What Am I Wearing?
The Maui, Atlantis, PKs, and CBE
Other Notable Games Last Week
Previewing/Predicting Games This Week
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Tuesday, November 28, 2017
Saturday, November 25, 2017
Jersey Appreciation Friday Vol. 46
WOAH! Having this week of of school has made me forget what day it is. It's almost SUNDAY, and there has yet to be a Jersey Appreciation Friday this week. Maybe I was hypnotized by the glorious PK80 uniforms. Anyway, for the 46th edition of Jersey Appreciation Friday, I'll go with a uniform i just saw recently. While the game between Maryland and Bucknell was quite the thriller, I couldn't help but notice the sleeved Bison uniforms. They were gray, which usually yields a dull jersey, but the navy blue and orange accents on the collar and letters made the uniform stand out . They make the orange and navy work without making it too much like the Chicago Bears or Illinois. Well done. Click Here
Thursday, November 23, 2017
Ranking the PK80 Uniforms
While the Maui Invitational and Battle 4 Atlantis are certainly making their own headlines this Feast Weekj\, a new tournament, the PK80 held in honor of Nike legend Phil Knight's 80th birthday, is the tournament everyone seems to be talking about. And who could blame them? With a field featuring Duke, North Carolina, Butler, Florida, Gonzaga, Texas, Oregon, Michigan State, Oregon, Oklahoma, Ohio State and more, this is the most anticipated Thanksgiving tournament in recent memory. Aside from all the great teams playing basketball, each one is going to be wearing a special uniform for the entire event. Let's rank all 16 of them here.
16. DePaul
Like most things basketball-related. DePaul finds itself dead last in these rankings. Their royal blue uniforms with black lettering wouldn't be such a bad idea, but the jerseys lack any outline. This makes the uniform look like a jumbled mess created with crayon by a second-grader.
15. Portland State
These green and white uniforms wouldn't be so bad if they were worn in a regular game, but seeing that so many other teams stepped up their jersey game for this event, Portland State looks lost in a galaxy of uniform normalcy. Again, it's not a bad look--forest green with white lettering--but it just doesn't compare with the heavyweights of the PK80.
14. Oklahoma
This one isn't really Oklahoma's fault. It's almost impossible to make anything look good using that atrocious shade of red. The Sooners also lose points for lack of effort, as these are basically the same as their regular jerseys. Bummer Sooner.
13. Stanford
Stanford's are also quite unremarkable. The cardinal red with black letters is so overdone, and using black with that dark of a red won't allow people to even make out the word 'Stanford' on their uniforms. An outline would've helped here.
12. Duke
Again, we have a case of a team not putting forth the effort. The Dukies basically have the same blue uniform as they do during ACC play, and that one isn't even that impressive. Considering their encouraging color scheme and their beast uniforms from the early 2010s, I was expecting more.
11. UConn
The Huskies changed their color scheme from red, white and navy to black and gray. The look isn't horrible, but I punish UConn for being sellouts and changing their entire identity for some Nike dude's preference. Also, whenever gray is your main color your ceiling is like a 6/10.
10. Ohio State
The Buckeyes did a pretty good job with these uniforms. You're probably wondering what sets Ohio State apart from Stanford, and it's the shade of red. Ohio State has a brighter, more Nike-esque tone than the humdrum Cardinal. Again, the red and black isn't my favorite combination, but the Buckeyes made the best of it. If we were talking black jerseys with red lettering, then I'd be higher on them.
9. Arkansas
There we go! I told you the black/red jersey looks way better than the inverse. I also give credit to the Razorbacks for going with the logo look instead of the letters. They were the only team to do it, so that bumps them up a few spots.
8. Michigan State
Sparty went with their traditional green but with gold lettering for the PK80. This is a really good uniform. If I ranked solely on shorts, the Spartans would be #1. But the jersey isn't as strong as the other competitors, thus, they land in 8th.
7. Butler
Butler's uniform looks so plain, but it's so cool. The Bulldogs have black jerseys with white lettering (Yawn.), but the shorts are phenomenal. The thick white stripes contrasting with the thinner black ones gives this uniform a hypnotic appearance. Butler just created the best black and white uniform ever in my book.
6. Texas
I'm sad. Texas might've been given the second-best color combination to work with, yet its design is ordinary. The jerseys are fine, but the semi-two-tone shorts just aren't getting it done for me. The Longhorns did a good job, just not a great job. But their color scheme carries them into 6th.
5. North Carolina
The Tar Heels never have a disappointing uniform, and this is no different. The navy blue "UNC" on top of the traditional Carolina blue is just amazing and angelic. North Carolina has once again outclassed everyone in the uniform game.
4. Gonzaga
Such a great uniform. They utilize the black/red combo better than anyone in the tournament, and their shorts have a fantastic zigzag pattern running across them. Just an absolute masterpiece from the folks up in Spokane.
3. Portland
This might be my wildcard pick, but I can't help but dig the purple uniforms of the Pilots. Nothing really special about the design here really, but the color scheme featuring that lavender-ish purple pushes them up to 3rd on my list.
2. Florida
Orange. Black. Perfect. Florida's uniform is just like the German Confederations Cup team: They bring their B-team and still dominate. Ideally, I would've loved to see a royal blue with orange lettering, but since Phil Knight wanted black in everything, that couldn't happen. Still, the Gators have great uniforms. Don't sleep on the gator-print shorts either.
1. Oregon
It's only right that Oregon gets the top rank after all of this. I mean Phil Knight did go there. Anyway, the vibrant, but not overdone green is the best uniform color in this field, and the duck wing pattern on the shorts is good too. There is nothing I don't like about this Oregon uniform, but again it all comes back to that green. Just amazing.
I'll be doing a Twitter tournament throughout the week too. Make sure you vote and make YOUR favorite PK80 uniform the champion.
The Huskies changed their color scheme from red, white and navy to black and gray. The look isn't horrible, but I punish UConn for being sellouts and changing their entire identity for some Nike dude's preference. Also, whenever gray is your main color your ceiling is like a 6/10.
10. Ohio State
The Buckeyes did a pretty good job with these uniforms. You're probably wondering what sets Ohio State apart from Stanford, and it's the shade of red. Ohio State has a brighter, more Nike-esque tone than the humdrum Cardinal. Again, the red and black isn't my favorite combination, but the Buckeyes made the best of it. If we were talking black jerseys with red lettering, then I'd be higher on them.
9. Arkansas
There we go! I told you the black/red jersey looks way better than the inverse. I also give credit to the Razorbacks for going with the logo look instead of the letters. They were the only team to do it, so that bumps them up a few spots.
8. Michigan State
Sparty went with their traditional green but with gold lettering for the PK80. This is a really good uniform. If I ranked solely on shorts, the Spartans would be #1. But the jersey isn't as strong as the other competitors, thus, they land in 8th.
7. Butler
Butler's uniform looks so plain, but it's so cool. The Bulldogs have black jerseys with white lettering (Yawn.), but the shorts are phenomenal. The thick white stripes contrasting with the thinner black ones gives this uniform a hypnotic appearance. Butler just created the best black and white uniform ever in my book.
6. Texas
I'm sad. Texas might've been given the second-best color combination to work with, yet its design is ordinary. The jerseys are fine, but the semi-two-tone shorts just aren't getting it done for me. The Longhorns did a good job, just not a great job. But their color scheme carries them into 6th.
5. North Carolina
The Tar Heels never have a disappointing uniform, and this is no different. The navy blue "UNC" on top of the traditional Carolina blue is just amazing and angelic. North Carolina has once again outclassed everyone in the uniform game.
4. Gonzaga
Such a great uniform. They utilize the black/red combo better than anyone in the tournament, and their shorts have a fantastic zigzag pattern running across them. Just an absolute masterpiece from the folks up in Spokane.
