After The Whistle...

NATIONAL SIGNING DAY!!

2012-02-01T10:06:00.000-08:00

Trent Richardson and Alabama Crimson Tide celebrate the 2011 BCS National Championship. Richardson was the #6 overall prospect in the 2009 ESPN 150 rankings.

Today is February 1st, 2012. National Signing Day! This day is a major day in the college football landscape. Contenders are either made or made stronger with the additions of some of the top high school football players in the nation. Most players come to play for the national powerhouses while others seek to make their mark at other schools. Other players seek to remain close to home while others seek the sunshine of Florida and California. This year, Alabama has the #1 recruiting class in the country. This will be the fourth year in a row that they have a hauled in a top 5 recruiting class, and it shows as Alabama has won two out of the last three BCS National Championships. Which freshman will play a major role in next year's national champion? Always remember that WINNING breeds RECRUITING SUCCESS and RECRUITING SUCCESS breeds WINNING! This is why you always see the top players going to winning programs.

I always say that today is the culmination of years of hard work by these high school players. I hope they enjoy this day because they certainly have earned it. After today, the REAL work will begin. There will be no celebrations for this high school stars come August. So I hope they enjoy this moment. I also hope that these athletes don't rest on their laurels of high school success when they arrive on their respective campus. They need to understand that in college...EVERYONE IS AS GOOD OR BETTER THAN YOU. I hope they put in the hard work and time into their craft on and off the football field as well as the classroom and have successful careers because there certainly have been some busts. With that said...Congratulations to all the new recruits and good luck!

Here is a list of the top 20 ESPN recruits and the college they will be attending in the fall......

1. Mario Edwards [DE] TX.......... Florida State

2. Johnathan Gray [RB] TX.......... Texas

3. Dorial Green-Beckham [WR] MO....... Missouri

4. Noah Spence [DE] PA........ Ohio State

5. Keith Marshall [RB] NC ......... Georgia

6. Landon Collins [S] LA.......... Alabama

7. D.J. Humphries [OT] NC ........ Florida

8. Davonte Neal [ATH] AZ ......... Undecided as of 2/1/12

9. Andrus Peat [OT] AZ .......... Stanford

10. Eddie Goldman [DT] DC ........... Florida State

11. Eddie Williams [ATH] FL......... Alabama

12. Malcom Brown [DT] TX........ Texas

13. Stefon Diggs [ATH] MD........ Undecided as of 2/1/12

14. Jameis Winston [QB] AL.......... Florida

15. Travis Blanks [S] FL......... Clemson

16. Shaq Thompson [S] CA .......... Washington

17. Josh Harvey-Clemons [LB] GA ............ Georgia

18. Tracy Howard [CB] FL ........... Miami

19. Isaac Seumalo [OG] OR ......... Oregon State

20. Cyrus Jones [ATH] MD .......... Alabama

When It's Your Time...

2012-01-28T12:29:00.000-08:00

Michael Strahan was able to walk away from the game on top, but most athletes are unable to do so...

THE GREAT ATHLETE. All sports fans have that favorite athlete who they absolutely LOVE to watch. We watch them put on amazing displays of greatness every night. Whether your favorite athlete is Michael Jordan, Serena Williams, Tiger Woods, John Elway, or even Derek Jeter, we all have been awestruck by their supreme talent. We wish they could play forever, but we know that can't happen. Father Time is something an athlete can't fight.

With that said, when should an athlete retire? Honestly, I believe that every athlete will know when its their time to retire. In a perfect world, every athlete will want to retire after winning that coveted championship. You know, the whole "go out on top" routine. But this isn't a perfect world. Only a few athletes were blessed to retire that way. I can name the ones that I remember. David Robinson after winning his NBA Finals with the Spurs, Jerome Bettis after winning Super Bowl XL with the Steelers, Michael Strahan after helping his New York Giants pull the stunning upset of the previously undefeated New England Patriots in Super Bowl XLII.

