The Onset of March Madness

Favorite player: Jake Odum, Indiana State

The Sycamores lost to #3 seeded Syracuse, but it wasn’t for lack of trying.  Indiana State point guard Jake Odum threw no-look passes like they were going out of style, steam-rolled around the court without regard to teammates or defenders, and seemed to hop as he was running.  Energy emanated from Odum at all times.  He played with an absolute verve, like he was truly enjoying the challenge of playing a storied opponent.  Exciting, undpredictable, and unusual, someone like Odum encapsulates the beauty of March Madness.  It’s so much fun to watch these teams you’ve never even heard of and to be surprised by the talents they possess.

Best Madness Moment: Butler Upsets Pittsburgh

Down one point with less than ten seconds to go, Butler gets a layup to surge ahead.  Pitt, in a hurry with just 5 seconds left, inbounds the ball to guard Gilbert Brown rocketing down the far sideline hoping to hoist a last second shot.  But before Brown reached mid-court, Butler star Shelvin Mack senselessly fouled him, resulting in a 1-and-1 for Pittsburgh who needed to sink both free throws to take the lead, and likely, the game.  Brown calmly made the first free throw to knot the game at 70.  The second shot seemed a lock to go in; Pittsburgh had all the momentum and Butler just made a crushing mistake.  Brown fired his second attempt and clanged it off the rim.  Butler forward Matt Howard elevated for the rebound, snatched it, and on his way down was inexplicably hacked by Pitt forward Nasir Robinson.  Mind you, Howard was 90 feet from his own basket with less than two seconds remaining.  There was no earthly reason to touch Howard, yet Robinson blatantly fouled him.  Pitt was in the penalty, so in a tie game Butler’s Howard went to the line needing to make one free throw to effectively knock off the #1 seeded Panthers.  Howard stepped to the line, made the first foul attempt, purposely missed the second, and time expired.  I’ve never seen two more horrible fouls so close together completely shift the game in both directions.  In the span of four seconds, Butler hit a shot to take the lead, Pittsburgh got fouled with a chance for the go-ahead free throw, and then Butler sealed the game at the line.

Morehead State’s last second shot against #4 seeded Louisville is a strong runner up to the Butler-Pittsburgh game.  Down two points with the ball and 20 seconds remaining, Morehead chose to not go for the tie and gave themselves no chance for a put back rebound by running out the clock and hoisting a buzzer beating three.  The Eagles made the shot and advanced to the Round of 32, shocking Rick Pitino’s Cardinals.

Most Impressive Team: Ohio State Buckeyes

A dominant win over Texas-San Antonio was no surprise, but their demolition of George Mason was a statement performance.  Jared Sullinger is the best post player in the nation and Jon Diebler is a certified marksman from deep.  They are experienced, athletic, and have multiple scorers, the full package.  The Buckeyes are as big a favorite as any team to win a championship.

Most Dissapointing Team: Tennessee Volunteers

To be the most disappointing team, you need to have played poorly.  Anybody can get beat, like Pittsburgh did against Butler.  Pitt, though, played well in that game and lost a spandex tight contest to the defending national runner up.  I’m not disappointed by Pittsburgh because they played terrific basketball.  "Terrific" does not exactly sum up the play of the Tennessee Volunteers however.  8 vs. 9 games are supposed to be close, yet the Volunteers got squashed by 30 points against Michigan.  The Wolverines are a solid team, but they shouldn’t beat anyone like that.  I’m sure the Tennessee coaches and players were totally distracted by the inevitable firing of Bruce Pearl, but my God, please have a little pride.

The Tournament Selection Committee Knows What It’s Doing

Lots of people always complain about how poorly the committee seeds the tournament, but they did a great job this year.  The higher seeds, meaning teams 1-8, went a combined 25-7 against the lower seeds.  The only major upset in the first two days was Morehead State's victory over Louisville.  #11 seeded Marquette over #6 seeded Xavier should not shock anyone, a talented power conference school beating a mid-major.  #11 seeded Gonzaga beat #6 seeded St. Johns; the Zags are always dangerous in the tournament.  #10 Florida State beat #7 Texas A&M, #11 VCU took out the struggling #6 Georgetown Hoyas, Richmond outlasted Vanderbilt in the deadly 12-5 matchup, and #9 seeded Illinois beat #8 seed UNLV.  The Louisville loss was the one game in the entire first round that surprised.