3. Portland
This might be my wildcard pick, but I can't help but dig the purple uniforms of the Pilots. Nothing really special about the design here really, but the color scheme featuring that lavender-ish purple pushes them up to 3rd on my list.
2. Florida
Orange. Black. Perfect. Florida's uniform is just like the German Confederations Cup team: They bring their B-team and still dominate. Ideally, I would've loved to see a royal blue with orange lettering, but since Phil Knight wanted black in everything, that couldn't happen. Still, the Gators have great uniforms. Don't sleep on the gator-print shorts either.
1. Oregon
It's only right that Oregon gets the top rank after all of this. I mean Phil Knight did go there. Anyway, the vibrant, but not overdone green is the best uniform color in this field, and the duck wing pattern on the shorts is good too. There is nothing I don't like about this Oregon uniform, but again it all comes back to that green. Just amazing.
I'll be doing a Twitter tournament throughout the week too. Make sure you vote and make YOUR favorite PK80 uniform the champion.
Wednesday, November 22, 2017
Maui Delivers; Battle 4 Atlantis Disappoints
College basketball showed why it's the best spectator sport in the world today as there were several exciting and meaningful games played in the two major Thanksgiving tournaments: the Battle 4 Atlantis and the Maui Invitational.
The Battle 4 Atlantis gave us four games in which three of them were upsets. North Carolina State beat (2) Arizona. Ugh. Tennessee needed overtime to knock off (18) Purdue. Ugh. Northern Iowa got by SMU. Enh. The only favored team to win in the Battle was 5th-ranked Villanova, but even they struggled against Western Kentucky, a team that should be favored in Conference USA this season. While the upsets do provide an element of excitement, this ultimately f**ks up the rest of the tournament. The semifinal matchups are Villanova/Tennessee and North Carolina State/Northern Iowa. Good, but not great. This is a rare time where I am thankful for a consolation bracket. The 5th place game (ideally Arizona vs Purdue) will be more interesting than the championship (ideally Villanova vs North Carolina State). But the way this tournament went down today, I'm sure Nova will go down and either Arizona or Purdue will lose again. This tournament already turned into a s**tshow, so we might as well burn it all to the ground.
Predicitons: Villanova over Tennessee; NC State over Northern Iowa; Arizona over SMU; Purdue over Western Kentucky
The Maui Invitational thankfully made up for the Battle 4 Atlantis crap and gave us an awesome championship between (6) Wichita State and (13) Notre Dame. Wichita State literally dominated the entire game. They were up by 15 at one point and looked poised to close the game out without a problem. Then the Irish woke up. Bonzie Colson started knocking down shots, and Matt Farrell revved up his intensity. With about 30 seconds left, ND had the ball down by 3 points. Then Bonzie Colson airballed a 3-pointer with 13 seconds left, and all hope was lost for the Irish. BUT WAIT. Matt Farrell stole the in-bounds pass and dished it to Colson for a layup. 66-65 Shockers. Notre Dame fouled Austin Reeves and sent him to the line where he missed the front end of a 1-and-1. Matt Farrell attempted to get to the cup on the ensuing possession but was ferociously denied. After the scrap for the rebound, a jump ball was called, giving Notre Dame the ball with 3.3 seconds left. Mike Brey then drew up a genius out-of-bounds play that got Martinas Geben fouled with 2.3 seconds remaining. His first free throw hit the back iron and bounced in the air, then the front rim, then in. His second one was made in a cleaner fashion. ND leads 67-66. Wichita State tried to pass the ball to halfcourt from their own baseline, but Landry Shamet caught it and turned it over soonafter. NOTRE DAME WINS.
This was an absolutely wild finish. After seeing this, I think both Wichita State and Notre Dame are legit top-10 teams in America. Screw Kentucky. The Shockers and the Irish are far superior right now.
Also in the Maui, I got my wish as Chaminade curb-stomped California 96-72. Yeah, I'm not kidding; look it up. Michigan beat VCU in a great consolation championship, and Marquette looked good in a win against LSU even though Tremont Waters torched them for 39 points.
OTHER NEWS:
-Brian Bowen won't be playing for Louisville this season (check Twitter).
-The Celtics finally lost.
-Vanderbilt got its 2nd Top-15 2018 recruit as Simi Shittu announced he'll be a Commodore.
-Kyron Cartwright of Providence had the craziest buzzer-beater of the year as he got the win against Belmont.
-The PK80s start tomorrow, so pay attention to that.
The Battle 4 Atlantis gave us four games in which three of them were upsets. North Carolina State beat (2) Arizona. Ugh. Tennessee needed overtime to knock off (18) Purdue. Ugh. Northern Iowa got by SMU. Enh. The only favored team to win in the Battle was 5th-ranked Villanova, but even they struggled against Western Kentucky, a team that should be favored in Conference USA this season. While the upsets do provide an element of excitement, this ultimately f**ks up the rest of the tournament. The semifinal matchups are Villanova/Tennessee and North Carolina State/Northern Iowa. Good, but not great. This is a rare time where I am thankful for a consolation bracket. The 5th place game (ideally Arizona vs Purdue) will be more interesting than the championship (ideally Villanova vs North Carolina State). But the way this tournament went down today, I'm sure Nova will go down and either Arizona or Purdue will lose again. This tournament already turned into a s**tshow, so we might as well burn it all to the ground.
Predicitons: Villanova over Tennessee; NC State over Northern Iowa; Arizona over SMU; Purdue over Western Kentucky
The Maui Invitational thankfully made up for the Battle 4 Atlantis crap and gave us an awesome championship between (6) Wichita State and (13) Notre Dame. Wichita State literally dominated the entire game. They were up by 15 at one point and looked poised to close the game out without a problem. Then the Irish woke up. Bonzie Colson started knocking down shots, and Matt Farrell revved up his intensity. With about 30 seconds left, ND had the ball down by 3 points. Then Bonzie Colson airballed a 3-pointer with 13 seconds left, and all hope was lost for the Irish. BUT WAIT. Matt Farrell stole the in-bounds pass and dished it to Colson for a layup. 66-65 Shockers. Notre Dame fouled Austin Reeves and sent him to the line where he missed the front end of a 1-and-1. Matt Farrell attempted to get to the cup on the ensuing possession but was ferociously denied. After the scrap for the rebound, a jump ball was called, giving Notre Dame the ball with 3.3 seconds left. Mike Brey then drew up a genius out-of-bounds play that got Martinas Geben fouled with 2.3 seconds remaining. His first free throw hit the back iron and bounced in the air, then the front rim, then in. His second one was made in a cleaner fashion. ND leads 67-66. Wichita State tried to pass the ball to halfcourt from their own baseline, but Landry Shamet caught it and turned it over soonafter. NOTRE DAME WINS.
This was an absolutely wild finish. After seeing this, I think both Wichita State and Notre Dame are legit top-10 teams in America. Screw Kentucky. The Shockers and the Irish are far superior right now.
Also in the Maui, I got my wish as Chaminade curb-stomped California 96-72. Yeah, I'm not kidding; look it up. Michigan beat VCU in a great consolation championship, and Marquette looked good in a win against LSU even though Tremont Waters torched them for 39 points.
OTHER NEWS:
-Brian Bowen won't be playing for Louisville this season (check Twitter).
-The Celtics finally lost.
-Vanderbilt got its 2nd Top-15 2018 recruit as Simi Shittu announced he'll be a Commodore.
-Kyron Cartwright of Providence had the craziest buzzer-beater of the year as he got the win against Belmont.
-The PK80s start tomorrow, so pay attention to that.
Tuesday, November 21, 2017
Maui Invitational Championship Preview
Ladies and gentlemen, we have actually received the Maui championship game we wanted. After Georgetown screwed everything up last year, the Maui Invitational has made up for it by pairing up Wichita State and Notre Dame for the title tomorrow.
The finals better be good because the semifinals weren't anything special. Wichita State beat Marquette handily 80-66, and Notre Dame put the hurt on LSU by a score of 92-53.