There is a flip side to this as well. Many athlete's continue to play despite their age, and I feel that it is a tragedy. I understand that athletes want to be able to have a championship on their resume, but it won't happen for everyone. They have to understand that when it's their time...it's their time! Sooner or later, the team will cut them to make room for the next great talent, and they will soon be a memory. I always believe that an athlete should retire on their terms and not when they don't have any other choice or are forced out. What do you think?

Back Again...

2012-01-19T09:05:00.000-08:00

So I took a little time away from doing this. Now I'm back with a vengeance. Let's go!

Brandon Jennings vs. Josh Selby going at it in the Melo League out in Baltimore

2011-07-26T10:03:00.000-07:00

We are graced with another highlight filled video from two up and coming NBA guards. One you know....another you may have not heard of yet. Brandon Jennings has recently completed his second NBA season with the Milwaukee Bucks. Meanwhile, Josh Selby is a rookie for the Memphis Grizzlies who is looking to help out his new team. The two collided in Baltimore recently and fireworks were in abundance! Selby dropped 48 points in leading his team to victory over Jennings' squad. I was thoroughly impressed by Selby's performance, but I wished that he showed this throughout his lone season at Kansas. Hopefully that will start to show in Memphis in the years ahead. Jennings is hoping for a rebound season for himself and his Bucks' squad next year. Well....here is the hyped match-up! Enjoy!!

LeBron James puts on a show at the Drew League in South Central L.A. !!!!!!

2011-07-26T09:36:00.000-07:00

Miami Heat superstar LeBron James recently participated in the Drew League. The Drew League is a series of games that take place over in Watts. Many NBA superstars have played in this league in the past, but LeBron has definitely been the highest profile player to ever grace their court. James put on a show for the packed gymnasium as he works towards another run at a championship next season. Here is some highlights of James in action....Enjoy!

James Harrison

2011-07-16T23:10:00.000-07:00

I meant to post this a few days ago, but it totally slipped my mind. Recently, James Harrison of the Pittsburgh Steelers made a series of controversial comments in an interview for the August edition of Men's Journal. I'm pretty sure that most people have already seen the explosive comments, but if not, I got you covered right here!

In regards to NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell, Harrison had this to say...

"If that man was on fire and I had to piss to put him out, I wouldn't do it. I hate him and will never respect him."
(Harrison also describes Goodell as a 'crook' and a 'devil'.)

If you thought that was bad enough....there's ALWAYS MORE! Harrison also has some words for two teammates.

Here's what he said about quarterback Ben Roethlisberger..

"Hey, at least throw a pick on their side of the field instead of asking the D to bail you out again. Or hand the ball off and stop trying to act like Peyton Manning. You ain't that and you know it, man; you just get paid like he does."

He also called out running back Rashard Mendenhall as a "fumble machine" .

Now..I don't have a problem with Harrison dissing Goodell at all. I think that he (Harrison) could have used better language though. Roger Goodell hasn't exactly been a player favorite during his time in office. In fact, all I can remember him doing is taking money out of players wallets. Harrison most likely lead the league in times fined last season.

I certainly do not give him a pass for his comments about Ben and Rashard. Sure they may have made their mistakes, but it is not fair that that the loss on them in the Super Bowl. I checked the defensive stats for James Harrison from the Super Bowl and the reusults shocked me. Big Bad James Harrison had a grand total o 1 tackle. He has no reason to talk trash about ANYONE after he only had one tackle..

Major League Baseball...Home Run Derby

2011-07-08T04:02:00.000-07:00

Ok! Ok! I know what I said about baseball on my previous posts. Today happens to be my 21st birthday, and I can't sleep for the life of me. Figure I would speak about the upcoming Home Run Derby. This is something that I watch every year...and this year I have my usual amount of excitement. I hope fireworks are provided by the dueling sluggers. Hope you all enjoy it as much as I will.

My Prediction....Matt Kemp of the L.A. Dodgers will be the Home Run Derby champ.

Tell me what y'all think.....

"Who Got Next?" Jeff Teague says it's his turn..

