The Untouchables

Indiana: Beast from the East

by Eric Berkenpas

Photo cred www.mail.com

 After starting the season ranked #1 in the nation, it's no surprise to see Indiana grab one of the tournament #1 seeds. In his 5th year as head coach, Tom Crean looks to continue the growth into excellence of his team by improving on the Sweet 16 departure to the hands of the eventual tournament champions last year, the Kentucky Wildcats. He has his Hoosiers' sights set on a much greater accomplishment; that being to cut down the nets on April 8. As everyone knows, this never comes easy and this year, more than any, there are going to be many legitimate teams all vying for those same honors. It is going to take a considerable amount of focus, discipline, consistency and heart to take home that gold plated trophy this year. Let's explore the road that Indiana must take if it wants to be crowned champion in April.

Round of 64

Photo cred www.usatoday.com

Indiana will face either Long Island University Brooklyn or James Madison University in the first round. Both of these teams can threaten you from the 3 point line which in theory should not trouble the Hoosiers too much as they have faced and beaten some of the best 3 point shooters in the nation on Michigan, Michigan State and Ohio State. Long Island boasts a threesome of very potent scorers in Jamal Olasewere, Julian Boyd and C.J. Garner who average 18.9, 18.5 and 16.1 PPG respectively. James Madison scores from a larger variety of players as they have 6 players who average between 6 and 13 PPG. Rayshawn Goins is the leading scorer and will need to be kept in check in the paint. In the end, Indiana should have no problem dismissing either of these teams. They play too tight of defense and neither Long Island nor James Madison will have an answer for Cody Zeller.

Round of 32 and beyond

Beyond the first round, having no knowledge of who Indiana will be playing in the remaining rounds assuming they win each game, the remainder of this discussion will encompass my expectations for Indiana and what teams they should look out for down the road.

Photo cred cityofbasketballlove.com

The first team that could give Indiana some trouble is the Temple Owls. They are careful with the ball on the offensive side of the court and have one of the better players in the country in Khalif Wyatt who has the skill to take over a game. He dropped 33in a win against Syracuse and 26 in a close loss to Kansas. He received A-10 Player of the Year awards and is ready to help his Owls make some noise in the tournament.

Syracuse is another team that could make some noise in the tournament. Brandon Triche, Michael Carter-Williams and James Southerland are just three examples of the high talent this team has. If Southerland can get hot from the perimeter, there are not many teams that can beat the Orange. They also have arguably the best coach in the league. You can never count out a Jim Boeheim coached team in March and April.

Photo cred bleacherreport.com

The last team and very possibly the biggest threat for Indiana is the Miami Hurricanes. Duke was the favorite in the ACC at the start of the season but the Canes had something else to say about that. We can't forget that January 23rd dismantling of the #1 ranked Blue Devils. The Hurricanes hit a bump in the road at the end of the regular season but got back on track by rolling through the ACC Tournament. They play arguably the best defensive game in the country and have some dynamic scoring from Shane Larkin, Kenny Kadji, and Durrant Scott who can all score from anyone on the court.

Photo cred sportsillustrated.cnn.om 

Indiana will find success if they can get consistent play out of their all star, Cody Zeller. Sure they have defensive sensation Oladipo who can light up the score board and Christian Watford and Jordan Hulls who can shoot the 3 ball effectively, but at the end of the day, the Hoosiers go as Cody Zeller goes and if he can play at an elite level game in and game out, there are few teams in the field who can match up against them.

My prediction for Indiana is that they roll through the first round, edge out the Temple Owls and Syracuse Orange en route to losing to Miami in the Elite 8.

The Untouchables

Gonzaga: The Dark Horse of The Tournament

An Interview by Ryan Frisco with Jeff Griffith

Photo Cred www.swxrightnow.com

Ahh, it's March finally, and the Madness is about to begin. 64 teams have made it this far, with the ultimate chance to be crowned the NCAA National Champion in basketball. No other college title compares to this, not even the BCS Championship. This is the big show. It's almost time.

Leading up to the tournament, Sports Eye View decided each one of the writers would take one of the #1 seeds and break down their season and chances in the tournament. My task is Gonzaga. There happens to be a slight problem with that; I have been a bit ignorant, and just so happened to miss the entire college basketball regular season. I kind of did that on purpose. So, I decided to bring in an expert for an interview. I'll be going back and forth with a man named Jeff Griffith. He bleeds Syracuse Orange, and is the biggest college basketball fan I know (much bigger than I believe to be humanly possible). He has recently started his own sports blog, called Extra Innings Sports Blog, make sure you check it out after this article!

