Final Four Frenzy

And Then There Were Four...

photo cred: blogs.kansas.com

The media wants a story. ESPN wants hours worth of upset coverage. They want one of two things. They either want the feel-good story of Louisville winning for Kevin Ware, or they want Wichita St. to play the David role and take down the Goliath. David against Goliath. The out of no-where Shockers of Wichita St. arrive on the big stage and overcome outstanding odds to take down the #1 overall seed and advance to the championship game. It sounds like a great story right? Well, what if WIchita St. isn't a David figure? What if ESPN is forcing the little man role on a team that looks a lot more like Goliath's little brother? 

The Shockers eluded media hype all year and were a quick dismissal in most every bracket in the nation. Maybe you had them beating Pitt because you didn't trust the Panthers (which you shouldn't). Maybe you work behind a plow in Kansas and have them winning it all. Regardless, the fact is that this Wichita St. team has something special going on, and it clearly isn't FGCU material. This team isn't going to wow you with their scoring (117th PPG in the nation and 115th in FG%). What do they have on their side? Well for starters, offensive consistency. They were held under 60 points only 4 times all year. They may not blow you out of the gym but they have enough weapons to put up points in every contest. What else do they have? The list is long. They have balanced scoring. The Shockers have had a different leading scorer in three of their four tournament games. Further, their starting lineup scored 14,12,10, 9 and 8 points against the Buckeyes. Tell me a team's leading scorer only had 14 points and I have a hard time believing they had beaten Ohio St. 

photo cred: www.sportsillustrated.cnn.com

Next, they have a go-to guy. While the Shockers rely heavily on their balance, every team that goes deep in the tourney needs THAT guy. For Wichita St., Malcolm Armstead is the guy. Armstead scored 22 against Pitt and 18 against LaSalle. He's the guy who's going to get the ball at the end of the game. No surprise, he knows what to do with it. Next, they have a quick, athletic D. The Shockers have the size and strength (with Early and Hall) to hang with any team defensively. Finally, the Shockers have a lights out 3-point shooter. If you've seen Wichita St. play, you've undoubtedly noticed Baker on the floor. He is an electric freshman who averages 35% from beyond the arc. 

Now that I'm done my piece on Wichita St., let's get to the game. 

Wichita St. vs. Louisville - Saturday at 6:09pm

In my previous 3 articles leading up to the Final Four, I have praised Louisville for their dynamic play and their team chemistry. As I've stated before, Louisville is the most complete team in the nation. They have rolled through the tournament up to this point winning all but the Oregon contest by double digits. Putting an exclamation point on their run, they pounded a Duke team who seemed up to the task by 22 points. In my opinion, the only style of team that has a chance at Louisville is an athletic team with a solid defensive scheme. Does Wichita St. fit that description? It is certainly a possibility.

What to expect: 

From the opening tip, expect an up-tempo and electric first half. Both of these teams are quick starters. Against Ohio St., Wichita led 35-22 at the half. The Shockers showed incredible maturity for a team that had not been to the Elite 8 since 1981. Don't expect the lights to be too bright for this squad. Early blows will be thrown from each squad. 

photo cred: www.louisville.com

Next, expect Siva to dazzle. Peyton Siva has the best court vision of any point guard in the nation. Not always lighting up the scoring column, Siva maximizes the talent around him by driving and distributing. Which leads to my next point. Expect Russ Smith to get a LOT of attention. Smith has scored over 20 points in each of the Cardinals four tournament games. For Louisville, they understand that Smith has to get touches early and often because he can be a streaky shooter if he doesn't start off hot. For Wichita they know they must keep him quiet in the first 10 minutes. I expect coach Marshall to face guard Smith in the beginning of the game. Whether or not Smith hits his early looks will be a tell-tale sign of victory or defeat for the Cardinals. 

Next, expect Cleanthony Early to have a monster game. This kid is fantastic and the Shockers absolutely have to get him touches in the post if they plan on keeping up with Louisville. Undoubtedly, Hall and Early are going to battle the Louisville bigs all game long. Finally, expect this game to be tight throughout. Like a heavy-weight bout, these two teams will trade haymakers for 30 minutes. It's going to be the last 10 minutes that decide who moves on. 

photo cred: www.cardchronicle.com

Out of the 4 teams left, I think only Wichita St. and Syracuse have a legitimate shot at beating Louisville. Do I think Wichita St. can slow down the Cardinals roll? I think its more of a possibility than many are giving them credit for. The line is Louisville by 10.5 as of Thursday afternoon. Hear me on this, this game will be decided by single digits. If Wichita can hold Smith to below 20 and stay out of foul trouble I give them the slight edge. If Smith plays like he has been, Louisville will put together a late run and win by 5. I'm going with the latter.

Prediction - Louisville 77 Wichita St. 72

Game on. 

4th and Long

Trading Places: NFL Edition

By Ryan Frisco

If you're like me, the months of February through August are kind of blah.  Yeah, I guess it's fun to celebrate my wedding anniversary, the birthdays of myself, wife and son as well as Father's Day.  But, there's just something missing.  Do you know what I'm talking about?  Football!  As soon as the final whistle blows in the Super Bowl, I'm already counting the days until opening kickoff the Wednesday after Labor Day.  It's just that good.  Any taste of football, like last month's free agency session, is just the tease I need to get me through the dreary days of Spring and Summer.

So let's talk about free agency 2013.  Maybe I haven't followed the opening of free agency too much in the past, but it seemed to me like there were a lot of big moves this offseason, more than usual.  I'm going to highlight a few of the moves I think will have a big impact come the regular season.  Please, follow along, and let me hear your thoughts in the comment section below!

