughest conferences in the country, Hield has still managed to score 26 points a games to go along with 5 rebounds. Hield has a knack for putting the ball in the basket. He can hurt you with his deadly three point range, he can drive to the basket and he is also excellent in transition. Teams will create their game-plan around Hield, but no team has been able to hold him to under 18 points. Hield is also at his best when the bright lights are shining. When his Sooners took on the number one ranked Kansas Jayhawks, Hield scored 46 points, grabbed 8 rebounds and dished out 7 assists. Although his performance was not enough to lead Oklahoma to victory, he made play after play to give his team a chance to win.
Hield has been the leader of this very strong Oklahoma team that has the tools to win a national championship. Hield believes that Oklahoma has unfinished business and this is his chance to win a title. Not only is Hield helping his team, but he is also helping his draft stock. NBA scouts are always looking for the younger players that they can develop, but Hield is making it hard for scouts not to be interested in him. Many NBA scouts have reported that Hield's draft stock has shot up tremendously since the beginning of the season. He has the tools the make the transition to play the two guard in the NBA. Hield is always the first guy from Oklahoma in the gym before practices and games so you know he does not lack any effort. Right now I could see him going anywhere from pick seven to pick thirteen.
Hield could end his year with a national championship as well as a selection in the NBA draft.
A Look Into the Final Showdown in Indianapolis
by James Finneral
After all the madness this March we are finally down to two teams. The Wisconsin Badgers have hit their stride in the tournament and are coming off a big win against the formerly undefeated, Kentucky Wildcats. Another team that has peaked in the tournament is the Duke Blue Devils. The Blue Devils have been battle tested in both the regular season and the tournament. Both teams are loaded with talent and this game will probably come down to the wire.
#1 Wisconsin vs. #1 Duke:
These teams matchup very well against each other. The battle between Frank Kaminsky and Jahlil Okafor will be one for the ages. Both Kaminsky and Okafor will get their fill, but they will have to earn it. The Justise Winslow matchup against Sam Dekker and/or Nigel Hayes will also be fun to watch. All three of these guys are very athletic and can dribble drive to the rim. It will be interesting to see who Coach K sticks on Dekker and who he sticks on Hayes. This will definitely be a close game, but I think the difference in this game will be Quinn Cook of Duke. Duke has many young players who will be drafted to the NBA, but the heart and soul of this Blue Devils team is Quinn Cook. Cook has been productive all year and has been a model of consistency in the tournament. He is yet to score under 10 points in the tournament. Wisconsin will be game planning for Jahlil Okafor when they should probably be worrying about how to slow down Cook. I believe Cook will get it going from three point range and give the Blue Devils the push they need to come out on top in the end. As I said in my Final Four predictions, if Sam Dekker is able to keep playing at a high level then Wisconsin will be tough to beat. With a very athletic Winslow on him, I think Dekker will be slightly slowed down and Wisconsin will not get the same production out of him as they have in the past two games. This one can go either way, but I believe Coach K will add another incredible feat to his resume.
Prediction: #1 Duke 71........... #1 Wisconsin 69
Will This Final Four Live Up to the Hype?
by James Finneral
The 2015 Final Four features three one seeds, Kentucky, Wisconsin and Duke. The fourth team is the Michigan State Spartans, who have taken out some of the best teams in the country just to make it to Indianapolis. Here's a look at the two games going down on Saturday.
#1 Kentucky vs. #1 Wisconsin:
This game is the equivalent to a national championship. These are the two hottest teams coming into the Final Four and the winner will have a good chance against either Duke or Michigan State. This is also a rematch from last year's Final Four where the eight seeded Wildcats beat the Badgers by a score of 74-73. Wisconsin will be playing with a chip on their shoulder and they are certainly capable of taking down Kentucky, but I will give a slight edge to Kentucky. As of now Wisconsin is being powered by their superstar front-court players, Frank Kaminsky and Sam Dekker. These guys have been excellent in the tournament, but they are going to have a tougher time against the Kentucky front-court as opposed to the Arizona front-court. On the other hand Wisconsin will win this ball game if Sam Dekker plays similar to his Elite Eight game where he went 5-6 from behind the arch and finished with 27 points. Trey Lyles may try to match up with Dekker, which would most likely give Dekker a solid opportunity to create open shots for himself. The X Factors in this game for Kentucky are the Harrison twins. This is where Kentucky can create the greatest matchup problems for Wisconsin. The twins have been to the Final Four before and will be great leaders for the Wildcats. Bronson Koenig is going to have trouble keeping up with Andrew Harrison and Harrison is going to be able to get to the lane and kick it out to his brother or Devin Booker. This is going to be a dog fight that will come down to the last possession of the game. It will be interesting to see if history repeats itself or not.
Prediction: #1 Kentucky 78........ #1 Wisconsin 76 (OT)
#1 Duke vs. #7 Michigan State:
Mike Krzyzewski and Tom Izzo have once again lead their squads to the Final Four and one of them will be heading to the championship. Duke and Michigan State are two of the most successful programs in history and they are both hungry for another title. Michigan State has taken out the likes of Virginia, Oklahoma and Louisville. The Spartans seem to have something special about them, but I think this is where their journey ends. Michigan State has some great guards in Travis Trice, Denzel Valentine and Bryn Forbes, but they will be matched by Duke's incredible guard duo of Tyus Jones and Quinn Cook. The difference in this game will be Duke center and Wooden Award Finalist, Jahlil Okafor. Okafor is going to cause some real problems Matt Costello and the Michigan State front-court. Okafor will be able to overpower Costello and if he is double teamed he can kick it to shooters on the perimeter. Michigan State will certainly make this a close contest. Branden Dawson has been an intangibles guy for Michigan State and has really picked up his play in the tournament. If Dawson can help Costello contain Okafor, the Spartans can pull out a win. This will be a battle, but I give a slight edge to the Blue Devils.
Prediction: #1 Duke 70......... #7 Michigan State 67
The Final Four always showcases some great basketball and this year will be no different. This is shaping up to be one of the best Final Fours yet and it will all come down to who wants it more.
Elite 8 Predictions: Day 1
by James Finneral
After having sixty-eight teams announced in this year's field, we are down to the Elite Eight. In past years the Elite Eight has showcased some of the greatest games in tournament history and this year should be no different. Lets take a look into the first two games of the Elite Eight.
#1 Kentucky vs. #3 Notre Dame:
Notre Dame is a great team with some talented players, but they are going to have issues containing the size and strength of Kentucky. The Irish have Zach Auguste and 6'6" Bonzie Colson down low. These guys will not be able to match up against Karl-Anthony Towns, Willie Cauley-Stein, Dakari Johnson and Trey Lyles, who are all at least 6'10". Look for Kentucky to get many second chances from offensive rebounds leading to easy scores. The only way Notre Dame will be able to win this game is if they shoot the lights out. With Jerian Grant, Pat Connaughton and Demitrius Jackson, the Irish are certainly capable of taking over a game from behind the three point arch. Unfortunately for Notre Dame the Harrison twins of Kentucky will do a nice job containing the shooters and Notre Dame will have nowhere else to turn. Even if the Notre Dame guards play well, Kentucky will have too much of an advantage in the post.
Prediction: #1 Kentucky 68...... #3 Notre Dame 54
#1 Wisconsin vs. #2 Arizona:
This game is a rematch of last year's Elite Eight except Wisconsin is now a one seed and Arizona is a two seed. Last year's game ended dramatically with Arizona's, Nick Johnson missing a buzzer beater and Wisconsin advancing to the Final Four. I believe we are in store for a similar treat because these two teams are equally talented. Arizona has a talented point guard in T.J. McConnell to go along with 6'7" wingman Stanley Johnson. Wisconsin also has a nice wing with Traevon Jackson, Negil Hayes and Sam Dekker. The difference in this game is going to be Wisconsin senior big man, Frank Kaminsky. Kaminsky has been the leader for Wisconsin all year and has been nothing short of phenomenal in the tournament. Nothing against Kaleb Tarczewski, but he will not be able to handle Frank the Tank down low. This game will go down to the wire, but Kaminsky will give Wisconsin the slight edge that they need to knock out the Wildcats and head to Indianapolis.