Ryan: So Jeff, Gonzaga is one of the #1 seeds for the tournament. Why don't you start out by giving a short breakdown of their season and how they got to that #1 seed?

Photo Cred www.spokesman.com

Jeff: Gonzaga's season has been exceptional, and the Bulldogs race into the march madness with an outstanding record of 31-2. They swept through the West Coast Conference without a single blemish, winning 12 of their 16 WCC games by double digits, tallying a perfect 16-0 in conference play. As for the non-conference slate, the Zags notched critical wins over current 5-seed Oklahoma State and 4-seed Kansas State. However, their two low points in their outstanding season came in an 11 point loss to then top-ten Illinois, and on a January 19th buzzer beater loss at Butler.

Ryan: Now to my knowledge, I don't recall seeing Gonzaga near this high of a ranking in recent history. Is this a first for them, and do they really deserve this high of a ranking? Or is it more like Notre Dame football going undefeated, but that being more of lack of competition than a great team that can compete with the best.

Jeff: Gonzaga's season has been one of the best yet in their history. They achieved the top spot in the rankings for the first time in school history this year. That said, I don't think they're deserving of a #1 seed. Miami, Ohio State, and Duke all had much better bodies of work. Yes the Zags have more wins than any other (31), but only 6 of them are against tournament teams. In my opinion, the final top seed should've been the Hurricanes. However, Gonzaga does have the talent to make a deep run. I see the Bulldogs winning at least 3 games in this tournament.

Ryan: Alright, so we've established that Gonzaga looks like the weakest of the top seeds, and you're saying they're probably still an Elite 8 team. Let's take a look that their 16 team bracket. Who are the teams that realistically are going to give the Zags a problems and stand in their way of a Final Four appearance?

Jeff: Two teams right off the bat are Ohio State(2) and Wisconsin(5). If the Zags are to win this region, they'll have to first bear Wisconsin's slow, patient, tedious offense, which will give them fits. GU is an up tempo team, and this will phase them. Assuming the Bulldogs get past the Badgers, Ohio state will smother them on defense. Aaron Craft is the best on-ball defender in America. DeSean Thomas, Shannon Scott and Craft can all shoot lights out.

Ryan: Alright, I agree with you there, I think I have Gonzo falling to Wisconsin. I'm going to pose a few questions for you here, you answer with a ranking 1 - 10, 1 being low probability, 10 being very high probability.


1. Gonzaga becomes first #1 seed to lose to #16 seed: The Chances of Gonzaga losing to Southern are a 1.5. It's a little better than impossible, but I don't see it happening. Although it is march...it's called madness for a reason.

Photo Cred www.sportsillustrated.cnn.com

2. Gonzaga makes the Sweet Sixteen: I definitely think Pitt and Wichita can upset Gonzaga in the round of 32, but I, again, don't see it happening. Gonzaga has slightly better talent and developed size - i say developed because Pitt has an outstanding 7 footer who plays like a high schooler - than their possible opponents. That said, both teams that could play GU will give the Zags a run for their money, it all depends on how they play that day. I'd say at the end of the day their chances of a trip to Phoenix are an 8. 

3. Gonzaga Makes the Elite Eight: A trip to the Elite 8? Sure I can see that. Do I think they will? According to my bracket, yes, but according to my basketball analysis, no way. Wisconsin, the 5-seed in Gonzo's bracket will give them fits on both sides of the ball. Their defense is active and long, and the offense is slow and patient. The Bulldogs love the uptempo style, which will create an automatic advantage for Wisconsin before the game even begins. Even so, Gonzaga will be favored, so I'd have to say the chances of a Regional Final birth are a 6.

Photo Cred www.bleacherreport.com

4. Gonzaga Makes the Final Four: A spot in Atlanta for GU will be a stretch. It would most likely mean a matchup with the NCAA's second hottest power-conference team (behind Louisville), Ohio State. The Buckeyes come in as the (sort of) surprise Big Ten Champions. OSU started out well in the top 10 weekly, but fell off a cliff in January. They've snuck back in an under-the-radar sort of way to becoming a 2-seed. Aaron Craft is the best on-ball defender in the nation, and the Buckeyes can shoot the 3 with the best of them. I give them a shot, but don't expect the Zags to be cutting down the Regional Championship nets in Phoenix. It's a solid 3.5

5. Gonzaga Makes the NCAA Championship Game: No, Gonzaga is probably not making the championship game. I'll tell you that right off the bat. Louisville, the very probable team GU would face in a National Semi, has star power at every position. Russ Smith and Peyton Siva are top-notch shooters, Gorgui Dieng seems to contest every shot within 15 feet, and Luke Hancock can do almost anything. Watch for Montrezl Harrel to also get in the mix for some big plays. I still have to give the Bulldogs some chance of winning though, so I'll say a 2.

