There is no word on which prospect actually flunked a drug test. However, this headline would have you believe it was the oft-maligned Arkansas QB Ryan Mallett.
Poor form Rotoworld even if the guy doesn't have a sterling reputation.
Thursday, March 31, 2011
A Completely Misleading Headline
This almost borders on libel.
There is no word on which prospect actually flunked a drug test. However, this headline would have you believe it was the oft-maligned Arkansas QB Ryan Mallett.
Poor form Rotoworld even if the guy doesn't have a sterling reputation.
There is no word on which prospect actually flunked a drug test. However, this headline would have you believe it was the oft-maligned Arkansas QB Ryan Mallett.
Poor form Rotoworld even if the guy doesn't have a sterling reputation.
Catch Up, Thoughts, and Observations
It's been way too long since my last post. I have been working on another project (details below) and hope this catch up post will bring us back up to speed.
*It's Opening Day!!! One of my top-10 days of the year, maybe even top-5.
*I was recently hired to do some writing for RotoInfo.com. I will be covering the Texas Rangers this season. You can follow here: http://www.rotoinfo.com/rangers (RSS-friendly).
[Check back often as I get paid-per-click. Thanks. ]
*My Rangers Offseason Review / Season Preview article, can be found here.
*I tweeted this yesterday, but how on Earth can the Washington Nationals justify spending $126m on Jayson Werth and then have the audacity to send Livan Hernadez to the mound on Opening Day? Why bothering trying?
*My crazy Opening Day prediction: one of today's games will determine a playoff spot.
I am not sure if it will be the Brewers and Reds battling for the NL Central, or the Tigers and Yankees battling for the AL Wildcard, or the Dodgers and Giants battling for the NL West, but one of these teams will look back at March 31st and think "if we had only won that game..."
On to some non-baseball stuff...
*If Adam Schefter wasn't way-too-politcally-correct, this tweet would have said, "Matt Leinart knocked up Jordan Cameron's sister." Instead, we got this:
Booooring.
*I lost my NIT pool thanks to an epic choke job by Colorado and a pathetic showing from Washington State in the semifinals. Brutal.
*On the NCAA front, my bracket is a mess like most everyone else's but at least I have Kentucky going strong. If they reach the title game, I can still win my pool.
*Just a guess, but I don't think Grant Hill shed any tears when he read this:
*It's Opening Day!!! One of my top-10 days of the year, maybe even top-5.
*I was recently hired to do some writing for RotoInfo.com. I will be covering the Texas Rangers this season. You can follow here: http://www.rotoinfo.com/rangers (RSS-friendly).
[Check back often as I get paid-per-click. Thanks. ]
*My Rangers Offseason Review / Season Preview article, can be found here.
*I tweeted this yesterday, but how on Earth can the Washington Nationals justify spending $126m on Jayson Werth and then have the audacity to send Livan Hernadez to the mound on Opening Day? Why bothering trying?
*My crazy Opening Day prediction: one of today's games will determine a playoff spot.
I am not sure if it will be the Brewers and Reds battling for the NL Central, or the Tigers and Yankees battling for the AL Wildcard, or the Dodgers and Giants battling for the NL West, but one of these teams will look back at March 31st and think "if we had only won that game..."
On to some non-baseball stuff...
*If Adam Schefter wasn't way-too-politcally-correct, this tweet would have said, "Matt Leinart knocked up Jordan Cameron's sister." Instead, we got this:
Booooring.
*I lost my NIT pool thanks to an epic choke job by Colorado and a pathetic showing from Washington State in the semifinals. Brutal.
*On the NCAA front, my bracket is a mess like most everyone else's but at least I have Kentucky going strong. If they reach the title game, I can still win my pool.
*Just a guess, but I don't think Grant Hill shed any tears when he read this:
Wednesday, March 23, 2011
Whoa, Whoa, Whoa...
Adam Kennedy is NOT a star. If you are keeping score at home - and why wouldn't you be - this is his second DUI of 2011.
Thursday, March 17, 2011
My Bracket
I haven't seen much love on the web for Kentucky or San Diego State so I'm hoping those two selections will distinguish my bracket from the rest. I'm a big believer in the Wildcats and thought they got shafted with a 4-seed despite crushing Florida (another one of my Final Four teams) in the SEC title game.
