Surprise NFL Playoff Teams in 2014

There is no denying it.  Every year there are a handful of surprise teams bursting onto the scene and annually changing the playoff picture.  This season will be no different.  These teams will be sticking around for a while in 2014 so let us get acquainted with them.

1) Washington Redskins - Why not? Their skill position talent rivals any team in pro football.  The running game will be in good shape behind Alfred Morris and Robert Griffin’s dual threat ability.  They now have a top five wide receiver duo with the acquisition of Desean Jackson from rival Philly to complement Pierre Garcon on the other side.  That should open up the middle of the field for the breakout star of 2014, tight end Jordan Reed. With new offensive minded head coach Jay Gruden, who did a great job working with Andy Dalton, a plethora of weapons, and the ACL injury behind him, expect to see the 2012 version of RG3 once the season rolls around.  The skins should have no problem scoring points against the average defenses in the NFC East, which will give their fierce pass rushers in Kerrigan and Orakpo plenty of opportunities to get after the passer. Deangelo Hall is also good enough to follow and slow down number one receivers. Their defense does not have to be elite to win this always wide open division.  A worst to first season is how it is shaping up to be for Washington.

2)  Tampa Bay Buccaneers – New GM Jason Licht should get a big pat on the back for giving the Buccaneers arguably the best offseason in the NFL and easily establishing an identity for 2014.  It is clear that the Bucs are a very physical football team that just added more size and length at several key positions. New Head Coach Lovie Smith adds a winning pedigree and will serve this defense very well.  Lovie has the personnel to make his Tampa 2 defense work effectively. The combination of the newly acquired Michael Johnson and first team all pro Gerald McCoy gives the Bucs the effective four man rush that Lovie Smith wants for his scheme.  Linebacker Lavonte David excels in pass coverage as well as anyone playing his position and the two safeties they have back there will intimidate almost anybody to catch a pass in the middle of the field.  The scary part is that the defensive might not be the most improved unit on this team.  They made their offense that much better by signing veteran quarterback Josh McCown, coming off a stellar 2013 season throwing thirteen touchdowns to just one interception in eight starts, doing a better job running that offense in Chicago than Jay Cutler did.  Pairing up Vincent Jackson with another six foot five inch receiver in Mike Evans gives McCown a similar situation that he had with his Chicago receivers.  They also drafted the immensely talented 6 foot 5 Austin Sefarian Jenkins in the second round to provide a legitimate receiving threat at the tight end position which Tampa Bay sorely lacked for years.  The healthy return of pro bowl caliber running back back Doug Martin is the biggest key in what looks to be the best looking Buccaneers offense in recent memory.  Ten wins is definitely within reach for Lovie’s team.

     

3) St. Louis rams – I know what you are thinking.  They are in the NFC west so by default they will finish in third place at best in their division, therefore miss out.  Not so fast.  The Rams went 7-9 in the NFC West with their starting quarterback out most of the year and were one of the youngest teams in the NFL. One year later, we are now talking about a team with toughness as a whole and a physical edge in the trenches that rivals Seattle and San Francisco on both sides of the ball.  They are built for a power running game that can grind out those tough needed yards even when opponents know it is coming much like their division rivals.  Zach Stacy is a strong bruising back running behind five battering rams averaging three hundred and nineteen pounds each. This will force that extra defender in the box to open up the downfield passing game, especially off play action much like their fellow divisional teams.  No team is going to put out a better defensive line than the Rams each Sunday. Robert Quinn and Chris long will set the edge all day long and rookie first round pick Aaron Donald will provide immediate impact with inside penetration.  Their ability to stop the run and get to the quarterback will make everyone on that defense so much better.  It will be tough sledding to move the ball on this stout unit.  Jeff Fisher has established his team’s identity and built them to contend for the playoffs right now.  The pieces are in place to shock the league in 2014 en route to their first winning season since 2003 in a loaded division.

     

4) Houston Texans – I am aware they lost their last fourteen games in 2013.  They were so much more competitive than their record indicates.  Nine of their losses were by seven points or less and they came mere minutes away from beating four playoff teams, including the Seattle Seahawks. Their division is weak and there is a lot of reason to believe they will battle Indy to the end for it.  For starters, they have the best defense in the division and that can go a long way this year when you throw in the return of Brian Cushing and the signing of first overall pick Jadaveon Clowney to form one of the best front sevens in the AFC. Yes, they still have the best defender in the game in JJ Watt. We also know how much the Colts offensive line struggles. They also should have the top running back and running game in the division with Arian Foster back healthy. The offensive line remains solid led by pro bowl tackle Duane Brown and we know how the Colts struggle defending against the run.  Andre Johnson has reported to camp ready to play and it is hard not to like the talent Deandre Hopkins possesses to make a second year jump and lighten some of Andre’s load.  Ryan Fitzpatrick is not going to wow anybody, but all he needs to do is manage a smart game and not turn the ball over. He does not have to win it with his arm because of the strong defense and running game to support him.  I have seen worse quarterbacks go deep in the playoffs. Their biggest roadblock is an inconsistent Colts team that lacks the ability to run the ball well, protect their quarterback, and stop the run.

