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Posted 2014-12-04 21:02:07 | Views: 604
College basketball can be so unpredictable. That’s the beauty of it. From the regular season, to March Madness, to even the NIT, games are not set in stone. The odds of filling out a perfect bracket for March Madness is around one and 9.2 quintillion (Buiness Insider). If basketball in general followed the “bad team always loses to the good team” rule, basketball just would not be basketball. That’s why the Wichita States, the Florida Gulf Coasts, and the Butlers of the world are so special. Those teams took society’s view on them, worked hard, and did the best they possibly could even though the odds were not in their favor. Though neither of those teams won the Naismith, probably making the Big Dance wasn’t even in their goals at the beginning of their seasons. Those teams took what probably looked like a mediocre season into a, “I’ve never heard of that college before” season. Greatness can come from winning March Madness if you are Duke, Kentucky, Louisville, excreta, but it can also come from working extremely hard and putting your college back on the map.  

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Posted 2014-12-03 10:01:06 | Views: 635
The unpredictability, talent of teams, hype, and tradition is what makes the college basketball season and March Madness what it is today. Traditions can come in all shapes, sizes, and seriousness. At the University of Duke one tradition throughout the basketball season is for students to tent outside Cameron Indoor Stadium on home games in hope to get free tickets and good student section seats for next day’s game. This tradition is called “Krzyzewskiville”. Named after Duke’s legendary basketball coach Mike Krzyzewski, thousands of students participate in this tradition. If you have ever watched or seen a Duke Basketball home game, you would know just how loud and obnoxious Duke’s student section is. In fact, Duke’s student section has been deemed the name “Cameron Crazies”. Krzyzewskiville actually has its own website with its own rules on how this tradition gets played out. Also being the crazy tradition it is, there is even a book written by Aaron Dinin called The Krzyzewskiville Tales (University of Duke, Krzyzewskiville Policy). 
Another tradition of college basketball is Taylor University’s Silent Night game. Though not being known as a power-house-like college when it comes to basketball, Taylor University defiantly does not lack tradition. During the beginning of the game the stadium is dead silent, not a peep from anyone, until the tenth point is scored by the Taylor Trojans. Until the tenth point is scored, there is an incredibly awkward silence in the stadium. But after the tenth point is scored, the student section (dressed in costumes and pajamas) and other fans go absolutely nuts (Taylor University, Silent Night). Though not as serious as Krzyzewskiville, the Silent Night game is a hysterical way of getting the fans and the student section unpredictably into the game. 

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Posted 2014-12-03 10:00:59 | Views: 615
The past winners of the NCAA Men’s Division One College Basketball Championship and it’s contenders have been revolving around certain power house colleges in basketball such as: Duke, Kentucky, Louisville, Connecticut, Kansas, Florida, Ohio State, Michigan State, UCLA, North Carolina, Arizona, and many more. But what is awesome about college basketball and March Madness is the fact that there is a whole season and a 68 team tournament to prove each team’s worth.
Last year Wichita State (a college with little basketball recognition) was a number one seed in the Midwest region, though losing to Kentucky second around (eventual runner up to the Naismith), Wichita State had a perfect record of 34 and 0 before losing to Kentucky. In 2013 Florida Gulf Coast was a 15 seeded team in the South region, and went all the way to the Sweet 16. Along the way they defeated Georgetown and SDSU, on paper those games should have been predicted loses (Sporting News, NCAA 2013 Bracket). In 2010 and in 2011 Butler was runner up to the Naismith both years. In 2010 Butler came so close to victory in which Butler’s Gordon Hayward missed a half-court shot to almost seal the deal against Duke (ESPN, NCAA Tournament Bracket).

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Posted 2014-12-01 07:31:41 | Views: 670
Madness! 
 March Madness has been, still is, and will be a tradition of 68 teams battling for the glory of the Naismith. But is that it? Is it just an event in which 68 teams are invited to play the game of basketball just to see who the best is? Absolutely not! The Big Dance is almost a lifestyle, not only for the month of March, but for the whole NCAA Men’s College Basketball season. On some campuses almost every student is participating in some sort of tradition, or doing something they normally don’t do during the month of March. Students, fans, and players alike living that lifestyle all the way through until their team loses or wins their final game. Funny, serious, and mind blowing traditions are all part of the lifestyle of the Madness.
 Though March Madness rules the hype now in the present, it however was the younger brother to its NIT (National Invitational Tournament) in middle 1900s. Yes, the NIT was actually a bigger deal then March Madness in its premature stage. Also starting in 1938, it is the oldest hailing college basketball tournament. One year later the NCAA formed its own post season tournament: the NCAA Men’s Division One College Basketball Championship (NCAA, NIT Postseason History).