I played home court advantage along with my newly developed formula which accounted for offensive and defensive points scored / allowed per possession, turnovers, and rebounding. It also factored in star power and the three leading scorers per team. Looking back, I wouldn't be devastated if it doesn't work because it was a little complex.
For posterity, here were the top 10 teams by my formula (one glaring omission: does not take into account strength of schedule): Ohio State, Pitt, San Diego State, Utah State, Kentucky, Texas, Cincinnati, Old Dominion, Kansas, Florida
Teams that were vastly overrated, per my formula: Georgetown, UCLA, St. John's, Vanderbilt, Kansas State, North Carolina
Teams that were egregiously underrated, per my formula: Utah State, Cincinnati, Old Dominion, Texas A&M, Villanova, Gonzaga
We'll see in a few weeks - likely sooner - how wise this formula was.
Tuesday, March 15, 2011
NIT Pool
We had eight entrants in this year's NIT pool, a 60% increase from last year. Here are the picks:
Final Four Final Four Runner Up Champ
Banter Alabama Dayton Colorado Washington State
Larry Miami BC St. Mary's Virginia Tech
Ricky Miami Northwestern St. Mary's Virginia Tech
Nick Murray State Oklahoma State Virginia Tech St. Mary's
Rizzo Miami BC Colorado Vermont
Craig New Mexico Long Beach State Virginia Tech Colorado
Mike W St. Mary's Virginia Tech Washington State Alabama
Ryan L Alabama Oklahoma State St. Mary's Virginia Tech
Ryan M Alabama Oklahoma State Colorado Nebraska
Final Four Final Four Runner Up Champ
Banter Alabama Dayton Colorado Washington State
Larry Miami BC St. Mary's Virginia Tech
Ricky Miami Northwestern St. Mary's Virginia Tech
Nick Murray State Oklahoma State Virginia Tech St. Mary's
Rizzo Miami BC Colorado Vermont
Craig New Mexico Long Beach State Virginia Tech Colorado
Mike W St. Mary's Virginia Tech Washington State Alabama
Ryan L Alabama Oklahoma State St. Mary's Virginia Tech
Ryan M Alabama Oklahoma State Colorado Nebraska
Monday, March 14, 2011
Separated at Birth?
I don't watch much Spring Training action, but I happened to catch the Mets game on Sunday when RHP Taylor Bucholz took the hill. He reminded me of another awful reliever:
Bucholz and Aaron Heilman
Let's hope this guy works out better than our old enemy.
Bucholz and Aaron Heilman
Let's hope this guy works out better than our old enemy.
Sunday, March 13, 2011
This Should Be a Tweet
Of the 28 first round games, 12 - YES, TWELVE - have a spread of two points or less.
This. Is. Going. To. Be. A Great. Tournament.
* = Four matchups have not been decided yet because of the play-in games
This. Is. Going. To. Be. A Great. Tournament.
* = Four matchups have not been decided yet because of the play-in games
Bracket Thoughts
Overall
*On Thursday, I'll reveal my final bracket.
*Can we stop calling these four play-in games "first round" games?
East
*Ohio State and North Carolina are playing their first and second games at home (Cleveland and Charlotte, respectively). Huge edge, as if they needed it.
*Newark, the site of the regional, figures to be a neutral site.
*This seems like the most difficult bracket. I can make a case for at least six teams winning this region.
Southwest
*Kansas will have homefield advantage throughout the tournament.
*The Louiville-Vandy-Richmond-Morehead State combo is the worst quartet in the first two rounds.
*Purdue and Notre Dame get to play at home for their first two games.
*If Texas A&M can sneak by Notre Dame in round two (assuming a round one victory), they'll be the home team in this regional despite being a 7-seed.
West
*Duke playing at home for the first two rounds despite being in the "West" region.
*This is the weakest region of the four. Duke lucks out again. Shocker.
*I have been planning my upset pick of UConn since last Friday. Unfortunately, none of their opponents or potential opponents in the first two rounds can challenge them. They are headed for Anaheim.
Southeast
*The upset bracket. Things could get crazy here.
*I love the Wisconsin-Belmont matchup. Complete difference of style.
*Florida gets to play at home for the first two rounds.
