The 2007-08 NBA campaign has been a great year so far, if we ignore the performance of The Greatest Franchise In Professional Sports (you may know them as the Knicks.) Whereas some players clearly deserve certain awards, there are other situations where any numbers of players could make a case for a trophy. Unfortunately, even though in my heart I know that Jamal Crawford should win the MVP award, as well as several other honors, I have tried my best to give out awards and all-star bids to those most deserving from a fairly unbiased perspective.
MVP:
Chris Paul - CP3 has almost single-handedly lead a team that only three above-average players to an excellent record in one of the most difficult divisions in the NBA. His stats back up his play as he's averaging 20 points, 10 assists, and 3 steals a game while managing to be extremely efficient both in terms of shooting and turnovers. Without him it is very tough to see the Hornets with more than 15 wins.
Runner up: Caron Butler
Rookie of the Year:
Kevin Durant - The fact that Durant is dropping about 20 points a game puts him head and shoulders above the rest of this mediocre rookie class.
Runner up: Al Horford
Defensive Player of the Year:
Josh Smith - He's got more energy than anyone in the game and is a big reason why the Hawks are in the middle of the playoff race for the first time since the mid-90's. The fact that Josh leads the league in steals + blocks at 5.1 per game emphasizes the fact that he's making the biggest difference on the defensive end on a team that really doesn't possess much of a threat on that end of the ball.
Runner up: Marcus Camby
Sixth Man of the Year:
Leandro Barbosa - It's a crime that this potential all-star contuinuously rides the bench behind the likes of Raja Bell and Boris Diaw. Even doing so he's averaging 17/3/3 and contributes in ways that the stats can't even begin to show. I can only hope that he is extremely unsatisfied with his current situation so my Knickerbockers could sign him to a lucrative long term contract when the opportunity presents itself.
Runner up: Manu Ginobilli
Most Improved Player of the Year:
Chris Kaman - It's been great watching play this year, now that he's no longer on Ridilin. He's a lock to continue being an 18/14/3 kind of force for the rest of the year, numbers that many thought he would never be capable of before the season began.
Runners up: Jose Calderon, Andrew Bynum
Coach of the Year:
Eddie Jordan - After Gilbert Arenas went down with an injury a week in, the season looked bleak for this once playoff-hopeful Wizards team. Jordan gave no ground though, and has led an overacheiving Washington club to an almost guaranteed playoff berth and possibly much more.
Runner up: Mike Woodson
Executive of the Year:
Kevin Pritchard - The job he's done with the Blazers is incredible and no one else is even close to winning this honor.
Runner up: Nope
NBA All-Star Teams (at least those who deserve it)
East:
F LeBron James
F Kevin Garnett
C Dwight Howard
G Andre Iguodala
G Jose Calderon
Reserves:
F Caron Butler
F Jason Richardson
F Antawn Jamison
C Chris Bosh
G Mo Williams
G Michael Redd
G Chauncey Billups
West:
F Dirk Nowitzki
F Carlos Boozer
C Amare Stoudemire
G Kobe Bryant
G Chris Paul
Reserves:
F Shawn Marion
F David West
C Chris Kaman
C Yao
G Steve Nash
G Baron Davis
G Allen Iverson
As opposed to the Western roster, the East has the potential to really gel together and play as a team. Every player, except maybe JRich who lives for the 3-pointer, plays with the team in mind. For this reason, I feel that the East will come out ahead in the most boring, yet fudnamentally sound all-star game in recent memory.
22 January 2008
20 January 2008
2008 NCAA Alumni Pride Tourament, 1st Round, Day 1
Your humble columnist wishes to apologize for the delay on the reporting of scores. This was due largely in part to the excessive amount of alcohol that was present yesterday.
1st Round Scores:
Eddie Griffin Region:
(4) Marquette 11
(5) Arkansas 1
(3) UCLA 11
(6)Utah 6
Baron is putting his team on his back and has UCLA out to a quick lead, but Utah fights back and ties the game at 4-4 with a back door pass from Miller to Bogut. After Utah takes 6-5 lead thanks to a couple of Andre Miller jumpers Davis and friends roll off six straight en route to a 11-6 victory.
Key Stats:
UCLA:
Davis - 5 pts/1 rbs/1 asts (4/7 FG)
Miller - 4 pts/1 asts
Bison Dele Region:
(1) Arizona 11
(8) Minnesota 7
In typical fashion, Gilbert makes the play of the tournament so far, splitting two defenders and driving right by a third for an easy lay in. The next few minutes were followed by a lot of turnovers until Joel Przybilla (who knew!) took over and led the Golden Gophers back tie the game at five a piece. Despite the valient effort, Agent Zero simply will not let his alma mater go down, as he dishes and swishes the Cats to a 10-5 advantage, capped by a long-range bomb, shortly followed by a Jefferson lay-up to seal the victory.
Key Stats:
Arizona:
Pryzbilla - 5 pts/ 6 rbs/ 1 asts/3 stls/2 blks
(2) Texas 7
(7) Cincy 11
Early on Kenyon Martin is exhibiting the type of passion for his Bearcats that he never really showed as an NBA player, soaring through the air for rebounds and diving for loose balls. Durant is keeping Texas in this game as he shoots straight over Maxiell for a long two, tying the game at five. With the game tied at 7-7, Cincy displays solid fundamental skills, as Patterson feeds Maxiell backdoor for an easy jam to give them the lead. From this point on, it looked like Texas basically gave up. Ruben Patterson, who put together an all-around solid effort, scored the last two buckets of the game as Cincy shocked Texas, 11-7.
Len Bias Region:
(3) Michigan State 11
(6) Maryland 9
1st Round Scores:
Eddie Griffin Region:
(4) Marquette 11
(5) Arkansas 1
Absolute domination to open the tournament. Between Deiner draining threes and Dwyane throwing it down, even with a great scorer in Joe Johnson, the Razerbracks never had a real shot.
Key Stats:
Marquette:
Novak - 5 pts/3 rbs.
Wade - 4 pts/2 asts.
Arkansas:
Johnson - 1 pts/1rbs.
Bobby Phills Region:
(1) UNC 11
(8) Stanford 4
UNC looks like they're going to run away with the game but the prototypical point guard, Brevin Knight, is keeping it close. I kind of feel bad though, watching the much taller VC posting up Knight, and guiding UNC to a 5-3 lead. The UNC fans don't stay loud for long though, as Josh Childress throws the ball through Sheed's legs (I'm surprised he didn't get shot) and jams it home. Unfortunately, this game becomes a blow out very quickly after Jamison hits three straight put-backs to basially seal the win.
Key Stats:
UNC:
Jamison - 8 pts/3 rbs/1 ast/ 1 stl (8/8 FG)
Carter - 2 pts/2 asts/2 stl
Wallace - 1 pts/3 rbs/3 asts
Stanford:
Childress - 2 pts
Collins - 2 pts/4 rbs
(2) Duke 11
(7) Gonzaga 2
Duke takes a quick 5-0 lead thanks to Grant Hill's solid ball distribution. The next play can only be described as the longest post-up seaquence in the history of basketball: Elton Brand, posting up Ronny Turiaf, fakes left and right for a good eighty seconds (I am not joking) before banging out a turn around jumper. At last, Gonzaga gets the ball, via a rebound, and we finally have a chance to see the one true mismatch of this game, THE Scoring Machine vs. Carlos the traitor Boozer. Morrison easily drives past Boozer, however he finds the force known as Elton Brand in his way, ready to slap his shot away. Morrison does manage to score some points, via some long Morrison jumpers, but in the end they simply could compete the size of the Blue Devils.
Key Stats:
Duke:
Hill - 5 pts/ 3 rbs/ 2 asts
Boozer - 1 pts/1 rbs/3 blks
Brand - 5 pts/2 rbs/1 asts/2 blks
Gonzaga:
Morrison - 2 pts/3 rbs
Turiaf - 3 TOs
(3) UCLA 11
(6)Utah 6
Baron is putting his team on his back and has UCLA out to a quick lead, but Utah fights back and ties the game at 4-4 with a back door pass from Miller to Bogut. After Utah takes 6-5 lead thanks to a couple of Andre Miller jumpers Davis and friends roll off six straight en route to a 11-6 victory.
Key Stats:
UCLA:
Davis - 5 pts/1 rbs/1 asts (4/7 FG)
Gadzuric - 5 pts (5/6FG)
Kapono - 1 pts/3 asts/2 stls
Utah:Miller - 4 pts/1 asts
Bogut - 2 pts/4 rbs/2 blks
Bison Dele Region:
(1) Arizona 11
(8) Minnesota 7
In typical fashion, Gilbert makes the play of the tournament so far, splitting two defenders and driving right by a third for an easy lay in. The next few minutes were followed by a lot of turnovers until Joel Przybilla (who knew!) took over and led the Golden Gophers back tie the game at five a piece. Despite the valient effort, Agent Zero simply will not let his alma mater go down, as he dishes and swishes the Cats to a 10-5 advantage, capped by a long-range bomb, shortly followed by a Jefferson lay-up to seal the victory.
Key Stats:
Arizona:
Arenas - 6 pts/3 asts/2 stls
Iguodala - 4 pts/6 rbs/5 asts (5 TOs)
Jefferson - 1 pts/ 5 rbs
Minnesota:Pryzbilla - 5 pts/ 6 rbs/ 1 asts/3 stls/2 blks
(2) Texas 7
(7) Cincy 11
Early on Kenyon Martin is exhibiting the type of passion for his Bearcats that he never really showed as an NBA player, soaring through the air for rebounds and diving for loose balls. Durant is keeping Texas in this game as he shoots straight over Maxiell for a long two, tying the game at five. With the game tied at 7-7, Cincy displays solid fundamental skills, as Patterson feeds Maxiell backdoor for an easy jam to give them the lead. From this point on, it looked like Texas basically gave up. Ruben Patterson, who put together an all-around solid effort, scored the last two buckets of the game as Cincy shocked Texas, 11-7.