1938 was the first year the NIT was born and played. With a whopping six teams invited, this was a huge deal to college basketball fans everywhere (NCAA, NIT Postseason History). In the 1930’s the High School State Basketball Tournament was a big deal, for fans to find out there was going to be a Men’s Division One Basketball Tournament blew fan’s minds everywhere. Eventually the NIT grew into today’s tournament number 32 teams, but has lost all of its vibe. Now day’s college basketball fans fall in love with the month of March due to a larger team size tournament (68 teams), traditions, better talented teams, and loads on loads of hype.
 Around the 1940s and 1950s the NIT and the NCAA Men’s Division One College Basketball Championship switched roles one could say. Eventually teams and fans liked the idea of playing for a spot in a big tournament, rather than getting invited (not necessarily deserving a spot) to a medium sized to dying sized tournament which was losing popularity and hype. The NIT is still fairly important especially to the teams, the team’s fans, and some outside fans, but the NIT is no March Madness. Now mostly all of the post season hype rests in the month of March.

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Posted 2014-12-01 07:31:32 | Views: 651
#2 Kyrie Irving  
 (Career: 22.5 pts, 5 ast per game, with a 48% field goal percentage) Kyrie Irving is one of the most explosive, athletic, and overall talented players in the NBA. Now surrounded by new talents Kevin Love and LeBron James, Kyrie Irving can have his burden of the team’s go to player now subside a little. If you’re looking for filthy crossovers, step backs, and pick and rolls, look no further. With Lebron’s athletic ability, K-Love’s shooting and post ability, combined with his own ability to create his own shots, makes the possibilities endless on the offensive side for Cleveland. Kyrie can explode to the rim, knock down jumpers, and dish to others around him making not only himself look good and smooth, but the entire team as well.

#1 Steph Curry  
 (Career: 20.3 pts, 6.7 ast per game, with a 43% 3 pt percentage) Excellent three point shooter, great court vision, and rare turnovers are what make up this young talent. Speed is the name of the game with Stephen Curry. Everything he does is fast, down to his release of his shot, his crossovers, passes, and explosiveness to rim. Curry is a winner, though not even surrounded by the best talent in the league (diffidently not the worst), he still finds ways to win games and in the process making his team look good. What separates Curry from the rest of the NBA is his unreal shooting ability, speed, court vision, passing, commanding vibe, and being able to elevate his team’s talent.

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Posted 2014-11-24 10:43:13 | Views: 655
#4Rondo  
 (Career: 11.1 pts, 8.4 asts, 4.6 reb per game) Maybe not the most athletic point guards, but unbelievably crafty. Rajon Rondo has been notorious for not only attacking the rim (6 foot 1 inch, 186) with his small size, but with style. Hiding the ball, crafty illusions, and quickness has been all a part of the style of Rondo. Averaging around two steals per game, and being known for “hounding” the ball makes Rondo no pushover on defense either. Rondo is a great point guard, with scoring ability and the court vision (picking up 8.4 asts per game) makes the Boston Celtics an overall better team when he is commanding the point guard position.

#3 Chris Paul 
 (Career: 18.6 pts, 9.9 ast, 4.4 reb per game) Hailing from Lob City, and surrounded by talented post players in Blake Griffin and DeAndre Jordan, CP3 racks up the assets, and highlights. Watching the L.A. Clippers with Chris Paul run the helm is an absolute thrilling show. With shooting ability in Jamal Crawford, and rim rattling, rebound magnetic Blake Griffin and DeAndre Jordan, CP3 probably has a hard time picking his poison. Though surrounded by his own talent, Chris can call his own number when wants as well (18.6 pts per game), along with getting other players involved in the game with 9.9 assists per game makes CP3 in the top 5 list for point guards.

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Posted 2014-11-24 10:43:06 | Views: 671
Top 5 Point Guards Today 
 The point guard in basketball is an absolute crucial position. The ideal point guard doesn’t even have to be a major scorer, a solid point guard needs to have good ball handling, a high IQ for the game, and great court vision. If your point guard has to may turnovers, rushes his/hers passes, and can’t handle pressure, along with not making the right reads on offense or not even setting up the offense or defense, that is a great recipe for disaster.
 Point guards need to be the commanders on the court, setting up defenses and making sure offensive plays are run correctly. Knowing the defenses’ moves before being made on offense, and knowing how to get in position to make a play on defense. What separates the ok point guards, from the good point guards, from the excellent point guards is the ability to score, the ability to get others in position to score, and athleticism. When you tie in all the previous listed attributes, you get excellence, and all of these point guards have excellence.