Thoughts on CBS, TruTV, TBS, and TNT teaming up to bring us every game in its entirety: Pure American Awesome-ness

Commercials were almost entirely avoidable, and you could potentially watch four different close games come down to the wire simultaneously.  The best sporting event in the world just became four times more accessible.  Rarely does something so good become exponentially better, but that’s what happened with this year’s tournament.  Also the new setup allowed Charles Barkley onto the CBS set, instantly quadrupling the entertainment value of pregame, halftime, and wrap-up shows.

--from Adam

2011 NFL Draft Preview: Arizona Cardinals and Cleveland Browns

#5 Arizona Cardinals

What They Need: I think this is one spot where it’s clear what to do.  Derek Anderson and John Skelton are simply not NFL quarterbacks.  The Cards have other holes on their roster, but with Larry Fitzgerald, Steve Breaston, and Beanie Wells already in place at the skill positions, they need a ring leader.  They must have a guy capable of accentuating the considerable talent they already possess.  The offensive line is slowly improving, and the defense has some nice players.  Needs are present defensively, specifically a pass rusher, but nothing is as pressing as the quarterback situation.

Who They Might Pick: If both the top two quarterbacks are gone—doubtful, at least one of them should be left—then they go with a pass rusher here.  Von Miller seems a perfect fit for their 3-4 system, something they're moving more towards.  Da'Quan Bowers, if available, would be out of position as a 3-4 outside linebacker.  Robert Quinn, the pass rushing phenom from UNC is a possibility as well, though teams worry about him because he didn’t play this past year due to NCAA sanctions.  If both quarterbacks are still on the board, I think Blaine Gabbert will be the pick.

My Advice: Take Blaine Gabbert.  I’m not saying he’s a better prospect than Cam Newton, but I do think he’s more prepared to come in right away and play, that he will transition to the NFL faster.  He’s the more accurate passer and his mechanics are better.  The Cardinals, as mentioned, have the offensive talent in place, so they aren’t in a position like Buffalo or Carolina to build around a singular talent like Newton.  A pure passer to complement the running of Wells and highlight Fitzgerald would be the best pick.  The NFC West is ripe for the taking, and if Gabbert is ready to play right now, it could mean a division championship in a short period of time.

#6 Cleveland Browns

What They Need: I’ve heard rumblings that the Browns aren’t sold on Colt McCoy as their franchise quarterback.  I think they’ll give him at least another offseason to add strength, learn the system, and prove himself as the full time starter.  Peyton Hillis established himself as a top tier running back that can wear down defenses.  Center Alex Mack, tackle Joe Thomas, and guard Eric Steinbach represent an excellent core for the offensive line.  Where the Browns really lack talent is on the perimeter of their offense.  When tight end Ben Watson is your leading receiver by far, you’re in trouble.  Adding a premiere wideout would help the offense and provide further insight as to whether McCoy should be the man moving forward.  If he can’t do it with a top playmaker, a good running back, and a solid offensive line, then the Browns can think about taking a quarterback next year.  Defensively, there are a lot of holes.  The defensive front is aging and not very dynamic at all.  Shaun Rogers has been cut; he was their biggest force up front.  The linebackers aren’t overly impressive either.  The Browns spent their first two picks last year on the secondary (Joe Haden and TJ Ward) so I don’t anticipate them investing another top pick in the back four.

Who They Might Pick: Possibilities abound for the Brownies.  Defensive line, pass rusher, or receiver seems to be where they’ll look.  Stephen Paea is a possibility.  He could lock down the nose tackle void Rogers' departure created.  Miller or Quinn are possibilities in the pass rusher department.  As far as receivers, Julio Jones and AJ Green will probably still be on the board here.  At least one of them will surely be available.  I believe they’ll want to support young McCoy with some additional weaponry, and address the defense with later picks.  Cleveland could use the rest of their draft on defense if they can get one special offensive player here.

My Advice: Georgia's AJ Green should be the pick.  Scouts say he’s the closest thing to Calvin Johnson they’ve seen since, well, Calvin Johnson.  He has great hands, top speed, a 6’4” frame, and a huge vertical leap.  He can stretch the field, and has the size to move the chains and draw double teams in the red zone.  He’ll create opportunities for every other Browns receiver, and no corner in the league will be able to jump with him in the end zone.

--from Adam

NBA Power Poll #19

1. LA Lakers (50-20): Remember when they were 38-19 at the All Star break? That was thirteen games ago, and the Lakers have lost just once since then.  They’ve caught and subsequently passed the Mavericks in the standings and now own the two seed out West.  On a long home-stand now, LA should bolster their record as they did last week with wins against the Magic, T-Wolves, and Blazers.  Andrew Bynum, who got suspended two games for a flagrant foul on Michael Beasley, has been one of the best players in the league over the past month.  In his last ten games Bynum is averaging 13 points, 14 rebounds, and three blocks.  Kobe Bryant’s ankle injury scare seems to have been nothing more than a scare.  He’s fine, and so is LA.