Photo Cred www.usatoday.com

6. Gonzaga is Crowned NCAA Champion: Believe it or not, GU has a better chance of WINNING the championship game than MAKING the championship game. The teams they would face there have the same level of talent as UL, but the Cardinals and Buckeyes would easily be Gonzaga's toughest match-ups in the tournament. Indiana, Kansas, Georgetown, Florida, Syracuse, Marquette, VCU, Miami, etc. are all formidable opponents, but if Gonzaga can somehow find a way to GET to the final game, then there's no reason they shouldn't win. It'll still be close, and all of those opponents have equal shots to win in a neutral-site game with Gonzaga, so I say GU's chances of cutting down the nets in Atlanta are a 5. IF THEY GET THERE.

Ryan: Good stuff Jeff. All I have left to ask are a few of your thoughts. Tell me about why you're excited for the tournament, your thoughts on the Orangemen this year and give us a couple of predictions. National Champion, runner up, big upsets and Dark Horses.

Jeff: I'm exicted for this year's tournament because there's so much unknown. There are no clear-cut favorites, and the greatest part is that there have been so many upsets in the regular season that there are bound to be a bunch in the tournament, but no one can predict which ones will occur and which won't! If I had to predict 4 first round upsets I'd say: MTSU/SMC over Memphis, Minnesota over UCLA, Ole Miss over Wisconsin, and Belmont over Arizona. There are a few possible shockers that could go deep (and no, not referring to the Wichita State Shockers). I can definitely picture #4 Saint Louis and #5 VCU making Final Four runs and #12 Ole Miss reaching the sweet 16. A bit more outlandish are these next 2 possibilities, but they could happen. I think that #10 Iowa State could knock off OSU and if #11 Belmont and #11 Minneosta get hot, they're going deep.

Photo Cred www.prairiebowen.com

My final four is extremely biased:


#4 Syracuse beats #5 VCU


#2 Ohio State beats #3 Michigan State


Syracuse is my champion. 

Well, that sums it up.  Say hello to Gonzaga!  A big thanks from Jeff Griffith, author of Extra Innings Sports Blog.  Make sure to take a peek, and continue to tune in this week as Sports Eye View dominates the NCAA coverage!

The Untouchables

Louisville, Alone at the Top

By Caleb Musselman

Photo Cred www.gocards.com

Intro – When you win the Big East, you are going to get noticed. Bouncing around the top ten all season, the Louisville Cardinals operated behind the scenes while the big boys beat each other up like a bunch of teenagers fighting over the same girl. With Duke and Indiana getting most of the press all year, Louisville, who spent a brief week at the top spot, has been building their tournament resume. In the middle of January, Louisville started to peak just when the number ones started falling. An 11-game win streak propelled the Cardinals from a contender to the number one spot. However, with fame comes pressure and Louisville went on to lose three straight games to Syracuse, Villanova and Georgetown. As is common in the NCAA, this small skid slid Louisville out of the title question for much of the second half of the season. Now, with a 10 game winning streak including a Big East conference championship, Louisville has suddenly catapulted themselves to the number one overall seed in the Dance. With filthy guard play and some of the most dynamic and powerful frontcourt players in the nation, bracket experts are having trouble not including Louisville in their national championship game.

Now, if you are a normal human being, this year has you on the frits. My hands shook as I wrote in my picks for the Big Dance. The real question is: What can we expect from the number 1 seeds? Specifically, what can we expect from the Cardinals?

Here we go:

Photo Cred www.worldnow.com

First Round – vs. North Carolina A&T – Plain and simple, this is not the year that a number 1 seed falls in the first round. If it was, it would not be Louisville. Barely squeaking past Liberty in their First Four game, North Carolina A&T has a cute story, but they will lose this game by 30 points. More talented at every position including coach and water boy, Louisville will score 80 and cruise to the second round.