5)  Chicago Bears – 2013 was a tail of two opposite units for the Bears.  On one hand they scored the second most points in the league only behind the record setting broncos, but surrendered the third most points on the defensive side of the ball.  This resulted in a disappointing 8-8 finish and falling one game short of the division title.  Heading into 2014, the Bears look to bring in another top five offense as Marc Trestman is in his second year installing his sytem which gives Jay Cutler a more firm grasp of it.  Brandon Marshall and Alshon Jeffery makeup the best receiver duo in the game and it does not stop there. Matt Forte is a top five running back in this league when healthy and has great ability catching the ball out of the backfield, making him an outstanding three down back. Martellus Bennett is another big weapon Cutler can go to in the middle of the field at 6’6”.  The offensive line played solid all of last year and should be solid again which is big for Cutler’s ability to stay healthy.  The only question people have about them is the defense.  It will be much improved this year with the signing of Jared Allen alone.  He is older but still one of the premier edge rushers and opposite him will be Lamarr Houston, formerly of the Oakland Raiders.  He is a much underrated player who will get a lot of one on one rush opportunities with the protections keyed on Jared Allen.  Jay Ratliff is another low key signing. I do believe he has more football left in the tank and will provide a boost in controlling the inside gaps against the run.  Lance Briggs also rounds out the front seven being one of the top 4-3 linebackers in the game still. The inside linebackers are young and promising but still have to prove more. Their secondary is just fine, especially at cornerback with Charles Tillman and Tim Jennings on opposite sides. Everyone keep an eye out for rookie safety Brock Vereen.  He has playmaker written all over him.  Do not be surprised to see them beat out Rodgers and the Pack for the North and maybe contend for a first round bye.

Landon Donovan Farewell Tour

     Baby-faced Landon Donovan broke onto the Major League Soccer scene in 2001, debuting for the San Jose Earthquakes. Since the arrival from German club Bayer Leverkusen II, Donovan has been the role model for American soccer. He has continued the soccer legacy of prominent players wearing the number 10 on the back of the jersey. The attacking midfielder/ forward has won an astonishing five MLS Cups, two with the San Jose Earthquakes and three with the Los Angeles Galaxy. He is the all-time leader in goals and second all-time in assists in MLS history. He won his first and only MVP in 2009 for the Los Angeles Galaxy. For the United States Men's National Team, he has the all-time goal and assist record covered too.
     Landon Donovan is arguably the greatest soccer player to ever roam the United States pitch. He is considered to be the Wayne Gretzky of the NHL and Michael Jordan of the NBA. At the age of 32, Landon Donovan is hanging up the cleats for good at the end of this season for the Los Angeles Galaxy.
     Despite missing out on the World Cup roster in Brazil this year, Donovan still leaves a lasting impression for American fans. Major League Soccer Commissioner Don Garber recently stated, "No doubt MLS would not be what it is without Donovan."

     Now lets have a little fun. Taking a breather from the Derek Jeter Farewell Tour, I concocted my own little Landon Donovan Farewell Tour to commemorate the United States legend.
Columbus Crew
On August 16th Donovan heads to Columbus, Ohio for the beginning of his Farewell Tour. Columbus (27 points) and Los Angeles (33 points) are both battling for playoff ground. The Columbus Crew organization recognizes Donovan with an Ohio State State football jersey with his name on the back. LeBron James drives down from Akron to check out his buddy Landon and eventually gets a selfie with him after the match.
Colorado Rapids
Four days after being in Ohio, August 20th Donovan is in Denver. The Rapids have 30 points on the year, 3 behind the Galaxy. Colorado is the first state to legalize marijuana, so Donovan is presented a bong by the Rapids.
Chivas USA
Chivas USA plays their homes games where the Galaxy plays, the StubHub Center. Unfortunately, Chivas draws the crowd of a high school soccer team, so not many people will be in attendance on August 31st. Chivas USA celebrates Donovan's Tour by giving him a 12-pack of Coronas. That's all Chivas could come up with since they draw no revenue.
Montreal Impact
September 10th Landon heads up north to Montreal. The Impact (14 points) are having a terrible season lying in the basement of the league. Montreal, known for the Montreal Canadiens, gift Donovan with a hockey stick.
San Jose Earthquakes
September 14th Donovan is on short rest again. This time it's against his former team, the Earthquakes. San Jose packs the house on the going out party for Donovan and end up presenting him a surfboard as his gift.
FC Dallas
About a month later on October 12th, Donovan heads down to Texas. FC Dallas (tied with 33 points) has Mark Cuban come watch the game and present Donovan with Cowboy boots and a Cowboy hat.
Seattle Sounders
Landon ends his Farewell Tour in rainy Seattle on October 25th. There will be plenty Seattle supporters at this game, as Clint Dempsey and Landon Donovan square off one last time. The Sounders end the Farewell Tour by giving Donovan a lifetime gift card to Starbucks with a Nirvana Nevermind album to go along.