Key Stats:
Texas:
Aldridge - 3 pts/3 rbs
Durant - 3 pts
Cincinnati:
Maxiell - 7 pts/2 rbs
Martin - 1 pts/5 asts
Patterson - 3 pts/2 asts/2 stls
Len Bias Region:
(3) Michigan State 11
(6) Maryland 9
We had a huge Maryland fan in the house for this game so as anticipated, the atmosphere was better than for any other previous contest. Michigan State is showing their thug side early, as Randolph absolutely Hacks Blake, but it's cool because it's street ball. After a span of five minutes where the teams traded baskets, Chris Wilcox showed a side of himself that is not likely to be seen in teh NBA any time soon, drilling two jumpers and slamming a couple home to give the Terps an 8-6 lead. Unfortunately, it was all down hill from their for Rob and his boys as
Michigan State proved to be too talented and squeaked by 11-9 led by 6 points by Zach Randolph. (Anticipate a column on how he is the worst human being in the world in the near future.)
Key Stats:
Michigan State:
Randolph - 6 pts/7 rbs/2 asts/1 stls/1 blks
Richardson - 2 pts/2 rbs (2-9 FG)
Bell - 4 TOs
Maryland:
Wilcox - 8 pts/4 rbs (8-10 FG)
Blake - 3 Stls
Francis - 0 pts/2 rbs/6 asts
(4) Washington 11
(5) Illinois 9
Deron started the game off with two quick buckets and had Illinois set on a sweet sixteen berth. Nate then showed us why he is the Knicks' mascot, throwing the ball through a guy's legs en route to a jam. Much to Evan's pleasure, his boy Spencer Hawes hit three straight shorties to give the Huskies a 5-2 lead. Illionois would not go away though, as through some excellent ball movement, they reeled off five stright to give them a 7-5 lead. After Hawes and Roy Illinois' poor defense, Williams goes into fourth quarter mode, drilling a tough fallaway jumper and pulling the Illini within one, 10-9. Unfortunately for Deron though, neither Cook nor Head, proved able to defend the force known as Spencer Hawes, as he fittingly jammed home the final basket for a 11-9 final.
Key Stats:
Washington:
Hawes - 6 pts/2 asts
Roy - 4 pts/1 rbs/3 asts
Robinson - 1 pts/4 asts
Illinois:
Head - 4 pts/1 rbs/3 asts
Williams - 3 pts/2 rbs/1 asts
Cook - 2 pts/1 rbs/3 asts
18 January 2008
17 January 2008
Futures – The Safe Bet
By: Andrew Katz
Over the years, betting on sports has evolved into a relatively inexpensive way that males ensure that boredom can be avoided on weeknights and weekends, especially now that the internet allows bets to be placed with a just a few clicks. Basically, lay down five dollars on a four team parlay, kick back, grab some beers, and watch as you come painstakingly close to winning the bet only to see your last team blow the lead in the final minutes and cost you hundreds of dollars of potential winnings. Fortunately, that’s alright in most fans’ minds because they just paid five dollars for a whole night of entertainment, which is far less costly and just as exciting as most other options like going to the local strip club or taking a date out to dinner. (Yes ladies, we do value sports higher than your company regardless of whether you ‘put out’ or not, it’s just in our blood.)
I’m here to tell you that I strongly feel that the four team parlay is on the verge of succumbing to an equally entertaining wager opportunity that offers high utility over an extended duration AND gives the bettor a far higher chance of success. That opportunity that I advocate so strongly is the concept of betting ‘Futures,’ specifically futures that deal with the number of wins a team will have over the stretch of the upcoming season. There are a few reasons why I feel futures to be a smart bet:
1) The lines are set at a number that theoretically has nothing to do the realistic amount of games a team is projected to win. The lines are actually set where the lines makers believe 50% of the people will bet on the over, and the other 50% will bet the under. It is set this way because bet takers pay out equally for both circumstances, but pay out less than 1:1, hence allowing them to profit regardless of the outcome. This is also the case on most singular sporting events where a spread is involved, however there is a distinct difference between the two cases. Concerning the latter case, if the Knicks are playing the Bucks and are five point underdogs, with a few lucky bounces, breaks, or calls by the referees, even if the Bucks played significantly better, the Knicks could easily cover that spread. Now let’s consider a Future where the over/under on the Knicks is 25 wins. If I have strong reason to believe that the Knicks are going to win over 25 games, it is going to take a lot more than bad bounces to shift the overall outcome of the season thus making it more likely for me to win assuming my assessment of the Knick as a team before the year starts is correct, all other factors held constant.
2) Because of the way the lines are set, research becomes all the more important, thus making it more likely for the smart bettor to come out on top. Generally, with the exception of teams who completely retool their rosters, teams’ over/under totals for the upcoming season are set relatively close to their record from the previous season. This being the case, there are only so many ways to gauge how a team’s record will differ from that of the previous season, the most typical ways include: assessing what effect offseason moves will have, monitoring the development of players, and taking into account strength of schedule. Researching these areas will give you much better idea of how team will perform than the person who simply bets by how they are feeling at the moment.
3) Even when your account is out of money because you lost it all on parlays, you still have your future to intensely focus on with all the free time you have! It’s kind of like that good feeling you get when you’re broke and somebody owes you money that you let them borrow months ago. Essentially, even though you’re not really up money, it feels like you are.
The MLB season is closer than you think, as evidenced by everyone in my fantasy keeper league trying to shake up their roster as much as possible, and seeing as futures will released soon, I thought I’d share some of my thoughts regarding potential future bets, if only to further elaborate on some of the ideas I touched on above. As a rule of thumb, I try to stay away from teams that finished in the middle of the pack the previous year, unless they made a lot of noise in the offseason, because the majority of them are just too tough to make a pick on with any confidence. The obvious ‘middle of the pack’ team that was certainly worth a bet this previous season was Boston. They made a lot of moves and only did things that would appear to make them improve in contrast to the roster they put forth in 2006. The over/under for them going into 2007 was over/under 91 wins. They pretty much tanked at the end of ’06 and still finished with 86 wins, coupled with their new additions, they appeared to be a relative lock for 91 the following year. Sure enough as the ’07 season came to a close Boston ended with 96 wins.
Now regarding the 2008 season, I have so far come up with two clubs who, if the lines are right, I feel very confident betting on:
The Tampa Bay Rays come into this season with a very solid lineup that has a nice mix of speed (Baldelli, Iwamura, Crawford,) power (Pena, Upton,) and young talent ready to start almost immediately (Longoria, Brignac.) Their pitching staff should also be vastly improved with four quality to outstanding starters in Kazmir, Shields, Garza, and Sonnastine to go with an improved bullpen. The Rays only won 66 games last season so I doubt their over/under will be higher than 71 games and if that’s the case, I’m going with the over.
Prediction: 79-83
Contributing writer Anthony D’Amato happens to be a huge Indians fan, even though we reside in New Jersey, so every time the Tribe wins a ball game I always hear about it right away. Last season was really magical for them and they probably should have reached the 100 win plateau if not for a late season skid. This off-season though, Mark Shapiro has stood pat as every team in his division (yes, even the Royals) has improved by a noticeable margin. That being the case, I don’t know if I can envision the Indians edging out the Tigers or whatever other club may come out of this ultra competitive division. I expect odds makers to set the line for the Indians in the 91-93 range, which should end up being a bit high. I’ll be rooting for Cleveland for my buddy’s sake, but I see them getting the wild card at best (and unlikely considering Boston and the Yanks) with somewhere in 85-89 win range.
Prediction: 88-74
I want to be very clear though so please read carefully: Futures aren’t for everyone. If you’re not one for commitment and get bored with your women – I mean wagers after an extended period of time, stick with the parlays. Sure you’ve got a higher risk of losing your bet (contracting an STD?) but it’s always fun while it lasts. However, if you want to have a better shot of winning and are looking to settle down with that ‘special bet’ then take the time to pick out a real sweetheart of a future and look forward to the tough times and great times that lie ahead of you.
Over the years, betting on sports has evolved into a relatively inexpensive way that males ensure that boredom can be avoided on weeknights and weekends, especially now that the internet allows bets to be placed with a just a few clicks. Basically, lay down five dollars on a four team parlay, kick back, grab some beers, and watch as you come painstakingly close to winning the bet only to see your last team blow the lead in the final minutes and cost you hundreds of dollars of potential winnings. Fortunately, that’s alright in most fans’ minds because they just paid five dollars for a whole night of entertainment, which is far less costly and just as exciting as most other options like going to the local strip club or taking a date out to dinner. (Yes ladies, we do value sports higher than your company regardless of whether you ‘put out’ or not, it’s just in our blood.)