Second Round – vs. Colorado St./Missouri – This matchup deserves a few more words. Both of these potential opponents ranked in the top 5 in the country in rebounding. Whoa. For Colorado State, Colton Iverson (the Answer?) is their go to guy. Averaging 14.8 points and 9.8 boards per game, Iverson is a stud on the low block. With a victory over Florida in February, CSU has proven they have the capacity to bring down a giant. For Missouri, Laurence Bowers (14/6 per game) anchors an incredibly deep team. With 6 players averaging double figures in points, the Tigers seem to have a squad that could potentially make some noise. I believe Missouri will pull out the victory over CSU because of superior guard play. Specifically, Phil Pressley, who averages 7 assists per game, will give CSU fits. If they played anyone but a top seed in the second round, I’d give the Tigers a shot at the Sweet 16. Louisville has the bigs (Dieng, Mathiang, and Harrell) to match them on the boards. Further, they have one of the most dynamic point guards in the nation in Peyton Siva. In a hard-fought physical game, Louisville makes a second half run to put Missouri in the rear-view mirror.

Photo Cred www.louisville.com

Sweet 16 – vs. Oklahoma St./St. Louis – In one season, the A-10 went from a non-factor to a conference with 5 legitimate tournament teams. St. Louis, the A-10 conference champ, has what it takes to beat Oklahoma St. and meet Louisville in the oh so Sweet 16. Winning 15 out of their final 16 games, the Billikens (yup, the Billikens) have come onto the Dance floor with a skip in their step. St. Louis is a well-balanced team that can stick with any team in the nation. What type of team will they struggle against? An athletic one. Well, St. Louis, Louisville is the most athletic team in the nation. Almost identical in FG%, FT% and 3PT%, on paper this matchup looks like a toss-up. What is the one thing that can’t be measured by statistics? Athleticism. I think this will be a fantastic game from beginning to end, but can’t see St. Louis being able to keep up with the Cardinals if they play their game. Russ Smith, the Cardinal’s leading scorer at 18 per game, is a pure shooter who benefits from a team with no weaknesses. Smith and Siva will dominate the backcourt and lead Louisville to a single-digit win.

Photo Cred www.zimbio.com

Elite 8 – vs. Duke/Michigan St. – Coach K against Coach Tom Izzo. What a Sweet 16 matchup. The beautiful thing about this game is that no matter who wins, they will be going against Rick Pitino. This side of the bracket has more big name coaches than I’ve got hairs on my head. I think Duke has been suddenly snubbed in the last week. I think they realize that too, and they are going to come out hot, hot, hot. I have them beating MSU by a hair to advance to a matchup with the Cardinals. Interesting matchup. Duke actually beat Louisville on November 24 to give them their first loss of the season. With Kelly back in the lineup, the Blue Devils are a force to be reckoned with. The problem for Duke is that when they have a bad shooting night, they don’t win (ex. ACC tourney vs. Maryland). I believe Louisville and Indiana have the two most complete squads in the nation. Duke’s inconsistency scares me. So, Louisville wins this game by single-digits. If their shooting isn’t on, they can rely on Dieng and their guards to drive the hole. Curry shoots well, but Benahan locks down Kelly and Louisville comes out on top. On to the Final Four.

Final Four – vs. Ohio St./New Mexico – The West is the weakest quarter of the bracket. If you don’t think so let me know. Wisconsin downs Gonzaga, New Mexico upsets Ohio St. and New Mexico beats Wisconsin in the Elite 8 to make it to the Final Four. I might be crazy picking New Mexico over Ohio St. but I’m sticking with it. Ironically, New Mexico does not match up well against Louisville. The Lobos have a solid big man in Alex Kirk (12/8 per game), but their greatest strength comes from beyond the arc in players like Tony Snell. If Snell is on (39% 3PT), they are very dangerous, but I always stay away from teams who rely too heavily on the 3 ball. Once again, Louisville’s athleticism and balance will come through. Also, Peyton Siva is going to eat Hugh Greenwood alive. Siva explodes for 25 points and Louisville is on to the Ship.

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National Championship – vs. Indiana/Miami – People are very high on Kansas. I’m not quite on board with that. I believe Indiana and Miami will be playing on the other side for the Natty. Miami proved they could win without tourney experience by taking the ACC tournament. Indiana is coming into the Dance with a chip on their shoulder after struggling in the end of the season. I think Cody Zeller is the best center in the nation, hands down. His inside dominance matched with their outrageous 41% team 3PT percentage takes them past Miami. Indiana vs. Louisville in the Final. This game is an absolute toss-up. I think Louisville is the better team in this matchup. However, I don’t think they’ll win. It’s just a gut instinct. Since about halfway through the season, I’ve thought Zeller has what it takes to lead his team to a National Championship. In an absolutely fantastic game of offensive dominance and lock down defensive bliss, Zeller will score 20 and raise the trophy in Atlanta. If Louisville wins I won’t be shocked. In a battle of the two most well-balanced teams in the nation, Indiana has the passion to win. Give them a 3-game series and Louisville wins 2 out of 3.