MLB: Halfway Mark Award Show

   We reached the halfway checkpoint for Major League Baseball and hell yeah it flew by. The All-Star Game in Minnesota is in the books and we're ready to kick this season back into drive. These past few days have been brutally uneventful for a fan, to say the least. So as the All-Star break is winding down, I have my midseason awards and projections for the rest of the season.

AL MVP: Mike Trout
   The five-tool Trout was snubbed last season for MVP as Chris Davis and Miguel Cabrera had monstrous numbers to surpass him. This season, Trout is on a mission to not only win MVP, but to carry the Angels to the playoffs. Trout has already begun his operation by winning the All-Star Game MVP over heavily favorite Derek Jeter. Trout is carrying the Angels, batting .310 with 22 HRs and 73 RBIs. To get even more sabermetrically technical, he holds a 5.5 WAR (Wins Above Replacement).

NL MVP: Troy Tulowitzki

   Troy Tulowitzki seems to be a runaway train in this NL MVP race. Although the Rockies are at the bottom of the NL West division and unlikely to be in the postseason, Tulo's numbers are too good to be denied. He leads the National League in batting average (.345), Home Runs (21), and Wins Above Replacement (5.7). His excellent gold glove-worthy defense compliments his batting as well.

AL CY YOUNG: Felix Hernandez

   The King has made his mark once again. He started for the American League in the All-Star Game and his numbers can support his selection. Hernandez is 11-2, with a microscopic 2.12 ERA and 0.90 WHIP. He punched out 154 batters this season so far, leaving him behind David Price in strikeout leaders in the AL. Mariners currently hold the two seed in the AL Wild Card Standings due to a major proportion of King Hernandez's success.

NL CY YOUNG: Adam Wainwright 

   Year after year, Adam Wainwright continues to shine as one of the most dominant pitchers in the league. Wainwright holds a record of 12-4, with an incredible 1.83 ERA and 0.91 WHIP this season. He has been carrying the Cardinals through a jam-packed NL Central. To help his cause, he started for the National League in the All-Star Game (but we won't mention him grooving pitches to Jeter).

AL ROOKIE OF THE YEAR: Jose Abreu 

   With Masahiro Tanaka out indefinitely, this race is long gone. You can make the case for Abreu to be the AL MVP, let alone the Rookie of the Year. The White Sox only spent $8 million in the offseason for Jose Abreu and every penny has been worthwhile. Hawk Harrelson, White Sox broadcaster, has a field day when the Cuban comes to bat. Jose Abreu leads the entire league with 29 HRs and lands in a close fourth in RBIs (73). We'll definitely be hearing a lot more of, "Stretch, Stretch, Stretch, You Can Put It On The Boarddd! Yes!" from Hawk this season.

NL ROOKIE OF THE YEAR: Billy Hamilton

   There's not much competition to be looked at in this award at all. Billy Hamilton is running left and right on catchers and should run his way to the NL Rookie of the Year award as well. The only other competition I see is maybe Jacob deGrom of the Mets. Hamilton has stolen 38 bags too go along with a .285 average and 35 RBIs.

 AL MANAGER OF THE YEAR: Bob Melvin

   Bob Melvin's Oakland Athletics have plowed through the entire league with a bunch of scrappy, makeshift players nobody else wanted. The Athletics are 59-36 with a point differential of +145, placing them at the top of the totem pole.

NL MANAGER OF THE YEAR: Ron Roenicke 

   The Brewers are trying to fend off the fighting NL Central. Regardless of the outcome for the Brew Crew, I see Ron Roenicke winning this award. He has done an extraordinary job with the players he was handed. Ryan Braun coming off suspension, Jonathan Lucroy having an MVP-caliber season, Francisco Rodriguez back to normal, Scooter Gennett out of nowhere.

