Baylor Football: What Was and What Will Be

The Baylor Football team came into the 2010 season with a heavy weight on its shoulders. That weight was in the form of the 16 teams before it, the 16 teams that failed to make a bowl game. This 2010 version of the Bears lead by Robert Griffin III finally shed that weight, or as some would say got the monkey off their back.

This Baylor team that finished 7-6 was by all measures a success; Setting records on the offensive side of the ball, beating the all powerful (although terrible) University of Texas, and advancing to the Texas Bowl. However, you can rest assured that Coach Briles and the Baylor Staff aren't sitting around thinking on a season that was, but what the 2011 season will bring. After all, we all know that great teams, good teams, and even mediocre teams go bowling more than once every sixteen years. Baylor is going to have a tough time going bowling again in 2011, playing a tougher schedule that includes all of the other nine teams that make up the "Big XII." For the sake of a different opinion, one that isn't just satisfied with one season going well, I'll play the devils advocate.

Baylor Coach Art Briles

Baylor won 7 games, solid by their recent standards, but lets take a look inside those numbers. Excluding their Division 1AA opponent, Sam Houston State, the Bears other six wins came by beating teams with a combined record of 26 wins and 47 losses. Out of those six teams, only Kansas State advanced to play in a bowl game, which they in turn lost to Syracuse. The Bears also failed to play a competitive game against excellent competition. The Bears lost a close game to an average Texas Tech team, and played one excellent half against the Aggies before caving in the second half. However, Baylor lost to TCU, Oklahoma, and Oklahoma State by a combined score of 153 to 62.

Simply put, the Bears can't expect to be making trips to Bowl Games year after year simply because they play a weak schedule. If Baylor wants to compete with the Kings of the Big XII, everyone involved in the organization will have to be willing to accept change. Coach Briles and his staff, the players, and the Baylor fans will have to avoid the trap of success leading to complacency if their is any hope of having future success.

While the Bears struggled on multiple fronts, the most obvious culprit for poor performance is the Bears defense. Baylor ranked 114th out of 120 teams in the Football Bowl Series in passing defense giving up 267 yards per game through the air, with opposing Quarterbacks completing over 65% of their passes.

While the Bears don't have all the talent in the world on the defensive side of the ball, and struggle to tackle, it looks as if the true problem lies their defensive schemes. Baylor routinely lines up in very soft coverage, often times more than 10 yards off of the line of scrimmage, giving receivers opportunities not only to catch short passes in open spaces, but also to run deeper routes much more cleanly. Another issue with the scheme that defensive coordinator Brian Norwood applies is that the Baylor Linebackers are often stuck covering Wide Receivers, which is an obvious mismatch. It seems as if Briles should bring in a coordinator that knows what he is doing, but it looks as if Baylor fans will be stuck hoping Norwood changes his ways next year.

Make no mistakes about it, although the Baylor offense broke many offensive records this year, it is far from a finished product. The Bears offense was in the Top 25 in both Passing and Rushing yards, but in big games the offense at times came up dry. It starts with the play calling, and drifts all the way down to the play makers. The Baylor offense had no shortage of playmakers this past year with Jay Finley setting the record for rushing yards in a season, and Robert Griffin setting the mark for most passing yards in a career at Baylor. However Baylor fans remained frustrated with the play calling, tired of seeing bubble screen on back to back plays, and the quarterback read time and time again. Baylor rarely looks downfield, however that might be Robert Griffins fault as much as anyone else's. Griffin needs to hit the practice field this offseason and work on his execution of deep passes. Too many times this year the Baylor receivers came up empty on their deep routes because Griffin either left the ball short, or over threw his receivers. If this Baylor offense wants to compete with speedy defenses like TCU, they'll need to not only open up the playbook but also be able to execute those plays.

If Baylor has any chance of competing with the top tier Big XII teams next season we'll find out in their opening game against TCU. With an offseason full of time to change, there is more than enough time for the Bears to make the needed changes to be competitive against elite teams.

College Football Week 4: What We'll Remember

Week 4 promised to show us some of the teams that are "Pretenders" and narrow the list of teams that are true "Contenders." After a weekend of great games, here are a few things that will stand out.

1. Alabama is the favorite to win the National Championship this year. The number 1 ranked team in the nation had a 17 game winning streak on the line when they went into Fayetteville, and after 3 rough quarters the extended their win streak to 18. While Alabama did make mistakes (2 first half interceptions), they came up clutch when it mattered, converting passes on multiple 3rd downs in the 4th quarter and doing a great job of managing the game. Alabama's defense stepped up when most need, derailing Mallett's Heisman campaign, intercepting the Arkansas QB on the Hogs final 2 possessions. Alabama won this game by never panicking, credit Nick Saban for having his boys ready to go.

2. Texas is in a "rebuilding" year. Most teams would love to have a rebuilding year in which they start the season 3-1, but for Longhorn fans they expect more. Texas lost to an average UCLA team, and they were never truly in the game. Texas kicked a field goal with 27 seconds left in the first quarter before UCLA ran off 20 unanswered points. After UT kicked a field goal the Bruins responded with a Touchdown, all but sealing the upset in Austin, Texas. The Longhorns got abused on the ground giving up 264 yards and 2 Touchdowns on the ground. Texas didn't do themselves any favors coughing the ball up 4 times in the first half, leading to all 13 of UCLA's first half points. Texas season will be in complete shambles next week if they can't rebound from this loss when they play Oklahoma.

3. Boise St. is very close to a shoe in for the National Championship game as you can get 4 weeks into the season. The Bronco's are 3-0 thus far into their season with their prime competition behind them. Boise beat #10 Virginia Tech in week one and defeated #24 Oregon State Saturday with College GameDay in town. Kellen Moore has thrown for 873 yards, 8 Scores, and only 1 Interception, and there isn't anyone left on there schedule with a secondary to keep up with the Broncos. Look for Boise State to roll through their schedule with very little resistance. They will be feeling the pressure when they travel to Nevada on November 26th to play the freshly ranked Nevada Wolfpack.

4. The fate of the Michigan Wolverines is very closely tied with how badly Denard Robinson's knee is hurt. If Robinson's knee has any ligament damage Michigan's season will take a huge hit, but if its just a mild injury they will stay on pace to be one of the elite teams in the Big 10 this season. Robinson's stats thus far with the Wolverines have been something out of a video game. So far in 2010 Robinson has a quarterback rating of 160.01 completing 57 of 80 passes for 731 yards and 4 touchdowns. On top of his passing numbers, Robinson has run for 688 yards, absolutely shredding every opposing defense that tries to stand in his way. Luckily for the Wolverines it looks as if all is well with Robinson's knee, and they need it to stay that way.

5. In a battle of Top 20 teams the Auburn Tigers came out and took care of business in their second big game in a row. A week after beating Clemson by a Field Goal the Tigers took care of Steve Spurrier's South Carolina Gamecocks. Auburn trailed at the end of every quarter but the 4th, in which they outscored the Gamecocks 14 to 0 to snag their 4th win on the season. Cameron Newton who transferred in from Blinn in College Station absolutely terrorized the South Carolina defense completing 16 of 21 passes for 159 yards and 2 TD's while also running for 172 yards and 3 more Touchdowns. Auburn spent their Saturday proving that they are a Contender in the SEC race, and opposing teams will certainly have to game plan for Cam Newton.

As conference play gets into full swing next week we'll have a better idea of what teams are going to compete in their respective conferences and even more than that who will factor into the National Championship game. As we've already been shown this football season, nothing is to be taken for granted.

Things We Learned From the First NFL Sunday

After one Sunday of NFL football it is already obvious that this is going to be an exciting season filled with great plays, dumb plays, and of course controversy. The first Sunday didn't fail to disappoint in any of those categories, and here are a few things we learned from todays game:

1. The Texans are Contenders

The Texans who own what is quite possibly the toughest schedule in football got off to a great start today. After being 1-15 against the Colts since coming into the league, the Texans came out and took it to the defending AFC South Champions. The most impressive part about this win is that it came from a running attack, Matt Schaub through for just over a 100 yards and Andre Johnson only had 33 yards in the air. However Arian Foster exploded against the Bob Sander-less Colts, running for 231 yards and 3 TD's. While the Texan's still have 15 games to play before we find out if they make their first ever playoff appearance, they showed today they can contend.

2. All Eyes Will be on Randy Moss in New England

Moss, who still hasn't gotten the contract extension he so desperately wants followed a 5 reception 59 yard game with a press conference to remember. Moss said "I think that from a business standpoint, this will be my last year with the Patriots, and I'm not retiring." The question this leaves us with is will the real Randy Moss show up for the remainder of the season, or will it be the Moss that played for the Raiders in 2005 and 2006. Moss said "I'm not here to cause any trouble, I'm here to play out the last year on my contract" but Pats fans must wonder how long that will last. Will one frustrating game send him spiraling into the Moss that quit on plays game after game with Oakland?

3. The NFC East and West are the Most Wide Open Divisions in Football

In the West, the trendy pick to win the division, the 49ers, got run off the field by a rejuvenated Seahawks team. Pete Carrol had his team completely out class the Mike Singletary run 49ers in every aspect of the game, making you wonder who the true favorite is. Meanwhile the Cardinals, the defending NFC West Champs showed how vulnerable they will be while struggling to squeak out a win against the lowly Rams who are led by a Rookie QB in Sam Bradford. The Cardinals lost 4 fumbles and looked sloppy throughout with QB Derek Anderson completing just 22 of 41 passes.