Prediction : #1 Wisconsin 62....... #2 Arizona 58
Potential Early Upsets in the Tournament
by James Finneral
They don't call it March Madness for no reason. Year in and year out the NCAA Tournament provides us with multiple exciting games filled with overtimes, buzzer beaters and yes upsets. There are shocking upsets in just about each round of the tournament and the people of America try to predict where these upsets will take place in their brackets. I will give you a couple games in the round of 64 where some upsets could take place. If you use this article to help fill out your bracket and you are correct, you can thank me, but if not it was your choice and you only have yourself to blame.
Midwest Region:
#11 Texas over #6 Butler:
Butler is a great team that could do some damage in the tournament, but they hit some bad luck drawing Texas for their first game. The Longhorns are big, physical, athletic and create some real matchup problems for Butler. Firstly Texas is 8th in the country in rebounds per game and Butler is outside the top 50. Myles Turner at 6'11", 240 lbs is going to be a nightmare for Kameron Woods to match up with. Look for Turner to come down with many offensive rebounds leading to easy buckets. Another potential issue for Butler will be the Texas back-court. Although Roosevelt Jones and Kellen Dunham are good, they are not going to be able to match the speed and athleticism of Isaiah Taylor and Javan Felix. Taylor is one of the premier guards in the country and he will have to perform big time for the Long Horns to make a run in the tournament. Overall the matchups will greatly favor Texas and they have a good chance to knock off Butler.
West Region:
#10 Ohio State over #7 VCU:
There is nothing about VCU that makes them likely to be upset, but Ohio State has one of the best players in the entire nation in D'Angelo Russell. Russell's numbers don't lie. He has averaged 19 points, 5 rebounds and 5 assists per game in a very tough Big Ten Conference. Russell has the ability to take over basketball games and I think he will do just that against VCU. He can hurt you from inside and out and very few teams have found the solution to stopping him. Also look for Sam Thompson to use his athleticism to his advantage and come up with many baskets from drives to the hoop. VCU has played some talented teams, but they have yet to face a player of Russell's caliber. No matter how much they prepare for him VCU will be not be able to slow Russell down and the rest of the Ohio State offense will flow because of this.
East Region:
#9 LSU over #8 NC State:
Although this is only a 9 over 8 upset, many people seem to think that NC State has this game locked up and should look forward to Villanova. NC State should be focussing all their energy towards LSU because the Tigers are absolutely no joke. The reason why LSU will win this game is simple, they have a powerhouse front-court. Jordan Mickey and Jarell Martin have been the best players for the Tigers this year and have both earned spots on the All SEC First Team. These two both make their presence known on the offensive and defensive end. This year LSU has averaged the 12th most rebounds per game and a large part of that comes from Mickey and Martin. NC State is going to have trouble containing both of them down low. They will also not be able to get very many offensive rebounds, limiting their second chances. Trevon Lacey of NC State will be tough for the LSU guards to defend, but it will not matter because Mickey and Martin will take over the game. NC State's front-court is just not strong enough to contain this dynamic duo and LSU will be the team that needs to focus their efforts on Villanova.
South Region:
#12 Stephen F. Austin over #5 Utah:
Utah has had a tremendous season and their program is rising, but I do not think they are a tournament team. As for this Stephen F. Austin team they are looking to at least match their performance last year, where they knocked out the number five seeded, VCU Rams. The Lumberjacks are returning many guys this year and are hungry for a deep run. They are led by junior, Thomas Walkup who has been productive in all aspects this year. This Stephen F. Austin team has a chance to take down Utah this year because of their ability to share the basketball. They lead the country in assists per game with nearly 18. When you share the basketball typically you create open shots and Stephen F. Austin has done that all year. They are 5th in the country in field goal percentage, shooting nearly 50% from the field. The Lumberjacks create open looks by sharing the basketball and with many knock down shooters, they can be a tough team to stop. I believe Stephen F. Austin will go on huge runs against Utah and Utah will not have the resilience to fight back. There has to be one 5 over 12 upset and this will be it.
This looks to be an extremely exciting tournament and I cannot wait to see what madness is in store for us.
Day 4: Big East Tournament
by James Finneral
The 2015 Big East Championship game showcased the Villanova Wildcats and the Xavier Musketeers. Both teams had to fight past quality ball clubs to make it to the championship game. It was obvious that both teams wanted the win, but it was also obvious that one team wanted it more than the other.
Villanova came out knocking down jump shots and putting instant pressure on the Xavier offense. Josh Hart was a huge contributor off the bench once again with 15 points and 7 rebounds. JayVaughn Pinkston also came up big in the first half and did an excellent job of containing Matt Stainbrook in the post. With Stainbrook essentially taken out of the game, Xavier found themselves down by 13 at half time. In the second half Xavier would go on little runs, but it was not nearly enough to cancel out the performances from Dylan Ennis and Darrun Hilliard. The second half never really became exciting because Xavier never trimmed the lead down to single digits. The game ended with a final score of 69-52. Hilliard finished with 12 points and 4 rebounds and Ennis finished with 16 points and 6 rebounds. The overall team effort is what allowed Nova to cruise past Xavier.
Villanova was the strongest team in the Big East all year long and deserve to bring home the trophy. With this victory under their belt, the Wildcats have most likely locked up a number one seed in the NCAA Tournament. It will be interesting to see how Villanova and other Big East teams will fare in the big dance.
Day 3: Big East Tournament
by James Finneral
Yesterday consisted of two great games featuring teams that should get into the NCAA Tournament. Coming into the semi finals people expected some intense match-ups and these games did not disappoint.
#1 Villanova vs. #4 Providence:
This game featured the Co MVPs of the Big East in Ryan Arcidiacono and Kris Dunn. Kris Dunn looked like the real MVP in this game and lead the way for Providence with 22 points, 9 assists and 7 rebounds. Unfortunately for the Frairs basketball is a team sport and their team did not play their best. In the early going Providence's defense was pitiful allowing many layups. Luckily for them Villanova did not take full advantage of the defensive lapses and only lead by 5 at halftime. In the second half the Friars came to life. Although a lot of their points were scored by Kris Dunn, the Friars team looked more energized and focused on the defensive end. For Villanova Daniel Ochefu, Darrun Hilliard and Josh Hart all played well and combined for 45 of the Wildcat's 63 points. The saying "big time players step up in big time games" cannot be emphasized enough in this game. Although Arcidiacono only scored 6 points, he stepped up when his team needed him to. The game was tied with three seconds to go and Arcidiacono drew a foul on Ben Bentil of Providence. Just like big time players should Arcidiacono knocked down both his free throws and won the Wildcats the game after a half court heave from LaDontae Henton. The final score ended up being 63-61 and Villanova is back in the Big East Championship after being knocked out early last year. Villanova played hard all game and deserved to win this one. They are just one game away from one of their main goals and they need to stay focussed and finish the drill.
#2 Georgetown vs. #6 Xavier:
Xavier proved to the nation last night that they are very worthy of a spot in the NCAA Tournament. Big Matt Stainbrook had his way down low and was the key for the Musketeer's offense. When Georgetown double teamed Stainbrook it opened opportunities for shooters to have good looks at the hoop. With their offense flowing Xavier was up by 9 points at halftime. In the early second half Xavier dominated and was up by as much as 21, but then the let their guard down. Georgetown started knocking down jump shot after jump shot and made it a very close game down the stretch. It all came down to free throws in the end and although Xavier missed a couple they were still able to make enough to win the game. For Georgetown Jabril Tarwick had 19 points and Isaac Copeland had 15 points and 7 rebounds. It was a valiant effort by Georgetown, but they dug themselves into too deep a hole in the early second half. Stainbrook lead all scorers with 20 points and he also grabbed 9 rebounds. Xavier advances to face the number one seeded Villanova Wildcats for the Big East Championship. Xavier seems to be hitting their stride at the right time and have a chance to knock off the Wildcats if they play their best.