Louisville finishes a fantastic tournament run as the national runner up. Disagree? Come on, let me have it.

The Untouchables

Kansas: Big Boys of the South

By Ben Makin

Photo Cred www.4.bp.blogspot.com


Smile, it’s March. Spring is now upon us; the weather is turning to sunshine (unless you live in Western PA) the birds are chirping, and oh yes---MARCH MADNESS IS ABOUT TO COME INTO FULL SWING. I’m ecstatic; the thought of irking all academic responsibility to be able to sit in my robe and watch four screens of the best, most intense college basketball of the year just gets me pumped. In a series of articles, all four contributors to Sports Eye View are writing an opening piece on the #1 seeds. The pressure, prestige, and notoriety these teams come into the tournament with is intriguing. Being a number one seed has its advantages- you get what should be the easiest road to the later rounds. It also has its disadvantages- every team wants to be the one to knock you off as a 1 seed and get their name on Sports Center. I have the privilege of introducing the #1 seed from the South: The Kansas Jayhawks. Round 2- 64 Teams: Kansas Jayhawks vs. Western Kentucky Hilltoppers.

Photo Cred www.worldwideonline.com

I’ll keep this short- no 16 seed has EVER beaten a 1 seed. It’s not going to happen Friday at 9:50 either. Western Kentucky is a good team; don't get me wrong. They’ve made the big dance three of the last five years, and have at least one win in each of those appearances. This also isn’t the first time these two teams have played in the Tourney- 1995 Kansas beat Western Kentucky 75-70. I think history has a way of repeating itself. Led by the sophomore duo of T.J. Price and George Fant, WKU has had an average season (20-15, 10-10 in conference). The glaring statistic is their record against tournament teams this year- 0-4, all of them being blowouts. They had a great conference tournament run, but to beat Kansas you have to scale a mountain. I don't see the Hilltoppers being able to topple the Jayhawks- Final Score: Kansas 82 WKU 60.

Photo Cred www.sbnation.com

Round 3- 32 Teams: Kansas Jayhawks vs. UNC Tarheels/ Villanova WildcatsIn my bracket I have UNC winning a close one against the Wildcats in what I project to be the best game of the first round. Both teams have a great history and respectable seasons- each ending with quality wins and a good amount of momentum. I think North Carolina has too much athleticism and their ability to shoot the 3 ball is too much for ‘Nova to stop (UNC wins 63-59). 

Kansas is a team that matches up well against either of these teams. Both UNC and Villanova play smaller line-ups that are quick in transition, but the Big 12 is known for their speed- Kansas will not be caught off guard. The dynamic freshman Ben McLemore (top 5 draft pick this June and potential March Star) will cause problems, as UNC and the Wildcats have not been able to defend quick, powerful guards as well as they’d hope. North Carolina will especially have trouble with senior Jeff Withey (Wooden Award Finalist). The lineup the Tarheels play will give Withey the opening to dominate down low and abuse the pint-sized guys from Chapel Hill. A terrific offensive rebounder, Withey should clean up on the boards (something UNC has had trouble with) Kansas wins a closer game than the previous round, but nonetheless, put it away. Final Score: Kansas 77 UNC 68.

Round 4- Sweet 16: Kansas Jayhawks vs. VCU Rams/ Michigan WolverinesThings are set up for a VCU-Michigan matchup in the round of 32- should be an AWESOME game. Shaka Smart is the best young coach in the game, but I don't think he can plan for Trey Burke and Company. Aided by solid guard play, the Rams have not come up against a guard combo like Burke and Tim Hardaway Jr. Their ability to break defenses is uncanny. Where VCU may have a chance is in their ability to score. VCU can put up points (4 starters in double digits and 11th in the nation in scoring) but Michigan is just a better team, who is no stranger to scoring (4 players in double digits, 27th in scoring). The Wolverines pull this game out with an 80-72 win.

This will be Kansas’ toughest matchup so far. The Wolverines provide a tricky matchup for the Jayhawks. Michigan has better guards (the best in the nation). Kansas has also not played against many good guard tandems this year, so it is up to two seniors, Travis Releford and Elijah Johnson to slow down the backcourt of the Wolverines. Both are solid defenders for the Jayhawks, and have better experience in the tournament than Burke and Hardaway. While Kansas does have a better post game than UM, Mitch McGary is coming into his own down low. While he is a bit raw offensively, I don't see him giving Withey anything easy. The factor in this game is free throws. Both teams shoot about 70% on the season, but Kansas’ starting 5 have an overall better number. In a close one I see Kansas just barely pulling this out in extra time. Final OT: Kansas 82 Michigan 80

Photo Cred www.mwcradio.com

Round 5- Elite Eight: Kansas Jayhawks vs Florida Gators/Georgetown Hoyas
Personally I think the Gators are overrated. They have a good team, won a bunch of games in the worst of the big conferences, and lost to some BAD teams. The Hoyas on the other hand are tough. Led by Otto Porter Jr., (definite lottery pick, and after this tournament don't be surprised to see him off the board within the first three picks.) Georgetown is a complete team with good experience. They’ve played 14 games against tournament teams and won 9 of them. They have hit their stride and will ROLL through the Gators who won’t be able to matchup anywhere on the court. Hoyas win 73-59.