Meanwhile in the NFC East the struggles looked all the same. The Redskins offense was at times non existent, but thanks to their defense they beat the Cowboys 13-7. Tony Romo and crew just never could get it going, continuing to struggle in the Red Zone scoring on just 1 of their 3 trips. In reality the Cowboys beat themselves with penalties (holding to end the game) and bonehead plays (the fumble to end the 1st Half). Meanwhile the Giants struggled in the 1st half against the Panthers before getting it together in the 2nd, in large part to Hakeem Nicks having 3 TD Catches. The Eagles looked good in the 2nd half also, the weird thing is that it was only because Mike Vick played Quarterback then. However the Eagles lost by a Touchdown to the Packers, and now Philly has what could become a Quarterback controversy.

4. Michael Vick is Still Good

I know its only one game, but Vick showed he can still be a successful quarterback in the NFL. After going only 5 for 10 and 24 yards Kevin Kolb was pulled with a concussion giving us a fresh glimpse of the Michael Vick experience. Vick came into the game, turning around a struggling Eagles offense and leading them back into the game. Vick went 16 for 24 throwing for 175 yards and a Touchdown while running for 103 yards on only 11 carries. Vick carried the Eagles back into the game, showing that he can still make plays in the NFL while making his own case for the Eagles starting spot. Although Andy Reid said that Kevin Kolb will start if he is healthy, if he struggles in the least Vick will most likely get a crack at earning a starting Quarterback spot.

5. Playing Until the Whistle Matters at the Highest Level of the Game

If only Calvin Johnson would have held onto the ball until the Referee blew his whistle and signaled for a Touchdown, the Lions would have started 1-0 and the Bears would be 0-1. But that didn't happen, Johnson dropped the ball before standing up and after further review the Touchdown was taken away in the most controversial play of the day.Make no mistake though, the Referee got the call right.

Oh and what if the Redskins defense had given up on the tackling of Tashard Choice at the end of the first half. DeAngelo Hall probably would have never picked up the ball and run it back for a Touchdown giving the 'Skins a 10-0 lead going into half and propelled them to a 13-7 win over the division favorite Cowboys. Make no doubt, playing until the whistle makes all the difference.

A wild and wacky weak one showed us plenty of surprises and expect a few more as the Jets and Ravens face off tomorrow along with the Chargers and Chiefs. Whether the NFL reaches a new Labor Agreement or not doesn't matter for the next 6 months, because this season will be plenty entertaining.

Big 12 North Preview

After a controversial preview of the Big 12 South (http://bleacherreport.com/articles/435783-big-12-south-preview) we move on to the North. This is the last chance that Nebraska and Colorado have to make a true mark on the Big 12 North because after this year they will be departing for greener pastures. Here are my predictions on who will finish where in the division.

6. Colorado Buffaloes

Coming off a 3 win season the Buffs have nowhere to go but up. The Colorado Quarterbacks through as many Interceptions as Touchdowns last year (18) and that is the first issue to address when trying to fix their terrible turnover ratio. The Quarterback job appears to be Tyler Hansen's, but if he struggles early in the season don't expect Dan Hawkins to hesitate about putting in his son Cody. If the Buffs don't go bowling this year, Dan Hawkins will probably be out of a job as Colorado departs to the Pac-10.

Record: 3-9 (1-7)

Biggest Game: September 4 against Colorado St. If the Buffaloes can beat their in state rival when they meet in Denver then it will give them momentum going into much tougher match-ups with California and Georgia.

5. Kansas Jayhawks

After the Jayhawks lost their last 7 games, I don't think there was a single Kansas fan disappointed to see Mark Mangino forced out. Under new coach Turner Gill it looks as if Kansas will get off on the wrong foot. Kansas is completely unproven offensively with either Kale Pick or Jordan Webb trying to replace legendary QB Todd Reesing. If that wasn't enough of a loss the Jayhawks also lost their two top receivers, Dezmon Briscoe and Kerry Meier, who accounted for 17 of Kansas's 22 TD receptions. For Kansas to have success their run game and defense will have to carry an unproven passing game.

Record: 5-7 (2-6)

Biggest Game: 11/27 When they meet Missouri in Kansas City. Not only is this a Rivalry game for Kansas, but there is the added possibility that the bowl hopes could be on the line.

4. Iowa State Cyclones

Coming off their best season since 2005 the Cyclones are looking to go bowling for back to back seasons. These Cyclones will have a tough go at getting there with games against Iowa, Utah, Oklahoma, Texas, Nebraska, and Missouri. The Cyclones have seniors starting at both Quarterback and Running Back, with a solid yet not deep O-Line. With a lack of experience at Linebacker and a D-Line that struggles to get to the Quarterback the Cyclones will rely heavily on there secondary to make some big plays.

Record: 5-7 (3-5)

Biggest Game: 9/11 at Iowa. This will be a game that sets the tone for the rest of the Cyclones season, letting us know if they are pretenders or contenders. If the Cyclones compete in this game they will put up a good fight against all of there Big 12 North foes.

3. Kansas State Wildcats

The Wildcats are in safe hands as long as Bill Snyder is the man running this team. The Wildcats had a 6-6 record this past season and going into this season they will be trying to get back to a bowl game for the first time since 2006. The offense will lean heavily on Running Back Daniel Thomas who was the Big 12's leading rusher last year. K-State has a depleted defense which to start with was ranked 10th in the Big 12 in sacks last year (20). The combination of an easier schedule than Iowa State and Bill Snyder is enough to push them into 3rd in the North.

Record: 7-5 ( 4-4)

Biggest Game: 10/7 at home against Nebraska. This is the game in which we will find out if Kansas State can truly challenge the elite in the Big 12 North, or if the division is really only two teams deep.

2. Missouri Tigers

The Tigers have a year more experience basically everywhere on the field, and this might be most important at Quarterback. Mizzou will be starting 6'5" Blaine Gabbert at QB and expect him to be very good this year. Only one starting receiver will return for the Tigers but one thing we know about them is that they can recruit receivers, (Alexander and Maclin), so its only a matter of time before a star emerges. If Missouri wants to contend for a Big 12 Title they will have to shore up their secondary, as it was dead last in the Big 12 when it comes to opponents completion percentage.

Record: 9-3 (5-3)

Biggest Game: 10/30 at Nebraska. If the Tigers want to win the Big 12 North, that road goes squarely through Lincoln, Nebraska. This game will likely decide who will represent the Big 12 North in the Big 12 Championship Game.

1. Nebraska Cornhuskers

Nebraska is looking to grab one last Big 12 North title before jetting off to begin play in the Big 10. The Cornhuskers lost one of the best players in the country (Ndamukong Suh) to the NFL draft but I still expect there defense to be one of the best in the country. A major question that has to be asked is how will their Quarterback perform. Nebraska's offense struggled mightily last season under Quarterback Zac Lee, and head coach Bo Pelini has said that he could use quarterback by committee. If Nebraska's offense improves just a little on last season, look for them to be one of the elite teams in the country.

Record: 11-1 (7-1) (Not including the Big 12 Championship Game)

Biggest Game: 10/16 When the Texas Longhorns come to Lincoln. Nebraska has its eyes set on revenge when it comes to this Big 12 Championship Game rematch and they haven't been afraid to say it. Look for Nebraska to be more fired up for this game than any other.

Big 12 South Preview

As College Football season draws closer everyone is wondering what their team will look like this year. The Big 12, particularly the Big 12 South is year in and year out one of the most exciting and competitive conferences in the nation. I'm going to break down each team in the Big 12 South while attempting to predict where in the conference they will finish.

6. Texas Tech Red Raiders

This Texas Tech team is the biggest wild card of any team in the Big 12. After the Mike Leach fall out and eventual firing Texas Tech is moving in a different direction with the hiring of ex-Auburn coach Tommy Tuberville. Tuberville will have Tech a little more defensive minded than his predecessor Leach, who always had Tech's offense clicking on all cylinders. I realize that this is a bold pick with as much talent as Tech will have (returning 9 offensive starters), but I think that it will take Tech a year or two to adjust to Tuberville's new offensive system.

Final Record: 6-6 (3-5)

Biggest Game: Texas at home on September 18th. Its an early game and will put a good barometer on what we can expect from Tech against strong teams.

5. Baylor Bears

Baylor's season relies heavily on Quarterback Robert Griffin III. Griffin is coming off of a season in which he tore his ACL along with the Bears 2009 bowl hopes. The Baylor faithful will again put their faith in Griffin and Wide Receiver Kendall Wright to break there 16 year old bowl drought. The Bears theme for the year is "Rise Up" and thats what they will have to do over the last four games of their schedule, because they might have to steal one win out of four to sneak into a bowl game. The biggest gap the Bears have to fill is at Center, where J.D. Walton was drafted by the Denver Broncos. All though taking the Bears out of the cellar is another bold pick, Baylor is bound to break that bowl drought sometime.

Final Record: 7-5 (4-4)

Biggest Game: Texas A&M at Floyd Casey Stadium on November 13th. The Bears could be fighting for a bowl game bid, and the Baylor fans seem to get more excited when the Aggies come to town than any other team.

4. Oklahoma St. Cowboys

26 year old Brandon Weeden who came back to college after playing baseball in the Yankees farm system has the burden of taking over for star quarterback Zac Robinson. Weeden however will have plenty of help in Running Back Kendall Hunter who had a great sophomore year before injuries hampered his performance in 2009. Defensively the Cowboys graduated 3 starting linebackers and will have to replace them if they want to continue improving their defense like they did between 2008 and 2009. Oklahoma St. will need to continue to force turnovers as they did last year (30), if they want to keep up with their high flying Big 12 opponents.