*On Thursday, I'll reveal my final bracket.
*Can we stop calling these four play-in games "first round" games?
East
*Ohio State and North Carolina are playing their first and second games at home (Cleveland and Charlotte, respectively). Huge edge, as if they needed it.
*Newark, the site of the regional, figures to be a neutral site.
*This seems like the most difficult bracket. I can make a case for at least six teams winning this region.
Southwest
*Kansas will have homefield advantage throughout the tournament.
*The Louiville-Vandy-Richmond-Morehead State combo is the worst quartet in the first two rounds.
*Purdue and Notre Dame get to play at home for their first two games.
*If Texas A&M can sneak by Notre Dame in round two (assuming a round one victory), they'll be the home team in this regional despite being a 7-seed.
West
*Duke playing at home for the first two rounds despite being in the "West" region.
*This is the weakest region of the four. Duke lucks out again. Shocker.
*I have been planning my upset pick of UConn since last Friday. Unfortunately, none of their opponents or potential opponents in the first two rounds can challenge them. They are headed for Anaheim.
Southeast
*The upset bracket. Things could get crazy here.
*I love the Wisconsin-Belmont matchup. Complete difference of style.
*Florida gets to play at home for the first two rounds.
Thursday, March 10, 2011
You Need At Least One Superstar to Win the NCAA Title
Over the last 15 years, no team has won the NCAA Title without a future first round pick on the roster. (Duke projects to have at least two first rounders from the 2009 team although none has officially declared yet for the draft.)
It stands to reason that the best teams would have the best players.
Check out this chart which identifies the players picked highest in the draft following a title:
1996 Kentucky Walker Mercer Delk McCarty Anderson
1997 Arizona Bibby Terry
1998 Kentucky Mohammed Magloire
1999 Connecticut Hamilton
2000 Michigan State Richardson Cleaves Peterson
2001 Duke Williams Dunleavy Boozer Battier Duhon
2002 Maryland Wilcox Blake Dixon
2003 Syracuse Anthony Warrick
2004 Connecticut Gordon Okafor Armstrong Villanueva Boone
2005 North Carolina Williams May Felton McCants
2006 Florida Noah Brewer Horford
2007 Florida Noah Brewer Horford Speights
2008 Kansas Aldrich Rush Arthur Chalmers
2009 North Carolina Hansbrough Lawson Ellington Davis
2010 Duke Smith Singler Plumlee
What does that mean? Well, using ESPN's Top 100 Rankings, we can safely assume one of the following teams will win this year's title:
Team ESPN Rank - Top Prospect
Ohio State 3 - Sullinger
Arizona 4 - Williams
North Carolina 6 - Barnes
Kentucky 8 - Jones
Texas 12 - Thompson
San Diego State 13 - Leonhard
Connecticut 15 - Walker
Brigham Young 16 - Fredette
Kansas 17 - Robinson
Morehead State 18 - Faried
Duke 19 - Plumlee
Colorado 21 - Burks
Florida 25 - Young
Georgia 28 - Thompkins
Florida State 31 - Singleton
Richmond 32 - Harper
Tennessee 35 - Harris
Purdue 38 - Johnson
Texas A&M 39 - Middleton
Not exactly rocket science, but it helps to eliminate some teams (Notre Dame, Pitt, Syracuse, and Wisconsin to name a few) thought to be contenders.
It stands to reason that the best teams would have the best players.