Wichita State looks really good defensively. Their full-court press is incredibly difficult to break, helping the Shockers force 28 turnovers in their two games so far. Big man Shaquille Morris is averaging 18 points, 4.5 rebounds and 3 blocks during the tournament and will be a key defensive presence against a Notre Dame squad that can fill it up. Landry Shamet is also playing quite well for Wichita State, but it's really been a team effort. The loose balls, offensive rebounds and deflections are propelling Wichita State to victories; it'll be interesting to see how they do against on of the nation's best offenses.
Notre Dame is coming off two games in which the combined margin of victory was 33 points. Fun fact: they actually beat LSU by more points than Division II host Chaminade. Anyway, you've all heard about Matt Farrell and Bonzie Colson. Yeah, they're great. But Temple Gibbs has silently been one of Notre Dame's most productive players offensively. He's averaging 15 points per game on the season and exploded for 27 tonight. He could end up being the X-factor in the championship tomorrow.
As for a prediction, I'll take the Irish by 7. We have to remember that Wichita State isn't fully healthy, as Markis McDuffie is recovering from a broken foot. Ultimately, I think Notre Dame has too much firepower on the offensive end for Wichita State to keep up with, at least for tomorrow night.
The finals better be good because the semifinals weren't anything special. Wichita State beat Marquette handily 80-66, and Notre Dame put the hurt on LSU by a score of 92-53.
Wichita State looks really good defensively. Their full-court press is incredibly difficult to break, helping the Shockers force 28 turnovers in their two games so far. Big man Shaquille Morris is averaging 18 points, 4.5 rebounds and 3 blocks during the tournament and will be a key defensive presence against a Notre Dame squad that can fill it up. Landry Shamet is also playing quite well for Wichita State, but it's really been a team effort. The loose balls, offensive rebounds and deflections are propelling Wichita State to victories; it'll be interesting to see how they do against on of the nation's best offenses.
Notre Dame is coming off two games in which the combined margin of victory was 33 points. Fun fact: they actually beat LSU by more points than Division II host Chaminade. Anyway, you've all heard about Matt Farrell and Bonzie Colson. Yeah, they're great. But Temple Gibbs has silently been one of Notre Dame's most productive players offensively. He's averaging 15 points per game on the season and exploded for 27 tonight. He could end up being the X-factor in the championship tomorrow.
As for a prediction, I'll take the Irish by 7. We have to remember that Wichita State isn't fully healthy, as Markis McDuffie is recovering from a broken foot. Ultimately, I think Notre Dame has too much firepower on the offensive end for Wichita State to keep up with, at least for tomorrow night.
Monday, November 20, 2017
Maui Invitational Day 1
You know the college basketball season has arrived when you hear Dan Shulman and Jay Bilas calling games in the ESPN polos at midnight. This, of course, can only mean one thing: The Maui Jim Maui Invitational is back! The first day of games kicked off today, and we saw some pretty decent action. Let's recap here.
Quarterfinal 1: Marquette 94 VCU 83
Not surprisingly, Markus Howard led all scorers in this one with 22 points, but Marquette as a team had a solid outing against a frantic VCU team. Despite committing 17 turnovers, Marquette always had a decent handle on the game, and it felt that they were in the driver’s seat from the opening tip. 94 points against one of the most established defensive teams in the country is always a good sign, but the Golden Eagles will get a tougher test tomorrow.
Quarterfinal 2: Wichita State 92 California 82
The Shockers were down by as many as 18 early in the second half thanks to a tremendous performance by Cal guard Don Coleman, but they eventually woke up and used a fantastic 5-minute stretch at the end of the game to propel themselves to a 10-point win. I know Cal isn't a great team, but I loved the way Wichita State just turned it on and won that game. Shaquille Morris is playing way better than I gave him credit for at the beginning of the year, and Landry Shamet is one of the best guards in the country. Oh, and the Shockers aren't fully healthy yet.
Quarterfinal 3: Notre Dame 83 Chaminade 56
I would've loved to see a Chaminade win against the Irish today, but I think we all knew better than to expect it. When the Irish boast two of the best players in the ACC in Matt Farrell and Bonzie Colson, and those two players combine for 50 points (Farrell 27, Colson 23), Chaminade had no chance of winning. The good news is that we are one step closer to the highly-anticipated Wichita State/Notre Dame championship game.
Quarterfinal 4: LSU 77 Michigan 75
Clearly the best game of the opening round, LSU edged Michigan by two behind a spectacular performance from freshman guard Tremont Waters, who had 21 points (15 in the 2nd half). I'm telling you, this guy is really good. Apparently he was a top-100 freshman who held offers from Duke and Kansas, but I had never heard of him before tonight. Anyway, Michigan looked pretty good too. And the fact that Kentucky transfer Charles Matthews had 28 points should be encouraging for the Wolverines moving forward. For now though, let's look forward to Tremont Waters taking on Notre Dame tomorrow.
Side Note: The most interesting game of the night didn't even come from Hawaii. Creighton “upset” UCLA tonight 100-89 in the Hall of Fame Classic. Creighton’s offense looks like a video game, and it's always nice to see UCLA lose. But seriously, Creighton’s offense might be the best in the NCAA. Marcus Foster and Khyri Thomas are a fantastic 1-2 punch that will strike fear into any opponent. And Mitchell Ballock will be college basketball’s next lovable superstar. If they stay healthy (they didn't last year), they should be in consideration to finish 2nd in the Big East. (Villanova is on a another level right now). If they beat Baylor tomorrow (which I think they will), it would be their third straight win against a ranked opponent. Something to keep an eye on.
Quarterfinal 1: Marquette 94 VCU 83
Not surprisingly, Markus Howard led all scorers in this one with 22 points, but Marquette as a team had a solid outing against a frantic VCU team. Despite committing 17 turnovers, Marquette always had a decent handle on the game, and it felt that they were in the driver’s seat from the opening tip. 94 points against one of the most established defensive teams in the country is always a good sign, but the Golden Eagles will get a tougher test tomorrow.
Quarterfinal 2: Wichita State 92 California 82
The Shockers were down by as many as 18 early in the second half thanks to a tremendous performance by Cal guard Don Coleman, but they eventually woke up and used a fantastic 5-minute stretch at the end of the game to propel themselves to a 10-point win. I know Cal isn't a great team, but I loved the way Wichita State just turned it on and won that game. Shaquille Morris is playing way better than I gave him credit for at the beginning of the year, and Landry Shamet is one of the best guards in the country. Oh, and the Shockers aren't fully healthy yet.
Quarterfinal 3: Notre Dame 83 Chaminade 56
I would've loved to see a Chaminade win against the Irish today, but I think we all knew better than to expect it. When the Irish boast two of the best players in the ACC in Matt Farrell and Bonzie Colson, and those two players combine for 50 points (Farrell 27, Colson 23), Chaminade had no chance of winning. The good news is that we are one step closer to the highly-anticipated Wichita State/Notre Dame championship game.
Quarterfinal 4: LSU 77 Michigan 75
Clearly the best game of the opening round, LSU edged Michigan by two behind a spectacular performance from freshman guard Tremont Waters, who had 21 points (15 in the 2nd half). I'm telling you, this guy is really good. Apparently he was a top-100 freshman who held offers from Duke and Kansas, but I had never heard of him before tonight. Anyway, Michigan looked pretty good too. And the fact that Kentucky transfer Charles Matthews had 28 points should be encouraging for the Wolverines moving forward. For now though, let's look forward to Tremont Waters taking on Notre Dame tomorrow.
Side Note: The most interesting game of the night didn't even come from Hawaii. Creighton “upset” UCLA tonight 100-89 in the Hall of Fame Classic. Creighton’s offense looks like a video game, and it's always nice to see UCLA lose. But seriously, Creighton’s offense might be the best in the NCAA. Marcus Foster and Khyri Thomas are a fantastic 1-2 punch that will strike fear into any opponent. And Mitchell Ballock will be college basketball’s next lovable superstar. If they stay healthy (they didn't last year), they should be in consideration to finish 2nd in the Big East. (Villanova is on a another level right now). If they beat Baylor tomorrow (which I think they will), it would be their third straight win against a ranked opponent. Something to keep an eye on.