2011-06-28T22:41:00.000-07:00

Jeff Teague drives for a layup

The NBA is slowly getting away from the days of the dominating center. Those days are being replaced with the use of a game changing point guard. Don't believe me? I have evidence! See Chris Paul, Rajon Rondo, Deron Williams, and Russell Westbrook for the proof. Derrick Rose even became the youngest player to ever win the MVP trophy last season. And yes...this dude is a monster at the point guard position. This playoff season showed me that there is another point guard who is ready to take that step towards the elite level of point guards in the NBA. Who is this player? The answer is (drum roll please!!) Jeff Teague of the Atlanta Hawks!

Jeff Teague was the 19th overall pick in the 2009 NBA Draft following a strong sophomore season at Wake Forest University. For the past two seasons, Teague was a regular on the Hawks bench. That all changed in the second round of the 2011 NBA Playoffs. Teague basically had his coming out party against the Bulls while averaging 17.8 points per game. Hopefully, Teague can build off a strong playoff performance and have a solid 2011 campaign with the expected increase in minutes that he is projected to receive. If Teague makes that Rondo-esque leap in production then Atlanta will be rocking for years to come. I watched Teague play at Wake Forest and I believe that he is a great player. The talent is there!

Check out a few highlights of Jeff Teague during his days at Wake Forest

And a few of his highlights as an Atlanta Hawk

NBA Draft Lottery Picks..

2011-06-25T23:22:00.000-07:00

The Cleveland Cavaliers selected Duke point guard, Kyrie Irving, with the #1 overall pick

LOTTERY PICKS

1. Kyrie Irving PG Duke
Cleveland Cavaliers

2. Derrick Williams PF Arizona
Minnesota Timberwolves

3. Enes Kanter C Turkey / Kentucky
Utah Jazz

4. Tristan Thompson PF Texas
Cleveland Cavaliers

5. Jonas Valanciunas C Lithuania
Toronto Raptors

6. Jan Vesely SF Czech Republic
Washington Wizards

7. Bismack Biyombo PF Democratic Republic of the Congo
Charlotte Bobcats

8. Brandon Knight PG Kentucky
Detroit Pistons

9. Kemba Walker PG/SG UConn
Charlotte Bobcats

10. Jimmer Fredette SG Brigham Young
Sacramento Kings

11. Klay Thompson SG Washington State
Golden State Warriors

12. Alec Burks SG Colorado
Utah Jazz

13. Markieff Morris PF Kansas
Phoenix Suns

14. Marcus Morris SF/PF Kansas
Houston Rockets

Happy Father's Day!

2011-06-19T01:13:00.001-07:00

Today is Father's Day! I just want to give a shout out to all the men out there who are taking care of their kids and providing a solid foundation for them. I also want to shout out the women who have stepped into that role and took care of business themselves! My hat goes off to you all. So...have fun today! Enjoy church and a great Sunday dinner. Enjoy the gifts that your family has worked hard to pick out for you! Most importantly...give all thanks and praises to Greater Man Upstairs for all that He has done for you all! Be blessed!

On behalf of myself and After The Whistle.....I would like to wish you all out there a Happy Father's Day!

Sooooo......What's Next?

2011-06-18T00:01:00.000-07:00

I'm guessing that a lot of you are feeling like me at the moment. "The NBA season is over, and the NFL probably won't even have a season at the rate they're going. What do I have to look forward to?" Well, I would personally advise you to check out a few baseball games to quench your pro sports thirst. The first half of the season is winding down, and the MLB All-Star game is approaching. That also means a chance to watch the Home Run Derby. Unfortunately, I don't cover baseball like that at the moment...so don't expect to see my talking about it on this blog site.

I can tell you that the NBA Draft is coming up next week! That's always an exciting time. You can be sure to expect big trades and a lot of "WTF?!" moments during the draft. Unfortunately, there will be no Summer League this year as the league faces a possible lockout similar to the one that the NFL is currently mired in. Have no fear! I will certainly do my best to keep you all entertained during the summer.

If all else fails....at least we have college football coming back in 70 days!

One word to describe the 2011 NBA Playoffs? AMAZING!