I’m here to tell you that I strongly feel that the four team parlay is on the verge of succumbing to an equally entertaining wager opportunity that offers high utility over an extended duration AND gives the bettor a far higher chance of success. That opportunity that I advocate so strongly is the concept of betting ‘Futures,’ specifically futures that deal with the number of wins a team will have over the stretch of the upcoming season. There are a few reasons why I feel futures to be a smart bet:
1) The lines are set at a number that theoretically has nothing to do the realistic amount of games a team is projected to win. The lines are actually set where the lines makers believe 50% of the people will bet on the over, and the other 50% will bet the under. It is set this way because bet takers pay out equally for both circumstances, but pay out less than 1:1, hence allowing them to profit regardless of the outcome. This is also the case on most singular sporting events where a spread is involved, however there is a distinct difference between the two cases. Concerning the latter case, if the Knicks are playing the Bucks and are five point underdogs, with a few lucky bounces, breaks, or calls by the referees, even if the Bucks played significantly better, the Knicks could easily cover that spread. Now let’s consider a Future where the over/under on the Knicks is 25 wins. If I have strong reason to believe that the Knicks are going to win over 25 games, it is going to take a lot more than bad bounces to shift the overall outcome of the season thus making it more likely for me to win assuming my assessment of the Knick as a team before the year starts is correct, all other factors held constant.
2) Because of the way the lines are set, research becomes all the more important, thus making it more likely for the smart bettor to come out on top. Generally, with the exception of teams who completely retool their rosters, teams’ over/under totals for the upcoming season are set relatively close to their record from the previous season. This being the case, there are only so many ways to gauge how a team’s record will differ from that of the previous season, the most typical ways include: assessing what effect offseason moves will have, monitoring the development of players, and taking into account strength of schedule. Researching these areas will give you much better idea of how team will perform than the person who simply bets by how they are feeling at the moment.
3) Even when your account is out of money because you lost it all on parlays, you still have your future to intensely focus on with all the free time you have! It’s kind of like that good feeling you get when you’re broke and somebody owes you money that you let them borrow months ago. Essentially, even though you’re not really up money, it feels like you are.
The MLB season is closer than you think, as evidenced by everyone in my fantasy keeper league trying to shake up their roster as much as possible, and seeing as futures will released soon, I thought I’d share some of my thoughts regarding potential future bets, if only to further elaborate on some of the ideas I touched on above. As a rule of thumb, I try to stay away from teams that finished in the middle of the pack the previous year, unless they made a lot of noise in the offseason, because the majority of them are just too tough to make a pick on with any confidence. The obvious ‘middle of the pack’ team that was certainly worth a bet this previous season was Boston. They made a lot of moves and only did things that would appear to make them improve in contrast to the roster they put forth in 2006. The over/under for them going into 2007 was over/under 91 wins. They pretty much tanked at the end of ’06 and still finished with 86 wins, coupled with their new additions, they appeared to be a relative lock for 91 the following year. Sure enough as the ’07 season came to a close Boston ended with 96 wins.
Now regarding the 2008 season, I have so far come up with two clubs who, if the lines are right, I feel very confident betting on:
The Tampa Bay Rays come into this season with a very solid lineup that has a nice mix of speed (Baldelli, Iwamura, Crawford,) power (Pena, Upton,) and young talent ready to start almost immediately (Longoria, Brignac.) Their pitching staff should also be vastly improved with four quality to outstanding starters in Kazmir, Shields, Garza, and Sonnastine to go with an improved bullpen. The Rays only won 66 games last season so I doubt their over/under will be higher than 71 games and if that’s the case, I’m going with the over.
Prediction: 79-83
Contributing writer Anthony D’Amato happens to be a huge Indians fan, even though we reside in New Jersey, so every time the Tribe wins a ball game I always hear about it right away. Last season was really magical for them and they probably should have reached the 100 win plateau if not for a late season skid. This off-season though, Mark Shapiro has stood pat as every team in his division (yes, even the Royals) has improved by a noticeable margin. That being the case, I don’t know if I can envision the Indians edging out the Tigers or whatever other club may come out of this ultra competitive division. I expect odds makers to set the line for the Indians in the 91-93 range, which should end up being a bit high. I’ll be rooting for Cleveland for my buddy’s sake, but I see them getting the wild card at best (and unlikely considering Boston and the Yanks) with somewhere in 85-89 win range.
Prediction: 88-74
I want to be very clear though so please read carefully: Futures aren’t for everyone. If you’re not one for commitment and get bored with your women – I mean wagers after an extended period of time, stick with the parlays. Sure you’ve got a higher risk of losing your bet (contracting an STD?) but it’s always fun while it lasts. However, if you want to have a better shot of winning and are looking to settle down with that ‘special bet’ then take the time to pick out a real sweetheart of a future and look forward to the tough times and great times that lie ahead of you.
16 January 2008
NBA Top 50 Fantasy Players (Current)
By: Andrew Katz
On the bubble:
Mike Miller – Steady performer on an improving team
Devin Harris – has cooled off a little but still stellar
LaMarcus Aldridge – He’ll be a 20/10 guy soon, just not yet
Francisco Garcia – quietly emerging as a valuable asset from the train wreck that is the Kings’ season
Kevin Durant – Playing like Melo fantasy-wise. Let’s pray that’s only due to the lack of talent surrounding him
Dropped out:
Kevin Durant, Devin Harris, Grant Hill, Andrew Bynum, Jermaine O’Neal
Note: Previous rank in parentheses
50) (40) Joe Johnson – Not a good sign that he had his best fantasy game of the year only because Josh Smith got in foul trouble. He’s still solid in Pts, Rbs, and Asts regardless
49) (-) Andrei Kirilenko – He’s fought through injuries and has continued to deliver the kind of fantasy numbers his owners expect
48) (-) Leandro Barbosa – Very efficient (17 pts, 1 TO/ game last month,) just hope he doesn’t go Boris Diaw on fantasy owners
47) (45) Samuel Dalembert – Last week’s avg. stats: 14/15/3 (pts, rbs, blks)
46) (32) Brandon Roy – He’s come back down to Earth with the Blazers, but still count on him quality numbers
45) (27) Jason Kidd – I’m thankful I don’t have to endure the hit that the ‘most harmful nightly triple-double ever’ takes on a fantasy team’s statistics
44) (42) Carmelo Anthony – Showing no signs of improving his fantasy game whatsoever. Basically, the price you’d have to pay to pry him away from another team probably isn’t worth it
43) (24) Paul Pierce – Celtics, as a team, are starting to show the effects of riding three guys night in and night out. Pierce isn’t going to lose you a title, but I’d be weary if I were an owner and might try to deal him now before injuries and fatigue become too much of an issue
42) (47) Tim Duncan – Showing signs of returning to his old self (10 double-doubles since return,) don’t bank on it though
41) (38) Tyson Chandler – Last month averaging 13/13/1/1/2 (Pts, Rbs, Stls, Blks, TOs) and he can still be gotten cheap
40) (29) Josh Howard – Really fallen off of late, and unless he picks it up soon a drop off the board could be in his future
39) (19) Al Jefferson – If he could shoot free throws he’d be top 20 for sure. Unfortunately he’s stuck with a bad case of DHS (Dwight Howard Syndrome)
38) (49) Mike Dunleavy – If you are an owner who happens to be in the unfortunate position of owning Melo, McGrady, or someone of that sort, see if you can yank Mr. Dunleavy away for your high-profile, terrible roto-wise, scorer
37) (48) Ron Artest – As soon as he comes back this week, he will immediately re-enter the elite group of players who help in every category
36) (-) Manu Ginobili - Healthy again and ready to pick up right where he left off before injury (as a top 25 player)
35) (30) Deron Williams – After an off month, Deron has shown signs of returning to form this past week
34) (25) Rudy Gay – With Gasol’s re-emergence and Conley taking over at the point, teams aren’t going to be able to focus solely on him any longer
33) (33) Mo Williams – In Redd’s absence he molded perfectly into more of a scoring guard, but expect more assists from Mo from here on in
32) (37) David West - #15 in Y! over the last month averaging 22/10/3/2 (Pts, Rbs, Asts, Blks) and he can still be pried away for a relatively cheap price
31) (11) Dwyane Wade – I’ve developed serious concerns about Wade over the past week. He’s over-worked, given even less of a team than LeBron, and could get injured at any time. Sure, he’s a top 15 player when everything’s clicking but it doesn’t seem like that’s going to be a frequent occurrence this season
30) (43) Michael Redd – Healthy again and playing like he never sat out a game
29) (39) Rashard Lewis – I’m probably undervaluing him, but at the present moment I can’t find it in me to move him ahead of the 28 guys to follow
28) (44) Antawn Jamison – Areans was recently quoted saying that if he doesn’t feel 100% in February / March he may just shut it down for the year. For the sake of Jamison and Butler owners, I hope that’s the case
27) Hedo Turkoglu – What can I say, I’m a huge fan of all-around performers
26) (12) Carlos Boozer – Boozer’s #70 over the last month and may have began the fall into the Zach Randolph Zone (satisfied with contributing 20 pts, 10 rbs, nothing more, nothing less)
25) (36) Rasheed Wallace – the most undervalued player in the Y! game this year
24) (26) Dwight Howard – FT % and TOs both showing improvement in January
23) (-) Pau Gasol – It’s nice to see him finally playing with some motivation again, and his numbers are reflecting it (#16 in Y! last month)
22) (31) Jose Calderon – easily has the best assist /to ratio of anyone in the business (5.14/1)
21) (20) Andre Iguodala – He’s been a rock on an awful team all season that does have a good, young core of Dalembert, Williams, and Iguodala. It is not out of the question that Andre takes the next step and becomes a top 15 fantasy stud by year’s end
20) (21) Chris Kaman – In case you thought this season’s incredible improvement may have been a fluke: http://www.fannation.com/truth_and_rumors/view/33574
19) (-) Kevin Martin – He’s back. Last year he was one of the most found players on championship fantasy teams and if not for that untimely injury, would probably be a top 15 player right now
18) (28) Gerad Wallace – I’ll admit it, I didn’t think he was going to be able to follow up last year’s performance, but this last month he and JRich have really gelled together leading to Wallace putting up Kobe like numbers over that time period: 25/7/5/2/1 (Pts, Rbs, Asts, Stls, Blks)
17) (17) Chris Bosh – Seriously, just listen to him and Bubba, and vote for Boshy already