Saturday, November 18, 2017
Podcast #47
What Am I Wearing?
LiAngelo & Company
Duke/Sparta
Kansas/Kentucky
Xavier/Wisconsin
Thanksgiving Tournament Predictions
-Maui Invitational
-Battle 4 Atlantis
-PK80 Victory
-PK80 Motion
Click Here
LiAngelo & Company
Duke/Sparta
Kansas/Kentucky
Xavier/Wisconsin
Thanksgiving Tournament Predictions
-Maui Invitational
-Battle 4 Atlantis
-PK80 Victory
-PK80 Motion
Click Here
Friday, November 17, 2017
JP Macura is the Hero College Basketball Needs
Wisconsin played Xavier on Thursday in a rematch of the 2016 Round of 32 where the Badgers shocked the 2-seeded Musketeers on a last-second shot by Bronson Koenig.
And yes, the Twitter storm from offended college basketball fans did come:
https://twitter.com/empeypp/status/931355826094297088
https://twitter.com/Bri_Hen/status/931366897798565888
This time, the Badgers weren't so lucky.
Xavier was clearly the dominant team and got the road win by a score of 80-70. Trevon Bluiett had 25 points for Xavier, and Happ had 21 for Wisconsin, but the real story was Xavier guard JP Macura.
Macura as a solid 20 points and 8 rebounds for Xavier, but he probably won more people over on Thursday with his interactions with the Wisconsin student section.
The entire game the Badger fans were chanting "asshole" at him and calling him other names and stuff like that. I don't see the problem there necessarily. Fans are gonna be fans. Every student section does the same so who cares if they swear a bit?
Macura, being the controversial fire-starter he is, responded by not only having one of his best games ever, but also throwing it back in the Wisconsin fans' faces.
He finished the game off with an alley-oop dunk, and as he left the floor (Wisconsin fans still yelling at him), he gave us an all-time response.
If you don't know the hilarious meaning of this, look no further than the 2017 NCAA Tournament. In the Sweet 16, Wisconsin was playing Florida for a chance to go to the Elite Eight and probably the Final Four. Wisconsin led by two with 4 seconds remaining in overtime and looked like a 99% favorite to win. But then Chris Chiozza hit an unbelievable three-pointer at the buzzer to send the sorry Badgers packing.
Macura's perfect response apparently disgruntled Bill Raftery Here's a summary:
"Raftery inadvertently hit upon why some straight arm clapping offended him so dearly when he started a sentence with “maybe I’m getting old.” His impromptu soapbox on how engaging in trash talk in somehow ruining the game of college basketball was just the tip of a Twitter iceberg." -Christopher Novak, bigeastcoastbias.com.
https://twitter.com/Bri_Hen/status/931366897798565888
This is where I declare my undying love for JP Macura. Wisconsin fans are probably some of the most passionate in college basketball. Macura actually had the stones to do what many other players would've loved to do at the Kohl Center, and the hypocritical reaction from Badger fans saying how classless Macura was when they were literally taunting him the entire night shows that JP rattled them to their core. JP Macura, you are the hero college basketball needs.
I'm hoping that this is just the beginning. Macura better yell "ON WISCONSIN" at Villanova, and "SOOIE" at Seton Hall. And I can't wait to see what he does in the NCAA Tournament this year.
Hopefully, Xavier gets to the Final Four and knocks off Kentucky, Duke and North Carolina on the way there. Let's show the blue bloods who's boss.
Oh and if you were wondering whether JP responded to the social media hate from Thursday, here's your answer:
Jersey Appreciation Friday Vol. 45
This week's Jersey Appreciation Friday is awarded to the retro Charlotte Hornets uniforms made famous by Muggsy Bogues, Larry Johnson, Alonzo Mourning and the crew. The classic Hornets' Teal mixed with an interesting pinstripe combination of green, light blue and purple makes it an iconic one of its era. Why did I choose this? Well the Hornets just debuted their new retro jersey as part of the Jordan series. Check both out here and decide which one's better. I'll go with the old one. Old and New
Tuesday, November 14, 2017
Champions Classic Recap
Once again the Champions Classic delivered in giving us a glimpse of four of the top teams in the country for the upcoming season. Duke knocked off Michigan State 88-81, and Kansas defeated Kentucky 65-61. Here's what I now think of each team.
By far, Duke looked the most impressive. As I've become a known "Duke is overrated every year" believer, I'll eat my own words here. Grayson Allen, much to my chagrin, had the most impressive performance in his 4 years at Duke with 37 points. Like I honestly can't describe how awesome he played. Another thing to note too–he never came out of the game either. Just fantastic. Marvin Bagley III didn't even play for the majority of the game because of his eye, and Duke could've rolled over and given Michigan State that game, but they didn't. Tonight they proved why they're currently the best team in the nation. Also, Trevon Duval was impressive again with 17 points and 10 assists. That Duval-Allen duo is going to be lethal.
Michigan State, though they lost, certainly looked good. They had three players (Miles Bridges, Nick Ward and Jaren Jackson Jr.) with 19 points each. I honestly think they just ran into a buzzsaw of a Duke team tonight, and they would've beaten Kansas or Kentucky had they played them. This team looks really well-balanced. Bridges, Jackson Jr and Ward will handle the scoring, and Cassius Winston is the perfect pass-first point guard for Tom Izzo's offense. I think their biggest weakness is guard depth, but Tum Tum Nairn Jr and Matt McQuaid are certainly serviceable. Nonetheless, this is still a brilliant starting point for a program that usually improves drastically by the Tournament.
Kansas didn't look that great in their win tonight. They only shot 35.3% from the field and a ghastly 56.3% from the free throw line. They also may have set the record for the most fastbreak layups missed in a half. Regardless, I think Kansas fans can find comfort in that they still beat Kentucky even though they didn't play their best. I mean Devonte' Graham isn't going to struggle as much as he did tonight, as with Malik Newman and Lagerald Vick. They also only played with 7 guys tonight, a problem that will be resolved once they get Billy Preston Jr back. Kansas should be encouraged by SVIATOSLAV and Udoka Azubuike. Especially Azubuike, who had 13 points and 8 rebounds with his only misses coming from the free throw line. I wasn't impressed but wasn't disappointed either. I'll give Kansas a C for now.
Kentucky actually played better than how I thought they would. (I did have them as a 20-point underdog though.) Their offense is very sloppy and choppy: two qualities you don't want to have. I feel like nobody on that team knows who should take what shots and when. Kevin Knox was the clear MVP of the Wildcats today, but he didn't get the ball enough at the end of the game. Kentucky also lacks an elite floor general. Quade Green and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander just aren't good enough to get the job done. They also cannot seem to get a rebound. I know this is a young team, but I can't in my right mind see them as anything more than Sweet 16 knockouts.
Here's how I would rank all 4 after tonight:
1) Duke
2) Michigan State
3) Kansas
4) Kentucky
MVP goes to Grayson Allen for obvious reasons.
Sunday, November 12, 2017
Kentucky's Struggles
Kentucky entered the season ranked 5th in the country and having one of the best recruiting classes for like the billionth straight year. After two poor performances, though, I'm questioning this team's viability as a national powerhouse.
On Friday Kentucky took on Utah Valley at home, and they did not play well. Utah Valley took a NINE point lead into halftime. For Kentucky, a nine point LEAD at the break would've been considered an underwhelming performance. At one point the Wildcats were down by 12 points in the second half. Luckily, they caught Utah Valley looking ahead and used an 18-0 run to win the game 73-63. Still though, it shouldn't have been that close.