2011-06-17T23:51:00.000-07:00

NBA Playoffs 2011.....A Performance for the History Books

2011-06-17T23:47:00.000-07:00

Wow! I just want to say that these playoffs were one of the more memorable ones in NBA history! It is definitely a sign that the level of basketball is continuing to rise to unknown levels. I can hardly remember a playoff season with so many jaw dropping finishes and individual storylines. It has been absolutely amazing! I can't wait to see what next year's playoffs will bring. Oh...and congratulations to the Dallas Mavericks on winning the 2010-2011 NBA Championship!

My Top Five 2011 Playoff Series:

5. Oklahoma City Thunder vs. Denver Nuggets
(First Round: OKC won the series 4-1)

4. Chicago Bulls vs. Atlanta Hawks
(Second Round: CHI won the series 4-2)

3. Miami Heat vs. Boston Celtics
(Second Round: MIA won the series 4-1)

2. Oklahoma City Thunder vs. Memphis Grizzlies
(Second Round: OKC won the series 4-3 in the playoffs ONLY Game 7!)

1. Dallas Mavericks vs. Miami Heat
(NBA Finals: DAL won the series 4-2 to clinch the NBA Championship for the first time)

NFL Series: Day 1 "Uniforms"

2011-05-22T19:32:00.000-07:00

I recently watched a special on NFL Network that was called "Top 10 NFL Uniforms". I was greatly impressed with what the experts came up with. As a result, I was inspired to write about my own opinions on NFL uniforms as a way to kick off my week long NFL series.

What is so special about an NFL uniform? The average person wouldn't think anything of a team's uniform. They are just looked at as something to distinguish one team from another. On the other hand, die hard football fans see uniforms as prized possessions. Ask any football fan if they remember the first NFL jersey that they ever bought and they will gladly tell you. I definitely remember mine! I was in the second grade and it was the #28 Warrick Dunn jersey of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Yes, it was the beautiful red, black and pewter unis. (Not the creamsicles!)

Sometimes a team will have the same uniform for decades. Teams such as Pittsburgh, Oakland, Indianapolis, and both New York teams have all sported the same look since the 60's. Uniforms such as those are iconic in the NFL and are appreciated by the masses. Consider how much history has been made by those teams in those uniforms. There at least 10 championships combined from those five teams. Don't expect those teams to follow the latest NFL trend.

The new NFL trend is bringing new uniforms for teams. This has happened steadily throughout the last decade, and I expect it to continue. The list of teams who have done this is too long to name in this entry, but I will give a few examples.
*Buffalo Bills (2002)
*Seattle Seahawks (2002)
*Atlanta Falcons (2003)
*Arizona Cardinals (2006)
*Minnesota Vikings (2006)

There are several team uniforms that are highly popular around the league, but there are also some that are downright awful! Some teams just don't get the uniform picture and continue to be laughed at on Sunday. Haha! Well, we are still a few months away from the 2011 NFL season (if we have one) and there is at least one known uniform change and that is coming from Buffalo. I am definitely looking forward to watching games and seeing these uniforms in action!

My Top 10 Favorite Jerseys

San Francisco 49ers
Atlanta Falcons
Arizona Cardinals
Oakland Raiders
Kansas City Chiefs
Seattle Seahawks
Pittsburgh Steelers
New York Giants
Dallas Cowboys
Chicago Bears

Feel free to tell me yours!

You Be The Judge!

2011-05-21T20:02:00.000-07:00

I was finally able to sit down and watch some playoff basketball this past week. Let's just say that it was worth the wait. Two of the best moments from the games last week were two highlight reel dunks. The first one occurred in Game 1 of the Bulls-Heat game. Taj Gibson pulled off a phenomenal dunk over Dwyane Wade that energized the crowd and spurred the Bulls on to a victory. The second dunk came in the form of Kevin Durant throwing down over Dallas center Brenden Haywood. If you didn't catch any of the dunks...don't worry! I got you covered right here. Let me know which one you think is the best!

Taj Gibson over D-Wade

Kevin Durant over Brenden Haywood

Back In Session...