     The NBA draft is finally here. These long, grueling months of trying to predict who is going to be chosen at number one will come to an end tonight. After we experienced arguably the worst draft in NBA history last year, this year we are in for a treat with potential stars galore. So with the NBA Draft coming in hot, I have my first round predictions to get you fully prepared.
1. Cleveland Cavaliers- Andrew Wiggins 
The Cavs were gifted the first overall pick in the draft back-to-back years now. Anthony Bennett was chosen last year by the Cavs and has been nothing but a benchwarmer. This year I have them selecting Andrew Wiggins out of Kansas, ending the back-and-forth feud between him and Jabari Parker. Wiggins, a versatile small forward, fits in great with Cleveland. Wiggins can be plugged in with the two other Canadians on the team, Anthony Bennet and Tristan Thompson, and along side all-star Kyrie Irving.
2. Milwaukee Bucks- Jabari Parker 
Jabari gets what Jabari wants. Parker apparently "tanked" his NBA workout with the Cavaliers so he could play with Milwaukee. Parker, the Chicago native, wanted to play with Milwaukee, most likely because of the proximity of his hometown. Jabari had an excellent season with Duke last year under Coach K, despite being knocked out in the first round of the NCAA Tournament. The Bucks lack talent at every single position so this pick makes the most sense.
3. Philadelphia 76ers- Joel Embiid
There are rumors that the 76ers are willing to trade this pick and/or Michael Carter-Williams. However, if they are to keep it, I like Embiid even with the recent foot surgery. Embiid was expected to be selected number one overall until he had back problems and foot surgery. Yes, the 76ers will now have two injury-prone centers in Nerlens Noel and Embiid, but there is no way you can let him pass by. The GM Sam Hinkie is a mastermind that believes in rebuilding the team from scratch. Just think 76er fans, you had Byron Mullens playing center last year. You can wait.
4. Orlando Magic- Dante Exum
The Magic traded away Arron Afflalo today to the Denver Nuggets in what seems to be a move to make room for Dante Exum. Exum is a PG/SG from Australia that has great handles and a point guard mentality. Imagine a backcourt with Jameer Nelson, Victor Oladipo, and Dante Exum.
5. Utah Jazz- Noah Vonleh
The Jazz are also in rebuilding mode with a talentless team on the floor last year. Vonleh is a physical power forward that can give the Jazz what they lack the most. I am not completely sold on Vonleh, but it seems to be the best fit for Utah at this pick.
6. Boston Celtics- Julius Randle
You get glimpses of Zach Randolph when you watch this guy. Randle is a lefty that can dribble and move like a guard. Celtics can have power forward Julius Randle and center Jared Sullinger down low.
7. Los Angeles Lakers- Marcus Smart
It was almost impossible to watch the Lakers last season with the players they had. I like the PG Smart here to take control of this team. He is a true competitor that wants to win, although the incident against Texas Tech hurt his stock a little bit.
8. Sacramento Kings- Aaron Gordon
Gordon reminds me of Blake Griffin a lot. A player that can get high above the rim that struggles with his shot. This is a great fit next to center DeMarcus Cousins.
9. Charlotte Hornets- Doug McDermott 
The Creighton star McDermott was the National Player of the Year last season. He can shoot the lights out and has a great basketball IQ to pair.
10. Philadelphia 76ers- Nik Stauskas 
After taking Embiid at number three, the 76ers will take the sharp-shooting Stauskas from Michigan. People have to put into perspective, this is not an ordinary kid that can simply shoot. This kid was a key piece to Michigan making it to the NCAA Championship last season.
11. Denver Nuggets- Adreian Payne
Payne is a physical forward that can pound the ball in the paint offensively. He can also spread the floor with his ability to knock down threes.
12. Orlando Magic- Dario Saric
Saric chose to play in Croatia for another two years. Do not worry Orlando, Saric reminds me of Hedo Turkoglu. He is a power forward that can play like a shooting guard with the effective shot and ball handling skills.
13. Minnesota Timberwolves- Zach LaVine
Rumors are all over that Kevin Love will be shopped to another team soon. LaVine can provide versatility and athleticism to this squad with or without Love.
14. Phoenix Suns- Clint Capela 
The weakest position for Phoenix looks like center. Capela is an athletic 6 foot 10 center out of Switzerland that can simply move up the court.
15. Atlanta Hawks- Rodney Hood
The Hawks will address their small forward weakness here with former Duke player Rodney Hood. Hood is a lefty that can bang shots from outside and score by driving.
16. Chicago Bulls- TJ Warren
The Bulls will get an underrated Warren here who played for NC State. He uses his speed to penetrate defenses well.
17. Boston Celtics- KJ McDaniels
McDaniels is a solid guard/forward out of Clemson. He can attack the rim hard with strong finishes at the basket.
18. Phoenix Suns- PJ Hairston
The Suns will gamble here taking the former UNC guard Hairston. I say former because Hairston played in the D-League last season after being kicked out of UNC. Hairston is very strong with experience playing in the D-League.
19. Chicago Bulls- Gary Harris
I am not completely impressed with Harris, but this could be a good fit for Chicago. He is listed as a shooting guard but has the handles for a point guard.
20. Toronto Raptors- Tyler Ennis
I am hearing that the Raptors desperately want Ennis here. He is a local Toronto native that can dish the ball well in traffic.
21. Oklahoma City Thunder- Jusuf Nurkic
The Bosnian Nurkic is a tall center that can move for his size. He is a great hustler that provides security in the paint.
22. Memphis Grizzlies- James Young
Young hails from Kentucky and has a fluid, lefty shot from the arc. He is also a great finisher at the rim.
23. Utah Jazz- Elfrid Payton 
The speedy guard out of Louisiana-Lafayette is no-name to many. He is a pest on defense along with his quickness on offense.
24. Charlotte Hornets- Cleanthony Early
Early played on Wichita State and is extremely athletic. His shot is still in progress but this man can play.
25. Houston Rockets- Kyle Anderson
Anderson out of UCLA has strong vision and is very unselfish.
26. Miami Heat- Shabazz Napier
LeBron James will get his guy here in the National Champ Napier. Napier is a leader that can take over Norris Cole's position.
27. Phoenix Suns- Jarnell Stockes
Stokes is a very strong forward in the paint which can help for a young Pheonix team.
28. Los Angeles Clippers- Jordan Adams
Adams can be a solid guard off the bench for the Clippers with his strong size.
29. Oklahoma City Thunder- Jordan Clarkson
Clarkson can be a backup for Westbrook and provide speed.
30. San Antonio Spurs- Spencer Dinwiddie
With the last pick in the first round I like the Spurs taking a drive-and-dish, unselfish Dinwiddie out of Colorado here.