On Sunday the Wildcats welcomed another inferior opponent to Rupp Arena as Vermont came into town. Kentucky started off the game strong, carrying a double-digit lead into halftime, but in the second half Vermont outscored them by 8 points and only lost by 4. Granted, Kentucky never really vanquished their lead or relinquished control of the game. But it's still worrisome that they couldn't close out Vermont at home.
This Kentucky team reminds me of the infamous 2012-13 squad that didn't make the NCAA Tournament and lost to Robert Morris in the first round of the NIT. (Yeah, that actually happened.) That team had no stars (though many draft picks) and probably had the worst chemistry I've ever seen.
Now I don't know if that will be the case this season. But I do know that De'Aaron Fox, Anthony Davis, Tyler Ulis, Karl-Anthony Towns and John Wall aren't walking through those doors. I don't see a star talent in Hamidou Diallo, Nick Richards, Kevin Knox or PJ Washington. Nobody stands out, and given Kentucky's extreme youth (2nd youngest team in NCAA Division I), that could be a major issue.
All of this can be reversed if they beat Kansas on Tuesday. That game will show the nation whether this team can hang with the best of 'em because Kansas is an established power after returning so much talent. But given the inexperience of this roster and overall lack of star talent, I'll take the Jayhawks by 20.
This could be an overreaction (it probably is honestly), but this is going to be the worst team Calipari has had since 2012-2013. I'll let that simmer for now.
On Friday Kentucky took on Utah Valley at home, and they did not play well. Utah Valley took a NINE point lead into halftime. For Kentucky, a nine point LEAD at the break would've been considered an underwhelming performance. At one point the Wildcats were down by 12 points in the second half. Luckily, they caught Utah Valley looking ahead and used an 18-0 run to win the game 73-63. Still though, it shouldn't have been that close.
On Sunday the Wildcats welcomed another inferior opponent to Rupp Arena as Vermont came into town. Kentucky started off the game strong, carrying a double-digit lead into halftime, but in the second half Vermont outscored them by 8 points and only lost by 4. Granted, Kentucky never really vanquished their lead or relinquished control of the game. But it's still worrisome that they couldn't close out Vermont at home.
This Kentucky team reminds me of the infamous 2012-13 squad that didn't make the NCAA Tournament and lost to Robert Morris in the first round of the NIT. (Yeah, that actually happened.) That team had no stars (though many draft picks) and probably had the worst chemistry I've ever seen.
Now I don't know if that will be the case this season. But I do know that De'Aaron Fox, Anthony Davis, Tyler Ulis, Karl-Anthony Towns and John Wall aren't walking through those doors. I don't see a star talent in Hamidou Diallo, Nick Richards, Kevin Knox or PJ Washington. Nobody stands out, and given Kentucky's extreme youth (2nd youngest team in NCAA Division I), that could be a major issue.
All of this can be reversed if they beat Kansas on Tuesday. That game will show the nation whether this team can hang with the best of 'em because Kansas is an established power after returning so much talent. But given the inexperience of this roster and overall lack of star talent, I'll take the Jayhawks by 20.
This could be an overreaction (it probably is honestly), but this is going to be the worst team Calipari has had since 2012-2013. I'll let that simmer for now.
Saturday, November 11, 2017
Jersey Appreciation Vol. 44
A big day yesterday means that Jersey Appreciation Friday is pushed back to Saturday. Anyway this week I'll give it to the Loyola Maryland Greyhounds. I saw them play against Northwestern last night, and while their uniforms aren't that flashy, they certainly get the job dons. The grey and dark green is a unique mix. The only issue is that it's tough to see the contrast when you're far away. Overall though, I love the concept. Side note: watch out for Cam Gregory. Click Here
Friday, November 10, 2017
My National Champion Pick
I've thought long and hard about my decision for who's going to be the 2018 National Champion. I'm still not confident, but nevertheless I gotta pick someone or else I'm not a real college basketball writer. Anyway as you probably don't remember my Final Four is Wichita State, Arizona, Michigan State and Villanova. I was literally deciding this on my podcast as I went along. But I've come to a conclusion.
My champion is Arizona.
Throughout the past two days, I've had brief moments when all of the teams in my Final Four were my pick, so it was really tough. But Arizona has everything a team could possibly need for a title run. I love Allonzo Trier. DeAndre Ayton is a monster Dusan Ristic, Parker Jackson-Cartwright, Rawle Alkins and Emmanuel Akot will all contribute. Arizona has a REALLY good team. I don't care that Sean Miller hasn't been to a Final Four or that their season might be vacated because of the FBI. I'll take my chances and Bear Down.
Podcast #46: NCAA Basketball Preview
What Am I Wearing?
I Have...Season Tickets??
1-25 Team by Team Rundown of AP Poll
Predictions for Coach of the Year, Player of the Year, Final Four, and National Champion
Click Here
I Have...Season Tickets??
1-25 Team by Team Rundown of AP Poll
Predictions for Coach of the Year, Player of the Year, Final Four, and National Champion
Click Here
Thursday, November 9, 2017
Top 2 NPOY Candidates
The time has now come for me to cut my list of 5 Player of the Year candidates to 2. I'm going to cut the bullshit of saying how difficult of a decision this was because it honestly wasn't. It was more trouble thinking of three other legitimate players to challenge the two top candidates I had in mind. So with that in mind, we say goodbye to Jalen Brunson, Bonzie Colson and Devonte' Graham. They all had a nice run.
Now let's talk about Allonzo Trier and Miles Bridges.
What impresses me the most about Bridges is that he doesn't seem to care what others think of him. If that were the case then he would be averaging 18 minutes a game in Memphis and not suiting up for his second year as a Michigan State Spartan. This shows a level of confidence that is often correlated with national players of the year. He really can only improve upon his impressive 17 point 9 rebound stat line from a year ago. Another year in Tom Izzo's system is also bound to help. The stars are aligning in East Lansing, and Bridges might be the brightest.
For Allonzo Trier, his biggest advantage is his anger. He should be attacking this season, his third as an Arizona Wildcat, with a vengeance as he only played in 18 games last year due to a PED suspension. Trier has the ability to put up Buddy Hield-like numbers while having a more talented team around him than Hield did. He's that good of a scorer. If Trier can show that he is the alpha of the Wildcats, this award should go to him without question. With the attention that comes with having one of the most loaded rosters in the NCAA, Trier will also get plenty of opportunities to showcase his talent.
As for a prediction, I'll take Miles Bridges. I just think he will have a bigger chance to shine individually than Trier, as Arizona has more talent than Michigan State.
Wednesday, November 8, 2017
Top 3 Freshmen
I think there's a universal consensus on which freshmen are poised for tremendous seasons. While this year's crop is no comparison to last year's in terms of depth, the skill level at the top is pretty much the same if not more exciting than last year. In keeping with the trend, here are my top three freshmen for the 2017-18 college basketball season.
1. Michael Porter Jr. SF Missouri
Michael Porter Jr. is the type of player that gets me excited about how bad the Bulls are this season. More than any other freshman in college, Porter Jr. represents the archetypal modern NBA superstar. Blessed with a lanky 6'10 frame, Porter Jr. can handle the ball and possesses a lethal outside jumper. He might be the perfect prospect if you're looking for another Kevin Durant. In terms of what he will accomplish for Missouri this year, that is a different story. The Tigers are coming off an abysmal 8-24 season, which saw them fail to pick up a road win. Even for a future 1st overall draft pick, that's tough to turn around. Luckily for Porter Jr, he will be joined by his brother Jontay, a top-50 recruit in his own right, along with Jeremiah Tilmon and Blake Harris. There'll definitely be some growing pains, but I believe Porter Jr. has the ability to get the Tigers back to the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2013.