Final Record: 8-4 (4-4)

Biggest Game: Oklahoma on November 27th in front of their home fans. A win over in state rival Oklahoma would turn a good season into great season for any Oklahoma St. fan.

3. Texas A&M Aggies

These Aggies have a lot to prove after they finished their season losing 4 out of 5, only beating the Baylor Bears in College Station. The A&M offense should be clicking on all cylinders after finishing last year 5th in the nation in total offense (465 yards a game). The Aggies struggled defensively last year allowing over 33 points a game which came in as last in the Big 12, the question is can their new D Coordinator do anything to solve those problems. If the Aggies can tune up their defense, even just a little bit, then look for them to be a true competitor for everyone in the Big 12.

Final Record: 8-4 (4-4)

Biggest Game: At the University of Texas on November 25th. This is A&M's biggest rival, and because of that their is no doubt that the Aggies will be ready to go on Thanksgiving Day.

2. University of Texas Longhorns

We got a sneak preview of Garrett Gilbert in the National championship last year and though he struggled early on, he made good adjustments on the games biggest stage. Gilbert has to replace College Football's winningest quarterback Colt McCoy, so naturally Texas will have some growing pains. The toughest section of the Longhorns schedule will undoubtedly come win they play Oklahoma, snag a bye week, and then travel to Lincoln to play a Nebraska who wants revenge. The way Mack Brown has been known to reload, I would guess the Longhorns will have another great season.

Final Record: 11-1 (7-1)

Biggest Game: Oklahoma on October 2nd. The Red River Rivalry won't dissapoint this year as it is likely to decide the who goes to the Big 12 Championship game.

1. Oklahoma Sooners

Landry Jones got plenty of experience and playing time in 2009 after starter Sam Bradford missed plenty of time with injuries. After setting Oklahoma's single season touchdown reception record look for him to do even bigger things this season, and also keep an eye on Running Back DeMarco Murray who many people are expecting to have a breakout year. The Sooners have plenty of talent on the defensive side of the ball with Lineman Jeremy Beal and Linebacker Travis Lewis. The biggest question for this Oklahoma team is whether or not their O-Line will be able to hold up against the nation's elite teams.

Final Record: 12-0 (8-0) (Not Including Big 12 Championship)

Biggest Game: Texas on October 2nd. When the two titans of the Big 12 South clash again, a trip to the Big 12 championship game and keeping National Championship possibilities alive will be at stake.

Coming Soon: Big 12 North Preview

USA vs. Brazil: What We Learned

In their 2-0 loss to the Brazilians, The U.S. Mens National Team once again proved that it can't play with opponents who perform at the highest level. The Brazilians sliced through the Yanks defense, dominated possession, and came out with an easy 2-0 win. If the United States ever wants to consistently compete with the top teams in the world then they will need to fix some serious kinks in their armor. Here are a few thoughts from the game:

1. After watching the Brazilians earn 20 shots, 11 of which were on goal, the U.S. defense is the first thing that needs to be fixed. Jonathan Bornstein once again showed he isn't the man for the left back spot as he got consistently burned by Neymar who was earning his first cap for the Brazilians. While Omar Gonzalez avoided making any major mistakes in his USMNT debut, he didn't exactly impress. Pato slipped by him time and time again, almost scoring multiple times before finally breaking through to make the score 2-0. While this was just a friendly it did reinforce the thought that the Yanks defense can't keep up with any high flying attack while allowing the mids to maintain some form of offensive creativity.

2. While Edson Buddle and Landon Donovan showed a moment of flair to start the game, the United States strikers were incredibly forgettable all over again. All of the strikers were isolated throughout the game because the midfield was sucked back to play defense as usual. Jozy Altidore did what he could when he entered the game in the second half, after receiving several long balls he ran at defenders (which isn't his strong suit) and was eventually brought to a stop. Robbie Findley however shouldn't be getting anymore call ups anytime soon. He looked downright awful, and its safe to say I would rather have Charlie Davies at 75% than Findley at 100%.

3. In my opinion, Maurice Edu deserves a spot in the central midfield alongside Michael Bradley. Throughout the World Cup and into tonight Edu proved to be a capable defender even though he could have afforded to pressure the Brazilians a bit more tonight. Edu continued doing what he started in the World Cup, and that is being a calming presence in the Yanks midfield. Edu certainly deserves a shot at continuing to prove himself, especially after his main competition in Ricardo Clark self imploded in the World Cup.

4. The United States is set at the Goalkeeper position for years to come. While Tim Howard has a choke hold on the number one spot, he will continue to have competition from another EPL player in Brad Guzan. Guzan, who plays for Aston Villa, had an incredible night after coming on for Howard in the second half. He made save after save just to keep the American's at a respectable 2-0 score. In my eyes at least, Guzan was the man of the match.

5. Michael Bradley truly is one of the best players that the U.S. has ever produced. At the age of 23 Bradley has become a mainstay in the U.S. central midfield. He is the ultimate box to box midfielder who seems to never wear down while doing everything that is asked of him. Bradley was winning balls in the midfield and tracking back to defend all night, and I wasn't ever surprised. While Bradley made a few iffy passes tonight, he was the Yanks best and most reliable performer on the pitch yet again.

FIFA Needs a Change

As an American who loves sports, soccer included I have a very American perspective on the game. I understand that FIFA isn't going to give us instant replay (and I agree with the decision), but there are a few minor tweaks that I believe would serve the beauty of the game well.

After watching the United States flame out of yet another World Cup I've had a good amount of time to think about why people in America don't like the game. I think one of the main reasons is because of the normally unpenalized time wasting.

I believe that the United States lost the game on their own because of poor finishing, a defense that often collapses, and a few poor tactical decisions. However the final 25 minutes of that game highlighted everything that is wrong with time wasting. Here are a few issues and possible solutions for FIFA to deal with the issues.

Injuries- Some injuries are real, soccer is an extremely grueling sport and the players do put their bodies on the line. The issue comes in when a player dives, looking like he has been shot by three snipers from three different spots, rolls around on the ground writhing in pain, is carried off the field only to hop right back up and be waved right back on by the ref. So a player can fake an injury to waste time and in the long run it doesn't affect the team at all.

Solution- After being on the ground for 10 seconds and failing to get up a player is initially penalized by being forced to stay off the field for 30 seconds. For every 5 seconds he is on the ground after that he has to stay off the field for an additional 10 seconds. The assignment of keeping this time can be delegated to the 4th official who is on the sideline. The addition of this rule would provide a punishment to faking injuries by making the time wasting team play a man down for a certain amount of time or by forcing them to use a substitution.

Substitutions- You may see a team substitute a player in stoppage time just to keep the ball out of play for a few extra seconds. Often the player will walk slowly across the field, shaking the hands of his teammates, stopping to cramp up, and even exchanging words with the referee. This allows 30 or more seconds to run off the clock and often that time goes unaccounted for.

Solution- The player being substitued out of the game should be allowed to go to the nearest sideline or goal line to speed up the process. If the player fails to get off the field in a reasonable amount of time, say 10 seconds, the substitute coming in is held off the field until the next chance the team would have to substitute.

Goal kicks and Throw-ins- You'll often see a player drop the ball and play with his shin guards before picking the ball up to throw it in. However before he can throw it in, a teammate arrives beside him to take the ball from him before aimlessly looking around before finally throwing the ball in at least 30 seconds later. The same happens on goal kicks as the keeper often moves the ball and slowly walks back before finally approaching and kicking the ball.

Solution- Put a time limit on how much time the player has to get the ball back into the field of play. Much like the 24 second shot clock in basketball, why not put a 10 second shot clock from the time that a player touches the ball until the time it is in play. If the ball doesn't get into play in this amount of time then you can issue a yellow card to the offending player and possession would immediately change.

While FIFA is probably to traditional to ever change, and the people outside of America would throw a fit if they did, it would greatly help the popularity of the game if they were to at least try and do away with the "art" of wasting time. I know I for one would enjoy the game much more without the constant time wasting.

The Championship Game: Position by Position

After over two weeks of incredible Basketball, the NCAA Tournament is coming to a close. We've seen some of the Biggest upsets in recent memory, many of which were pulled of by a 5 seed, Butler. On the other side of the Bracket, Duke has been getting the job done. Both teams have earned their way to this championship game, so we will look at how these teams match up position by position.

Point Guard- (5) Butler: Shelvin Mack- Mack is an incredibly explosive guard who Duke have to account for. Mack is Butler's second best player but for them to stay in the game he has to play well. He averages a respectable 3.1 assists per game but has the tendencies of a shoot first point guard. If Duke doesn't account for him in transition Mack will pull up and hit 3's in transition and could explode for 25 just like in the first round game against UTEP.

(1)Duke: Jon Scheyer- Scheyer is a more natural two guard than one guard but has made the transition to the point fairly smoothly. As a Senior, Scheyer is very experienced and a very clutch player, always seeming to hit the big shot when Duke needs it. Scheyer is averaging a team best 18.2 points and 4.8 assists, while also pulling down a solid 3.6 boards. Without Scheyer, this Duke team would not be where they are today, he is the leader of this Blue Devil squad.

Shooting Guard- (5) Butler: Ronald Nored- Nored is the only Butler starter that didn't start every single game this season. While leading the Bulldogs in assists per game at 3.7 Nored started 32 out of 37 games playing an average of 29.9 minutes per game. Nored is a role player averaging 6 points who often splits time with Zach Hahn off the bench. Butler essentially just needs Nored to take care of the ball and hit oepn shots.