Photo Cred www.atlantablackstar.com

Mike Wallace: There were definitely bigger stories and more drama involved with other moves, but I think the dealing of Mike Wallace from Pittsburgh to Miami will have the highest degree of impact.  For the Steelers, I think it's a huge loss.  There are very few guys who can match the speed and quickness of Wallace, and I thoroughly believe he has potential to be one of the greatest wide receivers of all time.  He will be extremely hard to replace.  Most of their receivers are slot receivers, without the ability to burn someone downfield, except for maybe Emmanuel Sanders.  But, Wallace doesn't fit very well into the Steelers system.  They have no time for high drama, big ego players like Mike.  So, he  gets the boot.

For the Dolphins, this is huge.  They haven't been relevant since the Dan Marino days, and if we're honest, not since the undefeated season of 1972.  Having Wallace adds talent to a team that lacks in that department.  The big question: Is Ryan Tannehill capable of getting the ball to Mike Wallace?  If he can't, we're looking at a repeat of Larry Fitzgerald circa 2012.  If he can, watch out New England!  They might finally have some competition in the AFC North.

Photo Cred www.masslive.com

Wes Welker/Danny Amendola: This is the drama I was referring to earlier.  Wes Welker, who has been the Robin to the Tom Brady Batman in Foxboro for so long, was just pushed to the curb like that Ryan Leaf autobiography you've been 'meaning' to get to.  After being a huge part of the Patriots dynasty of recent years, Welker felt disrespected and took a so so deal (2 years/$12 Million) with Peyton Manning and the Denver Broncos.  The Patriots, who apparently wouldn't offer him any more money, signed Danny Amendola to a 5 year/$31 Million deal.  What?

I kind of understand what New England is doing here.  Kind of.  They're picking up a younger Wes Welker and keeping him in town for a while longer than Welker will last.  It's smart.  The only thing I disagree with is Amendola's health.  He is a really great receiver.  He rocks the slot as good as Welker does.  He also gets hurt, all the time.  He's done good with a below average Sam Bradford throwing to him.  He can be great with certain Hall of Famer Tom Brady throwing to him...if he's on the field.

Denver picking up Welker just doesn't seem fair to anyone.  They have Welker running the slot, with Demaryius Thomas and Eric Decker split wide.  Oh, and Peyton Manning throwing to them.  The Denver Broncos are easily the heavy preseason favorite to win the Super Bowl.  Case closed.

Photo Cred www.palmbeachpost.com

Anquan Boldin: Has anybody heard of this guy?  Has he ever done anything in his career?  Oh I dunno, maybe just caught 21 passes in the 2013 postseason, making Joe Flacco look like Joe Namath on his way to being a huge part of a Super Bowl victory.  Boldin has been nothing but stellar and consistent his entire career with Arizona and Baltimore.  The Ravens wouldn't pay him barely any money to come back next year, so Boldin jumped ship to a team that appreciates WHO he is and WHAT he's done.  Ironically, that team is the same team Baltimore beat in the Super Bowl, the San Francisco 49ers.  Hmmm...

The Philadelphia Eagles: I don't know if it's just because I live in Philadelphia, but it seems like a ton of the offseason drama centered around the Eagles quest for a new coach. They somehow reeled in Chip Kelly, and now it's the waiting game.  Can his system succeed in the NFL?  Will he sure up a defense that has been abysmal against every kind of offense?  Does he know what he's doing?  Fans were shocked when Chip announced that Michael Vick would be returning in 2013.  This is the biggest offseason of change Philadelphia has gone through since 1999.  Let's look at their free agent signings.

Photo Cred www.usatoday.com

Look at this list: Kenny Phillips, Carey Williams, Patrick Chung and Connor Barwin.  These guys are all key pieces on defense.  Two safeties, a corner back and a linebacker.  They signed more, but these are the big guys.  What do you notice about these guys?  They all come from WINNING teams.  Giants, Ravens, Patriots and Texans.  These players know how to win.  They know how to lead.  These are two things the Eagles are missing right now.  Will this team mesh under the heading of Chip Kelly?  The whole (football) world is watching.

Photo Cred www.ciskie.blogspot.com

Reggie Bush: This guys has had so much drama following him everywhere he goes.  He wins the Heisman.  He's taken #2 overall in the draft by the Saints.  He's okay, but isn't a starting running back.  He wins the Super Bowl in 2009.  His Heisman is taken away in 2010.  He breaks his leg in 2010.  He is traded to the Dolphins in 2011.  He kind of starts, but also shares time here.  Reggie Bush has never been the outright starting running back on a team.  Is he able to?  No one really knows.  Does he have mad skills?  Totally!  Even last year, he had some awesome juke moves and sweet touchdowns weaving through defenders.  He is now a member of the Detroit Lions, taking over for Jahvid Best, who will no longer play football due to concussions.  Once again Reggie will not be the outright starter (Mikell Leshoure will do the brunt work) but I don't think he cares.  He is back with a contending team after two awful years in Miami.  This is good for both Reggie and the Lions.  NFC Central teams should be very afraid.

There are a ton of other moves that happened this free agency session.  Alex Smith was traded to the Kansas City Chiefs with their fresh coach Andy Reid.  Percy Harvin went from the Vikings to the Seahawks.  The Falcons dropped Michael Turner and John Abraham, but picked up Steven Jackson and Osi Umenyora, while keeping Tony Gonzalez.  Brian Urlacher is no longer a Chicago Bear, and Greg Jennings is now a Viking.

Such a high profile free agency season, and it's not even over!  What are your thoughts, and did I miss any big moves?