#5 D Rose  
 (Career: 20.8 pts, 6.7 ast per game, with a 46% field goal percentage) Though missing about half of the 2011-2012 season, the whole 2012-2013, and only playing 10 games in the 2013-2014 season due to a torn ACL, Derrick Rose is looking just as healthy as ever. With only 5 years of experience (all with Bulls), the 2008 first round draftee still has a lot of “wows” left in his arsenal. Standing at 6 foot 3 inches and usually being one of the smaller players on the floor D Rose doesn’t let that bother him. With ridiculous athletic ability and speed, above average shooting ability, and great court vision (though being mostly injured that last 3 seasons) D Rose will still be a point guard needing a lot of defensive attention.

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Posted 2014-11-23 17:36:09 | Views: 626

 The Cleveland Cavilers has, so far, the most overall talent on their team. Even though their strengths overwhelmingly overcome their weaknesses, the Cavs can be stopped. And no one knows, maybe they have major injuries, the coaching or the coaching scheme doesn’t fit, maybe there will be player conflicts on and off the court? Whatever the weakness is, whoever their opponent is that night, they need to attack that weakness no matter what. This team is incredibly good, and blatant or obvious weaknesses won’t be reviled to the naked eye at first glance. Just like any other major setback, any mountain that needs claiming, or a simple job in life, always start at the base.
 

Overall

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Posted 2014-11-23 17:36:03 | Views: 701

 Though few, every team has some weaknesses. One down play of the team that could have an effect is possibly too much talent. Yes, the team is good, yes, the team has a great bench, but that’s just it. Each newly added talent, combined with the talent that has been in Cleveland for while, are all used to the way they each, individually, play the game. Getting use to new styles of play and new roles is hard to do, especially with the caliber, talent, and experience of this team.
 Team chemistry problems are hard to deal with as coaches and players. No one likes being told they need to step down from the role they have on the team, and in some cases some players don’t have the talent to step into new roles on the team they have been assigned. As stated before, the Cavilers starting lineup and bench talent is through the roof, but every player is used to their style and role of the game. New styles and new roles can cause break downs in team play and chemistry, offensive and defensively. Erving, Love, James, other starters, and the bench will not be used to the amount of talent that surrounds them making it hard to cope with their own style of play. Offensively certain players might feel that they aren’t getting the minutes or shots they deserve, or maybe feel there is too much talent and feel over powered. Defensively some players are quicker and stronger than others, others are slower, making weak side help, double teams, and ball pressure hard to figure out with other, newer talent.

Yet another small weakness of the Cavilers is there depth at the center position. Anderson Vareijao has had knee problems in the past, standing at 6 foot 11 inches and weighing 267 lbs., not stating he isn’t healthy, but the big man will need breaks during games. With very little experience, depth, and talent at the center position in Brendan Haywood (2nd string) and Alex Kirk (3rd string), makes it the perfect opportunity to post up and attack the rim. Teams like Houston, Chicago and Memphis actually have great chances on the offensive side against Cleveland. With Houston’s center Dwight Howard, Chicago’s center Pau Gasol, and Memphis’s center Mark Gasol, all with great post moves and muscle make them hard to guard. Anderson Vareijao isn’t the best at post defense making him no match for the previously listed big men, with being tired down, and simply not playing well makes it a perfect driving lane to rim, or for post ups. With guards like Houston’s James Harden, Chicago’s Derek Rose, and Memphis’s O.J. Mayo, along with their centers, makes these guards lethal from the perimeter, tying in with their speed and quickness, makes these guards perfect to attack Cleveland. 

Weaknesses

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Posted 2014-11-19 10:27:28 | Views: 650

 Can they be? Will they be? Who will be stopping the Cavilers this years? The answer to these questions are a little tricky on the spot, especially given its just preseason so far, but just look at the talent, and the depth this team has. The upfront “wow” of this rosters is young star guard Kyrie Irving, who has been in the league 3 years (all with Cavs), three time All-Star Kevin Love (acquired in 3 team trade with Minnesota and Philadelphia), and of course the returning, face of the NBA, nine time All-Star, LeBron James (free agent). But that’s not all of the weapons the Cavilers will have at their disposal for the 2015-2105 season. The Cavs’ bench also compliments their power house of a starting line up with players like Tristen Thompson (started last season for Cavs, Kevin Love projected to start over him, 11.7 pts. per game, 9.2 reb. per game), Shawon Marion (played for Dallas last season, 10.4 pts. per game, 6.5 reb. per game) and Mike Miller (played for Miami last season, 7.1 pts. per game). Making the Cavs own one of the strongest benches in the league. Also in their starting line up above average talent Anderson Varejao (8.4 pts. per game, 9.7 reb. per game) at center and Dion Waiters (15.9 pts. per game) at shooting guard makes the Cleveland Cavilers a well-rounded team with talent at every position on the court.