(1) Duke: Nolan Smith- When this Duke team needed him the most, in the Elite 8 against Baylor, Smith stepped up in a HUGE way. He poured in a career high 29 points on 9 of 17 shooting from the field and broke the Baylor defense. Smith shoots nearly 40% from free and does a great job of spotting up to get kicks off of the offensive rebound. If Butler doesn't watch out, Smith will light them up not only from 3 but off the dribble drive, and that will make Duke tough to beat.

Small Forward- (5) Butler: Gordon Hayward- Hayward IS hands down the Butler Bulldogs best player. At 6'9" Howard is actually a primary ball handler for the Bulldogs and does so with incredible composure. Hayward is never out of control, and create an open shot against absolutely any defender. While his three point shooting is down this year, Hayward at 29.5% from deep is still a threat to catch and shoot or hit a 3 off the dribble. Hayward nearly never forces his offense and it shows, he has taken no more than 14 shots in any game. Hayward will get his averages of 15.5 points and 8.2 boards, its going to be up to the rest of the Bulldogs.

(1) Duke: Kyle Singler- Singler is physically very similar to Gordon Hayward. At 6'8" Singler too can beat you in a variety of ways, he will post smaller defenders up, take the slower ones off the dribble, or simply create enough space to hit a jumper. Singler is one of 3 Dukies averaging more than 17 points per game, coming in at 17.6 points and 6.9 rebounds per game. The question that has to be asked of Singler, is which version of him will we see. Will we see the one that showed up against Baylor (0-10 from the field, 5 points) or the one that showed up against West Virgina (8-16 with 21 points). Which Singler shows up could determine the outcome of this game.

Power Forward- (5) Butler: Willie Veasley- Veasley is one of only two seniors on this very talented Butler team. Veasley is one of four Butler players averaging 10+ points per game, putting up 10.1 points and 4.3 rebounds per game. Veasley is going to be in charge of getting a body on Lance Thomas who is an incredible offensive rebounder. Veasley will also be called upon to put up a little bit of offense to take some pressure off of Hayward, Howard, and Mack.

(1) Duke: Lance Thomas- Thomas is one of four seniors on this Duke team, and is one of the best glue guys in the country. Lance Thomas takes care of so many intangibles on this Duke team, and because he does this, Duke wins games. Thomas averages a rather pedestrian 4.8 points and 4.9 rebounds per game, but he is a key player for Duke. So far in the NCAA tournament he has 28 rebounds, and 19 of those have been offensive. Against Baylor in the Elite 8 Thomas had 8 offensive rebounds that led to many of Duke's second chance points, the key reason for their victory over Baylor.

Center- (5) Butler: Matt Howard- Matt Howard, at 6'8" is going to be severely undersized against the Duke front court. Howard was the 2008-2009 Horizon Conference player of the year, and this year he averaged 11.8 points and 5.3 rebounds per contest. Look for the Blue Devils in large part to shut down Howard with 7 foot Zoubek, and the Plumlee twins off the bench. It would in large part be considered a victory if Howard rebounded well, keeping Duke off the offensive glass.

(1) Duke: Brian Zoubek- The 7'1" Senior has absolutely come alive in the latter half of this season. Zoubek is averaging 18.1 minutes per game which is 7 minutes more than any other year in his career. Zoubek has greatly improved his game putting up a respectable 5.5 points and a solid 7.6 rebounds. In the previous four games of this NCAA Tournament Zoubs has posted 13,14,9, and 10 rebounds. Zoubek is playing exactly how Duke needs him to play, and against Butler Coach K is going to ask Zoubek to contain Howard, and pound the glass.

Bench- (5) Butler: Butler has only three players that come off the bench that have played in every game this season. Zach Hahn, Shawn Vanzant, and Avery Jukes all three come off the bench as three point threats. In the game against Michigan State, Butler's bench only scraped together 4 points, that number will have to increase if they plan on beating Duke. Don't look for Butler to rely on their bench to much as the brunt of their scoring comes from Hayward, Howard, Mack, and Veasley.

(1) Duke: Duke's bench much like Butlers is only 3 men deep. Coach K will hit you with The Plumlee Brothers, Miles and Mason, along with Andre Dawkins. The Plumlees have been able to see the court at the same time a little more in this tournament than early in this year and are very athletic big men both standing at 6'10". When the Plumlees come in, you know what you are going to get, some solid minutes, a small scoring contribution, and some good rebounding. However Andre Dawkins is a bit of a wild card. Dawkins has the potential to come in and look lost, or the potential to come in and turn around the game because he is a very pure shooter. If Dawkins struggles early, odds are you won't see him again.

Coaching: (5) Butler: Brad Stevens is a 33 year old coach who quit his 9 to 5 job to come back and chase his dream. Stevens has more wins through his first 3 seasons than any coach in the history of NCAA Basketball. Stevens is a self proclaimed nerd and number cruncher who was the Horizon coach of the year in 2009 and 2010. All of this said, Stevens will seemingly be outmatched on the sideline by a coaching legend.

(1) Duke: Mike Kryzewski- 5 time ACC coach of the year, 12 time ACC Tournament Champion, 12 time ACC Regular Season Champion. So you might think the ACC was down a few years? 12 Elite 8's, 11 Final 4's, 8 Championship Games, and 3 NCAA Tournament Championships not including the one he could win Monday. Tack on 3 Naismith Coach of the Year awards and coaching the 2008 Olympic Gold Medal team and you have Coach K's resume. A lock for the basketball hall of fame makes nearly every coach pale in comparison.

Look for Monday's championship game to be thrilling. Butler has had a knack for building up an early second half lead and clinging to it as time runs down (note the last 3 games), and Duke has a tendency to simply wear opponents down by getting second chance opportunity after second chance opportunity. If Butler can limit Duke's second chance opportunities they could very well be in this game in the end.

Sweet 16 Bracket: The Key Players on Each Team

Yesterday I broke down all of the Sweet 16 match-ups, so today I'm going to break down the key players on each team. These players have been a very important component of their teams throughout the year, and will have to fit their role close to perfection.

Midwest:

University of Northern Iowa: Ali Farokmanesh- Farokmanesh is the hero of this tournament so far not just for Northern Iowa, but for fans across America. After hitting the game winning shot against UNLV in the first round and sticking a dagger in Kansas with a gutsy three Farokmanesh is becoming a household name. One of four Panthers averaging between 9 and 12 points in the regular season, Farokmanesh has led his team in scoring both post season games with 17 and 16 points. If UNI wants to continue their dream run Farokmanesh is going to have to continue to score, and hit clutch shots at the end of the game.

Michigan State: Korie Lucious- After 2009 Big 10 player of the year went down with what appears to be a torn Achilles which will keep him sidelined for some time, Michigan St. needs backup Korie Lucious to step up. Lucious filled in well after Lucas went down scoring 13 points and dishing out 5 assists in 27 minutes of play against Maryland. Lucious hit his biggest shot of the game as time expired, a 3 pointer that gave Michigan State the lead, and sent them into the Sweet 16. If the Spartans want to move on to the Elite 8, Lucious is going to have to limit his turnovers, and probably score in double digits while shooting a high percentage.

University of Tennessee: J.P. Prince- Earlier this year when Tennessee pulled off an upset over Kentucky they relied much on 20 points from Prince on 6-10 shooting from the field. If they want to compete against a tough nosed Buckeyes team that features superstar Evan Turner they are going to need an inspired performance by Prince. Prince is long and lanky, giving him all of the tools that make him very difficult to guard and he the Vols are going to have to exploit every match up problem they can, and that's just what Prince could be.

Ohio St.: Evan Turner- Ohio State has possibly the best college basketball player in the country in Evan Turner and he is more than capable of carrying them all the way to the Final 4. Turner is averaging 20 points 9 rebounds and 6 assists per game, which is absolutely essential to the Buckeyes. With Turner injured earlier this season the Buckeyes won 3 games against BAD teams (Presbyterian, Delaware St., Cleveland State) and lost their other 3 games to quality opponents (Butler, Wisconsin, Michigan). With Turner on the court, Ohio States entire offense will run through him, so as Turner goes so does Ohio State. One key for Turner is to take care of the ball, he coughed it up 9 times in his previous game.

West:

Syracuse: Wes Johnson- Johnson is hands down the best player on this Syracuse team. Much like Turner, without Johnson Syracuse wouldn't be near the team they are. Johnson is posting averages of 16.5 points, 8.5 points, and 2.3 assists per game and is a very well rounded player. If Syracuse doesn't want to fall to an upset bid like fellow number one Kansas they definitely need Johnson to step up and be willing to take over the game.

Butler: Matt Howard- If Howard can get going down low against the Orange odds are that Butler has a great chance to pull off the upset. Howard has struggled against teams with talented bigs and guys that can bang with him down low. In Butler's 7 point loss to Georgetown earlier this year Howard scored only 9 points and fouled out after going only 1 for 9 from the field. For the Bulldogs to win they need Howard to stay out of foul trouble, not force the issue, and shoot a high percentage from the field. If Howard does all of those things don't be surprised if Butler is in the Elite 8.

Xavier: Jordan Crawford- Crawford is hands down the Musketeers best player, averaging 20.2 points per game. If Kansas State can lock down Crawford the way they held Jimmer Fredette in check this game won't even be close. Crawford who is famed for dunking on Lebron James at a summer camp has come into his own this year. In addition to his 20 points per game he is posting 2.9 assists, 4.8 boards, and 1.4 steals per game. Crawford shoots 46% from the field and if Kansas State can't slow him down, Xavier will move on.