Left Handed Larceny

Power Rankings: Week 10

by Eric Berkenpas

Playoffs are nearing! It's starting to get to crunch time for some teams. Let's take a look at where everyone stands:

Photo cred thescore.tumblr.com

1. Pittsburgh Penguins - They didn't lose a single game in March and went without Malkin, Letang and Fleury in several games. The Pens are riding a 15 game win streak, have rendered only 9 goals in 11 games and added Morrow, Iginla and Murray. Only cause for concern is a broken jaw to the meat and potatoes of their team, Sidney Crosby.

2. Anaheim Ducks - The Ducks, though still behind the Hawks in the standings, have beaten them is 2 of 2 head to head meetings so far. Things in Anaheim aren't all fine and dandy though. Losing two in a row to a struggling San Jose squad is a cause for concern and the deteriorating of Victor Fasth means Hiller will have to perform or Anaheim could be in trouble.

Photo cred chicagosportsmemories.blogspot.com

3. Chicago Blackhawks - The Hawks finally hit that bump in the road and are 5-5-0 in their last 10. No questioning this team still being one of the best in the league though. They just stampeded over their division rival Detroit Red Wings 7-1. Patrick Kane continues to be marvelous and leads all Western Conference players in scoring with 42 points.

4. Montreal Canadiens - The Canadiens have held on to first in their division by beating the Bruins in their last two meetings both by exciting come from behind victories. The 1-0 loss at Pittsburgh is excusable but the   2-1 overtime loss to the Sabres is not. Regardless, the Habs sit pretty in 2nd in the East and will just need to hold off the Bruins to keep that spot.

5. Minnesota Wild - This is another team that just won't lose right now. They are 8-2-0 in their last 10 and passed up a hot Vancouver team for first in their division. The positive thing is the Wild, behind a surging Devon Setoguchi, have found their scoring touch. Nick Backstrom leads the league with 19 wins and has been sensational.

Photo cred www.hockey-trades.com

6. Vancouver Canucks - The threat of the Wild passing them really set a fire in the Canucks' behinds because they went on a nice 6-2-0 run to hold the Wild off for awhile. Corey Schneider looked good in those games and the Canucks look to be taking playoff form.

7. Los Angeles Kings - The Kings have been one of the better teams in the second half of the season but still have had some sloppy losses. You can really feel this team starting to take form and a 5-4 win IN Chicago cannot be undervalued. That was a huge win. The Kings will need to stop losing to the bottom teams in the West though if they want to have hopes of making another Cup run.

Photo cred boston.sportsthenandnow.com

8. Boston Bruins - The Bruins are really in a downward spiral right now. The two losses in a row to Pittsburgh are forgivable, but then going and losing to Winnipeg, Toronto, Montreal and Philadelphia in their next 6 was not good, especially given the manner they lost to the Habs. The Bruins are not playing a playoff brand of hockey right now and missed out on the top grabs at the trade deadline. Time for Claude Julien to show why he is a top coach in the league and rebound his team.

9. San Jose Sharks - The Sharks are rising again! And no thanks to Antti Niemi. He is 4-0 in his last 4 with  2 shutouts and a 1.25 GAA. 2 of those wins came against the Ducks who we all know is one of the best teams in the league. The Sharks are certainly making steps in the right direction. Also good to see a strong penalty kill (3rd best). Special teams can make or break a team come playoffs.

10. Toronto Maple Leafs - Leafs are also killing penalties well, but are killing too many. They are the most penalized team in the league and need to become more disciplined if they want a shot at going anywhere in the playoffs. Pittsburgh and Montreal are two teams they are likely to have to go through in the East and they both have very dangerous power plays. Regardless, the Leafs have shown an ability to beat the top teams in the East - good sign!

Photo cred www.ottawasun.com

11. Ottawa Senators - The Sens are hangin' around in the East and went a very quiet 6-2-2 in their last 10. All those losses however came to teams currently holding playoff spots. This is where the injuries are killer. Ben Bishop has been great in relief but unfortunately is going to have to be better as is the defense in front of him.

12. Detroit Red Wings - The Wings really looked like they were going somewhere with wins at Edmonton, Vancouver, 2 at Anaheim and 1 at Phoenix in a 6 game stretch, giving up only 12 goals in those games. Then they lost 2-0 at San Jose and 7-1 at home against the Hawks. Is this team ever going to get it together? I don't care how good Chicago is. There is no excuse for letting up 7 goals in a game.

Photo cred www.nhlsnipers.com

13. Washington Capitals - The Caps are on a roll right now and have the top powerplay in the league. They played solid playoff hockey in a 2-1 loss in Pittsburgh, followed it up with back-to-back 4-0 and 6-1 wins at division leader Winnipeg and finished off a little 3 game win streak by winning 3-2 at NY Rangers. Ovechkin may have found his touch as well, tallying 5 goals and 3 assists in that 4 game stretch. The Caps will need their superstar if they want to make playoffs. And if they do, watch out! Only 4 games back from leading the division.

14. Edmonton Oilers - The Oilers are streaking right now, and I don't mean running around naked! They are on a 3 game win streak and have earned points in 8 of their last 10. Taylor Hall is lights out right now and will need his team to rally behind him to continue this run. Dubnyk will need to improve as well. Don't count out this young squad! It's only a matter of time before all this youth breaks out in a major way.

Photo cred darkbluejacket.blogspot.com

15. Columbus Blue Jackets - The Jackets just beat the Ducks 2-1 and have been a very solid hockey team in the month of March. They currently sit in the 8 spot in the West against all odds. Bobrovsky has made his case for being considered for the Vezina and the combination of young talent like Cam  Atkinson, Mark Letestu,  Artem Anisimov and Derick Brassard have propelled this team into the playoff picture.