Day 2: Big East Tournament
by James Finneral
The second round is where the real action starts in the Big East Tournament. All of the top teams in the conference are featured in the four games. This is the time where we figure out which teams are contenders and which teams are pretenders.
#1 Villanova vs. #9 Marquette:
Marquette was not ready to face the number four team in the nation last night. They were not able to match up with Villanova the first two times they faced off in the regular season and last night was no different. The Wildcats came out firing three pointers and they kept falling. Josh Hart came off the bench to knock down four three-pointers in the first half to add in to his 20 overall. Hart lead all scorers in the game and that is probably why he won the Big East Sixth Man of the Year Award. The contribution from Hart had Villanova up big at the half. In the second half Darrun Hilliard and Dylan Ennis put the game away with easy buckets. Kris Jenkins dropped 9 off the bench, all from three pointers in the second half. The real highlight for Villanova was their defense. They were able to hold a Marquette team that scored 78 the other night, to 49. This Wildcats team is the most talented in the Big East and if someone wants to beat them, they will have to be ready to go.
#4 Providence vs. #5 St. Johns:
The unpredictability of March is unreal. The Providence vs. St. Johns matchup was supposed to be a high quality competition with tournament hopes on the line. March has surprised us once again as the Friars beat down the Red Storm. The game featured the top two scorers in the Big East in LaDontae Henton and D'Angelo Harrison, but Henton proved to be more of a factor. Henton shot 7-14 from the field and finished with 20 points to go with 12 rebounds. With an overall great team effort the Friars went into the locker room up by 13 at half. In the second half St. Johns was never able to go on a big run so they could not come back. Co Big East Player of the Year and Providence point guard, Kris Dunn showed once again that he is the real deal. Dunn had a double-double with 17 points and 11 assists including some highlight reel plays. He is a big time player and it will be hard for any point guard to match up with him in this tournament. Rysheed Jordan played well for St Johns, but no one else on the team stepped up and the final score was 74-57. Providence advances to face the Villanova Wildcats who they can beat if they play their best basketball.
#2 Georgetown vs. #10 Creighton:
This game was supposed to be a cake walk for Georgetown, but Creighton showed up to play. In the first half the Creighton defense did not look up to par allowing many layups and fouling a lot. Luckily for Creighton, Georgetown made a couple of mistakes which allowed the Blue Jays to stick around. At the half Georgetown was up 31-25. In the second half it was the D'Vauntes Smith-Rivera show. Smith-Rivera was been one of the best players in the entire Big East. The rest of his team was not capitalizing on the offensive end so Smith-Rivera took it into his own hands. He scored 16 points in the second half and ended with a total of 25, which lead all scorers. James Milliken lead the Blue Jays charge again with 17 and they ended up beating Georgetown by 1 in the second half, but that was not enough. The final score was 60-55. This Georgetown team definitely showed that anyone can beat them and if they don't play their best, they might lose to Xavier who defeated a solid Butler team.
#3 Butler vs. #6 Xavier:
This was easily the best game of the tournament thus far. Butler started the game up 8-0, but Xavier showed tremendous resilience with a balanced offensive attack. Three pointers were falling and they could score in the paint as well. After some back and forth play, the Musketeers went into the locker room up 30-28. The second half is where it got interesting as both teams held each other to under 30 points. Andrew Chrabascz lead Butler down the stretch coming up with buckets to help the Bulldogs take the lead towards the end of the game. With about two and a half minutes to go Trevon Bluiett knocked down a three that tied the game and neither team scored for the rest of regulation. Bluiett and Jalen Reynolds played well during overtime taking it to the rim and knocking down foul shots. The Butler offense just was not able to get going in OT and they ended up falling to the Musketeers by a final score of 67-61. Xavier has a talented roster that can be a threat to the Georgetown Hoyas in the next round.
The tournament is starting to heat up and I have feeling that there will be some epic showdowns to come.
Day 1: Big East Tournament
by James Finneral
It was a great first day at Madison Square Garden for the 2015 Big East Tournament. With two upsets in the first day of the tournament it is certainly obvious that we are in March.
#8 Seton Hall vs. #9 Marquette:
Coming into the game people thought that this 8 vs. 9 matchup would come down to the wire, but that was absolutely not the case. A tough Golden Eagles team under first year coach Steve Wojciechowski smacked down a hungry Seton Hall club. Marquette was in control for the entire game. They were able to score from the paint with the power of their big 6'11" center, Luke Fischer who finished with 14 points and 7 rebounds. No one on Seton Hall could stop senior sharp shooter, Matt Carlino. Carlino has been the best player for the Golden Eagles this year and has shot lights out from behind the arch. Last night was no different. Carlino knocked down 8 three pointers which was a large part of his 26 points. After a first half beat down Seton Hall tried to battle back, but the Golden Eagles would have nothing of it. They still beat Seton Hall by 9 in the second half which totalled to a final score of 78-56. Seton Hall freshman, Isaiah Whitehead played well and looks to have a promising future. As for the Golden Eagles they advance to take on the number one seed in the Big East, the Villanova Wildcats. It will be a tough game, but anything can happen in March.
#7 DePaul vs. #10 Creighton:
This was another game that was not very exciting. The theme of the game was unexpected heroes. Creighton has not been the same team since Doug McDermott left, but they are still playing with some heart. In the first half the teams were evenly matched in terms of offensive efficiency. The only reason this happened was because of Creighton junior guard, James Milliken. Milliken is a starter for the Blue Jays, but has never been their main guy, but he was last night. Milliken finished with 22 points, most of which he had in the first half. He did his part to keep Creighton in the game and his teammates responded in a big way. In the second half the DePaul defense fell apart allowing many layups and stupid fouls. There offense could not pick up the slack and the Blue Devils ended up losing by a final score of 78-63. The were solid efforts by DePaul players, Billy Garret Jr. and Jamee Crocket, but it just was not enough. Creighton received a great spark from Devin Brooks off the bench who finished with 12 points, 5 rebounds and 5 assists. Milliken and Brooks are the reason why Creighton won and it will be interesting to watch them play moving forward.
If the first day was filled with this much upsets I cannot wait for the rest of the tournament.
A Look Into the Final Four Down in Texas
by James Finneral
This year's NCAA Tournament has consisted of many great individual performances and many incredible team victories. Outstanding teams were sent home early by low name programs showing up on the big stage. Out of all this chaos the tournament has left us with four amazing teams playing in what is sure to be an unforgettable Final Four.
This year there will be two nice match ups on April 5th 2014 featuring the number one overall ranked Florida against the streaking seventh seed from the east, the Huskies of Connecticut. The second game game is the number two seed Wisconsin from the west and the #8 seed Kentucky emerging from the rough midwest. These games could go either way and the country should be gearing up for some high quality basketball.
#1 Florida vs. #7 Uconn: The last time the Florida Gators suffered defeat was at the hands of Shabazz Napier's crazy buzzer beater in Connecticut back in early December. Since then Florida has played better than any team in the country and is ranked as the first overall seed in the tournament. Although many people feel that the Huskies can not repeat their performance from earlier anything is possible in the big dance.