Spoiler Alert- This is where Kansas stumbles. The matchup between Porter Jr. and McLemore is going to be fantastic. Both have star potential and this will be a battle that continues into the NBA. Both are excellent scorers, and at this point in the tournament, both will be in a “The team is on my back” mode. Kansas looks to score, and Georgetown looks to defend. It’ll be a battle of tempo, and who ever controls it will win. The only way Georgetown loses is if they can’t find a second scorer. McLemore and Withey will get their points, and if Kansas can shut down 4 of the 5 Hoyas, they will advance to the Final 4. I see Georgetown pulling this out on a tired Kansas team who had a little bit of a tougher road. Final Score: Kansas 61 Georgetown 65.

I think that Kansas has the ability to win the whole tournament. They have a good base of seniors that can lead this Jayhawks team to glory, but they have the toughest road of any 1 seed, and in the end it is just too much for them. Look for some exciting play by this Kansas team and some excellent matchups. Comment and let me know what you think of Kansas’ chances- do they have what it takes to be “Untouchable?”

30 Degrees of Banking

NASCAR Nuggest: Food City 500

By Ryan Frisco

Photo Cred www.dallasnews.com

The Victor: Well, he finally did it.  I said last week, it wouldn't be long till we saw Kasey Kahne in the Victor column, and here he is.  Kasey drove a solid race at Bristol (I feel like he was never lower than 5th on track!). At the end, he ran away with it comfortably.  This is the first time in his career that Kasey has both been on the same team and had the same crew chief for two years in a row.  Things are rolling with this #5 car.  I picked him before the season to take the championship, and he's showing week after week that he has the fastest car out there.

The First Loser: Kyle Busch was the touted favorite to win.  He smashed the track record in qualifying.  He should have ran away with this race.  So what happened?  For the second week in a row, Kyle got caught for speeding on pit road, miring him well back in the field, having to fight the whole race to get back to the front.  He almost did it, and it was an admirable run.  Kyle just missed out on the Chase last year, and runs like this are what is going to keep him out again.  Silly mistakes like this over and over again cannot continue.

Big Name Drivers, Big Time Crashes: Four of the big name drivers this week crashed hard at Bristol.  Tony Stewart was the first victim of this, cutting a tire and spinning into the wall on just lap 10.  Later on in the race, Jeff Gordon and Matt Kenseth (last week's winner) were battling for the lead when Gordon cut a tire.  He flew up the track right into the wall and Matt Kenseth.  Both cars were immediately retired from the race (video below). Finally, Jimmie Johnson, five time champ and this year's Daytona 500 winner, cut down a tire late in the race and nailed the wall, ruining his day.  Like I said Saturday, anything can happen at Bristol.  This was a big hit for these four drivers.

A Fresh, New Rivalry: It looks like we've got a new rivalry in NASCAR to overtake the Clint Bowyer/Jeff Gordon drama.  During the race, Joey Logano was in second place trying to pass Jeff Gordon.  When he couldn't complete the pass, he fell in line in second, in front of Denny Hamlin.  This cut Denny off the first time, making him check up to not run into Joey.  This happened again; this time, Denny wasn't as forgiving.  He gave Logano a little tap that sent Joey spinning into the wall.  Joey was a bit upset by this (I for one blame it all on Joey, Denny didn't do anything wrong) and vowed to get him back.  There wan no further altercation until after the race, when Joey went over to Denny's car, causing a fuss.  I don't know about you, but I don't think this one's over yet. Oh, and another twist; these two were teammates up until this year.

A New Leader: That's right, defending champ Brad Keselowski has overtaken the points lead.  He finished third, his fourth top five of the year, and now holds the lead over Dale Earnhardt, Jr. and Jimmie Johnson.  

Upcoming is the 2 1/2 mile superspeedway in Fontana, California.  I'll be back here Saturday to break down NASCAR's weekend in the California sun.