2. DeAndre Ayton C Arizona
DeAndre Ayton is a physical specimen. I have never seen such a powerful person possess the speed and skill that Ayton does. This 7-footer can eat you alive on the block, but he can also bury you from downtown. I used this comparison in my Final Four predictions, but Ayton is like a combination of Shaq and Joel Embiid. He has a chance to be really special not only at Arizona but in the NBA as well. His impact at Arizona should help the Wildcats get to the Final Four. He is already a major focal point in the offense (He had 31 and 10 in an exhibition a few days ago.) and fits well next to Allonzo Trier. It's honestly unbelievable the type of skill set this kid has. I'll describe him as a Glorious Storm because he's an athletic beast but with smooth movements. You honestly just have to see it for yourself. So make sure you stay up late and watch Arizona play this year...it'll be worth it.
3. Marvin Bagley III PF Duke
Bagley III shouldn't even be at Duke. The versatile 6'11 forward should be gearing up to dominate his senior season in high school, but he decided to reclassify to 2017, and he immediately took the college basketball world by storm. He has been touted by draft experts as the best prospect since Anthony Davis, and while I don't really see what's so special about him yet, I know enough to declare him as the 3rd-best freshman in the nation. Bagley III has all the tools: skill, speed, athleticism, motor. But the one thing he has yet to consistently show is his shooting ability. If he puts in a good year at Duke in that department, I bet he will be the #1 pick in the 2018 Draft. He should also help Duke win a lot of games as he will be Grayson Allen's running mate for the Blue Devils this year. If Bagley III is all he's cracked up to be, Duke will be your national champion.
Others Considered (No Order)
Collin Sexton PG Alabama
Lonnie Walker IV PG Miami
Trevon Duval PG Duke
Gary Trent Jr. SG Duke
Mohamed Bamba C Texas
Troy Brown Jr. SF Oregon
Jaren Jackson Jr. PF Michigan State
Hamidou Diallo SG Kentucky
Kevin Knox SF Kentucky
1. Michael Porter Jr. SF Missouri
Michael Porter Jr. is the type of player that gets me excited about how bad the Bulls are this season. More than any other freshman in college, Porter Jr. represents the archetypal modern NBA superstar. Blessed with a lanky 6'10 frame, Porter Jr. can handle the ball and possesses a lethal outside jumper. He might be the perfect prospect if you're looking for another Kevin Durant. In terms of what he will accomplish for Missouri this year, that is a different story. The Tigers are coming off an abysmal 8-24 season, which saw them fail to pick up a road win. Even for a future 1st overall draft pick, that's tough to turn around. Luckily for Porter Jr, he will be joined by his brother Jontay, a top-50 recruit in his own right, along with Jeremiah Tilmon and Blake Harris. There'll definitely be some growing pains, but I believe Porter Jr. has the ability to get the Tigers back to the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2013.
2. DeAndre Ayton C Arizona
DeAndre Ayton is a physical specimen. I have never seen such a powerful person possess the speed and skill that Ayton does. This 7-footer can eat you alive on the block, but he can also bury you from downtown. I used this comparison in my Final Four predictions, but Ayton is like a combination of Shaq and Joel Embiid. He has a chance to be really special not only at Arizona but in the NBA as well. His impact at Arizona should help the Wildcats get to the Final Four. He is already a major focal point in the offense (He had 31 and 10 in an exhibition a few days ago.) and fits well next to Allonzo Trier. It's honestly unbelievable the type of skill set this kid has. I'll describe him as a Glorious Storm because he's an athletic beast but with smooth movements. You honestly just have to see it for yourself. So make sure you stay up late and watch Arizona play this year...it'll be worth it.
3. Marvin Bagley III PF Duke
Bagley III shouldn't even be at Duke. The versatile 6'11 forward should be gearing up to dominate his senior season in high school, but he decided to reclassify to 2017, and he immediately took the college basketball world by storm. He has been touted by draft experts as the best prospect since Anthony Davis, and while I don't really see what's so special about him yet, I know enough to declare him as the 3rd-best freshman in the nation. Bagley III has all the tools: skill, speed, athleticism, motor. But the one thing he has yet to consistently show is his shooting ability. If he puts in a good year at Duke in that department, I bet he will be the #1 pick in the 2018 Draft. He should also help Duke win a lot of games as he will be Grayson Allen's running mate for the Blue Devils this year. If Bagley III is all he's cracked up to be, Duke will be your national champion.
Others Considered (No Order)
Collin Sexton PG Alabama
Lonnie Walker IV PG Miami
Trevon Duval PG Duke
Gary Trent Jr. SG Duke
Mohamed Bamba C Texas
Troy Brown Jr. SF Oregon
Jaren Jackson Jr. PF Michigan State
Hamidou Diallo SG Kentucky
Kevin Knox SF Kentucky
Tuesday, November 7, 2017
Final Four Predictions
The time has now come to make my official preseason Final Four predictions for the upcoming college basketball season. Let me just say that this is the least confident I've been in a Final Four prediction in my life. Now I know most of my preseason predictions haven't been right, but I'm still worried that I don't have ANY semblance of self-assurance in making these picks. I wish I could latch onto a team like I did Kansas last year (although look how that worked out). I have no team this year that gives me the same hope as the Jayhawks did last year. Take the predictions with half a grain of salt. (But give me praise and adulation if I absolutely nail these).
Let's start this thing off, eh?
2018 FINAL FOUR PREDICTIONS
ARIZONA*
Despite the FBI investigation, I'm all in on the Wildcats this year. They bring back key pieces like Allonzo Trier, Parker Jackson-Cartwright, Dusan Ristic and Rawle Alkins and they might have the best freshman in the nation in 7-foot big man DeAndre Ayton, not to mention freshman guard Emmanuel Akot. Trier is a natural scorer, Jackson-Cartwright is a natural passer and Ayton is a natural monster. You want a comparison for him? How about Shaquille O'Neal power with Joel Embiid skill. This Arizona team checks all the boxes for a Final Four team aside from the Final Four experience itself. I think this is the year Sean Miller gets the job done, though. He has too much talent to not get there. If I'm being honest, the biggest obstacle for Arizona in reaching the last weekend is going to be this FBI probe. That could come back to bite them, and no one knows when it will be settled. I'm hoping that the FBI doesn't ruin college basketball (at least not this season) and lets Arizona play out their season sanction-free. If that is the case, Arizona has the leadership, scoring, size and athleticism to get to San Antonio.
MICHIGAN STATE
I wasn't so high on Michigan State until about a week ago when the Sports Illustrated article about why Miles Bridges decided to return to Sparta. After reading that, I realized that this Spartan team has a unique chemistry that I don't think many other programs have. The determining factor for Sparty this year, however, is that they actually have the talent to complement the chemistry. Last year, Michigan State seemed out of sorts. Tom Izzo had to coach a really young team, and that isn't really his strong suit. Now, I really like the sophomore class of Bridges, Nick Ward, Cassius Winston and Joshua Langford. Bridges is going to be one of the top five players in the country, while freshman forward Jaren Jackson Jr. has potential to be a top five freshmen. Oh, and if you're worried about senior leadership, Tum Tum Nairn and Gavin Schilling have you covered. While Nairn has struggled shooting the ball, he is still a comforting presence for this roster. Schilling, on the other hand, battled injury all of last season. Now healthy, Schilling, along with Ward, Jackson Jr. and Kenny Goins will make up a fearsome foursome in the frontcourt. This roster coached by Tom Izzo? I have two words: HAIL SPARTA.
VILLANOVA
For the second straight year, I'm putting Villanova in my preseason Final Four. Call me stupid, call me dumb, I don't care. I know Villanova lost Josh Hart. I know they just got lucky in 2016, and they usually get bounced in the second round. Believe me, I know. But this year is different. The Wildcats are being as hyped up as they were last year, and it seems that the pressure of defending their championship is off their back. POY candidate Jalen Brunson leads an experienced bunch into another highly-anticipated season. The crafty junior should lead the Wildcats in both scoring and assists this year, and he has quite the supporting cast. Mikal Bridges is a 6'7 superfreak who will use his insanely long wingspan to terrorize opposing offenses. Donte DiVincenzo and Eric Paschall will aid in the scoring department. Villanova also gets two players back from season-long injuries/circumstances. Phil Booth (who was the leading scorer in the 2016 National Championship) comes back from a knee injury, and redshirt freshman forward Omari Spellman finally will get his chance to play after sitting out due to eligibility issues. Spellman is going to be a major key as a he will help tremendously on the glass and give Villanova an inside presence they have lacked since Daniel Ochefu. I'll buy Nova.