I do not believe history will repeat itself and the Florida Gators will win and move on the the national championship game. Uconn is going to have some major matchup problems just like everyone Florida plays. Aside from that the Gators are one of the most athletic teams in the country and will be able to beat the Huskies in transition as well as on the offensive and defensive glass. The obvious premiere matchup in the game is Scottie Wilbekin against Shabazz Napier. Both are extremely skilled and athletic players who lead the way for their teams. I believe Napier will outplay Wilbekin because the he is on a big stage and the lights are shining that is when he is at his best. He is having one of the greatest showings in NCAA Tournament history and literally holding Uconn up. Although I think Napier will win that matchup, Florida is just too powerful all around. Patrick Young will be the difference maker in the game. The weakest part of the Huskies is their forwards and there is no one on Connecticut that will be able to handle the physical presence of Young down low. Young will be the difference maker and Uconn will still have to account for the likes of Casey Prather, Michael Frazier and Dorian Finney-Smith. It was a good run for Uconn, but I believe Florida will get it done.
Prediction: 65-59 Gators
#2 Wisconsin vs. #8 Kentucky: The winner of this heavy weight battle will be able to cause some major issues to both Florida and Uconn. These teams really do not get to see each other too often coming from the Big 10 and SEC, but both have a tremendous amount of respect for each other Both teams have taken out some great clubs to get to the Final Four making for a solid game that will not disappoint.
Day 3 of the Big East Tournament Featured Game #4 Providence vs. #8 Seton Hall
by James Finneral
After a shocking victory over the number one seeded Villanova and an intense victory over St. Johns the Pirates of Seton Hall met the Providence College Friars in the Big East semi final game. Providence came into the game hoping a victory would help lock their chances of being selected for the NCAA Tournament. Seton Hall on the other hand pretty much needs to win the Big East Tournament and get an automatic bid, or else they will not make it. The Friars were the aggressors in the early going with many strong takes to the bucket leading to easy baskets and free throws. It really was LaDontae Henton's game. The junior has been productive all year long as the second leading scorer and rebounder on the club. In this game he broke out as no one could stop him going to the hole and his shots were falling from both mid range and three point land. Henton and the Friars went into the half up 38-34.
After the break Henton continued playing well with a couple of three point jumpers assisted by Bryce Cotton. He was also able to take Seton Hall's focus off of Cotton who then started to get on track. Cotton finished with 18 points and 10 assists. Fuquan Edwin and Sterling Gibbs played well for the Pirates scoring and locking down Josh Fortune on defense. Edwin finished with 20 points and Gibbs had 13 and 6 assists. Seton Hall's last attempts to come back were too late and the Friars put on another great performance form the charity stripe and went on to win 80-74.
LaDontae Henton driving.
Tyler Harris of Providence played another nice game for the Friars with 17 points and 4 rebounds. They advance to take on Creighton and Doug McDermott in the championship game. They have split the season series and the winner receives an automatic bid to the big dance.
Day 2 of Big East Tournament Featured Game #3 Xavier vs. #6 Marquette
by James Finneral
In the final game of the night the 3 vs. 6 game was played featuring two hard nosed Big East teams trying to build their resume for the NCAA Tournament. The Xavier Musketeers squared off against the Marquette Golden Eagles who were projected to win the Big East at the beginning of the year. Both teams have had some let down games, but they are both talented teams who both have a shot to win this tournament. The game began with Marquette getting into an offensive rhythm with many nice buckets from Deonte Burton. Despite the quick start Xavier was able to fight their way back through the rest of the half with a great performance from Semaj Christon who finished the game 18 points and 5 assists. As Marquette hit a drought at the end of the half Xavier went into the locker room up 31-29. In the second half it was a lot of back and forth where Todd Mayo and Burton did the bulk of the offensive work for the Golden Eagles when Xavier had a more balanced team effort. As the final minutes of the game approached the Musketeers had the lead and were able to ice the game with some quality free throw shooting. The final efforts from Marquette were not enough and Xavier advanced by a final score of 68-65. Isaiah Philmore played a very solid game with 10 points and 6 rebounds and was in lock down mode on defense. Some other notable performances were Justin Martin for Xavier with a team high 19 points and 4 rebounds and Mayo finished with 21 off the bench and Burton had 23 points. Xavier moves on to take on an extremely strong Creighton team lead by Big East Player of the Year Doug McDermott. These two teams both won at their home courts against each other so this matchup tomorrow should be very intriguing.
Scores from other games.
#8 Seton Hall 64...... #1 Villanova 63
#4 Providence 79..... #5 St Johns 74
#2 Creighton 84...... #10 DePaul 62
Player of the Game: Semaj Christon, Xavier, 18 points and 5 assists.
The Big East Tournament Begins in Incredible Fashion
by James Finneral
The Big East has always been one of the strongest conferences in the country and my personal favorite. Unfortunately many great teams such as Syracuse, Louisville and Notre Dame moved to their new respective divisions this year. Although they have lost some a lot of teams the conference is still extremely strong and this tournament should be a very fun and competitive time at Madison Square Garden. In this entry I will just be giving brief recap on the two games that took place on Wednesday March 12th.
#8 Seton Hall vs. #9 Butler: Although these are not the premiere teams in the tournament people knew that this 8-9 matchup was going to be fun to watch. Both are very hard nose teams who would go after the #1 Villanova Wildcats if they won. In the early going it seemed that Seton Hall had the better team effort with many players capitalizing on offense. The bulldogs hung around due to the incredible effort from their senior forward, Khyle Marshall who scored 12 points in the first half. In the second half there were many streaks back and forth, but down the stretch the defensive stand from the pirates was able to defend their lead and win by a final score of 51-50. Gene Teague lead the way for Seton Hall with another double-double consisting of 14 points and 11 rebounds. This Seton Hall team lost both of their games to Villanova this year, but it is evident that they are hungry and looking for a big upset.
#7 Georgetown vs. #10 DePaul: The Hoyas of Georgetown are one team that is hoping their performance in the Big East Tournament will help them get into the big dance. It was a battle between two athletic teams early on. Georgetown received many of their first points from their two star players, Markel Starks and D'Vauntes Smith-Rivera while Depaul was being fueled by their freshman sensation, Billy Garret Jr. Georgetown went into the half up by 2 points but they were not aware of
Gene Teague of Seton Hall
the tenacity that DePaul would play with in the second half. The Blue Demons came out with a sense of urgency in the second half. Forrest Robinson was the unsung hero as he knocked down 3 three pointers in the early second half to give DePaul momentum. He finished with a tied career high of 14 points. From there on DePaul lead the game and Georgetown could not bridge the gap. It was a great effort from Smith-Rivera converting on all of his free throws, but it was not enough as Garret Jr.'s foul shooting closed it out and DePaul won 60-56. Garret Jr. finished with 17 points and 5 rebounds. Smith-Rivera had 21 and 7 boards and Markel Starks scored 17 points.
It was a great first night making many people excited for the rest of the tournament.
Billy Garret Jr. going for the loose ball.
Dominant Doug
by James Finneral
Each year faithful college basketball fans are always keeping their eyes on the best players in the nation to predict who will win the John R. Wooden Award. "The Wooden Award is given out to the most outstanding player in college basketball" (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_R._Wooden_Award). This is the most prestigious award in college basketball and many past winners have become very successful in their professional basketball careers.
In years past their have been some pretty close finishes in the player of the year decisions where maybe two or three guys could have been chosen. This year is a little different as Creighton University's, Doug McDermott is taking the whole nation by storm. Last season many people believed that McDermott would leave Creighton and declare for the NBA Draft. When he made the choice to return everyone knew that he would be one of the most dominant players in the nation because he dominated in his junior season.
This year so far he has not disappointed averaging 25 points per game along with 7 rebounds. He has lead the Blue Jays to a 19-4 overall record as they sit in second place in the Big East and ranked 19th in the country. McDermott has played a big role for Creighton in some of their big games. His most notable performance was his 39 points and 6 rebounds in a huge 3 point win against a tough St. John's team. McDermott is also part of one of the greatest father-son duos in college basketball history with his father Greg McDermott as the head coach. They have changed a program that was not even considered a bubble team for the tournament into one of the strongest programs in the country. With the difference Doug McDermott makes for his team it would be a shock if he did not win this year's College Basketball Player of the Year.