2. San Antonio Spurs (56-13): The Spurs got crushed last Monday by the Heat.  That wasn't much of a surprise though.  The Heat are playing better, had revenge on their minds, and need every win they can get.  The Spurs are basically coasting toward the playoffs.  Gregg Popovich and company still won at Dallas and cruised to an easy victory over the Bobcats last week.  It is slightly worrisome how poorly the Spurs played when Tony Parker was sidelined.  I’m not sure this is a team that can be successful in the playoffs without all hands on deck.

3. Chicago Bulls (49-19): We all thought this team would be good, but 30 games over .500?  Impressive.  Derrick Rose probably has the MVP sewn up, though I still advocate for Dwight Howard.

4. Boston Celtics (49-19): Boston has to fear the Bulls right now.  I’m sure to start the year they thought they’d be battling the Heat for the East's top seed.  And I’m sure the Celtics liked that idea, knowing they are tougher and grittier than Miami.  The Bulls represent a near mirror image for Boston.  Chicago has the Celtics' former defensive mastermind as their head coach, a young star point guard, an All Star power forward, and role players that buy into the system.  If Boston and Chicago meet in the East Finals, it’s going to be a war.

5. Dallas Mavericks (49-21): Who would you take in a Finals series where the Heat met the Mavs?  I’m not sure, but we probably won’t have to worry about that happening because both teams share a basic softness that limits their long-term prospects.  Both are flashy, explosive offensive teams that lack the ability to close out games.  Dallas had a sizeable lead over the Lakers in the race for the two seed, but threw it away with their worst stretch of ball all year.  If the Mavericks were going to beat the Lakers in the playoffs, they needed home court.  Now that looks highly unlikely.

6. Oklahoma City Thunder (45-24): A new team joins the league’s elite six?  You bet.  The Thunder replace the Heat because of their improved strength in the post.  Kendrick Perkins makes their interior defense exponentially better, and Nazr Mohammed adds even more size.  Now Kevin Durant never has to play power forward, and the Thunder’s perimeter defenders can funnel their men towards Perkins,Serge Ibaka, and Mohammed.  OKC certainly has a legitimate shot to beat the Spurs in the second round. With their recent additions the Thunder can play low scoring games and win, which is vital in the playoffs.

7. Miami Heat (48-22): Full disclosure, I’m never sure where to put this team.  They have two of the best five players in the league with LeBron James and Dwyane Wade.  Chris Bosh is a nice offensive option, but he’s nothing more than a top-25 player in the league, not a superstar like I once thought.  Miami has beaten the Lakers and Spurs, but has yet to defeat Boston or Chicago.  They’re built to run less talented teams off the court and put up a nice regular season record.  They're not built for the grinding style of the playoffs.

8. Orlando Magic (44-26): The Magic own this spot.  They’re considerably worse than everyone ahead of them on my list, yet they would be heavily favored in a series against anyone else in the league.  I can definitively say this is the eighth best team in the league.  Congrats Orlando.

9. Denver Nuggets (41-29): They’ve lost two straight but are still playing really good basketball and nearly beat Miami a few nights ago.  Unfortunately, the Nuggets are slated to face the Thunder in the 4-5 matchup of the first round.  That’s a tall order, and even if they're swept, it shouldn’t diminish how well Denver has played without Carmelo Anthony.

+1. Tyler Hansbrough: No, he’s not on this list because he’s dominating the tournament for the Tar Heels.  He’s actually in the NBA now.  No really, I swear.  He plays for the Pacers.  And he’s playing really well lately.  Averaging a solid 11 points and 5 rebounds this year, Hansbrough has taken off in the last month.  He’s putting up 21 and 8 over his last ten games.  Well done Psycho-T.

--from Adam

2011 NFL Draft Preview: Buffalo Bills and Cincinnati Bengals

#3 Buffalo Bills

What They Need: No surprise, like most teams at the top of the draft, the Bills need a lot, which of course leads to their high draft pick.  Buffalo has had a bad offensive line for a while now, but there isn’t a lineman in this year’s crop rated as a top ten prospect, much less in the top three.  In my mind, you don’t want to reach for a player when you sit so high in the draft.  At pick #3 you have to nab a big-time talent.  The Bills need wide receivers, and certainly there are some game changing prospects that will be available here in AJ Green and Julio Jones.  Still, receivers have a somewhat limited impact on the game, so I’m not sure one should go this high.  Quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick showed at the very least that he can take care of the ball and keep his team in games.  He affords Buffalo the chance to address other areas of need, unless they really want a quarterback.  The running back situation is solid with CJ Spiller and Fred Jackson forming a nice duo.  The defense has some true bright spots.  Defensive tackle Kyle Williams made the Pro Bowl, linebacker Paul Posluszny is an emerging star, and Jairus Byrd is a top talent at safety.  With one young star at each level of the defense, that’s what the Bills need to build their identity on.