16. New York Islanders - Yes, you are seeing correctly. This is the second team listed from the once powerful Atlantic Division. If it weren't for the red hot Pens, the Isles would have been 8-2-1 in March. John Tavares has 21 goals (2nd best) and is pushing his team into a potential playoff spot. Don't be surprised to see this team in the playoffs for the first time since 2006!

17. Winnipeg Jets - They are the 3rd place team in the East, yes. But are they deserving? No. They looked like an AHL team against the Pens and lost by a combined 10-1 at home against the Capitals two days in a row. This team is no where near a legitimate playoff contender and would barely be in the playoffs if they didn't play in the worst division in the league.

Photo cred www.usatoday.com

18. New Jersey Devils - The return of Marty Brodeur has had no effect. The Devils have lost 3 straight and dropped 10 of 15 in the month of March. Regardless, they are in the playoffs thanks to a good start to the season. The loss of Kovalchuk doesn't make matters any better.

19. St. Louis Blues - Huge drop for these guys. Jake Allen started to look like a rookie and the offense went cold. Halak re-established himself as the starter but has only won one game since doing so. They are a point out of playoffs with 3 game in hand on the 8th place Jackets.

20. New York Rangers - It was a toss up between the Rangers and Hurricanes for this spot. In the end, goalies and defense won out even though the Rangers, as offensively potent as they should be, cannot score goals. Defense and goaltending is always a more valuable asset come playoff time though, and that is what the Rangers have.

21. Carolina Hurricanes - The Canes were absolutely plummeting, losers of 7 straight. They ended that with a solid 3-1 against division leader Winnipeg and look to get back on track against some of the top teams in the East in the next couple weeks. Their weakest point all year has been the powerplay which currently sits at 3rd worst. Penalty kill is 5th worst. Special teams is the achilles heel on the Canes this year.

Photo cred bloguin.com

22. Dallas Stars - The loss of their captain, Morrow, has had little effect. Although on a very inconsistent basis, the Stars have been able to win some games against some of the best teams in the West (Anaheim and Minnesota). If they could just win the games they should win, they would be fine. The youth is going to have to step up because that is where management seems to be shifting their focus.

23. Tampa Bay Lightning - The good news? St. Louis is staying in Tampa. The bad news? He isn't staying on a very good team currently. The Lightning lost their head coach and for good reason. There is no reason this team should not be in a playoff spot. The Lightning need a coach who can team good defense. With Stamkos, St. Louis, Lecavalier and an up and coming Conacher, scoring is not an issue. The pucks just need to stop pouring into their net.

Photo cred topics.courierpostonline.com

24. Philadelphia Flyers - The Flyers played an inspired game against the Pens in desperate search for a spark to get them going. They currently sit at the bottom of a weak Atlantic division  and are not getting production from guys like Briere, Hartnell and Gagne. Giroux is struggling in his first year of being captain, which could be expected. Bryz has done all he can in front of a porous defense but will need some help if the Flyers are going to start winning some games.

25. Colorado Avalanche - Of all the bottom teams, the Avalanche are the only team with hope for the future in their young stars, Duchene and Landeskog. John-Michael Liles is sorely missed on defense and there is no true #1 goalie. Fix those issues and this team is battling for a playoff spot. These are the reasons they were left out of the group of rank 30 teams.

It was really hard to rank these last 5 teams as they have all been absolutely horrible this year and recently. To solve this problem, I put them all at #30 in no particular order because they all share honors of being the worst team in the league. Here we go!

30. Calgary Flames - The Flames showed signs of life midway through the season but are now shipping out their stars for young talent, having finally realized they need to rebuild. Don't expect anything good from an Iginla-less Calgary team.

Photo cred bigstory.ap.org

30. Buffalo Sabres - Vanek is the only player who can produce and Ryan Miller is a piece of swiss cheese in front of a weak defense. It might be awhile before the Sabres find themselves to be competitive again in the NHL.

30. Florida Panthers - Jacob Markstrom and a suddenly tightened defense has helped the Panthers to look like a professional hockey team, but the Panthers still have serious issues.

30. Nashville Predators - The Preds only strength last year and through the first half of the season has all but disappeared. Pekka Rinne is still one of the best goalies in the league but can't be expected to hold his own against a constant onslaught on offense.

30. Phoenix Coyotes - They have lost 8 of their last 9 and are looking like possibly the worst team in the league. This is a team that everyone wants to see on their schedule right now.

Left Handed Larceny

Trade Deadline: Penguin Fireworks

by Eric Berkenpas

Photo cred pittsburgh.cbslocal.com

It was March 13, 2007. Hockey fans in Pittsburgh had been biting their nails for weeks and months wondering what the fate of their hockey team would be. Many fans were wishful and believed wholeheartedly that the Pens were staying in the Burgh but the reality of the situation was that the Pens were headed to Kansas City. Then everyone remembered "oh yeah, Mario Lemieux, who bailed out this franchise twice already isn't gonna let them go". Before their game against the Buffalo Sabres started, Lemieux, owner of the Pittsburgh Penguins, came onto the ice with an important announcement for fans. This is what he had to say "Tonight I'm proud to announce that your Pittsburgh Penguins will remain right here. Thank you, Pittsburgh and have a great night!". Lemieux uttered these words with glee and confidence but had no idea what this would truly mean for the team in the coming years.