A Big Showdown in the Big 12
by James Finneral
Saturday January 18th marks one of the most exciting games of the season featuring 2 top 15 teams. Both these teams are also atop the Big 12 conference so a win for either team will give them momentum and an edge in the divisional standings. The Allen Fieldhouse will be packed as the #15 Kansas Jayhawks host the #9 Oklahoma State Cowboys. Oklahoma State has a better overall record at 15-2, but one of their loses came in the Big 12 against Kansas State. Kansas has lost 4 games overall, but still remains undefeated in the conference at 3-0. This game is packed with studs and future NBA players such as Marcus Smart and Markel Brown for the Cowboys as well as Andrew Wiggins, Perry Ellis, and Joel Embiid. As both programs have progressed this rivalry has built up to this year where they are both title contenders.
This is sure to be a quality game both on the offensive and defensive side of the basketball. Both teams have many offensive weapons so the game will come down to who can make a defensive stand.
I believe Kansas will come away victorious due to their depth. This Jayahawk team can be a matchup problem for many teams. They have a very strong back-court in Naadir Tharpe and Wayne Selden, but also have a forceful front court with
Look for Marcus Smart to have his average day, but make big plays
down the stretch to keep Oklahoma State in it.
Andrew Wiggins, Perry Ellis, and Joel Embiid. The back-court battle will be won by Oklahoma State with arguably the best guards in the country, but the Jayhawk forwards are going to be too much to contain.
I believe the difference maker in the game will be Joel Embiid of Kansas. He is really starting to elevate his game lately. He is improving at being patient for his shot down low as well as hauling in rebounds. On the defensive end he is able to block shots if not alter them. He was the X factor in the big win against Iowa State and I believe it will be the same deal this Saturday.
Both teams are excellent and will have great success throughout the season, but I think Kansas is playing with a chip on their shoulder and will be tough to be in their home stadium.
Prediction: Kansas 62......... Oklahoma State 58
Premier Freshman Across the Country
by James Finneral
The 2014 NBA Draft will be stocked with great talent due to the amazing group of college players likely to declare for the draft. The main focus this year are the freshman across the country. Their high school class was named one of the best in ages. Many of these freshman are living up to the hype and are some of the star players in the nation already. Here are some profiles of a few of them.
Andrew Wiggins, Kansas:
Coming out of high school Wiggins was regarded as the closest thing to LeBron James. Obviously it is going to take a lot of work to live up to that standard, but that shows just how much potential Wiggins has. At Kansas this year he is playing solid basketball despite the teams disappointing season for the Jayhawks thus far. He is averaging 15 points a game as well as 5 rebounds. These are solid numbers in a tough Big 12 division, but people seem to be a bit let down by him possibly because of the amazing play by Jabari Parker from Duke. Wiggins has amazing NBA potential and is projected to go number 1 in the draft according to ESPN. He just has to tone out the critics and continue to play his game.
Jabari Parker, Duke:
In any other high school class Jabari Parker would have been the number one recruit in the country and he is proving that in college right now. Despite his struggles lately Parker is being known as one of the star players around the country pouring in 20 points a game as well as 8 rebounds in a solid Atlantic Coast Conference. With all the hype around Wiggins, Parker has been overlooked a little but he is definitely drawing some attention to himself as he is projected to go 2nd overall in this years NBA Draft. Parker is a problem to cover down low at 6'8" and 235, but he also has a very smooth outside jump shot which will definitely serve him well at the next level. Watching him play this year is going to be fun and he will most likely head to the NBA next year. At this point in the year I consider him the best freshman player in the country.
Julius Randle, Kentucky:
Julius Randle is one of the most exciting players to watch in the entire country. Coming out of high school he was the number 3 ranked player in the country behind Wiggins and Parker. Although Kentucky's record thus far has not lived up to their expectations, Randle has still had an exceptional season. He is averaging nearly 17 points and 11 rebounds and bringing an unmatched energy and physicality to the floor for the Wildcats. As a big man he does a tremendous job handling the basketball. Some people are doubting that he can play power forward in the NBA, but at 6'9" 250 he will do just fine. Randle is a sure fire top 5 draft pick this year. He will be a leader for this young Kentucky team and really only needs one year of college before he is ready for the NBA.
Aaron Gordon, Arizona:
Some refer to him as the younger more athletic version of Blake Griffin which is certainly a fitting title for Arizona forward Aaron Gordon. The freshman is a key component to the success of the number 1 ranked Wildcats. So far this season Gordon is averaging 12 points and 8 rebounds with some spectacular superstar highlights. His incredible leaping ability already standing at 6'9"gives him crazy potential to be a force down low even at the next level. He is projected #7 on ESPN's mock draft which is a fair spot for him. Look for Aaron Gordon to continue to have a great season and then make an impact in the NBA.
Tyler Ennis, Syracuse:
The biggest surprise freshman stud is none other than Syracuse University's, Tyler Ennis. Ennis has done an amazing job replacing Michael Carter-Williams and facilitating for the Orange. He is averaging 11 points along with 6 assists. Although Ennis has put up some impressive stats he has played a big role in some of the Orange's toughest games facing Villanova and Indiana. Despite his great season, people are still wondering if he will declare for this years draft. Since he is not a physical freak like the previous mentioned players, it might be a good idea for Ennis to stay another year at Cuse and develop his body and game. That is probably mainly because I am selfish and want him to stay, but he could really develop over the next few years.
Other Notable Freshman to Keep an Eye On
Joel Embiid, Kansas
Andrew Harrison, Kentucky
Jabari Bird, California
James Young, Kentucky
Wayne Selden, Kansas
Zach LaVine, UCLA
Noah Vonleh, Indiana
Nigel Williams-Goss, Washington
Jordan Mickey, LSU
Some of these guys will be better than others at the next level, but they all have limitless potential.
by James Finneral
(1) North Carolina Tar Heels:
(5) Indiana Hoosiers:
Prediction: North Carolina over Indiana: 82-74
North Carolina has too many weapons of offense for Indiana to contain. Indiana is talented and athletic, but North Carolina presents many matchup problems for them.
(6) Notre Dame Fighting Irish:
(7) Wisconsin Badgers:
Prediction: Notre Dame over Wisconsin: 75-73
These two teams are both hungry, but Notre Dame has the more talented roster. The Wisconsin big men may be strong, but they have no one that will be able to contain Zach Auguste. Look for both Auguste and Jackson to have big games for the Fighting Irish.
Sweet 16: West Region
by James Finneral
The top four seeds in the West region still remain in the tournament. Here is a look at these four great teams and predictions for the two games.
(1) Oregon Ducks:
The Oregon Ducks have made a lot of noise out of the Pac-12. They have plenty of quality wins under their belt and have earned a number one seed in the tournament. The Oregon front-court is the heart of their team. Dillon Brooks is an athletic forward who plays above the rim. Brooks is also a strong mid-range shooter and can hit a three with time. Elgin Cook is a pretty similar player to Brooks. They can both attack and rebound. Chris Boucher is the man in the middle for the Ducks. He is long and lanky and makes his presence known on the defensive end Boucher is an affective rebounder and shot blocker, but he has also shown some offensive game as well. Tyler Dorsey has been a great addition to this Oregon team. Dorsey is a tall point guard with great court vision. He can also stretch defenses with his three point range. This is a very hungry and talented Oregon team.(4) Duke Blue Devils:
Prediction: Duke over Oregon: 70-67
Oregon will have it's runs in this game, but they will not be able to find an answer for Brandon Ingram. There is no one on Oregon who matches up well with Ingram so expect him to have a big game. This is another game that should come down to the wire.