16) (34) Jason Richardson – his 3.2 treys/game stat over the last month has been one of the most valuable in all of fantasy, and this to go with all ready stellar all-category game
15) (23) Yao – Okay so maybe I was only hating on Yao in last week’s rankings because no one will take him from me in my Y! league. He clearly reads The Column and showed his displeasure at my ignorance by averaging 26/10/ this last week
14) (18) Josh Smith – Leads the league in Blks + Stls per game to go w/ 18/8/3 averages
13) (22) Steve Nash – As his team heals, his numbers will only improve
12) (14) Chauncey Billups – Might not be the flashiest, but the most consistent PG in the game every week
11) (8) Kevin Garnett – As is the trend of most Celtics’ these days, his stats have been slipping the past month
10) (13) Dirk Nowitzki – Finally starting to put the Mavs on his back again; should be a good sign for owners
9) (7) Allen Iverson – Good news AI owners, Chucky Atkins is out for the year!! That can only mean more points, more assists, and more thug
8) (10) Amare Stoudemire – As good as it gets at the center position if he can continue to stay healthy
7) (9) LeBron James – Bouncing back nicely since injury and it was refreshing to see him absolutely take over the game against the Grizz on Tuesday
6) (5) Marcus Camby – his 14.2 rbs/game are just scary; basically he’s Ben Wallace in his prime except better
5) (3) Baron Davis – January’s been his worst month to date, but all that’s really saying is that he’s not quite a top 3 player right now
4) (6) Kobe Bryant – Uh oh, Bynum’s out and you know what that means…Kobe’s going to start dropping 50 a night with regularity
3) (4) Caron Butler – Almost single-handedly took two in a row from the Celtics last week and judging from the balance in his stat line the past month you’d think he really was playing all five positions
2) (1) Shawn Marion – His team’s lack of depth and recent injuries is the sole reason for his dethroning this week
1) (2) Chris Paul – I consider myself pretty conservative when assessing fantasy talent (especially in basketball where players’ values seem fluctuate much more so than baseball) but after watching my boy CP3 consistently putting up eye popping stats while managing to maintain efficient turnover and shooting % totals, I really can’t leave him at #2 any longer. I love you Shawn, but for now CP reigns
On the bubble:
Mike Miller – Steady performer on an improving team
Devin Harris – has cooled off a little but still stellar
LaMarcus Aldridge – He’ll be a 20/10 guy soon, just not yet
Francisco Garcia – quietly emerging as a valuable asset from the train wreck that is the Kings’ season
Kevin Durant – Playing like Melo fantasy-wise. Let’s pray that’s only due to the lack of talent surrounding him
Dropped out:
Kevin Durant, Devin Harris, Grant Hill, Andrew Bynum, Jermaine O’Neal
Note: Previous rank in parentheses
50) (40) Joe Johnson – Not a good sign that he had his best fantasy game of the year only because Josh Smith got in foul trouble. He’s still solid in Pts, Rbs, and Asts regardless
49) (-) Andrei Kirilenko – He’s fought through injuries and has continued to deliver the kind of fantasy numbers his owners expect
48) (-) Leandro Barbosa – Very efficient (17 pts, 1 TO/ game last month,) just hope he doesn’t go Boris Diaw on fantasy owners
47) (45) Samuel Dalembert – Last week’s avg. stats: 14/15/3 (pts, rbs, blks)
46) (32) Brandon Roy – He’s come back down to Earth with the Blazers, but still count on him quality numbers
45) (27) Jason Kidd – I’m thankful I don’t have to endure the hit that the ‘most harmful nightly triple-double ever’ takes on a fantasy team’s statistics
44) (42) Carmelo Anthony – Showing no signs of improving his fantasy game whatsoever. Basically, the price you’d have to pay to pry him away from another team probably isn’t worth it
43) (24) Paul Pierce – Celtics, as a team, are starting to show the effects of riding three guys night in and night out. Pierce isn’t going to lose you a title, but I’d be weary if I were an owner and might try to deal him now before injuries and fatigue become too much of an issue
42) (47) Tim Duncan – Showing signs of returning to his old self (10 double-doubles since return,) don’t bank on it though
41) (38) Tyson Chandler – Last month averaging 13/13/1/1/2 (Pts, Rbs, Stls, Blks, TOs) and he can still be gotten cheap
40) (29) Josh Howard – Really fallen off of late, and unless he picks it up soon a drop off the board could be in his future
39) (19) Al Jefferson – If he could shoot free throws he’d be top 20 for sure. Unfortunately he’s stuck with a bad case of DHS (Dwight Howard Syndrome)
38) (49) Mike Dunleavy – If you are an owner who happens to be in the unfortunate position of owning Melo, McGrady, or someone of that sort, see if you can yank Mr. Dunleavy away for your high-profile, terrible roto-wise, scorer
37) (48) Ron Artest – As soon as he comes back this week, he will immediately re-enter the elite group of players who help in every category
36) (-) Manu Ginobili - Healthy again and ready to pick up right where he left off before injury (as a top 25 player)
35) (30) Deron Williams – After an off month, Deron has shown signs of returning to form this past week
34) (25) Rudy Gay – With Gasol’s re-emergence and Conley taking over at the point, teams aren’t going to be able to focus solely on him any longer
33) (33) Mo Williams – In Redd’s absence he molded perfectly into more of a scoring guard, but expect more assists from Mo from here on in
32) (37) David West - #15 in Y! over the last month averaging 22/10/3/2 (Pts, Rbs, Asts, Blks) and he can still be pried away for a relatively cheap price
31) (11) Dwyane Wade – I’ve developed serious concerns about Wade over the past week. He’s over-worked, given even less of a team than LeBron, and could get injured at any time. Sure, he’s a top 15 player when everything’s clicking but it doesn’t seem like that’s going to be a frequent occurrence this season
30) (43) Michael Redd – Healthy again and playing like he never sat out a game
29) (39) Rashard Lewis – I’m probably undervaluing him, but at the present moment I can’t find it in me to move him ahead of the 28 guys to follow
28) (44) Antawn Jamison – Areans was recently quoted saying that if he doesn’t feel 100% in February / March he may just shut it down for the year. For the sake of Jamison and Butler owners, I hope that’s the case
27) Hedo Turkoglu – What can I say, I’m a huge fan of all-around performers
26) (12) Carlos Boozer – Boozer’s #70 over the last month and may have began the fall into the Zach Randolph Zone (satisfied with contributing 20 pts, 10 rbs, nothing more, nothing less)
25) (36) Rasheed Wallace – the most undervalued player in the Y! game this year
24) (26) Dwight Howard – FT % and TOs both showing improvement in January
23) (-) Pau Gasol – It’s nice to see him finally playing with some motivation again, and his numbers are reflecting it (#16 in Y! last month)
22) (31) Jose Calderon – easily has the best assist /to ratio of anyone in the business (5.14/1)
21) (20) Andre Iguodala – He’s been a rock on an awful team all season that does have a good, young core of Dalembert, Williams, and Iguodala. It is not out of the question that Andre takes the next step and becomes a top 15 fantasy stud by year’s end
20) (21) Chris Kaman – In case you thought this season’s incredible improvement may have been a fluke: http://www.fannation.com/truth_and_rumors/view/33574
19) (-) Kevin Martin – He’s back. Last year he was one of the most found players on championship fantasy teams and if not for that untimely injury, would probably be a top 15 player right now
18) (28) Gerad Wallace – I’ll admit it, I didn’t think he was going to be able to follow up last year’s performance, but this last month he and JRich have really gelled together leading to Wallace putting up Kobe like numbers over that time period: 25/7/5/2/1 (Pts, Rbs, Asts, Stls, Blks)
17) (17) Chris Bosh – Seriously, just listen to him and Bubba, and vote for Boshy already
16) (34) Jason Richardson – his 3.2 treys/game stat over the last month has been one of the most valuable in all of fantasy, and this to go with all ready stellar all-category game
15) (23) Yao – Okay so maybe I was only hating on Yao in last week’s rankings because no one will take him from me in my Y! league. He clearly reads The Column and showed his displeasure at my ignorance by averaging 26/10/ this last week
14) (18) Josh Smith – Leads the league in Blks + Stls per game to go w/ 18/8/3 averages
13) (22) Steve Nash – As his team heals, his numbers will only improve
12) (14) Chauncey Billups – Might not be the flashiest, but the most consistent PG in the game every week
11) (8) Kevin Garnett – As is the trend of most Celtics’ these days, his stats have been slipping the past month
10) (13) Dirk Nowitzki – Finally starting to put the Mavs on his back again; should be a good sign for owners
9) (7) Allen Iverson – Good news AI owners, Chucky Atkins is out for the year!! That can only mean more points, more assists, and more thug
8) (10) Amare Stoudemire – As good as it gets at the center position if he can continue to stay healthy
7) (9) LeBron James – Bouncing back nicely since injury and it was refreshing to see him absolutely take over the game against the Grizz on Tuesday
6) (5) Marcus Camby – his 14.2 rbs/game are just scary; basically he’s Ben Wallace in his prime except better
5) (3) Baron Davis – January’s been his worst month to date, but all that’s really saying is that he’s not quite a top 3 player right now
4) (6) Kobe Bryant – Uh oh, Bynum’s out and you know what that means…Kobe’s going to start dropping 50 a night with regularity
3) (4) Caron Butler – Almost single-handedly took two in a row from the Celtics last week and judging from the balance in his stat line the past month you’d think he really was playing all five positions
2) (1) Shawn Marion – His team’s lack of depth and recent injuries is the sole reason for his dethroning this week
1) (2) Chris Paul – I consider myself pretty conservative when assessing fantasy talent (especially in basketball where players’ values seem fluctuate much more so than baseball) but after watching my boy CP3 consistently putting up eye popping stats while managing to maintain efficient turnover and shooting % totals, I really can’t leave him at #2 any longer. I love you Shawn, but for now CP reigns
15 January 2008
Top 5: Things I'm Looking Forward to Next Season as a Direct Result of Giants/Cowboys
By: Anthony D'Amato
Earlier this afternoon I strolled into a barbershop feeling a bit melancholy, as some random scissor-wielding charlatan was about to undo almost a half-year's work, which I had so adamantly defended as it grew untamed atop my dome. I climbed into the chair, which conveniently rested in front of a mirror so that I wouldn't miss a single moment of the carnage. Sullen, downtrodden, and defeated, I was lulled into my standard haircut trance by the buzzes and the snips of the razors and the scissors. I was yanked from my daydreams when the bell above the door warned of an approaching customer. As the man sat down in the chair beside me, he remarked sarcastically, "I feel really bad for T.O., man. He was all shaken up - did you see that? 'Don't blame it on Tony. That's mah boy, That's mah quarterback.'" Seeing as I reside in northern New Jersey, I wasn't surprised to hear the man proudly bash Owens, who (as a college buddy of mine puts it) is "gettin his popcorn ready for the Giants - Packers game next week," or to hear him completely butcher the impression. I was only about halfway done with the haircut (5 months without getting one, people!) so as the men discussed the game I reflected on what I'll look forward to most next season, regarding the division rivals...