Photo cred www.examiner.com

Well now it's 2013 and almost exactly 6 years later and it is truly astonishing where this team who was almost bankrupt finds themselves. After having not made playoffs for 4 straight seasons, the Pens found themselves in the playoffs in the 06-07 season and have yet to not make the playoffs. In the 07-08 season, they came just short of winning a cup, falling to the Detroit Red Wings. Just one year later, Sidney Crosby led his team back to the finals for a rematch against the Wings and was a large part of a different story that unfolded. The Pens won the cup under first year coach Dan Bylsma and Sid became the youngest captain to ever win a Stanley Cup. Over the next several years, the Penguins were plagued by injuries to many of their top players, not the least of which being their two superstars Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin. This year, there was a ton of hype in the elongated offseason over this Pens squad who, though they lost their dynamic center, Jordan Staal, would be returned a 100% healthy Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin to the ice. The Pens were preseason favorites to win the cup but were quickly drowned out of the headlines by the lightning start of the Chicago Blackhawks.

Photo cred www.zimbio.com

Once March hit, the Penguins became a new team and seemingly grew tired of playing shootout hockey and winning games by scores of 7-6 and 6-5. They tightened up the D and began ripping off win after win. With the trade deadline approaching, it was a pretty big mystery what would actually happen and which teams would make a big splash. With the likes of Martin St. Louis, Lubomir Viznovsky, Ryane Clowe, Jarome Iginla, Brenden Morrow and Ryan Whitney all coming up on the last year of their contracts, the potential for major trades was sky high. The Penguins GM, Ray Shero, has been known to nail down big deals at the trade deadline, the latest and greatest being Marian Hossa in 2008. Shero had been quiet in the years to follow and lost out big time in the offseason on Zack Parise and Ryan Suter. Shero was not going be outdone this time and began working out some big time deals that would rock the NHL headines.

Photo cred blogs.thescore.com

On March 24, the Penguins received news that the biggest name in trade talks, Jarome Iginla, had chosen Pittsburgh as one of four teams that he would accept being traded to. Oddly enough, this spurred Shero to strike a deal with the Dallas Stars for their captain Brenden Morrow. Just hours later, Shero nailed down a deal with the San Jose Sharks for bruiser defenseman, Douglas Murray. After these two deals, Penguins fans though Shero had foregone Iginla and went a different direction with his team. Didn't take long before Shero shocked the country with another blockbuster deal. March 27 as everyone was going to bed, Iginla appeared to be for all intents and purposes a Boston Bruin. Even Boston GM Peter Chiarelli thought Iginla was coming his way. The only wild card in the equation was Iginla's no trade clause which basically gave him power to choose where he would go. Early morning on March 28 around 2 in the morning, Ray Shero and Calgary GM Jay Feaster finalized a deal that would send a 2013 first round pick and two high school prospects to Calgary for their all-star captain, Jarome Iginla. If Morrow and Murray didn't make Pens an immediate favorite to win the cup, Iginla most definitely did.

The Penguins were clearly not in need of any help as they had been on a 13 game win streak without these new guys and for the most part without Evgeni Malkin. But Shero had said early on that if he had a chance to land Jarome Iginla, he would go for it. That is exactly what he did. So now what do the Penguins look like going forward and what can be expected from these players? Well keep reading!

Photo cred blogs.dallasobserver.com

Brenden Morrow
Brenden Morrow is a big bodied muck and grind forward who through injury and under-performance found himself on the 4th line of the Dallas Stars and in need of a serious revival. Ray Shero saw a perfect fit and stepped up to the challenge of reviving a once very potent player. Morrow prefers to play in the "dirty" areas of the ice, the most prevalent being the front of the net. He is one of those players that will drive goalies crazy because his body is always impeding their vision of the puck. Morrow also plays a very physical brand of hockey which becomes very important come playoff time. I see Morrow fitting like a glove with Malkin and Neal. The success of Malkin's line last year has a ton to do with Kunitz being on that line. Kunitz tends to play a similar style as Morrow and likes to crash the net. Morrow will fill that role perfectly and has played with Neal before so he should be pretty comfortable off the bat. If anyone questions if there will be chemistry issues, well right away maybe slightly, but Morrow is a seasoned veteran and will know how to fit in. Chemistry will not be an issue.

Douglas Murray

Photo cred www.cbc.ca

Douglas Murray is one of the larger players in the NHL and has played a very physical brand of hockey in San Jose. One of the Penguins biggest weaknesses on defense has been protecting the front of their net. The constantly let players camp out untouched and are extremely vulnerable to teams who like to throw the puck at the net and crash the net looking for rebounds. Brooks Orpik will be physical but he generally excels along the boards and tends to take penalties when he clears the front of the net. This is where Douglas Murray will be a huge help for the Penguins. He is extremely effective in clearing the front of the net legally and knows how to get into shooting lanes as he was leading the Sharks in blocked shots before being shipped to Pittsburgh. Along will all that, Dan Bylsma quickly realized how much hockey smarts Murray has which is a testament to why he has been able to be such an effective defenseman regardless of his mobility issues. The addition of Murray to the Penguins' core of defensemen who have really tightened it up will be a huge help and will help them to remain stingy through the end of the year and into the playoffs.

Photo cred sports.gearlive.com

Jarome Iginla
Last but certainly not least, Jarome Iginla. To many, he was the nail in the coffin in propelling Pittsburgh to Stanley Cup favorites. Iginla has spent the entirety of his NHL career in Calgary. In that time, he has quite the collection of awards: 1 Art Ross, 1 Ted Lindsay, 2 'Rocket' Richards, and 7 all-star appearances (3 of those being first-team). He is a 2 time 50 goal scorer and led the Flames to a Stanley Cup final appearance in 2004 only to lose in 7 games. Iginla is one of the most respected players in the league as well and has shown that he has incredible leadership abilities, which is the thing the Pens lacked. I can see Iginla fitting in on Crosby's line as his right wing since he has experience playing with Sid on team Canada and let's face it, he came to Pittsburgh to play with Crosby. Aside from his skill and goal scoring ability, Iginla has always been a very physical presence on the ice and is not afraid to drop the gloves if he needs to (he has fought 59 times in his career). There really isn't much that needs to be said about Iginla because his reputation and skill precedes him. His impact for the Penguins is going to be noticeable and it's just one more top grade player that opposing teams need to worry about.