(3) Texas A&M:
(2) Oklahoma Sooners:
Prediction: Oklahoma over Texas A&M : 80-74
Oklahoma will shoot the ball very well like they always do and Texas A&M will not be able to match them. The Sooner front-court should be able to contain the front-court of Texas A&M.
Sweet 16: South Region
by James Finneral
This year's tournament has been filled with many shocking upsets and now there are only sixteen teams left. The South region of the bracket has four great teams in the Sweet 16 which should make for two great games. Here is a look at each team left in the South and predictions for the games.
(1) Kansas Jayhawks:
The Kansas Jayhawks have earned the number one overall seeding in this year's tournament. They have been a pretty consistent team all year and they are coming of a Big 12 Tournament championship. This is a very athletic Jayhawk team headlined by senior, Perry Ellis. Ellis has not only produced big numbers for Kansas, but has also been a great leader. This Kansas team has excellent guards. Frank Mason III is an electric point guard, Wayne Selden is a big time athlete with a solid three point touch and Devonte' Graham is a deadly three point shooter. Many teams have struggled to match the guard play and athleticism of Kansas. There are only a few teams with the talent and heart to beat Kansas.
(5) Maryland Terrapins:
At one point this year Maryland was a top five team in the country, but now they are a five seed in the tournament. Sophomore point guard, Melo Trimble is the leader of the Terps. He is a floor general who can drive to the basket as well as shoot from outside. Freshman big man, Diamond Stone has made an immediate impact for Maryland. His 6-11, 255 lb frame makes him difficult to guard in the post. Robert Carter is also a powerful presence in the post. Jake Layman and Rasheed Sulaimon are two great three point shooters that add additional fire power to Maryland's offense. This team has the talent of a number one seed, but they are a five seed who has to play the number one overall team.
Prediction: Maryland over Kansas: 75-70
Melo Trimble and Rasheed Sulaimon will be able to match the Kansas guards and the Maryland bigs are too strong for Kansas to contain. Perry Ellis will need help down low in order for Kansas to win this game.
(3) Miami Hurricanes:
(3) Miami Hurricanes:
Miami is a team that can make some noise in this tournament. They have big time athletes that can make electric plays. The Hurricane's fire power comes from their point guard and wing players. Angel Rodriguez and Sheldon McClellan are the senior leaders of the team and make up one of the best back-courts in the tournament. Rodriguez can both score the ball and find open teammates. McClellan is a special athlete who can get to the rim and shoot the ball pretty well. Davon Reed is another wing player that can shoot and rebound. These three guys can single handedly beat teams. Tonye Jekiri is the big man in the middle for Miami. At 7 feet tall, Jekiri is a great presence on the offensive and defensive ends. The Hurricanes are coming off a huge win against a very experienced Wichita State squad and they are definitely ready for a show down against Villanova.
(2) Villanova Wildcats:
Over the past few years Villanova has revived their program. Year in and year out the Wildcats earn a solid seed in the tournament. Villanova, much like Miami is lead by their back-court. Josh Hart is a strong guard who leads the Wildcats in scoring. Ryan Arcidiacono is a strong scorer as well, but he is also a solid passer. Kris Jenkins and Daniel Ochefu make up the front-court for the Wildcats. Jenkins plays more on the wing and knocks down three pointers. Ochefu on the other hand is a big powerful guy who is very strong in the post. This Villanova team is pretty experienced and they work well together. After being disappointed early on in the tournament last year, Villanova is very hungry for a deep run in the tournament.
Prediction: Miami over Villanova: 82-80 (OT)
This will be one of the best games of the tournament so far. Both of these teams are good enough to win the national championship. They match up very well against one another, but I see Angel Rodriguez making big plays down the stretch and leading the Hurricanes to victory in overtime.
This is probably the most talented region in the entire tournament so we should be in for a treat when these two games are played.
(2) Villanova Wildcats:
Prediction: Miami over Villanova: 82-80 (OT)
This will be one of the best games of the tournament so far. Both of these teams are good enough to win the national championship. They match up very well against one another, but I see Angel Rodriguez making big plays down the stretch and leading the Hurricanes to victory in overtime.
This is probably the most talented region in the entire tournament so we should be in for a treat when these two games are played.
Buddy Hield is helping his team and himself
by James Finneral
After being named the Big 12 Conference Player of the Year, the country was eagerly awaiting for what Buddy Hield had in store for his senior season. So far this year Hield has not failed to amaze us.
Hield could end his year with a national championship as well as a selection in the NBA draft.
A Look Into the Final Showdown in Indianapolis
by James Finneral
After all the madness this March we are finally down to two teams. The Wisconsin Badgers have hit their stride in the tournament and are coming off a big win against the formerly undefeated, Kentucky Wildcats. Another team that has peaked in the tournament is the Duke Blue Devils. The Blue Devils have been battle tested in both the regular season and the tournament. Both teams are loaded with talent and this game will probably come down to the wire.
#1 Wisconsin vs. #1 Duke:
Prediction: #1 Duke 71........... #1 Wisconsin 69
Will This Final Four Live Up to the Hype?
by James Finneral
The 2015 Final Four features three one seeds, Kentucky, Wisconsin and Duke. The fourth team is the Michigan State Spartans, who have taken out some of the best teams in the country just to make it to Indianapolis. Here's a look at the two games going down on Saturday.
#1 Kentucky vs. #1 Wisconsin:
Prediction: #1 Kentucky 78........ #1 Wisconsin 76 (OT)
#1 Duke vs. #7 Michigan State:
Prediction: #1 Duke 70......... #7 Michigan State 67
The Final Four always showcases some great basketball and this year will be no different. This is shaping up to be one of the best Final Fours yet and it will all come down to who wants it more.
Elite 8 Predictions: Day 1
by James Finneral
After having sixty-eight teams announced in this year's field, we are down to the Elite Eight. In past years the Elite Eight has showcased some of the greatest games in tournament history and this year should be no different. Lets take a look into the first two games of the Elite Eight.
#1 Kentucky vs. #3 Notre Dame:
Prediction: #1 Kentucky 68...... #3 Notre Dame 54
#1 Wisconsin vs. #2 Arizona:
Prediction : #1 Wisconsin 62....... #2 Arizona 58
Potential Early Upsets in the Tournament
by James Finneral
They don't call it March Madness for no reason. Year in and year out the NCAA Tournament provides us with multiple exciting games filled with overtimes, buzzer beaters and yes upsets. There are shocking upsets in just about each round of the tournament and the people of America try to predict where these upsets will take place in their brackets. I will give you a couple games in the round of 64 where some upsets could take place. If you use this article to help fill out your bracket and you are correct, you can thank me, but if not it was your choice and you only have yourself to blame.
Midwest Region:
#11 Texas over #6 Butler:
West Region:
#10 Ohio State over #7 VCU:
East Region:
#9 LSU over #8 NC State:
South Region:
#12 Stephen F. Austin over #5 Utah:
This looks to be an extremely exciting tournament and I cannot wait to see what madness is in store for us.
Day 4: Big East Tournament
by James Finneral
The 2015 Big East Championship game showcased the Villanova Wildcats and the Xavier Musketeers. Both teams had to fight past quality ball clubs to make it to the championship game. It was obvious that both teams wanted the win, but it was also obvious that one team wanted it more than the other.
Villanova was the strongest team in the Big East all year long and deserve to bring home the trophy. With this victory under their belt, the Wildcats have most likely locked up a number one seed in the NCAA Tournament. It will be interesting to see how Villanova and other Big East teams will fare in the big dance.
Day 3: Big East Tournament
by James Finneral
Yesterday consisted of two great games featuring teams that should get into the NCAA Tournament. Coming into the semi finals people expected some intense match-ups and these games did not disappoint.