Left Handed Larceny

Week 8 Power Rankings

By Eric Berkenpas

The push for playoffs is really starting to heat up and as usual, standings look drastically different than they did two weeks ago. Lets see where everyone stands now:

Photo cred www.examiner.com

1. Pittsburgh Penguins - I know Caleb and Ryan are shaking their heads as they read this but for real, the Penguins are dominating the month of March (haven't lost yet) and are doing it on both the defensive and offensive sides of the ice against some of the better teams in the East. Sidney Crosby is having his best season yet and has created stars out of Dupuis and Kunitz. Oh, and this is all without last year's MVP, Evgeni Malkin.

2. Chicago Blackhawks - They are human after all. Having lost two in a row to Colorado and Edmonton (two of the bottom teams in the West) and being taken to a SO against the Jackets, they unleashed their frustration in an 8-1 shellacking of the Dallas Stars. This team is still arguably the best. You just can't really argue against the Pens 9 game win streak and the fashion in which it was achieved.

Photo cred www.facebook.com

3. Anaheim Ducks - There can be nothing but good things to say of this squad. The only question for them now is what happens to Corey Perry after Getzlaf got his huge extension? That shouldn't affect them this year though, and clearly isn't as they are 7-0-3 in their last 10, have points in 11 straight games and are 17-1-3 in their last 21.

4. Boston Bruins - Can't knock the B's for those two losses to Pittsburgh as both came in the 2nd game of back to backs and while the Penguins were hot. Outside of those losses, the Bruins are playing solid playoff hockey and could still potentially be in first in the East if not for having played 3 less games than Pittsburgh.

5. Montreal Canadiens - This is a team that I just keep waiting to tail off but the longer I wait, the better they seem to get. Michel Therrien has his system working to perfection and find a lot of scoring coming on the powerplay. No player really stands out statistically except Carey Price who is tied for the league lead in wins with a 2.33 GAA.

Photo cred www.zimbio.com

6. St. Louis Blues - The Blues have gotten back to their defensive prowess and have found ways to put more pucks in the back of the net than last year. What you may not know is that the goaltender standing out right now is rookie Jake Allen. He has won 5 in a row, 2 of those coming against San Jose, 1 against the Ducks who he only allowed one goal to and 2 against Phoenix (one of which being his first career shutout).

7. Minnesota Wild - The Wild have really turned it on and taken control of the Northwest Division and that 3rd spot in the West. They are gonna have to beat the big boys though as their only 3 losses in the last 10 games were to Chicago and Anaheim. They gotta be pleased with Ryan Suter's explosion too (2 G, 12 A in last 10).

Photo cred www.cbssports.com

8. Ottawa Senators - I struggle with the idea of putting them this high given the depleted lineup they have but they have still found ways to succeed. Can't beat the top teams in their division though which comes as no surprise due to being severely out-manned game in and game out. Gotta have Paul MacLean as a candidate for the Jack Adams given what he has been able to accomplish without his 4 best players.

9. Detroit Red Wings - It's a roller coaster ride in Hockey Town. This is as inconsistent of a Red Wings squad that I have seen in a very long time. It was a great win against Vancouver but those two losses to Columbus regardless of how good that team is playing right now can't be overlooked. Get everyone healthy though and the Wings could make a very strong push at the end of the season.

10. Los Angeles Kings - Another team riddled with inconsistency. Just when you thought the Kings were going to be lights out in the second half, they lose two straight to a weak Phoenix team and a struggling Sharks team. Was good to see them bounce back at home against the Sharks though. The defense is going to need to play better in front of Quick. The injury to Matt Greene is proving to be a bigger deal than it was at first.

11. Winnipeg Jets - The Jets have continued to outdo expectations as they have elevated themselves to the 3 spot in the East. Their play has still been inconsistent and they have been beating the lower teams in the East but that is more than can be said for many other teams. We'll see how they fare in the next two weeks where they have the Bruins once, Pens once and Canes twice.

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12. Columbus Blue Jackets - Gotta go with the hot team. Columbus has points in 10 straight and sit just 2 points out of  a playoff spot. They played a tough game at home against the Hawks and beat the Wings twice in a row to make it 4-0-1 this season against their rivals from the north. The Jackets have been in every game and Bobrovsky has been the best goaltender in the last couple weeks.

13. Toronto Maple Leafs - The Leafs were really starting to look like one of the top teams in the East before they hit Boston, a hot Winnipeg team twice and a blazing hot Pittsburgh team twice. The Leafs still have one of the better teams in the East but they have proven they can't compete with the big boys.