Freddy Adu: Wonderboy to Wise Journeyman

By: Jack Kavanagh

April 17, 2004 East Rutherford, New Jersey

 

Fourteen year old Freddy Adu has been waiting all game to get on the field and take a shot at the Metrostars after making his debut two weeks earlier on April 3rd.  He is called upon in the 54^th minute and goes on to score his first career goal in the 75^th minute beginning a career that at this moment has endless potential.

 

                           *                    *                    *                    *                    *

 

Fredua Koranteng Adu was born in Tema, Ghana on June 2, 1989.  At the age of eight, Adu and his family acquired a green card, moved to the United States and settled in Maryland.  Adu quickly garnered the attention of coaches in the area and after only a few years he found himself at IMG Academy in Bradenton, Florida.  The academy is designed for players aged 16 or 17 but Adu attended at age 12.  His talent was realized at an early age and he was given the opportunity to develop in the best place the United States had to offer.  The MLS Academy system has developed quickly and become more effective in recent years but at the time Adu joined IMG in January of 2002 this was the best option.  After two years IMG players are usually at the age of 17 or 18 and then move on to play college soccer at some of the best programs in the country.  Adu on the other hand, was 14 when he completed the program and did not have the college option.  Instead he had professional clubs interested and decided to enter the MLS Superdraft where he was selected number one overall by D.C. United (this draft also included successful USMNT players Clarence Goodson, Clint Dempsey, and Michael Bradley).  After enjoying decent success in Washington, Adu, the topic of a 60 minutes feature, was traded to Real Salt Lake in 2007.  In Utah he finished the season and then flew to Portugal to sign with top side Benfica where his career became a story of unsuccessful loans, wasted talent, and unrealized potential.

 

               We have to consider what could have happened if Adu was brought up and developed in an established academy for a number of years.  Barcelona and Ajax are two teams in Europe renowned for their academies.  They acquire players at young ages some as early as 4 or 5 years old and can sometimes develop them for 12 or more years until they break into the senior team or move to another team to play.  These players receive an education at the academy growing up and can still function in society if their soccer careers never pan out.  Only a small number of academy players will ever break into the squad at a Barca or an Ajax but if they do, they have been brought up in that team’s philosophy and have the talents to succeed. 

               Soccer academies with the prestige and historical success of ones in Europe do not exist in the United States and definitely did not at the time Freddy Adu would have been in one.  Adu had a chance to enter one of these academies about four years before he was drafted when Inter Milan was interested in him but he turned down their offer to remain in the states.  If Adu had accepted that offer we can only wonder what would have happened to his career.  Maybe he would’ve developed into an international superstar playing the majority of his career in Italy.  If that had happened odds are he would have never opted to play for the United States national team for which he has 17 appearances and 2 goals.  Adu would had only have been in the U.S. for about two years and would probably have opted to compete for his native Ghana or maybe even Italy.  Even if he enjoyed decent success abroad he would probably be irrelevant to American soccer fans.  Inter Milan might have been the right choice for Adu, but when you look back on his age and family situation it would have been a bigger risker to accept the offer and move to Italy.

               Freddy Adu’s entire career even until this point at age 24, has been mostly about competing against players older than he is.  He entered the MLS at an absurd age 14, it is hard to imagine an athlete in any of the four major U.S. sports to enter their respective league at age 14.  Adu credits his decision to go pro to his family’s financial troubles.  No one can blame him for making that decision especially at the age of 14.  If your family is struggling to make ends meet and you are a 14 year old offered millions of dollars to play a professional sport I doubt there are many who are going to turn down that opportunity. 

Adu really did not have a choice but he was able to stay close to home after being drafted by D.C. United.  It is tough to blame any one person or event on his lack of success but if you were, the best argument could be made with D.C. United.  He was drafted number one because of his current skills not because of his potential.  A 14 year old should be looked at as a future first team player regardless of previous exposure or talent.  The best option may have been to just let Adu develop for a few more years in their academy or youth system and look towards the future.  The best young players in Europe or South America are slowly introduced to top level playing time and are usually introduced as a first team player around age 17 or 18 if they are really talented.  Before turning 18 Adu had already made 98 appearances as a professional before signing for Benfica.  Delaying his debut a few years may have made a large difference in the success of his career but we’ll never know what could have been.