Photo cred raleighdurham.about.com

Ray Shero and Dan Bylsma have been saying this year, and especially in lieu of these 3 trades that they want their team to be very hard to play against. These moves will certainly accomplish that. Not only do these three players bring skill, but they bring grit and toughness which will wear teams down. Pittsburgh has immediately become one of the most physical hockey teams now but they also have a ton of skill. There is really no good way to match up with this team from top to bottom and it will take a ton of discipline and good game plan if anyone wants to take these guys down. At this point, the only real weakness, if any, is the goaltending. No one is going to forget what happened to Fleury in the playoffs last year and I'm sure Fleury will be the last to forget it. With the defense playing how it has been and with the addition of Murray, both goalie's jobs should be made much easier, but there will always be question marks until Fleury proves otherwise. Also, the addition of two more captains to this team will give them veteran leadership which will help Crosby grow into a stronger leader and will help the younger players in the same way Bill Guerin helped in the Pens last cup run. I do think the Penguins are now heavy favorites for the Cup, but that in no way assures that they will win it. There are never any guarantees in the NHL and the Penguins are going to have as tough a road as anyone due to the huge target on their back now. I think the Pens will prevail and eventually take home their 4th Cup but it certainly won't come easy and their biggest threat comes from the West in the Chicago Blackhawks, who definitely have the skill and depth to match up with the Penguins.

Different Down South

The Madness Returns: How sweet (16) it is to meet you 

By Ben Makin

So let me start by saying, “whoops! Didn't see that coming!” Who the heck is Florida Gulf Coast University, and what have they done to my bracket? Well FGCU are comprised of a bunch of jerks that decided it’d be funny to ruin my final four prediction of Georgetown— all in the first round. Minus them, and Minnesota winning a toss up game, the rest has been right! 

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- The UNC-Kansas game was interesting for a while than Kansas turned it on and abused Carolina down low. They beat a good UNC team without Ben McLemore, arguably their best player. He couldn't find his stroke so Bill Self sat him down and had his seniors take this game home.

- Michigan, after a shaky first round, just absolutely dominated VCU behind none other than Trey B..MITCH MCGARY! My favorite player in this tournament, McGary has the “Ben Makin Trifecta” (attributes for making him my favorite player):

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1. Goofy to watch.
2. Super high energy.
3. Can have a big “we didn’t plan for that” game.
4. ***Bonus attribute- his name is really fun to yell and elongate.

- Florida wasn’t really tested, but they have a tough matchup coming up with FGCU. They shot really well in both games and look tougher than I originally thought. They shot 50% from three their second game- and you aren’t going to lose when that happens. 

- Florida Gulf Coast shattered everyone’s expectations. They’ve only been a program for 4 years, and had open tryouts at the beginning of the season. Now they’re the first 15 seed in the Sweet 16- EVER! Quite an accomplishment for a new coach and a young program that looks to be heading in the right direction. (Especially with this campus)

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SO, what can we expect from the sweet 16. Will it dazzle and wow us? I think it may…


Game 1 - #1 Kansas Jayhawks vs. #4 Michigan Wolverines

This game could be the best of the tournament thus far. Forget the Ohio State buzzer beater, Marquette’s last second layup, and the Craig Segar suit choices; and just focus on this great matchup. Every position has a great battle. 

Elijah Johnson vs. Trey Burke – The battle of the point guards. Trey Burke is known for his explosive play, getting into the lane and finishing, or pulling up for a smooth looking J. That's right, he’s known for a lot of things. Elijah Johnson on the other hand is not as proficient offensively as Burke is, but he is a senior with good experience. This will assist him (haha, point guard joke? Sorry…) in trying to slow down the Wooden Award Finalist. Johnson needs to be locked in on defense and have others worry about scoring. Burke is a handful, not many can stop him. 

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Ben McLemore vs. Tim Hardaway Jr.- This will be a battle of the Scorers. Both are fantastic shooters who have the tools to succeed at the next level. I think that Hardaway will be on McLemore because of his length and airtight defense. Timmy Jr. is competitive, and will want to outduel this redshirt freshman that has a ton of hype. McLemore will look to come out strong and control the ball for his team. After a terrible second round game, he wants to show his stuff and prove he can lead his team. Both are going to be locked in, watch their eyes- it’ll be daggers. 

Travis Releford vs Nik Stauskas- While Michigan has the upper hand in the point guard position; Kansas can take advantage of this matchup. Releford was on FIRE in the round of 32. 22 points, 8 rebounds on 9-13 shooting, this senior didn't want to go home early. Stauskas is a fantastic freshman shooter that has the ability to go for 20 on any given night, but he is still raw. Releford’s familiarity with the tournament, and big games will help him get past this rookie.Look for Hardaway Jr. to move onto Releford if he continues his hot streak from the weekend. 

Kevin Young vs. Glen Robinson III – this will be a bruising matchup between two big boys. Both Robinson and Young love to hit the boards, and are athletic enough to get their points. Both also know their roles on the team, and adhere to them quite well. I think Robinson is more athletic than Young, so look for Michigan to try and get Robinson moving and cutting to the basket early. 