#1 Villanova vs. #4 Providence:
#2 Georgetown vs. #6 Xavier:
Day 2: Big East Tournament
by James Finneral
The second round is where the real action starts in the Big East Tournament. All of the top teams in the conference are featured in the four games. This is the time where we figure out which teams are contenders and which teams are pretenders.
#1 Villanova vs. #9 Marquette:
#4 Providence vs. #5 St. Johns:
#2 Georgetown vs. #10 Creighton:
#3 Butler vs. #6 Xavier:
The tournament is starting to heat up and I have feeling that there will be some epic showdowns to come.
Day 1: Big East Tournament
by James Finneral
It was a great first day at Madison Square Garden for the 2015 Big East Tournament. With two upsets in the first day of the tournament it is certainly obvious that we are in March.
#8 Seton Hall vs. #9 Marquette:
#7 DePaul vs. #10 Creighton:
If the first day was filled with this much upsets I cannot wait for the rest of the tournament.
A Look Into the Final Four Down in Texas
by James Finneral
This year's NCAA Tournament has consisted of many great individual performances and many incredible team victories. Outstanding teams were sent home early by low name programs showing up on the big stage. Out of all this chaos the tournament has left us with four amazing teams playing in what is sure to be an unforgettable Final Four.
This year there will be two nice match ups on April 5th 2014 featuring the number one overall ranked Florida against the streaking seventh seed from the east, the Huskies of Connecticut. The second game game is the number two seed Wisconsin from the west and the #8 seed Kentucky emerging from the rough midwest. These games could go either way and the country should be gearing up for some high quality basketball.
#1 Florida vs. #7 Uconn: The last time the Florida Gators suffered defeat was at the hands of Shabazz Napier's crazy buzzer beater in Connecticut back in early December. Since then Florida has played better than any team in the country and is ranked as the first overall seed in the tournament. Although many people feel that the Huskies can not repeat their performance from earlier anything is possible in the big dance.
I do not believe history will repeat itself and the Florida Gators will win and move on the the national championship game. Uconn is going to have some major matchup problems just like everyone Florida plays. Aside from that the Gators are one of the most athletic teams in the country and will be able to beat the Huskies in transition as well as on the offensive and defensive glass. The obvious premiere matchup in the game is Scottie Wilbekin against Shabazz Napier. Both are extremely skilled and athletic players who lead the way for their teams. I believe Napier will outplay Wilbekin because the he is on a big stage and the lights are shining that is when he is at his best. He is having one of the greatest showings in NCAA Tournament history and literally holding Uconn up. Although I think Napier will win that matchup, Florida is just too powerful all around. Patrick Young will be the difference maker in the game. The weakest part of the Huskies is their forwards and there is no one on Connecticut that will be able to handle the physical presence of Young down low. Young will be the difference maker and Uconn will still have to account for the likes of Casey Prather, Michael Frazier and Dorian Finney-Smith. It was a good run for Uconn, but I believe Florida will get it done.
Prediction: 65-59 Gators
#2 Wisconsin vs. #8 Kentucky: The winner of this heavy weight battle will be able to cause some major issues to both Florida and Uconn. These teams really do not get to see each other too often coming from the Big 10 and SEC, but both have a tremendous amount of respect for each other Both teams have taken out some great clubs to get to the Final Four making for a solid game that will not disappoint.
This game will come down to the wire. These two teams have strengths all around the court and it will come down to whoever steps up in the game. Frank Kaminsky has been single handedly destroying front courts this entire tournament, however the challenge of facing Kentucky's bigs could throw big Frank off a little. Kentucky's best chance of stopping Kaminsky is having Julius Randle on him and occasionally switch to Dakari Johnson. If Kaminsky can not overpower Kentucky the Badgers will not be able to play up to their standards. The keys in this game are the Harrison twins, Andrew and Aaaron. Wisconsin's forwards are where they are strong, but they drop off a little in the backcourt. Andrew Harrison can score as wel as create offense for others. Aaron Harrison is a lights out shooter who has also shown that he can perform in the clutch. These two guards will be too much for Wisconsin to handle and will give Kentucky a large enough advantage to win this game. \
Prediction 72-70 Kentucky.
If these two predictions ring true it will set up an incredible national championship featuring an SEC rivalry with Florida and Kentucky. That would be a historic championship game, but we can't get ahead of ourselves just yet.
Day 3 of the Big East Tournament Featured Game #4 Providence vs. #8 Seton Hall
by James Finneral
After a shocking victory over the number one seeded Villanova and an intense victory over St. Johns the Pirates of Seton Hall met the Providence College Friars in the Big East semi final game. Providence came into the game hoping a victory would help lock their chances of being selected for the NCAA Tournament. Seton Hall on the other hand pretty much needs to win the Big East Tournament and get an automatic bid, or else they will not make it. The Friars were the aggressors in the early going with many strong takes to the bucket leading to easy baskets and free throws. It really was LaDontae Henton's game. The junior has been productive all year long as the second leading scorer and rebounder on the club. In this game he broke out as no one could stop him going to the hole and his shots were falling from both mid range and three point land. Henton and the Friars went into the half up 38-34.
LaDontae Henton driving.
Tyler Harris of Providence played another nice game for the Friars with 17 points and 4 rebounds. They advance to take on Creighton and Doug McDermott in the championship game. They have split the season series and the winner receives an automatic bid to the big dance.
Day 2 of Big East Tournament Featured Game #3 Xavier vs. #6 Marquette
by James Finneral
In the final game of the night the 3 vs. 6 game was played featuring two hard nosed Big East teams trying to build their resume for the NCAA Tournament. The Xavier Musketeers squared off against the Marquette Golden Eagles who were projected to win the Big East at the beginning of the year. Both teams have had some let down games, but they are both talented teams who both have a shot to win this tournament. The game began with Marquette getting into an offensive rhythm with many nice buckets from Deonte Burton. Despite the quick start Xavier was able to fight their way back through the rest of the half with a great performance from Semaj Christon who finished the game 18 points and 5 assists. As Marquette hit a drought at the end of the half Xavier went into the locker room up 31-29. In the second half it was a lot of back and forth where Todd Mayo and Burton did the bulk of the offensive work for the Golden Eagles when Xavier had a more balanced team effort. As the final minutes of the game approached the Musketeers had the lead and were able to ice the game with some quality free throw shooting. The final efforts from Marquette were not enough and Xavier advanced by a final score of 68-65. Isaiah Philmore played a very solid game with 10 points and 6 rebounds and was in lock down mode on defense. Some other notable performances were Justin Martin for Xavier with a team high 19 points and 4 rebounds and Mayo finished with 21 off the bench and Burton had 23 points. Xavier moves on to take on an extremely strong Creighton team lead by Big East Player of the Year Doug McDermott. These two teams both won at their home courts against each other so this matchup tomorrow should be very intriguing.
Scores from other games.
#8 Seton Hall 64...... #1 Villanova 63
#4 Providence 79..... #5 St Johns 74
#2 Creighton 84...... #10 DePaul 62
Player of the Game: Semaj Christon, Xavier, 18 points and 5 assists.
The Big East Tournament Begins in Incredible Fashion
by James Finneral
The Big East has always been one of the strongest conferences in the country and my personal favorite. Unfortunately many great teams such as Syracuse, Louisville and Notre Dame moved to their new respective divisions this year. Although they have lost some a lot of teams the conference is still extremely strong and this tournament should be a very fun and competitive time at Madison Square Garden. In this entry I will just be giving brief recap on the two games that took place on Wednesday March 12th.