5) No More Jessica Simpson B*llsh!t
Simply put, there is no story here. There is absolutely no connection between on the field performance of Romo and Simpson's seat in the stands. Let me say it again, in case I didn't make my point, JESSICA SIMPSON'S ATTENDANCE DOES NOT HAVE ANY EFFECT ON THE OUTCOME OF A GAME. So what if a friend/girlfriend/wife comes to support her counterpart? Do you think Eva Longoria's presence had anything to do with her beau's championship run? I think every second that is wasted "debating" this "issue" is insulting to Romo, his teammates, and his coaches (you know, those who actually affect the scoreboard). If the Saints were in the playoffs and the Cowboys were out, wouldn't the focus be on Reggie Bush and Kim Kardashian instead?
4) The Realization that Wade Phillips is not a Great Coach
This man rode a team that Bill Parcells constructed all season long to a great record and a #1 seed in the playoffs. Seriously, all he had to do was announce who was playing and let his coordinators handle the rest. It's not rocket science that Jason Garrett is about to cash in on this season's (and recent ones') success. Love him or hate him, Parcells was the reason this team was good. He built the team. He taught the team. He instilled hunger, discipline, and camaraderie. Parcells gets all the negative publicity because he was a "harsh" or abrasive coach, but he grounded Owens and humbled Romo and made the Cowboys a team. Don't think for a minute Romo would have played his heart out this season if it wasn't for the Tuna. Congratulations, Bill, since I know you aren't hearing it from anyone else right now. (Double congrats, since Wade doesn't get to hoist your Lombardi trophy.)
3) Eli Mania!
An 8-1 road schedule (although 7 of them were against softies), strong efforts against two juggernauts (Pats + Cowboys), and beating Peyton to a playoff win (it took Eli 4 seasons compared to Peyton's 5) coupled with a Colts loss have the youngest Manning in the spotlight. I've been an Eli-basher for the last few - well, ever since he became a Giant, but I'm actually looking forward to seeing him play next week and next season. Who knows, maybe he'll even get a commercial or two!
2) " T.O. Tissues "
You can say Philly has the best player-haters, but don't let anybody from New York hear you. With his popcorn comment, Owens placed himself directly in the crosshairs of all of the Big Blue Wrecking Crew faithful. Always creative when it comes to taunting, I can't wait to see what Giants fans come up with when he visits East Rutherford next season. After shedding tears during the post-game press conference, I suggest handing out free towel/handkerchiefs with a picture of Owens for Giants fans to wave around all game. Get your T.O. Tissues here!
1) How Guilt Affects Jerry Jones
Jerry Jones committed the first and foremost Cardinal Sin against the Sports Gods. All that good karma that the 'Boys received while the Romo-Simpson relationship was being scrutinized by everyone who can't mind their own business and find it necessary to pry into others' affairs was thrown out the window in one fell swoop by Jones, who gave out conference championship tickets to players and others before and during Sunday's game. Why one of his players didn't punch him in the face is beyond me. It is one thing to be confident. It is another to blatantly disrespect the Sports Gods. Well Jerry, I guess you can take the rest of those tickets and use them to wipe your @$$.
Earlier this afternoon I strolled into a barbershop feeling a bit melancholy, as some random scissor-wielding charlatan was about to undo almost a half-year's work, which I had so adamantly defended as it grew untamed atop my dome. I climbed into the chair, which conveniently rested in front of a mirror so that I wouldn't miss a single moment of the carnage. Sullen, downtrodden, and defeated, I was lulled into my standard haircut trance by the buzzes and the snips of the razors and the scissors. I was yanked from my daydreams when the bell above the door warned of an approaching customer. As the man sat down in the chair beside me, he remarked sarcastically, "I feel really bad for T.O., man. He was all shaken up - did you see that? 'Don't blame it on Tony. That's mah boy, That's mah quarterback.'" Seeing as I reside in northern New Jersey, I wasn't surprised to hear the man proudly bash Owens, who (as a college buddy of mine puts it) is "gettin his popcorn ready for the Giants - Packers game next week," or to hear him completely butcher the impression. I was only about halfway done with the haircut (5 months without getting one, people!) so as the men discussed the game I reflected on what I'll look forward to most next season, regarding the division rivals...
5) No More Jessica Simpson B*llsh!t
Simply put, there is no story here. There is absolutely no connection between on the field performance of Romo and Simpson's seat in the stands. Let me say it again, in case I didn't make my point, JESSICA SIMPSON'S ATTENDANCE DOES NOT HAVE ANY EFFECT ON THE OUTCOME OF A GAME. So what if a friend/girlfriend/wife comes to support her counterpart? Do you think Eva Longoria's presence had anything to do with her beau's championship run? I think every second that is wasted "debating" this "issue" is insulting to Romo, his teammates, and his coaches (you know, those who actually affect the scoreboard). If the Saints were in the playoffs and the Cowboys were out, wouldn't the focus be on Reggie Bush and Kim Kardashian instead?
4) The Realization that Wade Phillips is not a Great Coach
This man rode a team that Bill Parcells constructed all season long to a great record and a #1 seed in the playoffs. Seriously, all he had to do was announce who was playing and let his coordinators handle the rest. It's not rocket science that Jason Garrett is about to cash in on this season's (and recent ones') success. Love him or hate him, Parcells was the reason this team was good. He built the team. He taught the team. He instilled hunger, discipline, and camaraderie. Parcells gets all the negative publicity because he was a "harsh" or abrasive coach, but he grounded Owens and humbled Romo and made the Cowboys a team. Don't think for a minute Romo would have played his heart out this season if it wasn't for the Tuna. Congratulations, Bill, since I know you aren't hearing it from anyone else right now. (Double congrats, since Wade doesn't get to hoist your Lombardi trophy.)
3) Eli Mania!
An 8-1 road schedule (although 7 of them were against softies), strong efforts against two juggernauts (Pats + Cowboys), and beating Peyton to a playoff win (it took Eli 4 seasons compared to Peyton's 5) coupled with a Colts loss have the youngest Manning in the spotlight. I've been an Eli-basher for the last few - well, ever since he became a Giant, but I'm actually looking forward to seeing him play next week and next season. Who knows, maybe he'll even get a commercial or two!
2) " T.O. Tissues "
You can say Philly has the best player-haters, but don't let anybody from New York hear you. With his popcorn comment, Owens placed himself directly in the crosshairs of all of the Big Blue Wrecking Crew faithful. Always creative when it comes to taunting, I can't wait to see what Giants fans come up with when he visits East Rutherford next season. After shedding tears during the post-game press conference, I suggest handing out free towel/handkerchiefs with a picture of Owens for Giants fans to wave around all game. Get your T.O. Tissues here!
1) How Guilt Affects Jerry Jones
Jerry Jones committed the first and foremost Cardinal Sin against the Sports Gods. All that good karma that the 'Boys received while the Romo-Simpson relationship was being scrutinized by everyone who can't mind their own business and find it necessary to pry into others' affairs was thrown out the window in one fell swoop by Jones, who gave out conference championship tickets to players and others before and during Sunday's game. Why one of his players didn't punch him in the face is beyond me. It is one thing to be confident. It is another to blatantly disrespect the Sports Gods. Well Jerry, I guess you can take the rest of those tickets and use them to wipe your @$$.
14 January 2008
Billy Volek, Class of '08
By: Andrew Katz
Let’s face it. There is no way that the Chargers should have won Sunday. Every single factor was against them: playing on the road against the loudest crowd in football, Tomlinson out the second half, the Colts healthier than they had been all season, and to top it off, their QB who was having the best game of his career got injured coming down the stretch. Much like the 2004 World Series, when things looked bleakest for the huge underdog, an unlikely hero came through under the spotlight.