Who They Might Pick: If the Bills are enamored with Cam Newton or Blaine Gabbert, then they should take either one if they’re on the board.  But if they aren’t completely infatuated with either, they should go defense.  Adding one top defensive player could give the Bills a really promising unit.  The Bills ranked last in the league against the run last year, so defensive line is probably the area of greatest need.  If Nick Fairley, Marcel Dareus, or perhaps Oregon State nose tackle Stephen Paea is on the board, they would be good picks.  Paea might be a reach, but he’s a monster against the run and benched 225 pounds a record 49 times at the combine.  The Bills were excellent against the pass last year, ranking third in the NFL, but they could still use a corner like Patrick Peterson.  Any team could.

My Advice: Since I told the Panthers to take Fairley and the Broncos to nab Peterson, I think Paea or Dareus should be the Bills pick.  Dareus is the more disruptive force against the pass and is the much higher rated prospect, so he's my man.  I wouldn’t be surprised at all if they look Newton's way with this selection, if only to draw attention to the franchise and build around a transcendent athlete.

#4 Cincinnati Bengals

What They Need: This is the hardest team in the draft to predict.  One reason is simply that they’re the Bengals.  The other is that Carson Palmer threatens to retire unless he’s traded.  Most experts think Palmer will come around and be the Bengals' guy again next year, but I don’t.  I’ve read interviews where Palmer has said he believes the NFL is getting too violent and that somebody is going to die on the field.  He doesn't love the game anymore, at least not in Cincinnati.  I think he’s a smart man, and unless he goes to an ideal spot, he’ll retire.  That’s a roundabout way of saying the Bengals may be looking for a passer at the top of the draft.  Needs abound however for the Bengals; there’s no shortage of ways they could go with this pick.  Terrell Owens is probably out the door, and Chad Ochocinco may follow.  The offensive line could use help as well.  The Bengals have good young linebackers and a talented corner duo but need help on the defensive line and at safety.

Who They Might Pick: We’ve identified offensive line, wide receiver, defensive line, safety, and potentially quarterback as the main areas of need.  If Palmer leaves, or if Cincy believes he will retire, then I would guess they’d take whichever player between Newton and Gabbert they like best.  If they don’t love either passer, I think they go either wide receiver or defensive lineman.  This is too high a spot to reach for a safety, and in a weak offensive line year they shouldn’t go in that direction either.  AJ Green from Georgia is the highest rated receiver in the draft, though Julio Jones (who ran a 4.3 40 with a broken foot) is rising up draft boards.  Either one of those players would be a nice addition, but if Palmer’s out the door, it might not make much sense to grab a wideout without a guy to get him the ball.  That leaves a defensive line opening, and the Bengals are often enamored with tremendous athletes.  That could mean pass rushers Von Miller from Texas A&M, Robert Quinn from North Carolina, or Da’Quan Bowers from Clemson.  Fairley and Dareus are possibilities as well if they’re still on the board.

My Advice: In my personal draft universe, Dareus and Fairley are gone.  That leaves Bowers as the best available option to bolster the Bengal pass rush.  If Palmer is gone I would have no problem drafting a passer here either.  But rationally, I think the run on defense should continue, and Bowers should be the pick.  It would be astounding though if my advice came to fruition: no offensive players taken in the first four picks.

--from Adam

2011 NFL Draft Preview: Carolina Panthers and Denver Broncos

The NFL Draft is coming friends. Even mired in the dark shadows of an NFL lockout I know draft day paints an insuppressible smile all over your delirious faces. The draft makes us all into babbling fools. Every team is a championship contender for that one weekend in April, and that’s okay. In fact, that’s what’s great about the draft. It’s an event specifically geared toward the worst teams in the league. The season is miles away, and in a sense, reality is even farther. For one day, Bills fans can forget how bad they were last year, and how bad they’ll be next year, yet can still make statements like, “Ya know, if we get Cam Newton, I think we’re in the playoffs.”

None of us know how good any of these players will be, but we all have our favorites in mind, guys we want our team to take, and those are usually just the guys we’ve heard of. How many of us screamed bust last year when the Jaguars took Tyson Alualu, even though we’d never seen him play? Conversely, how many of us claimed that Jimmy Clausen or Taylor Mays were steals in the second round? In reality Alualu was very good, while Clausen and Mays did little to justify their second round status.