             Ten years later and Adu, the Ghana native, believe it or not is only 24 years of age.  He is younger than international soccer stars Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo, and Wayne Rooney.  Adu did make a splash in 2007 when he signed for Benfica but has already played for nine professional teams spanning the globe and bringing him to Portugal, France, Greece, Turkey, back to the U.S., Brazil, and most recently training with second-tier side Blackpool in England.  He has never played in more than 11 matches for a team outside of the United States.  In a recent interview, Adu claims he is not rushing in his search for a team currently but is instead trying to find the right fit.  Although Adu will not live up to the hype once placed upon his shoulders he can still redeem his career on a club level and possibly on an international level.  The anticipation and pressure on Adu was immense because he was expected to revolutionize American soccer and put it on the map.  Despite falling short of what many expected of him, Adu can still resurrect his image on the field.  The video linked is worth ten minutes and you will see that Adu is not bitter about his lack of success and he realizes that exposure and high expectations at such a young age set him up for failure.

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XXab7AFIS5I

March Madness Analysis featuring Jonah Skiles

March Madness is one of the best events on the sports annual calendar and Blog SH is covering various parts of the madness.  Today I have a guest to discuss the recently released bracket before the 64 teams begin playing.  Jonah Skiles is a fellow CCU student who has an avid knowledge for college basketball.

[4:33:14 PM] jonahskiles: Thanks for having me Jack.  March Madness is my personal favorite event in all of sports.  Obviously I am a huge college basketball fan, as well as a life-long supporter of the North Carolina Tar Heels.

[4:35:42 PM] Jack Kavanagh: Happy to have you here.  Lets jump right in and take a look at the South portion of the bracket.  Can we assume the #1 overall seed Florida Gators will advance to the final four or is there a team in here that can take them down?

[4:44:29 PM] jonahskiles: Well in my opinion, they will advance to the Final Four due their senior leadership, defensive pressure, and unselfish brand of basketball, not to mention their great coaching staff led by Billy Donovan.  However with all that said, there are a couple of teams that I could potentially see giving Florida a run for their money.  Kansas is as talented as any team in the country, and if they are to make it through the first couple of rounds without Joel Embiid on the interior, they have enough versatility and athletic ability to take down the Gators.  You also have Syracuse in this region, who despite having slipped up a little in late stages of the regular season, held the number one spot in the country for quite some time.  C.J. Fair and Tyler Ennis could lead the Orange past Florida.  Finally, you cannot forget about VCU.  Shaka Smart always has his team ready to play by tournament time and this year should be no different.

[4:48:04 PM] Jack Kavanagh: I also do think they will reach the Final Four but Kansas will definitely give them a run for their money if they match up in the Elite Eight.
[4:48:58 PM] Jack Kavanagh: Where can we expect to see upsets in this portion of the bracket?  Is the 31-2 Stephen F. Austin team really all they're cracked up to be?

[4:56:17 PM] jonahskiles: I think Stephen F. Austin is a really good team.  They are riding a 28 game winning streak into the tournament, which is impressive for anyone.  They crash the glass hard, and force lots of turnovers.  They should give VCU all they can handle in the first round.  Another potential upset to watch out for is the 13-seed Tulsa over the 4-seed UCLA.  Former Kansas great, Danny Manning, coaches this team and leads them in to the tournament on a current 11 game win streak.  If they can keep UCLA from making 3-pointers, they should have a chance due to their excellent defense inside 2-point range.

[4:59:30 PM] Jack Kavanagh: That is certainly a popular upset pick this year and will be a great game to watch but what do you think the most exciting game will be in the East?

[5:07:37 PM] jonahskiles: That's a tough question because there are some very interesting match-ups in this region.  The one I am most interested in is the 3-14 contest between Iowa State and North Carolina Central.  Most people overlook this matchup because of the star power of Iowa State in Melvin Ejim and DeAndre Kane, but N.C. Central has a star of their own in Jeremy Ingram.  This young man averages 20.6 PPG and has shown he can do it against big time opponents (27 against Cincinnati, 37 against Wichita State).  If they can limit the fast break chances of Iowa State, this game could be close.  They play excellent defense in the half-court set and have been competitve against high profile teams, beating N.C. State and losing to Cincinnati by 13 and Wichita State by 11.  If Ingram gets hot, this game could become very intriguing.

[5:12:55 PM] Jack Kavanagh: That's interesting because I was not even considering that as a possible upset.  Let's move on to West portion which to many is seen as wide open.  Is Arizona the one to emerge victorious or can Creighton, Wisconsin, or another team take down the Wildcats?

[5:18:01 PM] jonahskiles: I think Arizona would be the favorite to win the region, but no one should overlook Oklahoma State.  Marcus Smart, Markel Brown, and LeBryan Nash could propel them past the Wildcats in a potential second round match.  Wisconsin can slow you down and make you play at their pace, which could be enough for them to continue to advance.  Creighton is another interesting case.  Doug McDermott could shoot them all the way to the Final Four.  He's that talented as a scorer. But aside from him, the rest of the team is solid as well, so they could be a tough out for anyone.
[5:21:24 PM] Jack Kavanagh: All solid points.  One team that surprised a lot of people this year is Nebraska, are they a cinderella candidate this year?