Billy Volek, who coming into the game had just 6 pass yards all season, led the Chargers down the field for a game-winning 8 play, 78 yard TD drive at a point in the game where even the Chargers’ own fans had just about written off their season. Now, the opportunity is there for Volek to enter a very exclusive club. Let’s call it the ‘Dave Roberts Club’ for lack of a better name and because he probably is the most well-known example. The qualifications are simple:
1) A player either makes a play (or in this case a small group of plays) that redefine his image in the minds of every fan of that team, or the moment, to the point where he may have been an everyday player before, but now is immortalized as a full blown hero.
2) When fans of the team think about the accomplishment that earned the player entrance into the World’s Most Exclusive and Hallowed Club, the fan Must get that goosebumpy, chilly feeling.
3) If you saw it live, it’s something you will never forget.
Granted, it will be easier for Volek to enter the club if the Chargers do in fact end up winning the Super Bowl this season, but it feels as if he already can do no harm in the minds of Charger fans (especially if he doesn’t have to play in the Patriots game this weekend.) Here are some examples of ‘members’ to give you an idea of exactly what kind of company Mr. Volek is entering:
Dave Roberts – Roberts’ steal might be the most incredible achievement here because it set in motion a comeback that faced the longest odds of any in sports’ history. Even today when he returns to Boston playing for an opposing team he receives cheers when he comes to the plate.
Bryce Drew – If you saw it, you remember it. With 2.5 seconds to go in a 1st round NCAA tournament game against #3 seeded Ole Miss, No Name A inbounded to No Name B who caught it in the air and without hitting the ground dished it to a streaking Drew. Drew proceeded to hit a leaner from well behind the arc as time expired giving the Crusaders the victory. I also believe this shot to be the sole reason (and rightfully so) why the Rockets selected Drew in the first round of the following year’s draft.
Endy Chavez – Not to brag or anything but….I WAS THERE and I’m pretty sure that I got the last available tickets considering that I was seated in The last row of the upper deck (I am not kidding, there was no person behind me, just a gated wall.) The fact that the Mets lost the game is regardless in respect to the fact that we feel Endy to be the savior. How magical was the moment? When was the last time you heard of someone receiving 2 curtain calls for one play?
Robert Horry – Big Shot Rob actually has a nice collection of game-winning shots to his name, but he seems to be remembered most for his ones as a Laker. His legend actually grew to such extents that two seasons ago in the playoffs, teams were actually double-teaming him at the very end of games on inbounds passes with players like Tony Parker and Tim Duncan on the court. For his career he’s only averaged 7 ppg is there any player you’d rather have shooting a last second shot?
Rex Chapman – Without a doubt, his shot against Sonics to tie the game is the most fun of all-time to recreate with your friends.
Matt Davison – This one happened a little farther back so our younger readers may be unacquainted with one of the greatest catches ever. I watched it live in ’97 and was rooting so hard against Nebraska. It really looked like they were going to lose this game and say goodbye to their title dreams until Frost drove the field and completed this pass on 4th and goal. He’s also always a great trivia question when you need a stumper.
This Sunday I will be cheering hard for the Bolts if only hoping that they can somehow beat New England and then win the Super Bowl so that Volek’s heroic performance isn’t lost in the shuffle of things. No, most ‘Dave Roberts Club’ members don’t deserve the legendary status they have ascertained, but that doesn’t mean we love (or hate) them any less for their accomplishments.
Feel free to post any other candidates for membership to this prestigious club, because who doesn’t love a one hit wonder!
Let’s face it. There is no way that the Chargers should have won Sunday. Every single factor was against them: playing on the road against the loudest crowd in football, Tomlinson out the second half, the Colts healthier than they had been all season, and to top it off, their QB who was having the best game of his career got injured coming down the stretch. Much like the 2004 World Series, when things looked bleakest for the huge underdog, an unlikely hero came through under the spotlight.
Billy Volek, who coming into the game had just 6 pass yards all season, led the Chargers down the field for a game-winning 8 play, 78 yard TD drive at a point in the game where even the Chargers’ own fans had just about written off their season. Now, the opportunity is there for Volek to enter a very exclusive club. Let’s call it the ‘Dave Roberts Club’ for lack of a better name and because he probably is the most well-known example. The qualifications are simple:
1) A player either makes a play (or in this case a small group of plays) that redefine his image in the minds of every fan of that team, or the moment, to the point where he may have been an everyday player before, but now is immortalized as a full blown hero.
2) When fans of the team think about the accomplishment that earned the player entrance into the World’s Most Exclusive and Hallowed Club, the fan Must get that goosebumpy, chilly feeling.
3) If you saw it live, it’s something you will never forget.
Granted, it will be easier for Volek to enter the club if the Chargers do in fact end up winning the Super Bowl this season, but it feels as if he already can do no harm in the minds of Charger fans (especially if he doesn’t have to play in the Patriots game this weekend.) Here are some examples of ‘members’ to give you an idea of exactly what kind of company Mr. Volek is entering:
Dave Roberts – Roberts’ steal might be the most incredible achievement here because it set in motion a comeback that faced the longest odds of any in sports’ history. Even today when he returns to Boston playing for an opposing team he receives cheers when he comes to the plate.
Bryce Drew – If you saw it, you remember it. With 2.5 seconds to go in a 1st round NCAA tournament game against #3 seeded Ole Miss, No Name A inbounded to No Name B who caught it in the air and without hitting the ground dished it to a streaking Drew. Drew proceeded to hit a leaner from well behind the arc as time expired giving the Crusaders the victory. I also believe this shot to be the sole reason (and rightfully so) why the Rockets selected Drew in the first round of the following year’s draft.
Endy Chavez – Not to brag or anything but….I WAS THERE and I’m pretty sure that I got the last available tickets considering that I was seated in The last row of the upper deck (I am not kidding, there was no person behind me, just a gated wall.) The fact that the Mets lost the game is regardless in respect to the fact that we feel Endy to be the savior. How magical was the moment? When was the last time you heard of someone receiving 2 curtain calls for one play?
Robert Horry – Big Shot Rob actually has a nice collection of game-winning shots to his name, but he seems to be remembered most for his ones as a Laker. His legend actually grew to such extents that two seasons ago in the playoffs, teams were actually double-teaming him at the very end of games on inbounds passes with players like Tony Parker and Tim Duncan on the court. For his career he’s only averaged 7 ppg is there any player you’d rather have shooting a last second shot?
Rex Chapman – Without a doubt, his shot against Sonics to tie the game is the most fun of all-time to recreate with your friends.
Matt Davison – This one happened a little farther back so our younger readers may be unacquainted with one of the greatest catches ever. I watched it live in ’97 and was rooting so hard against Nebraska. It really looked like they were going to lose this game and say goodbye to their title dreams until Frost drove the field and completed this pass on 4th and goal. He’s also always a great trivia question when you need a stumper.
This Sunday I will be cheering hard for the Bolts if only hoping that they can somehow beat New England and then win the Super Bowl so that Volek’s heroic performance isn’t lost in the shuffle of things. No, most ‘Dave Roberts Club’ members don’t deserve the legendary status they have ascertained, but that doesn’t mean we love (or hate) them any less for their accomplishments.
Feel free to post any other candidates for membership to this prestigious club, because who doesn’t love a one hit wonder!
12 January 2008
Bison Dele Region + Len Bias Region Breakdowns
Personally, I prefer the stories of Bison Dele and Len Bias. Just about this time last year, Katz and I were spending a typical weeknight with Fred Hickman. Fred, as some of you know, guides 3 a.m. ESPN viewers through an accelerated cut of one of the previous night's NBA game. Basically, at that hour we are in the perfect state of mind to enjoy an abbreviated version highlighted by Fred's presence every 20 minutes. Anyway, during a break in the action the camera pans over the audience, then fixes over a small section. Katz freezes for a split-second, then looks at me and asks, "Is this a Bison Dele sighting?" For those of you who don't know the story and were too lazy to click the Wikipedia link, Bison was at sea with his brother in the South Pacific, but only his brother returned from the trip (Bison's body was never found). We'll never know whether or not it was just a look-a-like, but I like to believe it was really Dele. As for Lenny, well, let's just say I'm not convinced one player has ever deflated the spirits and swapped hope for the resentment of an entire fan base quite like the '86 #2 overall pick (my sympathies, Bill Simmons). It is of note that both players attended Maryland, and also that Dele is an alumnus of his region's top seed, Arizona (which, to be completely honest with you, i just realized 2 seconds ago.) But I digress, so let's jump in...
BISON DELE REGION BREAKDOWN:
(players introduced in the order of: guard/ballhandler, forward/swingman, center/big man)
(1) Arizona v. (8) Minnesota
Arizona: Gilbert Arenas, Andrew Iguodala, RIchard Jefferson
Minnesota: Bobby Jackson, Kris Humphries, Joel Przybilla
Preview: While undersized, this 'Zona team boasts 2 of the most electric scorers in the NBA, let alone the tournament. Iguodala complements them perfectly, as he pretty much does everything in terms of filling up the stat book. Minnesota's got a heads-and-shoulders size advantage with a 7-footer. Both Przybilla and Humphries match up favorably on the low blocks.
Prediction: Arizona
(4) Ohio State v. (5) Florida
Ohio State: Mike Conley, Michael Redd, Greg Oden
Florida: Jason Williams, David Lee, Al Horford
Preview: There's no better way to kick off our tournament than a rematch of last year's national title game, which is fresh in the minds of half the players on the court. Ohio State features a lethal pick-and-roll+kickout combo, although we don't know how Oden will fare against NBA-caliber talent. It was a tough call to pick only two out of Lee/Horford/Joakim Noah/Mike Miller, but Lee plays with a fire on a Knicks team that inspires little to no passion. He's also a monster on the board (great for the street game), and I had to go with Horford over Noah since he's blossomed earlier and brings more offense.