 The Cavs’ strengths clearly outweigh there weaknesses by a large amount. With a projected starting lineup (can change during season) in Kyrie Irving at the one, Dion Waiters at the two, LeBron James at the three, Kevin Love at the four, and Anderson Varejao at the five, makes the starting lineup of the Cavs one of the best, if not the best in the league. Throwing in a “just as flawless bench” in Tristen Thompson, Shawon Marion, and Mike Miller (just to name a few) makes the opportunities and the tactics of taking down the Cavilers minimal. The Cavs’ strengths are everywhere on the floor, at every position, not a single “below” average player to NBA standards. Probably their weakest link (in the Cavilers starting lineup) in Anderson Varejao at center, averaged close to a double-double last season in 8.4 points per game and 9.7 rebounds per game. What a weak a weak link right?

To question the Cavs stellar starting line-up, who is their go to player in crunch time? They don’t have one. One simply cannot single out a go to player in this starting lineup, they are simply to go. For example, Cleveland’s go to player was Kyrie Irving for the past three years (20.8 points per game, 6.1 ast. per game), with incredible ball handling skills, quick feet, and a great jumper made him easily the face of the Cavilers franchise for those three years. Minnesota’s go to player was the big man, Kevin Love, (26.1 pts. per game, 12.5 reb. per game) with great post moves, a knock down mid-range and three point shot, and an outstanding rebounder, K-Love was also deserving of the role “Mr. go to”. And of course, Miami’s go to player was King James (27.1 pts. per game, 6.9 reb. per game), with above average range and shooting ability, athleticism, and strength with quickness, made the King himself the only one for the job in Miami. That should answer the question, they are simply too good to single out just one of their three All-Stars to be the go to player on the court. With other starting talent on the court, and a great bench, they are simply to too good to single out. 
Who Will Stop the Cavs?

Strengths

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Posted 2014-11-19 10:27:22 | Views: 667
Yet another, maybe even a bigger gamble, was acquiring forward Anthony Bennett in the trade. Though Bennett too only played one year of college ball at UNLV with constant “All American numbers” putting up 16.1 points per game, 8.1 rebounds per game, and along with a 53.3% shooting percentage, (Sports Reference, Anthony) he is still in the same boat as Wiggins. The worst part of the deal is Bennett was drafted in 2013, playing one year with the Cavilers. Actually, not really playing. His playing time was limited all season due to shoulder and knee injuries along with asthma and conditioning problemYs. When Bennett would play he simply just could not perform on the court, in fact, the Cavilers sent there number 1 overall draft pick down to the D-League to develop and get some playing time. Later in the year, Bennett started to improve and got back up to the Cavilers and stayed at that level for the rest of the year, showing big signs of improvement. But if Bennett can return to the 2014-2015 season with the T-Wolves healthy and ready to work, the 6 foot 7 inch, 240 lbs. forward could be an immense help to the T-Wolves offense this year, also with a big strong body with some physical play, averaging 1.2 blocks per game at UNLV (Sports Reference, Anthony), could add to the defensive side as well. 

Now that the three-time All-Star Kevin Love is no longer Minnesota is there any hope? Absolutely. K-Love leaving obviously takes a franchise player out of the picture, but that is not as nearly as bad as it sounds. With K-Love gone that opens up a huge amount of cap space to pick up free agents like Mo Williams and others along the way of the season, also with young talent waiting to shine on the court in Wiggins and Bennett (acquired in three-team trade), veteran like talent in Thaddeus Young (also acquired in three-team trade) and Mo Williams (free agent), along with the already known players to the T-Wolf community in Rubio, Pekovic, Kevin Martin (19.1 pts per game), Cory Brewer (12.3 pts per game), and recently drafted young athletic talent Zach LaVine (9.4 pts per game, 46 inch vertical) from UCLA, makes the T-Wolves’ diverse roster consisting of young and veteran like talent. The T-Wolves don’t have NBA champions in their minds, but a long playoff run with an exciting regular season at the Target Center is inevitable (Cory Brewer, Kevin Martin NBA.com, Zach LaVine Sports Reference).