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Jeff Withey vs Mitch McGary- Both are coming off awesome games. Withey had 16 and 16; McGary with 21 and 14. I’m excited for this matchup, but it wont just be between Withey and McGary… MCCCCCCGGGARRRRRRYYYYYY! Michigan runs deep downlow- Jordon Morgan (who started all season) and Jon Horford will also come in to wear down the excellent Withey. Think this gives Michigan an advantage because they can rotate guys in and out against him, tiring out the senior and wear him down from over aggressive play. It’ll be a true test of Withey’s skill to see how he will do against this 3-headed-monster. 

Overall, just look for an excellent game. While I think Michigan has more overall talent on the court, Kansas is oozing with experience. It’s really going to be an intense battle for 45 minutes (yup, overtime!). If and when Michigan can find their “swag” and start to play electric- throwing oops, crazy passes, and dynamic dunks- don't be surprised to see them moving on. Final Score MICHIGAN 65 Kansas 62.
Now if you’re still breathing after the first game, get ready for FAST.


Game 2- #3 Florida Gators vs. #15 Florida Gulf Coast Eagles.

Both teams are looking to run. FGCU is ranked 6th in the nation in fast break offense, and they are fast when they play their 4 guard lineup. What also helps them is their ability to pass the

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basketball. They had 21 assists in their last game, and really work to get the best shot; which is usually a dunk! The self proclaimed “dunk-city” can SEND IT IN JEROME. It is exciting to watch this team who has more energy than the energizer bunny who just chugged an amp and chased it with a 5 hour energy and two shots of espresso. They get the crowd into it, and their bench is never sitting. They’re on the sidelines getting their team riled up to go win the game. It’s what college basketball should be- young guys ENJOYING their opportunity to be on the national stage, playing good basketball. 


                               

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Florida is going to be challenged, but they being said, I still see them winning this game. Florida can shoot better than Marky-Mark as Bob Lee Swagger in the movie Shooter, and that's saying something. What they have to be careful with is hoisting up too many three’s and missing quality looks down low. They also need to play tight defense and limit the number of exciting plays FGCU gets, because they feed off of them. The Gators have some great players in Boynton and big boy Erik Murphy and they have what it takes to lead the Gators into the Elite 8. Florida is a team that makes you defend them. They will work the ball around with screens and high pick and rolls. Then if something isn’t there, they can drain from beyond the arc. Even if they can’t keep their fire from long range, their talent will turn the clock to midnight on the Cinderella Eagles. They’re a high profile Division 1 team; they are going to have better athletes and basketball players. I hate to see FGCU leave the big dance, but it just doesn't look like they can keep up with the Gators. I predict a close one, but Florida pulls it out in the end, 70-59.

Different Down South

#DunkCity

By Ryan Frisco

Photo Cred www.washingtonpost.com

Things down South look pretty usual in the Sweet Sixteen.  You've got #1 Kansas playing against #4 Michigan in the top round.  The bottom game is between #3 Florida and #2...wait, not Georgetown?  What?! Did you just say what I think you said?!  Yeah, it's #15 Florida Gulf Coast!  Wow, where did that come from?  Has that been done before? Nope. Huh. Looks like things this year are a little different down South.

Let's take a look at the first game.

#1 Kansas Jayhawks vs. #4 Michigan Wolverines

Kansas has taken the easy road to the Sweet Sixteen.  Round two was practically a shoe in.  The Jayhawks rolled over #16 Western Kentucky, continuing the top seed's unblemished record in round 2. Round three was more of the same, as they took down the UNC Tarheels by a comfortable 12 points.

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Michigan has had more proven competition along the way, but handled it much better than Kansas did. In round two they took on San Diego State, winning by 15.  Round three was against a much tougher opponent, VCU.  VCU was a surprise tournament team last year, and I had them going to the Final Four this year.  Michigan thwarted my bracket, throttling VCU by 25 points.  The Wolverines are legit.

So what's in store?  I'm going with Michigan.  Kansas is not the strongest #1 team, and Michigan is playing so well right now.  They're unstoppable.  The Wolverines have gotten red hot just at the right time.  I'm pretty sure the only thing that could stop them right now is the boys down at Florida Gulf Coast!

Prediction: Michigan takes down the Jayhawks with a final minute lead change, 74-71.

#3 Florida Gators vs. #15 Florida Gulf Coast Eagles

Like I said above, this is the first time in history that a #15 seed has made it to the Sweet Sixteen.  There are teams out there that have hurt a ton of bracket hopefuls, but none more than the Florida Gulf Coast Eagles.  They beat Georgetown, a team many had going to the Final Four, and most to the Elite Eight.  The only person in their right mind who would put FGC in the Sweet Sixteen is an optimistic father of a player who is blinded by love.  Or, they just know what these guys are made of. 

Photo Cred www.nytimes.com

Two big upsets, each by 10 points.  This is not your ordinary #15 seed.  The Eagles came to play!

Florida has a much different story.  They took the quiet road. They beat NW State in round two by 32 POINTS!  But no one talked about it.  They beat Minnesota by 14 in round 3.  No big deal.  Florida was expected to be where they are now, and no one's surprised.  They're good, but I think they're in a bad spot right now.  Being a #3 seed, lower ranked teams drool at the chance to knock off one of the big boys.  FGC is playing like a #1 seed at the moment.  I do believe the Gators may be catching this team at the wrong time.  I honestly don't think anything can stand in the Eagles' way right now.  That is a double meaning; no team can stand in the way of them winning, and no player can stand in the way of them dunking!  Have you seen this team the first two games?!  They dunk everything!!

Prediction: I'm going with the huge underdog, just for fun.  The Eagles drown yet another opponent in the gulf, taking down the Gators in a closer match, 77-73.

I'm calling two upsets down South, here we go!