Check out this chart which identifies the players picked highest in the draft following a title:
1996 Kentucky Walker Mercer Delk McCarty Anderson
1997 Arizona Bibby Terry
1998 Kentucky Mohammed Magloire
1999 Connecticut Hamilton
2000 Michigan State Richardson Cleaves Peterson
2001 Duke Williams Dunleavy Boozer Battier Duhon
2002 Maryland Wilcox Blake Dixon
2003 Syracuse Anthony Warrick
2004 Connecticut Gordon Okafor Armstrong Villanueva Boone
2005 North Carolina Williams May Felton McCants
2006 Florida Noah Brewer Horford
2007 Florida Noah Brewer Horford Speights
2008 Kansas Aldrich Rush Arthur Chalmers
2009 North Carolina Hansbrough Lawson Ellington Davis
2010 Duke Smith Singler Plumlee
What does that mean? Well, using ESPN's Top 100 Rankings, we can safely assume one of the following teams will win this year's title:
Team ESPN Rank - Top Prospect
Ohio State 3 - Sullinger
Arizona 4 - Williams
North Carolina 6 - Barnes
Kentucky 8 - Jones
Texas 12 - Thompson
San Diego State 13 - Leonhard
Connecticut 15 - Walker
Brigham Young 16 - Fredette
Kansas 17 - Robinson
Morehead State 18 - Faried
Duke 19 - Plumlee
Colorado 21 - Burks
Florida 25 - Young
Georgia 28 - Thompkins
Florida State 31 - Singleton
Richmond 32 - Harper
Tennessee 35 - Harris
Purdue 38 - Johnson
Texas A&M 39 - Middleton
Not exactly rocket science, but it helps to eliminate some teams (Notre Dame, Pitt, Syracuse, and Wisconsin to name a few) thought to be contenders.
Wednesday, March 9, 2011
Ninth Through Twelfth Teams Into the Dance
[I am writing this from a plane so apologies for the brevity.]
As of midnight tonight, a dozen teams have officially locked up a berth in the Big Dance. Of those, about half have a chance to win a game. Of tonight's bunch, only one has a shot (Oakland).
Oakland: Intriguing because of center Keith Benson.
Arkansas Little Rock: Blah. Finished middle-of-the-pack in the Sun Belt.
Long Island: After some early season failure, the Blackbirds have won 21 of 22. They are balanced offensively with five players scoring between nine and 13 points per game.
Northern Colorado: Devon Beitzel can fill it up, and they are a very good offensive rebounding team. Interesting squad.
No conference tournaments have their finals tomorrow (which makes no sense; one of the "lesser" conferences should have used Thursday as an exposure opportunity on ESPN) so we'll have to wait until Friday before any other team punches a ticket.
As of midnight tonight, a dozen teams have officially locked up a berth in the Big Dance. Of those, about half have a chance to win a game. Of tonight's bunch, only one has a shot (Oakland).
Oakland: Intriguing because of center Keith Benson.
Arkansas Little Rock: Blah. Finished middle-of-the-pack in the Sun Belt.
Long Island: After some early season failure, the Blackbirds have won 21 of 22. They are balanced offensively with five players scoring between nine and 13 points per game.
Northern Colorado: Devon Beitzel can fill it up, and they are a very good offensive rebounding team. Interesting squad.
No conference tournaments have their finals tomorrow (which makes no sense; one of the "lesser" conferences should have used Thursday as an exposure opportunity on ESPN) so we'll have to wait until Friday before any other team punches a ticket.
Tuesday, March 8, 2011
This is Actually Happening?
Pitchers might soon have to don headgear. Yes, this is really happening.
My favorite feature: the temple protector.
I understand comebackers are a serious issue, but is this really the way to solve the problem? How often does serious injury actually occur? If it saves one life, is it worth it? Would we ever be able to quantify if this gear actually did save someone's life?
Lots of questions, but here's one more:
Which pitcher will be the Craig Mactavish of MLB?
My favorite feature: the temple protector.
I understand comebackers are a serious issue, but is this really the way to solve the problem? How often does serious injury actually occur? If it saves one life, is it worth it? Would we ever be able to quantify if this gear actually did save someone's life?
Lots of questions, but here's one more:
Which pitcher will be the Craig Mactavish of MLB?
Monday, March 7, 2011
The World Is Ending [Sarcasm]
A two-month investigation by Yahoo! Sports found that Ohio State head coach Jim Tressel knew his players were selling memorabilia months before the university self-sanctioned themselves.
Earth-shattering news.
Or not.
Seriously, does anyone other than one of the people who wasted two months of their lives "researching" this issue care at all?
My guess is no.
Earth-shattering news.
Or not.
Seriously, does anyone other than one of the people who wasted two months of their lives "researching" this issue care at all?
My guess is no.
The Sports Banter for Droid
The Sports Banter is now available on Droid phones. Go to http://www.noticeorange.com/r/TheSportsBanter to get an app for your phone.
It's free, and it has alerts so that you'll know whenever there's anything new.
It's free, and it has alerts so that you'll know whenever there's anything new.
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