WICHITA STATE
The Shockers return their TOP EIGHT scorers from last year. That alone should get you thinking about a Final Four run. The way Wichita State plays--tenacious, intense, basketball--can propel a slightly less-skilled team to a Final Four. This isn't that type of team. Landry Shamet might be the country's top point guard by the end of the year, Markis McDuffie is probably the most underrated forward in the nation, Connor Frankamp is automatic from distance and Shaquille Morris and Rashard Kelly make up an unstoppable rebounding tandem. They are also coached by the always-angry Gregg Marshall, who could have a job coaching nearly all major conference teams if he were to leave. We always talk about programs having a certain culture. Let me tell you that 99% of that is pure bull. The one school where I will say it's not is Wichita State. Their motto, "Play Angry," is the perfect saying for the way the Shockers play. Wichita State will get to the Final Four by sticking to their motto, and after that bogus 10-seed they got last year, they are pretty pissed off.
*I claim the full and absolute right to change this pick if Arizona is screwed over by the FBI and/or NCAA.
Let's start this thing off, eh?
2018 FINAL FOUR PREDICTIONS
ARIZONA*
Despite the FBI investigation, I'm all in on the Wildcats this year. They bring back key pieces like Allonzo Trier, Parker Jackson-Cartwright, Dusan Ristic and Rawle Alkins and they might have the best freshman in the nation in 7-foot big man DeAndre Ayton, not to mention freshman guard Emmanuel Akot. Trier is a natural scorer, Jackson-Cartwright is a natural passer and Ayton is a natural monster. You want a comparison for him? How about Shaquille O'Neal power with Joel Embiid skill. This Arizona team checks all the boxes for a Final Four team aside from the Final Four experience itself. I think this is the year Sean Miller gets the job done, though. He has too much talent to not get there. If I'm being honest, the biggest obstacle for Arizona in reaching the last weekend is going to be this FBI probe. That could come back to bite them, and no one knows when it will be settled. I'm hoping that the FBI doesn't ruin college basketball (at least not this season) and lets Arizona play out their season sanction-free. If that is the case, Arizona has the leadership, scoring, size and athleticism to get to San Antonio.
MICHIGAN STATE
I wasn't so high on Michigan State until about a week ago when the Sports Illustrated article about why Miles Bridges decided to return to Sparta. After reading that, I realized that this Spartan team has a unique chemistry that I don't think many other programs have. The determining factor for Sparty this year, however, is that they actually have the talent to complement the chemistry. Last year, Michigan State seemed out of sorts. Tom Izzo had to coach a really young team, and that isn't really his strong suit. Now, I really like the sophomore class of Bridges, Nick Ward, Cassius Winston and Joshua Langford. Bridges is going to be one of the top five players in the country, while freshman forward Jaren Jackson Jr. has potential to be a top five freshmen. Oh, and if you're worried about senior leadership, Tum Tum Nairn and Gavin Schilling have you covered. While Nairn has struggled shooting the ball, he is still a comforting presence for this roster. Schilling, on the other hand, battled injury all of last season. Now healthy, Schilling, along with Ward, Jackson Jr. and Kenny Goins will make up a fearsome foursome in the frontcourt. This roster coached by Tom Izzo? I have two words: HAIL SPARTA.
VILLANOVA
For the second straight year, I'm putting Villanova in my preseason Final Four. Call me stupid, call me dumb, I don't care. I know Villanova lost Josh Hart. I know they just got lucky in 2016, and they usually get bounced in the second round. Believe me, I know. But this year is different. The Wildcats are being as hyped up as they were last year, and it seems that the pressure of defending their championship is off their back. POY candidate Jalen Brunson leads an experienced bunch into another highly-anticipated season. The crafty junior should lead the Wildcats in both scoring and assists this year, and he has quite the supporting cast. Mikal Bridges is a 6'7 superfreak who will use his insanely long wingspan to terrorize opposing offenses. Donte DiVincenzo and Eric Paschall will aid in the scoring department. Villanova also gets two players back from season-long injuries/circumstances. Phil Booth (who was the leading scorer in the 2016 National Championship) comes back from a knee injury, and redshirt freshman forward Omari Spellman finally will get his chance to play after sitting out due to eligibility issues. Spellman is going to be a major key as a he will help tremendously on the glass and give Villanova an inside presence they have lacked since Daniel Ochefu. I'll buy Nova.
WICHITA STATE
The Shockers return their TOP EIGHT scorers from last year. That alone should get you thinking about a Final Four run. The way Wichita State plays--tenacious, intense, basketball--can propel a slightly less-skilled team to a Final Four. This isn't that type of team. Landry Shamet might be the country's top point guard by the end of the year, Markis McDuffie is probably the most underrated forward in the nation, Connor Frankamp is automatic from distance and Shaquille Morris and Rashard Kelly make up an unstoppable rebounding tandem. They are also coached by the always-angry Gregg Marshall, who could have a job coaching nearly all major conference teams if he were to leave. We always talk about programs having a certain culture. Let me tell you that 99% of that is pure bull. The one school where I will say it's not is Wichita State. Their motto, "Play Angry," is the perfect saying for the way the Shockers play. Wichita State will get to the Final Four by sticking to their motto, and after that bogus 10-seed they got last year, they are pretty pissed off.
*I claim the full and absolute right to change this pick if Arizona is screwed over by the FBI and/or NCAA.
Monday, November 6, 2017
Top 5 Player of the Year Candidates
We are officially less than one week away from college basketball season kicking off, so I'm going to take this week and do a limited preview of what to expect this year. This will start today with a Top 5. Then tomorrow it will be a Top 4 of a different subject (Guess what it'll be folks.) then Wednesday will feature a Top 3, and Thursday a Top 2. The preview will end Friday when I reveal who I'm selecting as my National Champion for the upcoming season.
The best thing about preseason predictions is that you can literally say whatever the hell you want and pretty much get away with it scot-free. It's a pride thing at this point. That's why I'm placing a Douglas Guarantee on all of these. Because if all these happen then I'm the local Wonderboy, but if they go wrong, then who gives a rip?
So without further ado, here's my Top 5 of National Player of the Year Candidates
**The following list is in alphabetical order**
Miles Bridges (Michigan State SF)
Bridges surprised many (and by surprised I mean totally shocked the entire college basketball landscape and single-handedly altered the National Championship picture) when he decided he was going to come back to East Lansing for his sophomore season. The versatile 6'7 forward averaged 16.9 points and 8.3 rebounds a game while shooting an effective 48.6% from the field (38.9% from 3). Usually, a player like this doesn't return to college, but since Bridges did, he finds himself at the top of the list in the running for NPOY. Bridges was limited by injury during his freshman year as well. If he remains healthy this season, this race could be over by February. Bridges's size and skill will be a lot to overcome for most teams this year. He's going to be impossible to guard because of his ability to drive and shoot effectively. Tom Izzo has a gem.
Jalen Brunson (Villanova PG)
Out of all the player on this list, I think this one will be criticized the most. From an appearance standpoint, Brunson doesn't really look the part for a NPOY. At a built 6'2, people tend to write off his speed and quickness. He isn't the explosive player that we have been so accustomed to seeing over the past years, but Brunson shines in a different way. I believe that he is the smartest player in country, and that helps him make impressive decisions in tough situations. Also, Brunson is the best player on the best team in the Big East. I'm not saying he's the next Josh Hart (the two don't have similar styles), but he will definitely improve upon his 14.7 PPG and 4.1 APG he averaged as a sophomore, and as a result he will be the best point guard not only in the Big East but possibly the entire country.