Kansas State: Jacob Pullen- Pullen is one of the most electric guards in the country, and can score at will. Pullen put Kansas State on his back and carried them through the BYU game scoring 34 points while shooting 7 for 12 from three. Pullen and back court mate Denis Clemente are an explosive back-court tandem who will be tough for any team to stop, whether they use a zone or man defense. If Pullen comes out of the gates hot, you could see one of the best performances of this tournament and a Wildcat team headed to the Elite 8.

East:

Kentucky: John Wall- John Wall is the most talented player in NCAA Basketball this year. He is following the likes of Derrick Rose and Tyreke Evans as point guards that John Calipari has coached that have jumped to the NBA after one season, and he might be the most talented yet. Wall is averaging more assists per game at 9 this NCAA Tournament than anyone else, and his distribution is a large part of the reason Kentucky wins. Wall is so quick that it is hard to guard him straight up so if he continues to draw double teams Kentucky needs him to continue to find open shooters. Wall has the ability to take over any game at will, which is something we haven't seen him do much this year, but could come at any time. Look for Wall to get out and run on the less athletic Cornell, and don't be surprised if he puts up his biggest numbers this tournament.

Cornell: Jeff Foote- The Big Red's 7 foot Senior is the rock that they revolve around. He will have a tough match-up down low in DeMarcus Cousins who is one of the elite big men in all the NCAA. If Foote can play solid and hold his own against Cousins down low the Big Red might actually stand a chance.

Washington: Quincy Pondexter- Qunicy Pondexter is one of the most loved players in Washington basketball history. On Senior night the fans absolutely went crazy for Pondexter who will no doubt find himself in the NBA next year. Pondexter is averaging 19.7 points and 7.5 rebounds per game and is the driving force behind the Huskies offense. Quincy has hit a game winner against Marquette in the opening round of the tournament, and if Washington can keep it close again their is little doubt in who they will go to.

West Virginia: Da'Sean Butler- Butler is the engine that makes this West Virginia team run, and they run like a well oiled machine. Butler is leading the team with 17.5 points and 3.3 assists per game while chipping in a not to shabby 6.3 boards. Coming out of a Big East tournament in which he hit not one but TWO game winning shots Butler's confidence is sky high, and look for that to shine through in this match-up with the Huskies.

South:

Duke- Kyle Singler: Kyle Singler is one of the most versatile players in all of America and its no surprise that his team is still in this tournament. Singler can score in a variety of ways; he can post you up, hit the 3, or beat you off the dribble. Singler is having a great year statistically averaging 17.7 points, 7 rebounds, and 2 assists per game and so far this tournament he has upped those averages. If Singler is shooting the ball well, he is a near unstoppable player, and if you can't stop him you can't stop Duke.

Purdue- E'Twaun Moore: E'Twaun Moore is clearly the go to guy in this Purdue offense since their loss of Robbie Hummel. Moore is averaging 16.4 points per game, but his points have become even more valuable since their second leading scorer went down with a torn ACL. In an embarrassing loss to Minnesota in the Big 10 tournament Moore was 1 for 14 from the field, never got to the free throw line and only scored 2 points. Moore's terrible performance absolutely crushed Purdue's offense as they only scored 42 points in the loss. If E'Twaun isn't getting to the basket and the foul line, and making those shot, you can consider Purdue's season over.

Baylor- Ekpe Udoh- The transfer from Michigan has completely changed the face of this Baylor Bears team. They went from a team that just tried to outscore you to a team that can slow the game down and come up with some big stops on the defensive end. Ekpe is going to be charged with shutting down Omar Samhan in the Sweet 16 match up against St. Mary's and after setting the Big 12 record for shots blocked in a season he is completely capable of doing just that. Udoh is also averaging 13.9 points and 9.7 rebounds per game, and the Bears will need to get him going on the offensive end to help open up shots for guards LaceDarius Dunn and Tweety Carter.

St. Mary's- Mickey McConnell- In an 80-61 loss to Gonzaga earlier this season McConnel flat out didn't show up. He played 33 minutes, missed all 5 of his shots, turned the ball over 4 times and didn't score. If the Gaels want to be a tough Baylor Bears team they can't have their second leading scorer (14 ppg) not show up. McConnell needs to come out ready to shoot the ball and shoot it often against a Baylor zone that has shown that it can be beat if the other team knocks down the open 3, and McConnell hits 51% of his threes. If McConnell gets hot, the Bears will be headed home to Waco well before they want to be.

If all of these players play up to their potential we will be in for another incredible round of games that will include an array of wild finishes.

Breaking Down the Sweet 16

After 4 days of buzzer beaters, overtimes, and upsets the field for the second weekend of the "Big Dance" has finally been set. After nearly every bracket has been decimated and the tournament favorite got sent home early the college basketball experts will spend the next four days breaking down each and every match up. Even though I'm far from an expert, I'm going to do my best to break down the eight sweet sixteen match ups.

Midwest: (9) University of Northern Iowa vs. (5) Michigan State- UNI is the Cinderella of not just the Midwest but possibly of the whole tournament after knocking out overall number one Kansas. Northern Iowa might actually be seen as a favorite after MSU lost the 2 time big ten player of the year and heart of their team Kalin Lucas. Ali Forukmanesh is the hero of this tournament so far hitting a game winning shot against UNLV in the first round and hitting a three against Kansas that turned into a dagger. This game could swing either way, if Michigan St. wants to knock off the cinderella they need to hit the offensive glass hard, play pressure D and force turnovers, and of course find Forukmanesh at the end of the game.

(6) Tennessee vs. (2) Ohio St.- After losing All SEC performer Tyler Smith for legal troubles earlier this season Tennessee has clawed their way into the Sweet 16. Ohio St. who has Naismith award contender Evan Turner better not sleep on the Vols though because they have been known to show up at their best for the big games. Although Pearl has never advanced the Vols past the Sweet 16 he had them knocking off two number one teams earlier this year (Kansas and Kentucky) so they can play with anyone. Ohio State has great balance with four players averaging over 12 points per game and that will be tough for the Volunteers to contain. However if the Tennessee can force the issue by putting end to end pressure on turnover he will cough up the ball (9 Turnovers vs. GT), and his back court mate William Buford followed suit by turning it over 5 times himself.

West: (1) Syracuse vs. (5) Butler- While at first glance it looks like Butler is completely over-matched you have to look no further than playing Georgetown within 7 points earlier this season after shooting only 31.1% from the field. A big question for this game is will Arinze Onuaku be able to play and if so will he be able to contain the Bulldogs big man Matt Howard, if so the odds of Syracuse winning are great. While Syracuse is much more athletic than this Butler team, if Butler can contain Wes Johnson and have their big three (Howard, Mack, Heyward) play a good game they will find themselves in it throughout. The stars are going to have to align for Butler to beat this talented and athletic Syracuse team, but don't be to surprised if they do. Butler needs to maximize each possesion, slow the pace of the game, and contain Wes Johnson if they want to have any chance of winning this game.

(6) Xavier vs. (2) Kansas State- Look for this game to be a run and gun shoot out with both of these teams averaging around 80 points per game over the course of the year. Kansas State has two of the best guards in the nation in Dennis Clemente and Jacob Pullen who did a great job of containing Jimmer Fredette when they played BYU. Now Kansas States guards will be charged with shutting down Xavier's leading scorer in 6'4" Jordan Crawford. Crawford, the transfer from Indiana, is averaging 20 points per game while shooting 46% from the field and nearly 40% from three point land. Even if the Wildcats can't slow Crawford down, don't count them out because Pullen (19.2 ppg) and Clemente (16.3 ppg) can score with anyone in America. While the guard match up will be intriguing, this game could be decided down low with the winner of the Jamar Samuels and Jason Love match-up coming out on top.

East: (1) Kentucky vs. (12) Cornell- Cornell has absolutely dominated the first two games of this tournament winning both by double digits. While some people might see this as a game that Kentucky will dominate running all over the slower paced Big Red, that is far from the truth. Cornell played Kansas in Lawerence, and hung tough with the then undefeated Jayhawks, losing only by 5. Kentucky is going to look to get out and run on the less athletic Big Red, but look for Cornell to slow the game down and keep it closer than most expect. An interesting matchup in this game will be between Cornell's 7 footer Jeff Foote who is averaging 12 points and 8 rebounds per game, and UK's Freshman DeMarcus Cousins who is putting up 15 points and 10 rebounds a contest. If Foote can be solid down low and possibly outplay Cousins that would be key to keeping Cornell close in this game. If the Big Red can successfuly slow down the pace, take care of the ball, and rebound well maybe, just maybe they can keep their Final 4 hopes alive.

(11) Washington vs. (2) West Virginia- Look for a great game between these two teams because both of them have been playing out of their minds lately. West Virginia has won eight games in a row and Washington has won nine straight, both winning their respective conference tournaments. Washington has two incredible leaders in Isaiah Thomas and Quincy Pondexter who can play with anyone in the country. West Virgina has followed the hot hand of Da'Sean Butler who hit two game winning shots in the Big East tournament while carrying them to the championship. West Virginia is going to be a very tough match-up for the Huskies because the Mountaineers have 3 guys averaging over 12 points per game. If the Huskies are going to stay in this game, they will have to step it up on the Defensive end and limit the number of open shots Butler gets, have another double digit performance from Matthew Bryan-Amaning.