Prediction: Florida
(3) Georgetown v. (6) Kentucky
Georgetown: Allen Iverson, Jeff Green, Dikembe Mutumbo
Kentucky: Rajon Rondo, Tayshaun Prince, Nazr Mohammad
Preview: A.I. still has the nastiest crossover in the game, can score at will, and shows more ink than skin, which translates into a beautiful street game. With Mutumbo hanging around the rim blocking shots all day, The Answer will as many shots as he needs. Rondo has to find a way to score, but he's a great distributor. Tayshaun is a lockdown defender, and a hot streak (like the one in the video) in a street game can mean a quick victory.
Prediction: Georgetown
(2) Texas v. (7) Cincinatti
Texas: T.J. Ford, Kevin Durant, LaMarcus Aldridge
Cincinatti: Kenyon Martin, Ruben Patterson, Jason Maxiell
Preview: This makeup of former Longhorns looks to be the most exciting team to watch. Built around speed and athleticism, this team is very well-rounded. Cincinatti will be equally fun to watch, but more in the trainwreck-that-you-can't-look-away-from way, if only because Martin is running the point. Jason Maxiell plays bigger than his size, and attacks the glass with everything he's got and more.
Prediction: Texas
LEN BIAS REGION BREAKDOWN:
(1) Connecticut v. (8) Oregon
UCONN: Caron Butler, Ray Allen, Rudy Gay
Oregon: Luke Ridnour, Fred Jones, Luke Jackson
Preview: Butler has really elevated his game this season, as has Gay. Allen still has the sweetest stroke from the perimeter which balances this team out nicely. Oregon, on the other hand, just can't match the talent level. The Lukes never really panned out to anything, but at least Fred Jones should put on a one-man dunk contest once the Huskies build up a big enough lead to rest on defense.
Prediction: UCONN
(4) Washington v. (5) Illinois
Washington: Brandon Roy, Nate Robinson, Spencer Hawes
Illinois: Deron Williams, Luther Head, James Augustine
Preview: A Heads-or-Tails matchup, including the only team that features a lineup that played together as well as a team mascot (Katz and I have come to the conclusion that this is Robinson's role on the Knicks). Roy will be interesting to watch, but from what I've seen from Deron in the 4th quarter of close games, he can clearly carry a team.
Prediction: Illinois
(3) Michigan State v. (6) Maryland
Michigan State: Eric Snow, Jason Richardson, Zach Randolph
Maryland: Steve Francis, Steve Blake, Chris Wilcox
Preview: Snow runs the point well, taking smart shots and keeping the offense flowing. J-Rich and Z-Bo bring the blacktop flav. Franchise counters with his high-rising, play-making abilities. Chris Wilcox is jsut as athletic if not more than Randolph. Blake does what white guys do best, catch-and-release from beyond the arc.
Prediction: Michigan State
(2) Georgia Tech v. (7) Louisiana State University
Georgia Tech: Jarrett Jack, Stephon Marbury, Chris Bosh
LSU: Shaquille O'Neal, Tyrus Thomas, Glen Davis
Preview: Georgia Tech features a nice duo of guards to complement Bosh, who should be their primary option. Starbury is arguably the most "street" out of any player in the tournament. LSU is physically the biggest team in the tournament, and the ballhandling duties have been assigned to Shaq by default (and you thought Kenyon Martin was the biggest surprise at guard!!). This game comes down to pure efficiency: turnovers + high-percentage shots.
Prediction: Georgia Tech
BISON DELE REGION BREAKDOWN:
(players introduced in the order of: guard/ballhandler, forward/swingman, center/big man)
(1) Arizona v. (8) Minnesota
Arizona: Gilbert Arenas, Andrew Iguodala, RIchard Jefferson
Minnesota: Bobby Jackson, Kris Humphries, Joel Przybilla
Preview: While undersized, this 'Zona team boasts 2 of the most electric scorers in the NBA, let alone the tournament. Iguodala complements them perfectly, as he pretty much does everything in terms of filling up the stat book. Minnesota's got a heads-and-shoulders size advantage with a 7-footer. Both Przybilla and Humphries match up favorably on the low blocks.
Prediction: Arizona
(4) Ohio State v. (5) Florida
Ohio State: Mike Conley, Michael Redd, Greg Oden
Florida: Jason Williams, David Lee, Al Horford
Preview: There's no better way to kick off our tournament than a rematch of last year's national title game, which is fresh in the minds of half the players on the court. Ohio State features a lethal pick-and-roll+kickout combo, although we don't know how Oden will fare against NBA-caliber talent. It was a tough call to pick only two out of Lee/Horford/Joakim Noah/Mike Miller, but Lee plays with a fire on a Knicks team that inspires little to no passion. He's also a monster on the board (great for the street game), and I had to go with Horford over Noah since he's blossomed earlier and brings more offense.
Prediction: Florida
(3) Georgetown v. (6) Kentucky
Georgetown: Allen Iverson, Jeff Green, Dikembe Mutumbo
Kentucky: Rajon Rondo, Tayshaun Prince, Nazr Mohammad
Preview: A.I. still has the nastiest crossover in the game, can score at will, and shows more ink than skin, which translates into a beautiful street game. With Mutumbo hanging around the rim blocking shots all day, The Answer will as many shots as he needs. Rondo has to find a way to score, but he's a great distributor. Tayshaun is a lockdown defender, and a hot streak (like the one in the video) in a street game can mean a quick victory.
Prediction: Georgetown
(2) Texas v. (7) Cincinatti
Texas: T.J. Ford, Kevin Durant, LaMarcus Aldridge
Cincinatti: Kenyon Martin, Ruben Patterson, Jason Maxiell
Preview: This makeup of former Longhorns looks to be the most exciting team to watch. Built around speed and athleticism, this team is very well-rounded. Cincinatti will be equally fun to watch, but more in the trainwreck-that-you-can't-look-away-from way, if only because Martin is running the point. Jason Maxiell plays bigger than his size, and attacks the glass with everything he's got and more.
Prediction: Texas
LEN BIAS REGION BREAKDOWN:
(1) Connecticut v. (8) Oregon
UCONN: Caron Butler, Ray Allen, Rudy Gay
Oregon: Luke Ridnour, Fred Jones, Luke Jackson
Preview: Butler has really elevated his game this season, as has Gay. Allen still has the sweetest stroke from the perimeter which balances this team out nicely. Oregon, on the other hand, just can't match the talent level. The Lukes never really panned out to anything, but at least Fred Jones should put on a one-man dunk contest once the Huskies build up a big enough lead to rest on defense.
Prediction: UCONN
(4) Washington v. (5) Illinois
Washington: Brandon Roy, Nate Robinson, Spencer Hawes
Illinois: Deron Williams, Luther Head, James Augustine
Preview: A Heads-or-Tails matchup, including the only team that features a lineup that played together as well as a team mascot (Katz and I have come to the conclusion that this is Robinson's role on the Knicks). Roy will be interesting to watch, but from what I've seen from Deron in the 4th quarter of close games, he can clearly carry a team.
Prediction: Illinois
(3) Michigan State v. (6) Maryland
Michigan State: Eric Snow, Jason Richardson, Zach Randolph
Maryland: Steve Francis, Steve Blake, Chris Wilcox
Preview: Snow runs the point well, taking smart shots and keeping the offense flowing. J-Rich and Z-Bo bring the blacktop flav. Franchise counters with his high-rising, play-making abilities. Chris Wilcox is jsut as athletic if not more than Randolph. Blake does what white guys do best, catch-and-release from beyond the arc.
Prediction: Michigan State
(2) Georgia Tech v. (7) Louisiana State University
Georgia Tech: Jarrett Jack, Stephon Marbury, Chris Bosh
LSU: Shaquille O'Neal, Tyrus Thomas, Glen Davis
Preview: Georgia Tech features a nice duo of guards to complement Bosh, who should be their primary option. Starbury is arguably the most "street" out of any player in the tournament. LSU is physically the biggest team in the tournament, and the ballhandling duties have been assigned to Shaq by default (and you thought Kenyon Martin was the biggest surprise at guard!!). This game comes down to pure efficiency: turnovers + high-percentage shots.
Prediction: Georgia Tech
Eddie Griffin Region and Bobby Phills Region Breakdowns
Seeing as the deaths of Bobby Phills (drag racing David Wesley, serious question that was never answered by the way: Who won the race?) and Eddie Griffin (drove into a train) are my favorites of the four, I will be breaking down those two brackets.
EDDIE GRIFFIN REGION BREAKDOWN:
(1) Wake Forest v. (8) Iowa
The Players (G, F, C):
Wake Forest – Chris Paul, Josh Howard, Tim Duncan
Iowa – Ricky Davis, Adam Haluska, Reggie Evans
Preview: Wake brings the perfect blend of talent and team work to this tournament and has to be considered a favorite. If they have a weakness, it is that they don’t have a dominant scorer who was made to play in a street ball type game. Ricky Davis has the flair of the street ballers that you’ve seen on ESPN but it’s tough to see these Hawkeyes matching up defensively.
Pick: Wake Forest
(4) Marquette v. (5) Arkansas
The Players:
Marquette – Travis Diener, Dwyane Wade, Steve Novak
Arkansas – Jamero Pargo, Joe Johnson, Ronnie Brewer
Preview: Marquette favors to rely heavily on Wade and even though Novak is 6’11”, he is a liability on defense. Arkansas is small at the center position so expect Novak to be hoisting 3’s over Brewer all day. Johnson against Wade is what we’re really anticipating though; these two should be going back and forth all night.