2011-05-15T14:44:00.000-07:00

Sorry you guys! I know I haven't posted in a while. Just finished my final exams. Now I'm back to hit you with the hottest info. I have also considered some changes to make also. Stay tuned!

Note To The Fans..

2011-04-29T19:02:00.000-07:00

I apologize for the inconvenience. I am in the middle of preparing for my final exams, and writing papers. I PROMISE I will have something for you all on Sunday. There has definitely been a lot of sports news going on, and I can't wait to discuss it. Stay tuned!

C.J. King....Coming to a court near you!!

2011-04-17T16:13:00.000-07:00

C.J. King in action last season..

Today, I'm going to introduce to you all to arguably the best point guard that you've never heard of. Meet C.J. King, a 5'11 senior point guard for Bible Baptist Christian School headed to play basketball for the Liberty Flames next season. I first met C.J. when I was a senior in high school, and he was a freshman. I've watched his game grow tremendously over the past three years, and now I'm here to put the word out about this guy. He has a tremendous work ethic on and off the court. He has that John Wall-like ability to dribble full speed and then stop and change directions. He is nearly impossible to stay in front of once has the ball in his hands. As the floor general, he sets up his teammates in position to score, and also makes them better. He also possesses a Derrick Rose humility about himself. Be careful, if you give him too much space...he will make you pay with a silky smooth jumper. His defense is also tough to break down.

Liberty is getting a great guard in CJ. He is a proven winner demonstrated in playing a huge part in leading his teams to the state title game in three out of his four years in high school. I recently had the opportunity to sit down with C.J., and here's what he had to say...

ATW: So, what motivated you to play basketball?

KING: Well, I was the shortest player all throughout middle school. The challenge to be better pushed me on. I didn't even start scoring double digits until 9th grade. My game has taken off every since. All glory to God though.

ATW: Who is your favorite NBA player?

KING: Kobe Bryant. The Black Mamba! I just love his mentality about the game. He refuses to go down with a fight.

ATW: Which NBA player do you try to pattern your game after?

KING: I really just try and pick up things from multiple things from multiple players just to be as diverse as possible. For instance, Kobe has the game time mentality that I strive to achieve. LeBron has the aggressiveness that I put out every game. D-Wade has the overall laid back that is so smooth yet effective at the same time. I really like that.

ATW: How would you describe your years playing high school basketball?

KING: Man, it has been one to remember. I've had amazing teammates and I've been blessed to go to championship game three out of the four years of high school. I have also been able to shine in more places than one.

ATW: Do you have any expectations going into your freshman year at Liberty?

KING: I'm planning on making as big a difference as possible when I get there. This is a big chance for me and I aim to take full advantage of this opportunity. Final Four, here I come!

ATW: What would you say to any young aspiring basketball out there?

KING: Play every game with all you have. You're character gets you so far in this life beyond the court. Show that you're a great person off the court, and you will be seen as a great person on the court. Practice! Practice! Practice! And last, but not least....keep God first.

Check out some highlights of C.J. in action...

Good luck C.J.!!

Let The Games Begin!!!!!!!!!

2011-04-16T14:15:00.000-07:00

LeBron James of the Miami Heat is eyeing his first NBA Championship

   Start your engines!!! The time that everyone has been waiting for is officially here! The 2011 NBA Playoffs tip off today with the Chicago Bulls taking on the Indiana Pacers. This has to be one of the most anticipated playoffs in recent memory. The big question around the league is, "Will the Miami Heat back up their offseason talk and win it all?" I certainly know that if Miami fails to win the title, no one will feel sorry for them at all. On the other hand, the Lakers enter this playoff season with hopes of accomplishing another 3 peat in Coach Phil Jackson's final season. The Lakers certainly have to be favorites to win again, but their play this season leaves me to believe that they aren't as invincible as they were in season's past. All things considered, the Lakers still have a certain #24 on their team...and you can't beat that.