Eastern Elites

According to Plan
By Caleb Musselman

photo cred: www.heraldtimesonline.com

In a bracket where upsets are becoming the new norm, the East has managed to come out unscathed. A 12, 13 and 15 seed have all snuck or, in the case of FGCU, dunked their way into the Sweet 16. There is a reason it's called Madness and not Monotony. Four days full of mayhem, and as the dust settles, the Big 4 in the East are still standing tall. Well, if we're being specific, Marquette is standing on one leg, and Indiana's knees are wobbling. But nonetheless, through nail biters and miraculous comebacks, Indiana, Miami, Marquette and Syracuse have advanced to the Round of 16. Many analysts have Louisville as the heavy National Champion favorite, but all four of the teams in the East have something to say about that. So what are we looking at?

East Match-ups:

photo cred: www.examiner.com

Thursday at 7:15pm - Marquette (#3) vs. Miami (#2)

This game is a very interesting matchup. Coach Buzz Williams has a funny way of finding his way into the Sweet 16 nearly every year. In fact, in both 2011 and 2012, Coach Lightyear has overcome adversity and reached the Sweet 16 (AND BEYOND, well not quite). Pardon my childish sense of humor. You've got a friend in me. 

2013 has brought with it many trials for the Golden Eagles of Marquette, but yet again, they have found a way to reach the teenage girl's Sweet 16 paja
ma party. Barely squeaking past Davidson in the Second Round, Marquette heavily relied on Vander Blue this past Saturday to beat a solid Butler squad. In a game that featured 17 lead changes, Blue scored 29 points and was a rock in the final minutes. On the other side of the ball, Miami held tough with a upset-minded Illinois squad and pulled through with a 4 point victory. There have been no easy wins for the Big 4 in the East.

photo cred: collegebasketballtalk.nbcsports.com

What to expect: First, expect a game that goes down to the wire. Reggie Johnson, Miami's center is out with an injury. If he played, I think Miami would be a 10 point favorite. With him out of the lineup, Miami will be forced to play a bit of a different defensive style. With Johnson in the lineup, the Hurricanes play a beat you up inside game. Without Johnson, Kenny Kadji and Julian Gamble must be extremely careful not to get into foul trouble. Thankfully for the Canes, Marquette's front court is not their strong suit. They rely much more on positions 1-3 to give them success. Even so, Marquette's bigs will be fed more often than usual.
Second, expect Larkin to go OFF. Shane Larkin is arguably the best point guard in the nation. Further, he's been waiting for his chance to shine in the limelight. Here you go Shane. Expect him to drop 25 and tantalize the Golden Eagles on both ends of the court. Miami leads throughout by single digits, Marquette makes a late run and Miami answers with a run of their own. Miami wins by 6.


Thursday 9:45pm - Syracuse (#4) vs. Indiana (#1)
There are 4 games in the Sweet 16 that have a little more sugar than the rest. Duke/Michigan St, Kansas/Michigan, Florida/FGSU (Dunk City) and Indiana/Syracuse. Indiana, with 5 National Championships, is arguably the most storied program in NCAA tourney history. In recent years, however, the Hoosiers have been in a bit of a coma. They lost in the National Championship in 2002, and haven't won it since 1987. Ironically, who did they beat that year for the title? Syracuse. These two teams haven't met in the tournament since.

Syracuse, with an overall tournament record of 56-35, has been a consistent tournament staple since Boeheim took over. With only one title to their name (2003 - Melo. Warrick. Enough said.), the Orange are desperate to get back to the Elite 8.

photo cred: www.news.yahoo.com

What to expect: First, expect Southerland to be blanketed. Last round Cal did a fantastic job of denying Southerland's outside game. Only going 2-5 from beyond the arc, he struggled to find open looks throughout the game. Indiana's first defensive goal is to minimize his impact. If he only gets off 5 threes, Syracuse won't have the offensive firepower to keep up with the Hoosiers. Second, expect Syracuse to struggle with Zeller. Cuse's 2-3 zone works wonders against smaller teams. However, with Indiana's pristine ball movement and half court execution, Zeller is going to find plenty of opportunities to inflict his wrath. Third, expect C.J. Fair to continue his 2013 dominance. C.J. Fair is Syracuse's best player. However, Indiana has the best on the ball defender in the nation in Victor Oladipo. Whether Oladipo matches up with Southerland or Fair, he is going to be giving up a bit of size. No matter who is guarding Fair, he's going to perform. Expect 20 from Fair without a doubt.

The key for Indiana is Oladipo. Against Temple, Victor forgot to show up until the last 10 minutes of the game. When he did Indiana proved to be too much for the Owls. Against Syracuse, if Oladipo waits til the final minutes to perform offensively, it will be too late. For Indiana to win, Oladipo must force his will upon the Syracuse zone, attack the basket, and get out in transition. If he does, Indiana has the upper hand.

The key for Syracuse is Triche. An absolute stud in his first two years at Syracuse, Triche seems to have leveled out in his senior year. Against Cal, Triche shot 1-8 from the field and his only make was a wide open trey. Triche is going to be guarded either by Hulls or Ferrell. Both players are small and crafty. Triche will have the ability to beat them to the basket because of his superior size and strength. If Triche takes the stage like we all know he can, he will be the X factor for the Orange. If he goes for 15, Syracuse has a slight advantage.

photo cred: www.espn.go.com

Prediction: Syracuse is a very good team that is close to being elite. However, their lack of a legitimate standout big man will be there downfall. Zeller goes crazy, Oladipo exploits the 2-3 zone and the Orange can't keep up offensively. An absolute dog fight throughout, Indiana wins by single digits.

The Orange rolls home and the Hoosiers are Elite.