For fans the draft has little to do with reality and much to do with dreaming big. It’s uninhibited fun where people can get starry eyed about a prospect just because he had a sweet cone drill or get downright furious because their team drafted an edge rusher when they know damn well slot receiver was priority number one. The best part is that nobody really loses on draft day. Fans can spin their draft however they want because players won’t be taking the field for months.

With this upcoming series I want to look at each NFL team, their most pressing needs, and which players they might target to address those needs. I’m not going to tell you if the Falcons might nab a great special team’s gunner in the sixth round. I’m going to focus on the first round prospects, the players who might be available for each team with their top pick. I’ll address each team by the order of picks in the first round.

#1 Carolina Panthers

What They Need: The Panthers, frankly, need a lot. Their quarterback situation was a quagmire last year, though I’m not sure they want to jump ship yet on Jimmy Clausen. He wasn’t great, but he wasn’t working with a whole lot of support. The offensive line has talent, and the running backs are the strength of the team. Defensively the Panthers need almost everything. Corners Captain Munnerlyn, Richard Marshall, and Chris Gamble are solid enough. Linebacker Jon Beason is a star. The defensive front is weak, so if they choose to go defense with their top pick, look for them to address the front four.

Who they Might Pick: Carolina could decide to grab a quarterback if new coach Ron Rivera isn’t sold on Clausen. In that case they’ll either go with Blaine Gabbert (considered the most pro-ready, accurate passer) or Cam Newton (the most athletic/exciting player in the draft). I personally think the Panthers will go defense with this pick, and as I said, that likely means drafting a defensive lineman, where Nick Fairley is the most impressive prospect. He’s a rock in the middle that can stuff the run and is the rare pass rushing force from the tackle spot. Marcell Dareus from Alabama is also a top possibility, though he isn’t the same athlete as Fairley. If Carolina wants a pure pass rusher, look no further than Clemson defensive end Da’Quan Bowers. Bowers is a ridiculous athlete who turns his physical prowess into tremendous production.

My Advice: Give Clausen another year and see what he can do. Gabbert and Newton are far from slam dunk prospects. Take a more sure thing, and if Clausen stinks this year, get your quarterback next year. I would take Fairley. He’ll improve Beason’s life and pressure opposing passers. We saw what Ndamukong Suh meant to the Lions last year; perhaps Fairley could have a similar impact.

#2 Denver Broncos

What They Need: Similar to Carolina, the Broncos are a team with an unsettled quarterback situation and a new coaching regime. I have no idea if Head Coach John Fox likes Tim Tebow, but he’s said that Kyle Orton will be his starter. The Broncos’ offensive line is talented, and Knowshon Moreno is the future at running back. Brandon Lloyd had a breakout year at wideout, but he is the Broncos’ only real threat in the receiving corps. Since I don’t think quarterback is really a draft option for Denver and receivers generally don’t go second overall, defense is probably the direction to go. Elvis Dumervil is a stud pass rusher and should be back healthy after missing the entire 2010 season. 2009 first round pick Robert Ayers is a young prospect who could turn into a sack artist as well. Denver runs a 3-4 system, so drafting a defensive lineman typically means going after a big, immovable, two-gap player. There aren’t any of those type of prospects that could go this high; Fairley's athleticism is better suited for the 4-3. Denver's secondary is one of the oldest in the league and could use an infusion of talent.

Who They Might Pick: Since pass rush is an area of relative strength, and I doubt Denver will go offense with this pick, this selection basically comes down to a couple guys. Marcell Dareus is seen as a guy that could be a 4-3 defensive tackle or a 3-4 end. He’s a strong, fluid, and balanced athlete. He’s not flashy, but he won’t be overpowered, and he’s athletic for his size. Dareus would represent an incremental improvement to Denver’s front. The guy I love is LSU cornerback Patrick Peterson. His measurables are ridiculous: 6’2”, 219 pounds, and he runs a 4.3 40-yard dash. He’s as strong as a safety and fast as a corner. Peterson also isn’t just a combine freak. In the SEC he covered the likes of AJ Green and Julio Jones, both top-15 prospects, and did so admirably. If Denver drafts the LSU Tiger, they’ll be taking away half the field for the next decade.

My Advice: Take Peterson; look what Darrelle Revis has meant for the Jets. I believe that Peterson will be one of the best ten corners in the league the moment he steps on an NFL field, and he could eventually be the best cover man in the league, especially after he studies under Champ Bailey.

--from Adam