   The Bulls and Spurs are two of the biggest surprises this season. Chicago has captured the #1 seed in the Eastern Conference behind the stellar play of their MVP candidate in Derrick Rose. I must admit that I had them picked to finish at least 4th in the conference, but they have exceeded all expectations. The scary thing about Chicago is that are still relatively young. Look out for them to compete for years to come! On the other hand, San Antonio is known for being an old and boring team. They have definitely found the Fountain of Youth over the summer because they have remarkable all season long. This is a surprise because nothing they did in the last playoffs indicated this kind of a 2010-11 campaign. They have the experience, defense, and great coaching needed to win it all. This may be their last stand.

   Things to watch for....
1. Can Boston and L.A. overcome recent struggles to regain their dominant postseason form?
2. Miami Heat..how far will they go?
3. Will Carmelo back up his move to NY?
4. San Antonio's dominant window appears to be closing in the next few seasons. Can they make one final run?
5. Will Derrick Rose lead his surprising Bulls to their first NBA title since the great Michael Jordan did in '98?

NBA Playoffs coming soon...

2011-04-08T20:08:00.000-07:00

The 2010-2011 NBA regular season is finally winding down. The much anticipated playoff is fast approaching. I have the feeling that this is going to be a playoff season for the ages. Among the anticipated storylines are:

1. The Miami Heat
After all of the hype of "The Decision", the time is here for them to put up or shut up. Everyone in the country-outside of Miami- is waiting to see them fail. Basically, if the Heat win it all, they will have silenced the critics. If they lose the Finals, let alone get eliminated early, a huge joy will ring nationwide.

2. Derrick Rose and the Chicago Bulls
Derrick Rose has led his Bulls' team to the No. 1 seed in the Eastern Conference, and is likely to win to this year's MVP. Can he continue his dominant play and lead to the Bulls to their first trophy since the days of the great Michael Jordan?

3. Boston Celtics
Is this the last year of their recent dominance? Do the Celtics have enough to defeat Miami and Chicago to win the East? Will Rondo come back to form? Hopefully Shaq returns from his injury to help the C's small frontline.

4. L.A. Lakers
Can they pull-off another 3peat?

5. San Antonio
They are not the flashiest team in the league. Some may call them old-fashioned and boring, but one thing that you can't take away from them....the Spurs always show up to play and win.

Tune in on April 17th to see these and more storylines unfold..

Anthony's Corner...NFL Draft Prospect: Cam Newton

2011-04-08T18:48:00.000-07:00

With only a few weeks left until the NFL Draft, I will be giving a little preview of the top prospects that look to go in the first round....

Today I will talk about Cameron Newton. Newton is a 6'6'', 250 lb quarterback out of the University of Auburn. Newton set the the college football world on fire last season as he passed for 2,854 yards and 30 tds while also rushing for an eye-popping 1,474 yards in leading the Tigers to an undefeated record and a victory over Oregon in the BCS National Championship. He was also the runaway winner of the 2010 Heisman Memorial Trophy. Newton is simply a rare talent who has yet to reach his full potential. He is hoping to become one of the first players picked when the NFL Draft begins on April 28.

POSITIVES:
Newton benefits from his massive size. At 6'6", Newton is able to see over the defense, and is bigger than most defensive players with his 250 pound frame. He has blazing speed, which is evident with him leading the SEC in rushing last season. A quarterback with the ability to escape the blitz and gain that few extra yards is always a welcome addition to any team. He also has a powerful arm. He throws the deep ball with ease. He also possesses the important clutch gene at the quarterback position, which he showed by several come from behind victories. He seems to have that personality that makes teammates want to go to war for him and that says alot. Demonstrates cool under pressure. Huge upside.

NEGATIVES:
At Auburn, Cam Newton almost played exclusively out of the shotgun formation. Very rarely did he take a snap under center. This is important because the spread offense does not exist in the NFL. All quarterbacks spend at least 90% of the time taking snaps from under center. Most can call Newton a "one-year wonder" due to his rise from nowhere. Even though he also led his JUCO team to the championship, scouts question can he perform on a consistent manner. He has also displayed a willingness to call his own plays as opposed to the followind the coach's orders. In the championship game, Newton was ordered to take a knee near the goal line. Newton chose to run the ball in, and nearly fumbled. Had he fumbled..it may have cost Auburn the game.