South: (1) Duke- (4) Purdue- Coming into this tournament there were experts all around the nation picking Purdue to fall in the first round to Sienna, and Purdue has used that as bulletin board material as they have clawed their way to the Sweet 16. However, Purdue is running into a well oiled Duke machine that could send the Boilermakers home earlier than they want. Purdue had an average offense before losing their best all around player Robbie Hummel, and now their offense will truly be exposed because Duke is the third most efficient Defensive team in the nation. Purdue is going to struggle to put up points this game which means they will have to keep Duke from lighting up the scoreboard which also will be tough. Duke has the second most efficient offense in the nation and it will be quite the feat for the Boilermakers to shut down the tandem of Scheyer, Singler, and Smith who average a combined 53.2 points per game. If Purdue wants to have any chance at making it to the Elite 8 they are going to have to neutralize Brian Zoubek on the offensive boards, because he is playing the best basketball of his career late in this season. The other key for Purdue is getting good penetration and finishing around the basket for their guards, most notably E'Twaun Moore.

(3) Baylor vs. (10) St. Mary's- This is a very scary match-up for Scott Drew's Baylor Bears. St. Mary's is a very well rounded team that can score inside and out. Omar Samhan is dominating this tournament averaging 30.5 points per game, so step one for Baylor's defense is to slow down Samhan, which is doable with Ekpe Udoh who set the Big 12 single season shot blocking record this year. If the Bears 2-3 zone can contain Samhan step two is to keep St. Mary's from getting the open three. Baylor has struggled with good three point shooting teams this year and St. Mary's shoots the fourth highest percentage from three in the nation, if they get hot, and Scott Drew won't bail on the zone it will be a long night for Baylor fans. The Baylor Offense however can keep them in the game with absolutely anyone, LaceDarius Dunn leads the attack averaging 19.4 points per game while Tweety Carter averages 15.1 and Ekpe Udoh adds 13.9 points a contest. For Baylor to win this game, they'll have to be willing to bail on their zone, take care of the basketball, and get Dunn, Carter, and Udoh going offensively.

After the first four days of tournament basketball nobody thinks they are a guarantee to move on. Look for more upsets, overtimes, and hopefully a few buzzer beaters to make this tournament even more incredible.

What's New in Baylor Basketball

The 2009-2010 edition of the Baylor Bear basketball team was some what of a mystery to start the year. Coming off of back to back postseason appearances (NCAA followed by NIT) Baylor graduated its winning-est senior class in history, at least for the time being. The most knowledgeable of Bears fans expected a down year, after all Baylor was losing their leading man in assists and points (Curtis Jerrells) along with their leading rebounder (Kevin Rogers). However the Bears have had a better year this year than that, already at 20 wins and looking at a near guaranteed NCAA Tournament birth. Here are a few key differences in this years Baylor team, and the Bears teams of past years.

1. Defending- In the Big 12 tournament last year Coach Scott Drew abandoned the man to man defense and moved to a 2-3 zone and has stuck with that decision this year. With the second tallest team in the nation Baylor plays a very long version of the zone, making it tough for opposing teams to get off an open 3 when the Bears are hustling. The 2-3 zone and the length of the Bears is one reason that they rank 6th in the Nation in Defensive Field Goal Percentage, up from 161st last year. Also the addition of Ekpe Udoh (More Below) has been a key addition when teams break down the zone and get into the middle Udoh alters nearly every shot. Another effect of the zone is on Baylor's rebounding in which they rank 6th best in the NCAA in rebounding margin, which is a 176 spot jump from the previous year.

2. Tweety Carter- Last year with Curtis Jerrells running the Baylor show, the Bears were a very stagnant offense in which Jerrells would dribble around and then toss up a shot whenever he felt best. However with Carter at the helm, the Bears are running something that resembles an offense. Carter is much more of a true point guard than Jerrells ever was and it shows in the difference in assists, Carter is averaging 6.3 assists per game while Jerrells only averaged 4.9 per game last year. Carter does a great job of involving his teammates, but won't hesitate to take and hit the big shot when the Bears need it. Tweety is averaging 15.9 points per game, second on the Baylor team, and has a tendency to hit huge shots right when the Bears need need them. If you've seen Baylor play a game this year, its obvious that Tweety is an upgrade at the Point Guard position from Jerrells, and that might be the biggest surprise this season for Baylor basketball.

3. Ekpe Udoh- Udoh who is a Junior transfer from Michigan has been a HUGE surprise for this years Baylor team. Ekpe was forced to sit out a year because of his transfer, and he used that year wisely by improving every facet of his game. Udoh is a walking double double averaging 13.4 points and 10.5 rebounds per game and is possibly the best big man ever to play for the Bears. Udoh is also a defensive force, averaging 4.3 blocks per game which is 5th best in Division 1 basketball. At 6'10 Udoh uses great body control to alter every shot brought into the middle of the zone, and possibly even more incredible is the fact that Udoh has only fouled out of one game which was an overtime win at Texas. Udoh has seen his draft stock sky rocket into a potential lottery pick, but for everyone in Waco's sake hopefully he will stick around for one more year. Udoh is the X factor for this Baylor team.

Sitting at 20-6 this years Baylor team is on its way to the NCAA tournament and has the ability to make a possible Sweet 16 run. If Baylor is to continue having success they will have to hustle and play tough defense in their zone, and also rely on the two guys mentioned above to carry the Bears on the offensive and defensive end of the court.

The Top 5 Center's in the NBA

In a league where there are very few dominant center's a good center can completely change the complexion of a game. He can be a go to scorer on the offensive end and a shut down defender on the defensive end, however this is a rare combination. There are very few great center's in the NBA today, but here are the 5 closest there are.

1.Dwight Howard- Dwight Howard is by far the most dominant center in the NBA today, however he still has much room for improvement. Howard is 6'11" and one big huge muscle that dominates the lane defensively. Howard has yet to demand the ball offensively and show that he can take over a game, and seems to lack a large repertoire of go to post moves. Howard is still averaging 17.9 points per game and shooting a solid 60% from the field, and if the Magic could get him more touches then he could truly assert his dominance. Howard is snagging 13.4 rebounds and blocking 2.8 shots per game, which shows that he can completely change the game without the Magic even getting him the ball down low. If Howard can develop a solid set of post moves, he could become one of the greatest centers to ever play.

2.David Lee- Lee is averaging 20 points and 11.4 rebounds per game which are far better numbers than that of all star Al Horford. Look for David Lee to come back out fired up because this situation is the epitome of an all star snub. David Lee has done nothing but get better over the course of his NBA career and I'd be willing to bet that he will continue to get better. Lee gets out and runs the fast break well and can also catch and finish incredibly well. Lee has a decent back to the basket game and also a pretty good face up jump shot. If Lee continues to improve over the next few years look for him to get voted in to the all star game sooner rather than later.

3. Andrew Bynum- Andrew Bynum has as much upside as any player in the NBA. Bynum is 22 and in his fourth year in the NBA and you can tell by the ups and downs his game takes. Bynum is averaging 15.1 points and 8.2 rebounds per game this year which are some of the best numbers of his career. Bynum is playing along a star studded group of players that include Kobe Bryant and Pau Gasol which takes a large load off of him, so we'll have to see what he does without two stars on his team. Bynum's biggest problem is his inconsistency, one night he'll show up and score twenty points and have 12 boards and the next night he'll show up and have eight points. If Bynum will learn some of Gasol's go to post moves he could slowly but surely become a better player and be one of the games elite players at any position.

4. Brook Lopez- Lopez has turned into the lone bright spot of the Nets season, other than the shot at John Wall in the 2010 NBA draft. Lopez is averaging 19 points, 9.1 rebounds, and 1.9 blocks per game, which are great stats for the second year player out of Stanford. Brook who enjoys reading comics with his twin brother Robin, also enjoys dominating other centers in the NBA. Lopez is one of the smartest players in the league and is averaging 2.3 assists per game which is great coming from the Center position. Lopez is athletic and possibly one of the hardest working players in the league, and it shows in his improvement between year one and year two. If Lopez continues to improve his game we will be seeing him in the all star game within the next three years. However, imagine this possibility John Wall and Brook Lopez on the same team.

5. Al Jefferson- Like Lopez, Jefferson is a bright spot for an absolutely terrible team. Al Jefferson is nearly averaging a double double putting up 17.7 points, 9.8, and a little over 1 block per game. Jefferson at 6'10" 255 isn't afraid to get down in the paint and bang bodies with the other big men and also has a couple great back to the basket moves. Jefferson is the only guy shooting below 50% for the season, but that is somewhat explainable because he is playing for one of the worst teams in the NBA. Jefferson is a very consistent player, but never comes out and drops 30 in a night (his high is 25), but he'll also always come out and play well. Jefferson is a consistent player that any team in the NBA would absolutely love to have simply because he comes to play on a nightly basis.

Honorable Mention:Marc Gasol, Al Horford

The Top 5 Power Forward's in the NBA

The Power Forward position is an incredibly important position in basketball. It can mold the way your team plays based on how much height this player has. A great power forward is a double double threat night in and night out and causes all types of match up problems. These are the top power forwards in the league today.

1.Chris Bosh- Bosh is one of the big dogs that will become a Free Agent after this season and any team would be lucky to have him on their roster. Chris Bosh is 6'10" and can score in a variety of ways. He can face up and make a move to go by slower defenders and when he does he finishes easily at the rim because of his athletic ability. Bosh is also excellent at running the break and has very good hands which makes him a sure target of his teammates. Bosh is averaging 24.5 points, 11.5 boards, and shooting nearly 53% from the field. Bosh can face up and hit a 17 foot jumper and he has a great back to the basket game which makes him one of the most unstoppable big men in the NBA today. Look for Bosh to be one of the biggest names leaving his team this off season.