#8 Seton Hall vs. #9 Butler: Although these are not the premiere teams in the tournament people knew that this 8-9 matchup was going to be fun to watch. Both are very hard nose teams who would go after the #1 Villanova Wildcats if they won. In the early going it seemed that Seton Hall had the better team effort with many players capitalizing on offense. The bulldogs hung around due to the incredible effort from their senior forward, Khyle Marshall who scored 12 points in the first half. In the second half there were many streaks back and forth, but down the stretch the defensive stand from the pirates was able to defend their lead and win by a final score of 51-50. Gene Teague lead the way for Seton Hall with another double-double consisting of 14 points and 11 rebounds. This Seton Hall team lost both of their games to Villanova this year, but it is evident that they are hungry and looking for a big upset.
#7 Georgetown vs. #10 DePaul: The Hoyas of Georgetown are one team that is hoping their performance in the Big East Tournament will help them get into the big dance. It was a battle between two athletic teams early on. Georgetown received many of their first points from their two star players, Markel Starks and D'Vauntes Smith-Rivera while Depaul was being fueled by their freshman sensation, Billy Garret Jr. Georgetown went into the half up by 2 points but they were not aware of
Gene Teague of Seton Hall
the tenacity that DePaul would play with in the second half. The Blue Demons came out with a sense of urgency in the second half. Forrest Robinson was the unsung hero as he knocked down 3 three pointers in the early second half to give DePaul momentum. He finished with a tied career high of 14 points. From there on DePaul lead the game and Georgetown could not bridge the gap. It was a great effort from Smith-Rivera converting on all of his free throws, but it was not enough as Garret Jr.'s foul shooting closed it out and DePaul won 60-56. Garret Jr. finished with 17 points and 5 rebounds. Smith-Rivera had 21 and 7 boards and Markel Starks scored 17 points.
It was a great first night making many people excited for the rest of the tournament.
Dominant Doug
by James Finneral
Each year faithful college basketball fans are always keeping their eyes on the best players in the nation to predict who will win the John R. Wooden Award. "The Wooden Award is given out to the most outstanding player in college basketball" (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_R._Wooden_Award). This is the most prestigious award in college basketball and many past winners have become very successful in their professional basketball careers.
This year so far he has not disappointed averaging 25 points per game along with 7 rebounds. He has lead the Blue Jays to a 19-4 overall record as they sit in second place in the Big East and ranked 19th in the country. McDermott has played a big role for Creighton in some of their big games. His most notable performance was his 39 points and 6 rebounds in a huge 3 point win against a tough St. John's team. McDermott is also part of one of the greatest father-son duos in college basketball history with his father Greg McDermott as the head coach. They have changed a program that was not even considered a bubble team for the tournament into one of the strongest programs in the country. With the difference Doug McDermott makes for his team it would be a shock if he did not win this year's College Basketball Player of the Year.
A Big Showdown in the Big 12
by James Finneral
Saturday January 18th marks one of the most exciting games of the season featuring 2 top 15 teams. Both these teams are also atop the Big 12 conference so a win for either team will give them momentum and an edge in the divisional standings. The Allen Fieldhouse will be packed as the #15 Kansas Jayhawks host the #9 Oklahoma State Cowboys. Oklahoma State has a better overall record at 15-2, but one of their loses came in the Big 12 against Kansas State. Kansas has lost 4 games overall, but still remains undefeated in the conference at 3-0. This game is packed with studs and future NBA players such as Marcus Smart and Markel Brown for the Cowboys as well as Andrew Wiggins, Perry Ellis, and Joel Embiid. As both programs have progressed this rivalry has built up to this year where they are both title contenders.
I believe Kansas will come away victorious due to their depth. This Jayahawk team can be a matchup problem for many teams. They have a very strong back-court in Naadir Tharpe and Wayne Selden, but also have a forceful front court with
Look for Marcus Smart to have his average day, but make big plays
down the stretch to keep Oklahoma State in it.
Andrew Wiggins, Perry Ellis, and Joel Embiid. The back-court battle will be won by Oklahoma State with arguably the best guards in the country, but the Jayhawk forwards are going to be too much to contain.
Both teams are excellent and will have great success throughout the season, but I think Kansas is playing with a chip on their shoulder and will be tough to be in their home stadium.
Prediction: Kansas 62......... Oklahoma State 58
Premier Freshman Across the Country
by James Finneral
The 2014 NBA Draft will be stocked with great talent due to the amazing group of college players likely to declare for the draft. The main focus this year are the freshman across the country. Their high school class was named one of the best in ages. Many of these freshman are living up to the hype and are some of the star players in the nation already. Here are some profiles of a few of them.
Andrew Wiggins, Kansas:
Coming out of high school Wiggins was regarded as the closest thing to LeBron James. Obviously it is going to take a lot of work to live up to that standard, but that shows just how much potential Wiggins has. At Kansas this year he is playing solid basketball despite the teams disappointing season for the Jayhawks thus far. He is averaging 15 points a game as well as 5 rebounds. These are solid numbers in a tough Big 12 division, but people seem to be a bit let down by him possibly because of the amazing play by Jabari Parker from Duke. Wiggins has amazing NBA potential and is projected to go number 1 in the draft according to ESPN. He just has to tone out the critics and continue to play his game.
Jabari Parker, Duke:
In any other high school class Jabari Parker would have been the number one recruit in the country and he is proving that in college right now. Despite his struggles lately Parker is being known as one of the star players around the country pouring in 20 points a game as well as 8 rebounds in a solid Atlantic Coast Conference. With all the hype around Wiggins, Parker has been overlooked a little but he is definitely drawing some attention to himself as he is projected to go 2nd overall in this years NBA Draft. Parker is a problem to cover down low at 6'8" and 235, but he also has a very smooth outside jump shot which will definitely serve him well at the next level. Watching him play this year is going to be fun and he will most likely head to the NBA next year. At this point in the year I consider him the best freshman player in the country.
Julius Randle, Kentucky:
Julius Randle is one of the most exciting players to watch in the entire country. Coming out of high school he was the number 3 ranked player in the country behind Wiggins and Parker. Although Kentucky's record thus far has not lived up to their expectations, Randle has still had an exceptional season. He is averaging nearly 17 points and 11 rebounds and bringing an unmatched energy and physicality to the floor for the Wildcats. As a big man he does a tremendous job handling the basketball. Some people are doubting that he can play power forward in the NBA, but at 6'9" 250 he will do just fine. Randle is a sure fire top 5 draft pick this year. He will be a leader for this young Kentucky team and really only needs one year of college before he is ready for the NBA.
Aaron Gordon, Arizona:
Some refer to him as the younger more athletic version of Blake Griffin which is certainly a fitting title for Arizona forward Aaron Gordon. The freshman is a key component to the success of the number 1 ranked Wildcats. So far this season Gordon is averaging 12 points and 8 rebounds with some spectacular superstar highlights. His incredible leaping ability already standing at 6'9"gives him crazy potential to be a force down low even at the next level. He is projected #7 on ESPN's mock draft which is a fair spot for him. Look for Aaron Gordon to continue to have a great season and then make an impact in the NBA.
Tyler Ennis, Syracuse:
The biggest surprise freshman stud is none other than Syracuse University's, Tyler Ennis. Ennis has done an amazing job replacing Michael Carter-Williams and facilitating for the Orange. He is averaging 11 points along with 6 assists. Although Ennis has put up some impressive stats he has played a big role in some of the Orange's toughest games facing Villanova and Indiana. Despite his great season, people are still wondering if he will declare for this years draft. Since he is not a physical freak like the previous mentioned players, it might be a good idea for Ennis to stay another year at Cuse and develop his body and game. That is probably mainly because I am selfish and want him to stay, but he could really develop over the next few years.
Other Notable Freshman to Keep an Eye On
Joel Embiid, Kansas
Andrew Harrison, Kentucky
Jabari Bird, California
James Young, Kentucky
Wayne Selden, Kansas
Zach LaVine, UCLA
Noah Vonleh, Indiana
Nigel Williams-Goss, Washington
Jordan Mickey, LSU
Some of these guys will be better than others at the next level, but they all have limitless potential.
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