Pick: Arkansas
(3) Alabama v. (6) Villanova
The Players:
Alabama – Mo Williams, Gerald Wallace, Antonio McDyess
Villanova – Kyle Lowry, Randy Foye, Tim Thomas
Preview: Alabama, much like Wake, is a good, all-around team, if only slightly less talented than the Demon Deacons. Fortunately for ‘Bama they have the advantage of having a straight THUG in Gerald Wallace on their side in a street ball game, so that’s got to count for something. Villanova counters with the worst human being alive (next to ‘Sheed,) Tim Thomas, and a couple of young but talented guards. If Foye catches fire, the Tide could see their title dreams fade away like Mcdyess’s knees.
Pick: Alabama
(2) Kansas v. (7) Florida State
The Players:
Kansas – Kirk Hinrich, Paul Pierce, Drew Gooden
Florida State - Sam Cassell, Al Thornton, Alexander Johnson
Preview: It’s tough to imagine anyone on FSU’s trio guarding Pierce and Gooden should have a mismatch against whoever guards him so this game could be over fairly quickly.Florida State is very young and it’s unclear how Johnson and Thornton will play, but if The World’s Ugliest Human can shoot and dish it out at his advanced age then this could be a game.
Pick: Kansas
BOBBY PHILLS REGION
(1) UNC v. (8) Stanford
The Players:
UNC – Vince Carter, Rasheed Wallace, Antawn Jamison
Stanford – Brevin Knight, Josh Childress, Jason Collins
Preview: UNC’s lack of a true point guard is made up for by their high level of talent and ‘thugness.’ Physically they match up with anyone and it will be interesting to see how teams guard against the duel 7’0” threat of ‘Sheed and ‘Tawn. For Stanford, if either Childress or Collins manages to get open, Knight will find them seeing as he’s been one of the most underrated point guards in the NBA for years.
Pick: UNC
(4) Syracuse v. (5) Wisconsin
The Players:
Syracuse – Jason Hart, Carmelo Anthony, Hakim Warrick
Wisconsin – Devin Harris, Alondo Tucker. Michael Finley
Preview: This should be one of the best games of the first round. Wisconsin enters a roster of good, all-around players however their lack of size could be an issue. Syracuse figures to rely heavily on Melo and it’s tough to envision anyone stopping him. The x-factor could be the play of Hakim Warrick considering his size advantage over whoever guards him.
Pick: Syracuse
(3) UCLA v. (6) Utah
The Players:
UCLA – Baron Davis, Jason Kapono, Ryan Hollins
Utah – Andre Miller, Michael Doleac, Andrew Bogut
Preview: Utah shapes up to be the most dangerous 6th seed considering the matchup problems their size could create. Ryan Hollins showed us two years ago against Florida that even though he is 7’0” he has difficulties guarding men his own size. UCLA will need Baron to make smart decisions when he drives the lane, but even if he does run into that big Australian, Kapono will be waiting on the wing to drill a three ball. This should be a fast paced game with little defense where possessions that don’t result in a score could be rare.
Pick: UCLA
(2) Duke v. (7) Gonzaga
The Players:
Duke – Grant Hill, Carlos Boozer, Elton Brand
Gonzaga – Dan Dickau, Adam Morrison, Ronny Turiaf
Preview: Duke shouldn’t have much of a problem here considering the monsters they have down low. It will be interesting to watch Hill run the point in this tune-up game, but judging by his ball handling skills it shouldn’t be hard for him to make the transition there. The only way Gonzaga makes this a game is if Morrison, one of the guys who figures to play his heart out in this tourney, catches fire. Unfortunately for the Zags, they may be the worst defensive team of the 32 and it really shouldn’t be legal to have Boozer posting up Morrison.
Pick: Duke
EDDIE GRIFFIN REGION BREAKDOWN:
(1) Wake Forest v. (8) Iowa
The Players (G, F, C):
Wake Forest – Chris Paul, Josh Howard, Tim Duncan
Iowa – Ricky Davis, Adam Haluska, Reggie Evans
Preview: Wake brings the perfect blend of talent and team work to this tournament and has to be considered a favorite. If they have a weakness, it is that they don’t have a dominant scorer who was made to play in a street ball type game. Ricky Davis has the flair of the street ballers that you’ve seen on ESPN but it’s tough to see these Hawkeyes matching up defensively.
Pick: Wake Forest
(4) Marquette v. (5) Arkansas
The Players:
Marquette – Travis Diener, Dwyane Wade, Steve Novak
Arkansas – Jamero Pargo, Joe Johnson, Ronnie Brewer
Preview: Marquette favors to rely heavily on Wade and even though Novak is 6’11”, he is a liability on defense. Arkansas is small at the center position so expect Novak to be hoisting 3’s over Brewer all day. Johnson against Wade is what we’re really anticipating though; these two should be going back and forth all night.
Pick: Arkansas
(3) Alabama v. (6) Villanova
The Players:
Alabama – Mo Williams, Gerald Wallace, Antonio McDyess
Villanova – Kyle Lowry, Randy Foye, Tim Thomas
Preview: Alabama, much like Wake, is a good, all-around team, if only slightly less talented than the Demon Deacons. Fortunately for ‘Bama they have the advantage of having a straight THUG in Gerald Wallace on their side in a street ball game, so that’s got to count for something. Villanova counters with the worst human being alive (next to ‘Sheed,) Tim Thomas, and a couple of young but talented guards. If Foye catches fire, the Tide could see their title dreams fade away like Mcdyess’s knees.
Pick: Alabama
(2) Kansas v. (7) Florida State
The Players:
Kansas – Kirk Hinrich, Paul Pierce, Drew Gooden
Florida State - Sam Cassell, Al Thornton, Alexander Johnson
Preview: It’s tough to imagine anyone on FSU’s trio guarding Pierce and Gooden should have a mismatch against whoever guards him so this game could be over fairly quickly.Florida State is very young and it’s unclear how Johnson and Thornton will play, but if The World’s Ugliest Human can shoot and dish it out at his advanced age then this could be a game.
Pick: Kansas
BOBBY PHILLS REGION
(1) UNC v. (8) Stanford
The Players:
UNC – Vince Carter, Rasheed Wallace, Antawn Jamison
Stanford – Brevin Knight, Josh Childress, Jason Collins
Preview: UNC’s lack of a true point guard is made up for by their high level of talent and ‘thugness.’ Physically they match up with anyone and it will be interesting to see how teams guard against the duel 7’0” threat of ‘Sheed and ‘Tawn. For Stanford, if either Childress or Collins manages to get open, Knight will find them seeing as he’s been one of the most underrated point guards in the NBA for years.
Pick: UNC
(4) Syracuse v. (5) Wisconsin
The Players:
Syracuse – Jason Hart, Carmelo Anthony, Hakim Warrick
Wisconsin – Devin Harris, Alondo Tucker. Michael Finley
Preview: This should be one of the best games of the first round. Wisconsin enters a roster of good, all-around players however their lack of size could be an issue. Syracuse figures to rely heavily on Melo and it’s tough to envision anyone stopping him. The x-factor could be the play of Hakim Warrick considering his size advantage over whoever guards him.
Pick: Syracuse
(3) UCLA v. (6) Utah
The Players:
UCLA – Baron Davis, Jason Kapono, Ryan Hollins
Utah – Andre Miller, Michael Doleac, Andrew Bogut
Preview: Utah shapes up to be the most dangerous 6th seed considering the matchup problems their size could create. Ryan Hollins showed us two years ago against Florida that even though he is 7’0” he has difficulties guarding men his own size. UCLA will need Baron to make smart decisions when he drives the lane, but even if he does run into that big Australian, Kapono will be waiting on the wing to drill a three ball. This should be a fast paced game with little defense where possessions that don’t result in a score could be rare.
Pick: UCLA
(2) Duke v. (7) Gonzaga
The Players:
Duke – Grant Hill, Carlos Boozer, Elton Brand
Gonzaga – Dan Dickau, Adam Morrison, Ronny Turiaf
Preview: Duke shouldn’t have much of a problem here considering the monsters they have down low. It will be interesting to watch Hill run the point in this tune-up game, but judging by his ball handling skills it shouldn’t be hard for him to make the transition there. The only way Gonzaga makes this a game is if Morrison, one of the guys who figures to play his heart out in this tourney, catches fire. Unfortunately for the Zags, they may be the worst defensive team of the 32 and it really shouldn’t be legal to have Boozer posting up Morrison.
Pick: Duke
Bracket for NCAA Alumni Pride Tournament
(1) Wake Forest | |||||||
(8) Iowa | |||||||
(5) Arkansas | |||||||
(4) Marquette | |||||||
(3) Alabama | |||||||
(6) Villanova | |||||||
(7) Florida St. | |||||||
(2) Kansas | |||||||
(2 Duke | |||||||
(7) Gonzaga | |||||||
(6) Utah | |||||||
(3) UCLA | |||||||
(4) Syracuse | |||||||
(5) Wisconsin | |||||||
(8) Stanford | |||||||
(1) UNC | |||||||
(1) Arizona | Winner | ||||||
(8) Minnesota | |||||||
(5) Florida | |||||||
(4) Ohio St. | |||||||
(3) Georgetown | |||||||
(6) Kentucky | |||||||
(7) Cincinnati | |||||||
(2) Texas | |||||||
(2) Georgia Tech | |||||||
(7) LSU | |||||||
(6) Maryland | |||||||
(3) Mich St. | |||||||
(4) Wash | |||||||
(5) Illinois | |||||||
(8) Oregon | |||||||
(1) UConn |
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