Bonzie Colson (Notre Dame F)
The lone representative from the ACC, Colson is your classic college basketball tweener. At 6'5 226lb, Colson typically plays the 3 or 4. His ability to shoot from deep (43.3% last season) goves Notre Dame a unique offensive threat that will confuse many teams. What makes Colson so effective aside from being a shooter is that he can score inside proficiently as well. Even at 6'5, Colson managed to shoot 54% on two-point field goals with many of those coming in the paint. Oh yeah, he also grabbed 10 rebounds a game too. Colson really is college basketball's Charles Barkley, except he can also knock it down from beyond the arc. With Notre Dame graduating seniors Steve Vasturia and VJ Beachem, Colson should have the opportunity to post even gaudier numbers this season, making him a NPOY favorite.
Devonte' Graham (Kansas G)
Frank Mason III's running mate last year is poised for a breakout 2017-18 campaign. As last year's NPOY graduated from Kansas and headed to the NBA, it is now Graham's turn to continue the dominance of the Jayhawk backcourt. After playing off the ball last season, Graham slides into the point guard role for Kansas, and he will be paired up with Mississippi State transfer Malik Newman. Graham posted a relatively modest 13.4 PPG and 4.1 APG in 2016-17, but he is the heir to the throne. He is Kansas's best and most experienced player and will be the biggest reason why the Jayhawks win another Big 12 title. I'm projecting an average of 16 PPG and 7 APG this year. His new position will allow him to show off his underrated playmaking and shot-creating ability that we didn't notice was there last year. If Kansas has chance to land back-to-back NPOYs, this is it.
Allonzo Trier (Arizona SG)
Allonzo Trier is back for more, ladies and gentlemen! The explosive guard will lead a LOADED Arizona squad this season in what might be Arizona's best team on paper since their title-winning 2001 team. Trier's season last year was tarnished by a PED suspension that had him miss the first half of the season. When he came back for the final 18 games of the campaign, he was quite impressive, averaging 17.2 PPG, 5.3 RPG and 2.7 APG. Considering he will get a full year under his belt, there's no reason to suspect any drop-off this year. Some people might think that his NPOY candidacy will be hurt because of Arizona's deep and talented roster, but I don't think (in this case) it will negatively impact his chances that much if he becomes a playmaker and gets up to 4 APG while maintaining his scoring average. And considering Arizona's personnel, that shouldn't be a problem.
Others Considered:
Grayson Allen (Duke SG)
Deandre Ayton (Arizona C)
Marvin Bagley III (Duke PF)
Joel Berry (North Carolina PG)
Trevon Bluiett (Xavier G/F)
Angel Delgado (Seton Hall PF/C)
Michael Porter Jr (Missouri SF)
Landry Shamet (Wichita State PG)
The best thing about preseason predictions is that you can literally say whatever the hell you want and pretty much get away with it scot-free. It's a pride thing at this point. That's why I'm placing a Douglas Guarantee on all of these. Because if all these happen then I'm the local Wonderboy, but if they go wrong, then who gives a rip?
So without further ado, here's my Top 5 of National Player of the Year Candidates
**The following list is in alphabetical order**
Miles Bridges (Michigan State SF)
Bridges surprised many (and by surprised I mean totally shocked the entire college basketball landscape and single-handedly altered the National Championship picture) when he decided he was going to come back to East Lansing for his sophomore season. The versatile 6'7 forward averaged 16.9 points and 8.3 rebounds a game while shooting an effective 48.6% from the field (38.9% from 3). Usually, a player like this doesn't return to college, but since Bridges did, he finds himself at the top of the list in the running for NPOY. Bridges was limited by injury during his freshman year as well. If he remains healthy this season, this race could be over by February. Bridges's size and skill will be a lot to overcome for most teams this year. He's going to be impossible to guard because of his ability to drive and shoot effectively. Tom Izzo has a gem.
Jalen Brunson (Villanova PG)
Out of all the player on this list, I think this one will be criticized the most. From an appearance standpoint, Brunson doesn't really look the part for a NPOY. At a built 6'2, people tend to write off his speed and quickness. He isn't the explosive player that we have been so accustomed to seeing over the past years, but Brunson shines in a different way. I believe that he is the smartest player in country, and that helps him make impressive decisions in tough situations. Also, Brunson is the best player on the best team in the Big East. I'm not saying he's the next Josh Hart (the two don't have similar styles), but he will definitely improve upon his 14.7 PPG and 4.1 APG he averaged as a sophomore, and as a result he will be the best point guard not only in the Big East but possibly the entire country.
Bonzie Colson (Notre Dame F)
The lone representative from the ACC, Colson is your classic college basketball tweener. At 6'5 226lb, Colson typically plays the 3 or 4. His ability to shoot from deep (43.3% last season) goves Notre Dame a unique offensive threat that will confuse many teams. What makes Colson so effective aside from being a shooter is that he can score inside proficiently as well. Even at 6'5, Colson managed to shoot 54% on two-point field goals with many of those coming in the paint. Oh yeah, he also grabbed 10 rebounds a game too. Colson really is college basketball's Charles Barkley, except he can also knock it down from beyond the arc. With Notre Dame graduating seniors Steve Vasturia and VJ Beachem, Colson should have the opportunity to post even gaudier numbers this season, making him a NPOY favorite.
Devonte' Graham (Kansas G)
Frank Mason III's running mate last year is poised for a breakout 2017-18 campaign. As last year's NPOY graduated from Kansas and headed to the NBA, it is now Graham's turn to continue the dominance of the Jayhawk backcourt. After playing off the ball last season, Graham slides into the point guard role for Kansas, and he will be paired up with Mississippi State transfer Malik Newman. Graham posted a relatively modest 13.4 PPG and 4.1 APG in 2016-17, but he is the heir to the throne. He is Kansas's best and most experienced player and will be the biggest reason why the Jayhawks win another Big 12 title. I'm projecting an average of 16 PPG and 7 APG this year. His new position will allow him to show off his underrated playmaking and shot-creating ability that we didn't notice was there last year. If Kansas has chance to land back-to-back NPOYs, this is it.
Allonzo Trier (Arizona SG)
Allonzo Trier is back for more, ladies and gentlemen! The explosive guard will lead a LOADED Arizona squad this season in what might be Arizona's best team on paper since their title-winning 2001 team. Trier's season last year was tarnished by a PED suspension that had him miss the first half of the season. When he came back for the final 18 games of the campaign, he was quite impressive, averaging 17.2 PPG, 5.3 RPG and 2.7 APG. Considering he will get a full year under his belt, there's no reason to suspect any drop-off this year. Some people might think that his NPOY candidacy will be hurt because of Arizona's deep and talented roster, but I don't think (in this case) it will negatively impact his chances that much if he becomes a playmaker and gets up to 4 APG while maintaining his scoring average. And considering Arizona's personnel, that shouldn't be a problem.
Others Considered:
Grayson Allen (Duke SG)
Deandre Ayton (Arizona C)
Marvin Bagley III (Duke PF)
Joel Berry (North Carolina PG)
Trevon Bluiett (Xavier G/F)
Angel Delgado (Seton Hall PF/C)
Michael Porter Jr (Missouri SF)
Landry Shamet (Wichita State PG)
Friday, November 3, 2017
Jersey Appreciation Friday Vol. 43
I'll appreciate the Oklahoma State Cowboys this week. As you all know the black and orange is a lethal combination and Oklahoma State uses it well. The shorts are very cool, but this is all about the jersey. The black body with orange lettering is unique but functional. And the gray outline surrounding the number works well too. I remember watching Marcus Smart and the Cowboys play solely to look at their jerseys. EnjoyClick Here
Thursday, November 2, 2017
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