[5:23:48 PM] jonahskiles: It's a possibility, but I'm not sold on the team.  I think Baylor is just too athletic and long for Nebraska to advance to the round of 32.
[5:26:18 PM] Jack Kavanagh: That should be a fun game to watch but what potential match up in the later rounds of the West gets you excited?

[5:30:37 PM] jonahskiles: I would say that this the weakest region, but having said that, the possible Elite 8 contest between Arizona and Creighton would be exciting.  Arizona has tons of talent with Nick Johnson leading the way.  Flanked by Aaron Gordon and Rondae Hollis-Jefferson the Wildcats have an uber-talented roster.  But I would never count out McDermott and the Blue Jays.

[5:31:50 PM] Jack Kavanagh: I would love to see McDermott match up against some of the other top talent in the country as well.
[5:34:11 PM] Jack Kavanagh: Let's here your thoughts on the Midwest Region.  The Midwest in my opinion is the most intriguing region and contains the best competition.  Where does our favorite lie in this quarter of the bracket?

[5:38:33 PM] jonahskiles: Well I'm going to have to ride the nation's bandwagon on this one and choose the defending champion Louisville Cardinals.  They are peaking at the right time and have the championship experience to go the distance.  I truly think they will have a rough time getting past Wichita State in a potential Sweet 16 match-up.  Wichita St. has a better team this year than last year's Final Four team.  The only issue could be the pressure of living up to the undefeated record with which they enter the tournament.  Coach K is always going to have his Duke squad ready to play as well.  The Jabari Parker-Rodney Hood tandem could be the best 1-2 punch in the nation.

[5:43:30 PM] Jack Kavanagh: Louisville has really been impressive these last couple weeks.  One team I haven't heard anything about is Mercer.  They come out of the same conference that Florida Gulf Coast does and I think we all remember what happened last year.  Mercer faces up against Duke a team that lost to 15 seed Lehigh two years ago.  Is this game a match made in heaven or a 35 point loss for Mercer?

[5:46:40 PM] jonahskiles: Well this Mercer squad knocked off Florida Gulf Coast this year in the Atlantic Sun Conference final on Dunk City's home court.  That is an accomplishment in its self, but I think Duke is just too strong and talented from top to bottom for Mercer to pose a huge threat.

[5:52:31 PM] Jack Kavanagh: As we move on to the East, this region has special significance for you and I.  Coastal Carolina lines up against ACC Champions Virginia.  There has been a lot of hype for this game being that it is a 1 VS 16 match up.  Can the Chanticleers be the first 16 seed to ever take down a 1 seed?

[5:57:16 PM] jonahskiles: Well it's a stretch, that's for sure, but the Chants might have a chance.  They have enough length and athleticism to challenge the Cavaliers.  Badou Diagne could be the X-Factor in the game with his relentless attack of the boards and his knack for momentum-shifting plays.  If Elijah Wilson and Warren Gillis can get hot from the floor, it's at least doable.  But if they are even the slightest bit off their game, Joe Harris and Virginia will bury them because they rarely make mistakes.

[5:58:35 PM] Jack Kavanagh: It would be a real treat for Coastal Nation especially the two of us because we will be attending the game Friday night in Raleigh.

[5:59:05 PM] jonahskiles: That would be something special to witness.
[6:00:25 PM] Jack Kavanagh: Indeed.  Now is the East similar to the Mid-West in that the four seed Michigan State is the favorite?

[6:04:27 PM] jonahskiles: I believe so.  They are my pick to win the tournament.  You can pretty much throw their record out the window because of all the injuries they have faced throughout the year.  Keith Appling, Adrien Payne, and Gary Harris provide such a strong core, and when everyone is healthy this team has showed that they can beat anyone.  They dismantled Michigan in the Big 10 Conference final this past week.  With everyone on the team healthy, it will be hard not to bet on the Spartans.  Also, Coach Tom Izzo has never failed to take a senior class to the Final Four in his tenure at Michigan State.

[6:06:43 PM] Jack Kavanagh: They are a popular pick to win the title.  With that said my final question will be how do you expect your beloved UNC Tar Heels to fair against Providence and beyond?

[6:12:51 PM] jonahskiles: Providence is riding a confidence high off of their Big East Championship win and have a star in Bryce Cotton.  However, the team is not deep and each starter plays over 30 minutes per game.  With UNC's breakneck pace that they love to play at, Providence should run out of gas.  UNC has been extremely up and down this year.  They have beaten Louisville, Michigan State, Kentucky, and Duke but have bad losses to UAB and Belmont among others.  If Marcus Paige can keep up his stellar play and can get some help from James Michael McAdoo and J.P. Tokoto, they could potentially make a deep run.  But if McAdoo doesn't show up to play, they could have an
early exit.  I guess we'll see what they're really made of in the next few days.