2.Dirk Nowitzki-Nowitzki is a small forward in a power forwards body and he can exploit even the best defenders in the league. Dirk has a great three point shot for someone that stands at 7' tall, making him nearly impossible to guard. Nowitzki could use some more work on his back to the basket game, with his height if he put a couple good post moves in his repertoire he could become one of the greatest power forwards in the history of the game. Dirk can beat defenders off the dribble but sometimes settles for contested jump shots which is senseless with how big he is. Dirk is still shooting 48% while putting up 24.8 points and snagging nearly 8 rebounds per game, but I would love to see him become a little more physical and nasty.

3. Tim Duncan- The Big Fundamental is one of the most boringly efficient players in my lifetime and the NBA's history. Duncan can catch the ball and square up with any defender in the league before hitting a bank shot from 15 feet in their eye. Duncan shows next to no emotion on the court, but dominates the game simply by playing it. This year, with his body wearing on him, Duncan is averaging 19.4 points and 10.8 rebounds in just under 33 minutes of action per game. Duncan is shooting over 50% from the field for his career which is an incredible stat in the NBA today, especially with the way defenses have game planned around stopping him. Duncan has quietly dominated the NBA for 12 years now, and probably has another 2 in him before his body completely gives out, but look for him in the Hall of Fame very soon.

4. Amare Stoudemire- Amare Stoudemire probably gets more points off of the fast break than any other Power Forward in the league. He benefits from the great passing ability of Steve Nash, but until he proves us otherwise by poor performance he is still one of the most dominant power forwards in the league. Amare has had a few injuries in his career but when he is healthy he is the perfect power forward sidekick to Steve Nash. Amare runs the break incredibly well and has some of the best hands in the league. Also Stoudemire is incredibly explosive and has had some of the most massive dunks in the NBA as of late. Stoudemire has an average back to the basket game along with an average jump shot, but he gets by with a shot selection that usually involves dunks. Amare is averaging 21.2 points and 8.6 rebounds per game so far this year, but if he develops a consistent jump shot Stoudemire will become a near unstoppable player.

5. Carlos Boozer- Boozer is the name you hear less of than any other player on this list, but that doesn't mean he isn't an absolutely dominant force. Boozer is putting up a double double with 19.2 points and 10.8 rebounds per game which makes him a key piece of the puzzle for one of the best teams in the West. Boozer doesn't do anything incredibly well, but he is solid in every facet of the game. Boozer has a solid jump shot from 17 feet and in which helps the Jazz spread the floor and keep defenses honest. Boozer is not a superstar, but consistently puts up a double double which is something that every team could use. Boozer can go off when the Jazz need him to (34 points in a win over the Clippers), but never forces the issue which is shown by his 54.5% shooting percentage from the field.

Honorable Mention-Pau Gasol, David West, Joakim Noah

Power Forward of the Future: DeJuan Blair- In limited minutes this year with the Spurs Blair has proved to be a more than adequate back up to Tim Duncan. Look for Duncan to pass the torch to Blair over the next few years, and after that look for Blair to become one of the best power forwards in the NBA for years to come.

Small Forwards of the NBA

The Small Forward position is home to some of the biggest names in basketball. These guys put up points in bunches, and when in the zone are not stoppable.

1. Lebron James- Lebron James is possibly the most athletic person to ever play basketball. James is averaging 29.8 points, 7.1 rebounds and 8.2 assists per game, which is one of the most dominant stat lines we've ever seen. James can take it inside and posterize any shot blocker in the NBA, but can handle the ball as well as a point guard. King James is an absolute highlight real waiting to happen, with high flying dunks, alley oops, and blocks every single night he is the most exciting player in the league. However Lebron is doing a great job of improving his jump shot and has an exceptional game with his back to the basket, and this has shown in the fact that he is shooting over 50% from the field. Lebron has shown that he is one of the hardest working players in the league and is looking to smash records through his career. Now Lebron just has to prove he can win a championship.

2.Carmelo Anthony- Anthony is not near the athlete that Lebron is but he has proved to be just as good of a scorer. Melo shows basketball savvy by knowing how he can score and taking advantage of what the defense gives him. While Lebron can blow by you at anytime, Anthony is more likely to hit the jumper if you give him an open look. He is averaging 29.7 points, 6.5 boards, and 3.3 assists per game while shooting 47% from the field. Ever since winning a gold medal Anthony has recommitted to improving his game in every way. He has improved his shot, but more importantly he has improved his defense. Melo has a knack for hitting big shots when called upon, doing so more and with a better percentage than that of King James. If Melo continues to develop his work ethic, he will continue to develop a very impressive resume.

3. Kevin Durant- The long and lanky Kevin Durant is taking the NBA scene by storm. He is averaging 29.7 points, 7.3 rebounds, and 3 assists per game for a Thunder team that is in playoff contention. Durant who stands at 6'9" and has a wingspan of 7'4" can shoot over anybody in the league. He has one of the silkiest, prettiest jump shots you could ever imagine and he can release it from anywhere on the court. If Durant could possibly add some weight he could develop a fierce game down low. Durant who has improved his Defense this year could still use some serious improvement specifically on defending the pick and roll. With the rate that KD is improving at, the length he has, and his pure jump shot he could become one of the greatest scorers of his era.

4. Gerald Wallace- Wallace is one of the main reasons that the Bobcats are finally starting to resemble a basketball team. Wallace who is a physical 6'7" player is averaging a double double at 19.1 points and 10.9 rebounds per game. Wallace is the leading rebounder and second leading scorer for the Bobcats who are surprisingly in contention to make the playoffs, even if it is in the lowly Eastern Conference. Any time you can have your Small Forward averaging a double double it is usually a great sign for your teams rebounding stats, and that is exactly what Wallace does, as he isn't afraid to get in the paint and bang with the bigs. Gerald Wallace at 27 has the peak of his career ahead of him, and it looks like he would be a great asset to any team that he is on.

5.Danny Granger- Granger is the one think that keeps the Indiana Pacers engine churning. Averaging 22.3 points and 5.6 rebounds per game Granger is a building block that the Pacers would be wise to build around. The more chances that the Pacers have given Granger to take the reigns(Stephen Jackson going to GS), the more that he has impressed everyone in the league. If the Pacers can surround Granger with a little more talent they would be a prime contender to make the playoffs and lose to one of the Big 4 in the first round. Granger would be a much better player if he could get to the basket and create shots for his teammates, because he is only averaging 2.8 assists per game. Look for Granger to continually improve, but never to the level of the first 3 guys on this list.

Shooting Guards of the NBA

In my last post I went through the 5 best point guards in the NBA today. I've decided to make this into somewhat of a mini-series in which I will outline the best players at each position in the league. Today that position will be Shooting Guard.

A good shooting guard is someone that can stretch the floor, keep the opposing defense honest, and also create points for himself. The best shooting guards however are always a scoring threat, can create shots for themselves, and can absolutely take control of the game.

1. Kobe Bryant- Bryant is arguably the most dominant player in basketball today. He can beat you in a variety of ways, he'll post you up, blow by you, hit a pull up jumper, or hit a 3 if you give him an open shot from there. Kobe has hit 4 game winners this year, a pull up over Ray Allen, a 3 where his defender somehow let him get wide open, a running bank shot 3 against the Heat, and a fade away jumper against the Bucks. Kobe is averaging 28 points, 4.6 assists, and 5.4 rebounds per game showing how versatile a player he truly is. The Black Mamba has built quite the resume he is a 12 time all star, a 4 time NBA Champion, a 2 time scoring title champion, and a 7 time all first team all NBA Defender.

2. Dwyane Wade- The Flash is one of the most electric and exciting player in the NBA today. He can blow by any defender at any point in the game and he can finish in the lane with any of the bigs. Wade is a freakish athlete with an incredibly quick first step and a great pull up jump shot. He is the 2009 scoring champion, 2006 NBA Champion and Finals MVP, and a 6 time all star. He is still a rising star but you have to wonder how many times he can bounce back up after the beating he takes. Hopefully D-Wade will fall down 7 and get up 8 for a very long time.

3.Brandon Roy- Brandon Roy is one of the most underrated players in basketball today. He is averaging 23.1 points 5 assists and 4.6 rebounds per game. Brandon Roy is great at getting to the basket and finishing because of his incredible athletic ability. Roy is shooting just over 35% from 3 showing that he is completely capable from hitting from anywhere on the court. Roy can also pull up off the dribble just like the first to guards on the list. Roy was the 2007 rookie of the year and a three time NBA all start, look for his number of all star appearances to sky rocket in the future seeing his scoring raise every year since he has been in the league.

4.Joe Johnson- Joe Johnson is the leading scorer on a up and coming Atlanta Hawks team that could make a deep run into the playoffs. Johnson is averaging 21.9 points 4.7 assists and 4.7 rebounds game. Johnson has seen his stats take a huge rise since moving from the Suns to the Hawks. He has become the go to scorer on a team full of guys that could be a go to scorer. He can get to the hoop with ease and hit a jump shot with a hand in his face. Johnson is a four time NBA all star and will more than likely to continue to make appearances in that game.

5.Monta Ellis- The 6' 3" Monta Ellis is showing that for his size he can score as good as anyone in the game. Ellis has a freakishly good crossover and has a tendency to make his defenders look absolutely silly. He can get to the lane and go up and above many shot blockers in the league. If Ellis could develop a good jump shot and a better three point, he only shoots 30% for his career, he would become absolutely unstoppable. Ellis also needs to start taking care of the ball because he is averaging 4.2 turnovers per game. Ellis was the 2006-2007 most improved player of the year and has continued to improve ever since exploding on to the scene. If you catch Ellis on the right night you could see him go off for 40 points in an electrifying performance.