14. Vancouver Canucks - This is far from the Canuck teams we have seen in more recent years. Luongo found a comfortable spot on the bench after giving up 8 goals to the Wings. Schneider brought in some solid relief but didn't see too much offensive support. This team has had trouble finding sync and needs to get in gear soon before the hot teams in the West overcome them.

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15. New Jersey Devils - Success in New Jersey seems to be directly related to the health of Martin Brodeur. Given this, you can only feel good about the Devils in the coming weeks as it seems like Brodeur could be back in net as early as Thursday. Can't forget where they have been though (3-5-2 in their last 10).

16. New York Islanders - The Islanders are so close to finding their identity in the East and are hovering just outside a playoff spot. Other than the 6-1 loss to the surging Pens, the Isles have been pretty good of late which can be highlighted in their 3-2 win against Ottawa and 6-3 win against Montreal. They have the Habs and Pens this week back to back. Let's see if the Islanders can take the next step.

17. San Jose Sharks - The goaltending and defense are there. The scoring surprisingly is not. Thornton and Marleau have combined for 3 goals in their last 10 and Couture went cold after his red hot start but has 6 goals in his last 10. They are going to need secondary scoring from their 3rd line if they want to get back into it.

18. Edmonton Oilers - It can't be overlooked what Edmonton did to Chicago. They went into arguably the hardest place to play against arguably the best team in the league and pounded them for 4 goals in the first period and held on to deal the Hawks only their second loss of the season. The momentum continued with a 4-0 shutout of the Avs, 2-3 loss in OT to the Wings and 3-2 win against the Preds. Things are looking pretty decent in Edmonton right now.

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19. Carolina Hurricanes - Carolina can sympathize with the Devils as they too are feeling the loss of their all star goaltender. Dan Ellis and Justin Peters are not cutting it in Carolina. Doesn't help to not have the greatest defense in the world either. The pressure is on Eric Staal and Alexander Semin to light up the scoreboard to keep this team winning.

20. Phoenix Coyotes - The Coyotes had some tough matchups in the past couple weeks having to face some of the hotter teams in the conference. Still gotta win some of those games though and this team is far too inconsistent to be considered a legitimate playoff team.

21. New York Rangers - I am beginning to think this is as good as the Rangers are going to get. There is no depth on this roster and Lundqvist has not been as sharp as he usually is. Gaborik has been abysmal and Richards has been even worse. To add insult to injury, Marc Staal went down hard with a puck to the face. There is still enough time for the Rangers but that time is quickly fading.

22. Philadelphia Flyers - It truly is disappointing to see a team with so much young talent and energy do as poorly as the Flyers are doing. It was good to see them rebound with a solid win at home against the Devils but those losses to the Rangers, Penguins, Bruins and Devils stung the young guns on the Flyers. The Flyers are in slight disarray right now and are in no condition to make any type of playoff run.

23. Nashville Predators - Following a 4-0 shutout against Dallas, the Preds proceeded to give up 16 goals in 3 games. Scoring had been the issue in Nashville, but defense and goaltending has quickly emerged as a serious problem.

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24. Calgary Flames - Where will Jarome Iginla go? Anywhere? I think it all depends on the next couple weeks and where the Flames are then. They have been playing decent hockey and are riding a two game win streak. The 13 goals against in 3 games before those two wins can't be ignored though.

25. Colorado Avalanche - I am going to put a lot of stock in that win against the Hawks and put the Avs 5 spots higher than they probably should be. They don't have what it takes yet to be consistently competitive but they have a lot of good, young talent to build off of which is more than can be said for many other struggling teams.

26. Tampa Bay Lightning - The Bolts have given up little over 2 goals per game over the last 5 which is a significant improvement. It was just a really bad time for Stamkos to go cold. The Lightning could still turn this season around, they just need to keep playing solid team defense and Lindback needs to find more comfort in the crease.

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27. Washington Capitals - Nothing is improving in Washinton. Ovechkin is still as bad and unproductive as he has been all year and the Holtby/Neuvirth combo in goal has not been stellar. There probably is not a more confused man in the NHL than Ted Leonsis, owner of the Caps, who has been doing all he can to try to get his young stars going again to no avail.

28. Dallas Stars - Not just any team loses 8-1, regardless of who the opponent is. That was a home game too. There is very little to be excited about in Dallas other than their upcoming schedule where they get the Avs twice.

29. Buffalo Sabres - Ryan Miller is starting to talk down on his teammates (claimed Kaleta needed to grow up) and absolutely nothing is going right in Buffalo. The Sabres are going to need to spend a couple years rebuilding before they are competitive again.

30. Florida Panthers - Just look at the standings...