[6:13:55 PM] Jack Kavanagh: They surely have been up and down this year but are undoubtedly one of the most exciting teams to watch all year.
[6:15:46 PM] Jack Kavanagh: I think and I believe you share the same opinion that we are in for one of the best tournaments in recent years.  Thank you for giving us your time here today it is greatly
appreciated by all of us here at Blog SH.

[6:17:03 PM] jonahskiles: Thank you very much for having me Jack, and thanks to Blog SH for taking my insight and opinions!

UNC Asheville and The Greatest Upset That Could Have Been (featuring interview with former player Matt Dickey)

By: James Decker

           Selection Sunday has come upon us. I am sure a lot of people are like me and can barely control their heart racing as Greg Gumbel reads off the names of the teams that have made it to “The Big Dance”.  I know that practically every serious bracket-maker besides the members of the schools who are the 16^th seeds are quick to advance the 1st seed past the round of 64. I’m not trying to sound like head coach Danny O’Shea of the “Little Giants” delivering his famous “One Time” speech, but to me there is always that small chance that a 16th seed will finally knock off a number one. UNC Asheville almost proved that to us two years ago.

            UNC Asheville came into this game champions of the Big South, finishing at 24-10 overall and 16-2 in the Big South. Syracuse came in at 32-2, regular season champions of the Big East. UNC Asheville came out to play right away; led by J.P Primm, Jaron Lane, Jeremy Atkinson, and Matt Dickey, the Bulldogs controlled the pace of the game and were able to get good looks against the Syracuse 2-3 for much of the first half. They took a 34-30 lead heading into halftime. Syracuse gained the lead about midway through the second half, and were able to get a 62-54 lead with 2:37 left in the game. Watching this game, I personally thought that Syracuse had pretty much sealed the deal with an eight point lead in this game; but then things got really interesting and controversial. A quick 4-0 run by UNC Asheville cut the lead to 62-58. Syracuse had trouble getting the ball inbounds, and if you look at the ref in the video below, this could definitely be seen as a five-second violation.

Syracuse was then awarded a timeout and Scoop Jardine knocked down two foul shots after he was fouled by Dickey when the ball was inbounded. Jaron Lane knocked down a three, followed by a Brandon Triche layup for Syracuse and two foul shots from J.P Primm had the score at 66-63 Syracuse with 38 ticks left. Syracuse had more trouble getting the ball inbounds again, and this time a pass was thrown that looked to be off the hands of Brandon Triche. Take a look at the video below and decide for yourself (start at 2:00).

According to the recap on ESPN.com, “Coordinator of officiating John Adams said he would have given the ball to UNC Asheville on the inbounds play.” Instead, Syracuse got the ball and Jardine knocked down two more clutch free throws. UNC Asheville ended up falling to Syracuse 72-65.

            I will never say that refs completely decide the outcome of this game because who knows that UNC Asheville would have done if they received the ball on either occasion. My main purpose in writing this is to show that number 16 seed should ever go underestimated. This Syracuse team had a dominant season and the Bulldogs had them on the ropes. I was able to get in contact with Matt Dickey via Facebook, who averaged 16.1 points per game in what was his senior season at UNC Asheville. He had this to say about his mindset coming into the game, as well as the controversial calls.

James - As a team and personally what was your mindset prior to the game against Syracuse?

Matt – “We went into the game with the mindset that we could win. We knew a 16 had never beaten a 1, but we knew how good we were and had played a couple of the other 1 seeds during the year and competed well against them, so we knew if we played our best we could win.”

James- Did you ever feel as if Syracuse was taking your team lightly?

Matt- “No, we didn't feel that Syracuse took us lightly at all (though there coach/players may say different). We had a game plan and we followed that game plan well. We also played great defense and made them work for everything they got. So no, I don't feel that they took us lightly. I think we made everything tough on them and that may have made it look like they were taking us lightly.”

James- I remember a few questionable calls down the stretch in that game. Do you feel as if the refs took you guys out of a chance to win?

Matt- “It's really hard to say that the refs took us out of a chance to win the game. There were a few missed calls down the stretch, but Syracuse also made some big shots as well. I will never blame a game on the refs.”

James- How often do you talk about that game with family, friends, old teammates, etc?

Matt- “Every once in a while it will get brought up in conversation with friends, family and teammates. It is still a little tender because we knew we should have won that game, but we can hold our heads up because we knew we gave it our all.”

            Thanks again to Matt Dickey for taking the time to answer these questions. I love the line “I will never blame a game on the refs”, because I feel like it would be easy for a team trying to pull off an upset to blame the referees in a situation like that. Also, hats off to Matt Dickey for providing us with a great buzzer beater. I am 100% taking a shot at fellow Blog SH member and current Coastal Carolina student Jack Kavanagh by putting this video up.

So before you fill out your brackets, study up on the 16th seeds because you truly never know what can happen. I have a feeling that this could be the year of the 16th seed. Cheers to Selection Sunday, St. Patrick’s Day, and let the Madness begin!