2007 Final Four Predictions
By Aran Smith 3/14/07 Nine quintillion to one? That’s the odds of filling out a perfect bracket according to ESPN. That’s 9 billion times a billion. Not so tough right? So without further ado, here’s the first perfect bracket in the history of mankind: Midwest East Florida (1) UNC (1) Jackson St(16)…
Exposing NBA Myths
By Jon Nichols 3/13/07 Most people that follow the NBA were regularly taught as they learned the game about certain so-called truths. Undoubtedly most of these are in fact true, and they make it easier to follow and enjoy basketball. However, there are a few notions out there that, despite being defended by very poor…2007 Top 10 Prospects Lists
By Aran Smith Updated 6/27/07 Point Guards Comments 1. Mike Conley 6-1 180 PG Ohio St. Fr. Quickness is phenominal, but must add shooting consistency. 2. Javaris Crittenton 6-4 195 PG Ga. Tech Fr. PG with considerable upside. Leaving early could hurt his long term development. 3. Acie Law 6-3 185 PG Texas A&M…
Inside the College Game
By Adi Joseph 3/6/07 Eric Maynor has stolen George Mason’s heart. As Maynor had two crucial steals at the end of the game to seal the deal and give Virginia Commonwealth the Colonial Athletic Association championship, George Mason fans were left in the realization that last year was likely just a one time thing for…
2006-07 Rookie Watch
By Ryan Reed 3/1/07 Let’s first get this out of the way. The NBA draft is an art more than it is a science. In the past on this site, I’ve broken down the draft and seen how many mistakes have been made. Names like Gilbert Arenas (early second round) and Tony Parker (late first)…
Inside the College Game
By Adi Joseph 2/25/07 The second-half rally only sharpened the pain. As Clemson fell to Duke Thursday, the national audience was witness to a bubble burst. With 10,000 fans in attendance, the Tigers were dominated in the first half, 42-21, only to make a terrific second half run. A run that didn’t matter, in the…
Stock Watch
By Aran Smith 2/21/07 Rising Arron Afflalo 6-5 215 SG UCLA Jr. A model of consistency all season, Afflalo has the Bruins on pace for a better regular season than last year and in position to make a serious run at the National Championship. Though he lacks the lift and athleticism of many top shooting…NBA Midseason Report
By Jon Nichols 2/17/07 Every team has played at least 50 games so far, so the playoff stretch run is upon us. Who’s been the best so far and who should we look out for over the next few months? Best Team: Phoenix Suns (39-12) Yes, the Dallas Mavericks do have the best record (and…
Inside the College Game
By Adi Joseph 2/10/07 Texas A&M, welcome to the world of the true contenders. With their sixteen-point defeat of Texas on Monday, A&M is now one of the hottest teams in the country (interestingly enough, the last team to beat them, Texas Tech, is one of the coldest). Acie Law has emerged as a likely…
2006 Rookie Watch
By Ryan Reed 2/8/07 Know your role. A saying that made the Rock famous in the professional wrestling circuit and one that NBA rookies often have a hard time figuring out. When looking at the rookie class’s production through the first fifty games of the year, roles play a huge part in the maturation process.…
Oden vs. Durant: Basements and Ceilings
By Nick Prevenas 2/7/07 In a 1974 issue of Rolling Stone, legendary rock writer Jon Landau penned one of the most famous lines in music journalism: "I have seen the future of rock and roll, and its name is Bruce Springsteen." Thirty-three years later, nearly every basketball writer is paraphrasing Landau when describing Texas freshman…
Inside the College Game
ByAdi Joseph 2/3/07 There won’t be another George Mason this season. Alright, I know that statement doesn’t shock people. In fact, believing there would be another George Mason in the next 5-10 years is pretty ludicrous. The thought that an 11 seeded mid-major whose inclusion in the tournament field was questioned by many would make…
Hidden Gem: Avis Wyatt
By Matthew Maurer The Draft Review 2/1/07 As our avid readers know, back in early November I compiled a list of sleepers outside of Division One schools. Avis Wyatt was highlighted as a player who I thought could really make a push to get drafted. Throughout the season I continued to receive reports on how…
Stock Watch
By Aran Smith 1/31/07 Rising Kevin Durant 6-10 220 SF Texas Fr. 18 months ago I saw Kevin Durant get completely dismantled by Spencer Hawes on the AAU circuit, not once but twice in the Main Event in Las Vegas. Hawes dominance over him may have been the wake up call Durant needed. Taking the…
Inside the College Game
By Adi Joseph 1/27/07 As February nears, so does the ominous term “must win.” We’re entering the point in the college basketball season where teams are scrapping to keep their at-large hopes alive. Whether it’s a good mid-major trying to keep the loss column small or a traditional power trying to pull itself out of…Playing for the Money: How Players Fare in Their Contract Years
By Jon Nichols 1/22/07 The NBA is a business. It is a business for team owners, but it is also a business for the players. The better a player performs, the more money he makes. Contracts are based almost entirely on the most recent year. Therefore, common sense tells us that players on the last…
Inside the College Game
By Adi Joseph 1/18/07 Kevin Durant, welcome to manhood. Durant made a statement in Tuesday’s triple-OT loss to Oklahoma State. While much of the nation seemed to be fawning over Durant’s God-given talent and athleticism, those of us who had seen Durant multiple times this season had to like something else we saw in the…
Inside the College Game
By Adi Joseph 1/11/07 My apologies to the Pac-10. A few weeks ago, I declared that the SEC was the best conference in college basketball. I believed the Southeastern Conference to be much deeper than any other conference in the NCAA. I saw schools like Georgia, Ole Miss, Auburn, Mississippi State and Vanderbilt off to…