What to Expect?

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Posted 2014-11-17 10:08:21 | Views: 653
Knowing K-Love didn’t want to be in Minnesota, trading him was the most logical solution for the organization. If the T-Wolves waited another year to trade K-Love and let him play out his contract, after the season he would become a free agent and the T-Wolves would not have gotten anything out of that situation. Instead, the T-Wolves invested their resources to currently make up a team with high experienced players that have played for the T-Wolves in previous years like Nikola Pekovic (17.5 pts. per game, 8.7 rebounds per game) and Ricky Rubio (9.5 pts. per game, 8.6 ast. per game), with low experienced, but with hype and high expectations, players like Andrew Wiggins and Anthony Bennett, but also with the highly experienced players that have played for other teams like Thaddeus Young (Philadelphia, 17.9 pts per game, 6 rebounds per game) and Mo Williams (Portland, 9.7 pts per game, 4.3 ast. per game, Mo Williams, Nikola Pekovic, Ricky Rubio, Thaddeus Young). 

A huge part of the trade was a little bit of a gamble. Trading K-Love away for Andrew Wiggins, a freshman at Kansas, who only played one year at the college level but averaged 17.1 points per game along with 5.9 rebounds per game (Sports Reference), Anthony Bennett, and Thaddeus Young, could be a risky move. Wiggins standing at 6 foot 8 inches, put up “All American” numbers at Kansas, but the T-Wolf community doesn’t exactly know what to expect from him as a player. Also another reason why this could be a risky move on the Wiggins side of things, is that he has only one year of college basketball under his belt, which for some players is enough time to develop as a player, but for most, not enough time. Andrew Wiggins won’t have Michael-Jordan-like-expectations, but he is expected to contribute to the organization since K-Love is gone. Not only that, but the team as a whole will need to and have to pick up the slack and some players will need to step into new roles now that the face of the franchise is in Cleveland.

To find a 6 foot 8 inch, 200 lbs. guard in the NCAA with the amount of talent that Andrew Wiggins owns is very rare. To find a guard of his stature with the amount of potential that he wields is in an even broader aspect. T hough in his ball handling arsenal he doesn’t have an Allen-Iverson-like-crossover nor a highly consistent shot from the outside, but he has tremendous athletic ability, he is quick and strong, along with a solid mid-range and inside game which makes him quite a deadly threat on offense. Also adding in his defensive ability and his quickness, makes him an “above average rookie” with a tremendous amount of still un-harvested talent.  

Well Worth it Gamble

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Posted 2014-11-17 10:08:09 | Views: 629

There are many schools of thought that can describe this coming season for the Timber wolves up in Minnesota, poor moves in the off season, a “we’ll see what happens” kind of season, and maybe, just maybe a little bit of excitement. After Kevin Love was traded to the Cavilers, in a 3 team trade, for high-prized number 1 overall pick Andrew Wiggins, last year’s number 1 overall pick Anthony Bennett (staggered playing time last year with the Cavs’ due to knee and shoulder injuries along with asthma and conditioning problems), and Philadelphia 76ers’ high scorer Thaddeus Young (17.9 pts. per game last season) leaves the T-Wolves without their long loved All-Star and face of the franchise (“Thaddeus Young”). Kevin Love was an absolute monster for the T-Wolves in previous seasons scoring 26.1 points per game and snagging 12.2 rebounds a game last season, (career high in points per game) being hailed as one of the most diverse big men in the game. With that talent traded away, the T-Wolves as a team, not just one player, have huge shoes to fill (NBA.com).


Who is to blame for the trade? Rick Adelman or Flip Saunders? The General Manager? Player conflicts? Neither, Kevin Love wanted to be traded, the T-Wolves wanted to keep him. In the summer of 2014, Kevin Love, “made it clear to the Timberwolves that he intends to become an unrestricted free agent after next season and has no interest in a contract extension to stay in Minnesota” (Stein and Shelburne, ESPN) he didn’t want anything to do with the organization. But the organization played the scenario perfectly. If the T-Wolves were to keep K-Love for another season, knowing fully well that their All-star doesn’t want to play or be in Minnesota, then why let him? If the T-Wolves would have kept K-Love he would not have produced the same numbers in the past because of his lack of interest in the organization. The T-Wolves played it beautifully.

What are the Expectations for the T-Wolves

Making the Best Decision in the Worst Situation

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Posted 2014-09-19 10:48:38 | Views: 744
  Athelets Everywhere
T-Wolves Expectations
Who will stop the Cavs?

Top 5 Point Guards in the NBA

Ready for March Maddness?