Look for Newton to go anywhere in the top 15. He will be a huge addition to any team that gets him and is willing to develop him.

My prediction: Newton will be taken by the Minnesota Vikings with 12th overall pick as they attempt to rebuild following the retirement of Brett Favre.

Final Four Preview: #3 UConn Huskies vs. #4 Kentucky Wildcats

2011-04-01T15:30:00.000-07:00

Brandon Knight leads Kentucky in a showdown against UConn

   This is the clash of titans battle that everyone is accustomed to seeing in the Final Four. We have two traditional basketball powerhouses squaring off for the right to advance to the National Championship game. Honestly, I would rather see this as the National Championship instead of a semifinal game. It reminds me too much of the Final Four game in 2004 which pitted UConn against Duke. Oh well, life goes on.

   By this point, everyone knows about Kemba Walker's extraordinary play this season. If you don't, I highly recommend you read my earlier post about him so that you will be brought up to speed. He continues to lead the Huskies on a tear through the important months of March and April. Recently, Walker has finally found a Robin to his dominating Batman. That player comes in the form of 6'5" freshman Jeremy Lamb. Lamb, a native of Norcross, GA, has stepped up tremendously in these last few games for the Huskies. He poured in 19 points in their Elite Eight win over Arizona, and scored 24 in their Sweet Sixteen victory over heavily favored San Diego State. His contributions are extremely important because they keep defenses from focusing primarily on Walker. Also to be mentioned are the inside post presence duo of Alex Oriakhi and Roscoe Smith. They dominate the glass and also provide additional scoring for UConn. Coach Jim Calhoun is also one of the greatest college basketball coaches of all time, so he will definitely have his squad ready to perform.

   Kentucky enters the Final Four for the first time since 1998. They arrive after toppling the number one overall seed in the Ohio State Buckeyes and defeating the North Carolina Tar Heels. They have surprised me with the deep run that they have made this year because I didn't like this year's squad as opposed to last year's team led by John Wall and DeMarcus Cousins. The difference in those squads is that this year's team can actually shoot the ball! Freshmen sensations Brandon Knight and Terrence Jones have led the team in production, but the key player in their tourney run is 6'11" center Josh Harrellson. He has sparked his team with double-doubles, stingy defense, and enormous hustle. This will mark Coach John Calipari's 2nd Final Four appearance in the last four years.

   This game is also another toss-up. I honestly can't pick a clear winner in this one. I know for a fact that both teams will come out to play, and will not be intimidated by the other. One interesting fact is that UConn has already defeated Kentucky once this season in the Maui Invitational way back in November. At the same time, Kentucky is undefeated in revenge games this season. Look for Kentucky to use defensive specialist DeAndre Liggins to guard the smaller Kemba Walker all game. Ultimately, I believe that UConn is on one of those storybook type runs and they will continue that on with a tough victory over the Wildcats.

My final prediction: UConn 87-Kentucky 80 in overtime

Final Four Preview: #8 Butler Bulldogs vs. #11 VCU Rams

2011-04-01T14:54:00.000-07:00

VCU guard Joey Rodriguez is pumped for Butler

   In looking at this match up, this game is something you would expect to see in the first round of the NCAA Tournament. That's the beauty of this tournament because things don't always go as planned on paper. We have two mid major programs in Butler and VCU squaring off for the right to advance to the National Championship game. I'm not all that surprised to see Butler back here again, considering the fact that they were one halfcourt shot away from beating national powerhouse Duke in last year's championship game. They suffered the loss of their star player, Gordon Hayward, who would enter into the 2010 NBA Draft after that remarkable run. Butler simply reloaded and played their back unto the big stage. Experience is a major factor when it comes to playing in huge tournaments like this one. It really makes all the difference. Butler has been here before and they have all the experience that you could possibly ask for.

   On the other hand, VCU continues to shock the nation with their spectacular play. They have been the undisputed "Cinderella" team in this year's tournament. It's funny because most experts didn't even feel that VCU deserved to even be in the tournament to begin with! Now they are two wins away from winning it all. I could say that VCU used the famous underdog mentality in helping them silence their critics, but I would be wrong. In watching them play, they employ a suffocating zone defense which has stifled the likes of Kansas, Florida State, and Purdue. They have also been shooting a mindblowing 50% from beyond the arc. VCU definitely has earned national respect now.

   This game is really a toss-up. Either team could win, and I wouldn't be surprised. While VCU has been on a dream run through this tournament, I look for the dream to end on Saturday night. Butler has all of the experience working in their favor. Not to mention their two stars in point guard Shelvin Mack and power forward Matt Howard. Their dominating inside-outside presence will be too tough for VCU to contain and they should advance to the National Championship to face the winner of the Kentucky/UConn game.

My final prediction: Butler 78 - VCU 69

NCAA Most Outstanding Player??

2011-03-30T20:08:00.000-07:00

   Kemba Walker, a junior point guard for the University of Connecticut, has had a magical season. He has almost single handedly brought his team to the Final Four. This is remarkable considering the fact that he, along with sophomore center Alex Oriakhi, was the only returning veteran for his club. It is also remarkable because last season, the Huskies had an extremely disappointing season. This year they entered the season with little to no expectations.

   He began to open eyes around the basketball world with his incredible play in the annual Maui Invitational Tournament last November. He led his team to consecutive victories over Wichita State, Michigan State, and Kentucky while capturing 1st place in the tournament and winning Maui Invitational Tournament MVP. He followed up his spectacular Maui run with an up and down regular season before lighting up New York City in the Big East Tournament. He led his team to 5 victories in 5 days to capture the Big East championship and its automatic NCAA berth.

  Once in the Big Dance, Walker put aside concerns that he may be fatigued from his previous feats. He once again led his team on another 4 game win streak before they face Kentucky on Saturday. Win or lose, Walker has to receive recognition as Most Outstanding Player this season. He is a leader, and a clutch player for his team. Just ask Gary McGhee of the Pittsburgh Panthers....

2011 March Madness

2011-03-30T19:26:00.000-07:00

Currently, the NCAA Tournament is underway. It has truly been a remarkable tournament for all true basketball fans. The NCAA Tournament has been known to have the nickname "March Madness" for its unpredictability and abruptness. Well....this year has definitely lived up to that nickname. It all started with the UNC-Asheville victory over UALR in overtime on March 15. This was a very exhilarating game from start to finish. Then #4 seed Louisville became the first upset victim to #13 seed Morehead State. Not to be outdone, the #1 seed Pitt Panthers also kept with their tradition of being a great regular season team, and then losing in the second round of the NCAA tourney. This time, they fell to 2010 National runner up Butler Bulldogs, who possessed an 8 seed. Remember that name!

This also has to be one of the few times when there weren't any #1 seeds to make it to the Final Four. Duke, Kansas, and Ohio State all lost last week. The Cinderella of this year's tourney is definitely Virginia Commonwealth University. It's interesting because most ESPN experts strongly felt that VCU had no business even being in the tournament to begin with. Well all VCU has done is win 5 games in a row over major conference teams en route to their first Final Four in school history.

The madness continues this weekend in Houston, Texas as all four teams descend their for the national semifinals. Butler faces off against VCU, and UConn will face Kentucky. The winner advances for the right to play for all of the marbles....the 2011 NCAA Men's Basketball Championship.

Prepare To Be Entertained..

2011-03-29T20:09:00.000-07:00

I'm a HUGE sports fanatic...and I just may have found an outlet to release everything. If you love sports like I do then you will love this blog. I personally guarantee you will love the content that I will put out. With that said...PREPARE TO BE ENTERTAINED!!

WELCOME!!!

2011-03-29T20:04:00.000-07:00

I would like to thank you from the bottom of my heart for checking out my blog. This is something that I think can go really far, and I want you all to be apart of it. Always remember...

"I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me..."

-Phillipians 4:13