Honorable Mention: Andre Iguodala, Manu Ginobili, Stephen Jackson

Also Check Out: http://bleacherreport.com/users/246119-kyle-crawford

Floor Generals

Arguably the most important position on the most important position on the court is the Point Guard position. The NBA is filled with incredibly talented point guards and this column is going to highlight who I believe are the best in the NBA.

1.Chris Paul- Chris Paul does more than any other Point in the league while surrounded by a low amount of talent, and he does it all at the height of 6'. Over the past 3 seasons (including this one) Paul has averaged over 20 points and 11 assists a game. If we dig deeper into the guys that were on the teams with him we see that he has been dishing the ball to Tyson Chandler(a big that Paul MADE relevant), David West, and a washed up Peja Stojakovic, and more recently another overrated big in Emeka Okafor. Paul is averaging 38.7 minutes a game this year, a sure sign that he has to carry his team night in and night out, and this will become more evident as he is out 4 to 6 weeks with a knee injury. The true kicker with Paul is how quick his hands are, averaging 2.26 steals per game Paul is a game changer on both ends of the floor.

2. Steve Nash- Steve Nash is possibly the most fun point guard to watch play today. He is electric, leading one of the most fast paced offenses in the League Nash averages just over 18 points and 11 assists per game. Nash isn't exactly a lock down defender which hurts his teams a little bit in the long run but he seems to make up for it with his ability to create shots for himself and his teammates. Nash has an assist to turnover ratio of 2.87, not quite on Paul's level but still great for a Point Guard. Nash only averages 33.7 minutes per game and it is obvious that his 35 year old body is well on its way out. However Nash has a couple more productive years left in him and any team would be lucky to have him. Also, heads up for his backup there in Phoenix in Goran Dragic.

3. Chauncey Billups- Billups is one of the top scoring point guards in the league that still is able to include his teammates and make them better in the game. Billups is less of a threat to make a fancy pass but more of a threat to draw the entire defenses attention from anywhere on the court. When Billups became a member of the Nuggets as a part of the Allen Iverson trade he seemed like he could be the last piece to make the Nuggets a championship contender. Billups is averaging 19.7 points and 6.1 assists per game, not great stats but this team would completely fold without him. Billups does a great job of deferring Carmelo Anthony and at times J.R. Smith and has the Nuggets looking like a championship contender and the only team out West who can beat the Lakers. After tonight's 13 point win over the Lakers with Mr. Big Shot scoring a career high 39 Billups has the Nuggets looking like one of the most dangerous teams in basketball.

4. Deron Williams- The guard out of the University of Illinois is doing everything you can ask for out of a point. He is putting up almost 19 points and 10 assists per contests and has the Jazz running with the big dogs out West. In a city that had the all time assists leader in John Stockton, Williams has emerged as one of the elite point guards in the game today. The 6'3" Williams has an assist to turnover ratio of almost 3 and is averaging over a steal a game. He is one of 6 players on his team averaging in double figures which shows that he can score but also knows how to get his teammates involved. Deron Williams is going to continue to improve his game and look for him to challenge CP3 as the games elite point guard in the near future.

5. Rajon Rondo- Rondo is a very interesting breed of point guard for the NBA today. Defenses sag off of him and give him an open jump shot from anywhere outside of the free throw line because his jumper is so bad. However he is the quickest guard in the league and does a wonderful job of getting into the lane and finding his open players. Rondo is scoring over 14 points a game while dishing out nearly 10 assists per outing. The true test of Rondo's skills will however come in the next few years as KG, Paul Pierce, and Ray Allen make there way out of the league. Rondo is the only guard on this list that I wouldn't be comfortable building a franchise around simply because he is not a huge threat to put up BIG scoring numbers. However Rondo can easily crack the list of the top 3 point's in NBA if he will develop a consistent jump shot from 18 feet and in.

Honorable Mention: Derrick Rose, Tyreke Evans, Tony Parker.

Also for a good what to watch in College Basketball Saturday check out Nathan Harvey's Blog at: http://web.me.com/natnharvey/Harvination/HARVINATION/HARVINATION.html

However I do believe that he left out a Certain Baylor A&M Basketball Game

Highlight of the Night:

One More Year

Recently, more and more College players have been leaving their respective colleges early to enter the NBA draft and for many players such as Derrick Rose and Tyreke Evans it has proved to be the right choice. However jumping to The League early isn't for everyone, so here are 5 players that could use another year in college before making the jump to the NBA.

Derrick Favors- While he is projected as the number two pick in the draft behind only John Wall it sometimes looks like Favors could still use another year in college. Favors is averaging 11.5 points and 8.6 rebounds in his Freshman year at Georgia Tech, but doesn't exactly have the most polished offensive game. While he is capable of beating the majority of Power Forwards that he goes up against, it isn't because a good set of post moves, it is simply because he is a freakish athlete. He is projected as a top 5 pick because of his rebounding and shot blocking abilities, and because of his incredible upside. However with one more year at Georgia Tech he could polish his offensive game and with John Wall gone, most likely be the Number 1 pick in the 2011 Draft.

Ed Davis- Davis who is a Sophomore at UNC and has seen a jump in his numbers from his Freshman to Sophomore seasons. Averaging only 27 minutes a game Davis has managed to put up 14 points and 9.6 rebounds per contest. Davis is seriously lacking in experience, and although he is a good rebounder and is extremely long Davis could definitely benefit by showing NBA scouts he can take over a game. I would expect Davis to move into the top 2 pick range if he were to continue to develop just one more year at North Carolina.

Xavier Henry- Henry was one of the top recruits of this years freshman class. While averaging 13 points per game in just over 26 minutes as a Freshman Henry could definitely gain some great experience being a little higher up on the Kansas totem pole. Right now Henry is anywhere from 3rd to 5th on the list of KU's go to guys and with Collins graduating and Aldrich expected to leave Henry could be come the go to guy. If Henry decides to stay one more year and proves that he can be KU's go to guy then his draft stock would sky rocket into a top 10 and possible top 5 pick.

Willie Warren- When Warren announced that he would stay at Oklahoma for his Sophomore year, NBA Scouts and Big XII coaches alike expected him to explode and lead Oklahoma into the NCAA Tournament. However with 5 games under 10 points, all except one which his team lost Warren is turning out to be someone we didn't think he was. He is inconsistent and struggles to lead his team as is shown by his assist to turnover ration of 1.1. Warren could use yet another year in college to prove to scouts that he can run a team more efficiently than he has proved this year. Needless to say, Warren has some major improvements to make before he proves himself an NBA ready guard.

Ekpe Udoh- Going into the year Udoh was a relatively unknown transfer leaving Michigan for Baylor. Since then Udoh has climbed on to the national scene by averaging a double double and tacking on 4.2 blocks per game. Ekpe used his red-shirt year wisely and has emerged a better shot blocker, a better rebounder, and even a better scorer. Udoh has multiple post moves that he can go to and also sees the court better than any big man I've ever seen. There are 3 main reasons I think it would benefit Udoh to stay in college and here they are: 1)To continue to work on his offensive game to become more of a scoring threat, 2)Because this draft is very Power Forward heavy and he would probably move up the draft board on another year, 3)Because I want him to continue to play basketball in Waco because he is a joy to watch.

Now whether these players stay in School or not is completely up to them, but I believe they could all improve their draft stock by working on their game at the college level for one more season.

The Future

The question is often asked, if you could pick one player to build a franchise around, who would you take. Lately this has become a no brainer of a question and 9 out of 10 times the answer is Lebron James. So we are going to skip pick one and move on to picks 2 through 6 deciding who each of those teams should take.

Pick 1: Lebron James-

Pick 2: Carmelo Anthony- The 25 year old Anthony is having by far the best year of his career. In his 6th year out of Syracuse he is averaging 29.7 points and 6.5 rebounds per game. Ever since he played for “The Redeem Team” Melo has been a completely new player. He has come out and worked on his defending and rebounding and it shows by how hard he works on the court. Anthony has shown time and time again that he can make the big shot when it counts.

Pick 3: Kevin Durant- Durant can flat out score. He’s been doing since his surprise freshman year at Texas and hasn’t stopped since. At only 21 years old he has as much upside as any player in the NBA. Over his first 3 years in the league his scoring and shooting percentage have both gone consistently up. Durant has also proved to be an incredibly hard worker and it has shown not only in his offensive stats but also defensively. Kevin Durant IS the one guy on this list that I would think about taking ahead of King James.

Pick 4: Dwayne Wade- Flash is one of the most electric players in the game today. He has an average 3 point shot but can create his own shot as good as anyone in the league. At just 6’ 4” he throws his body around more than anyone outside of Allen Iverson. Because he throws his body around so much, he tends to get injured and has never played the full 82 games. In the 08-09 season Wade averaged more points per game (31) against “good teams” than any other player in the league. The main concern with Wade going forward is that his body won’t stay healthy enough for him to play the brand of basketball that he currently plays, but he is still one of the top players in the NBA.

Pick 5: Chris Paul- Chris Paul is one of the top 3 point guards in the game today and is a double- double waiting to happen averaging 20.4 points and 11.2 assists per game. Paul is also a solid on ball defender averaging 2.3 steals per game. CP3 is one of the classiest guys in the league as he continues to suffer through New Orleans money saving tendencies, which have severely limited the talent around him. (David West cannot be the only other true talent on your team.) Given a strong nucleus Paul could carry any team to the top because he simply makes the players around him better.

Pick 6: Dwight Howard- You can’t go wrong with a 6’ 11” 24 year old who has averaged a double- double every year in the league. Howard’s scoring is a little down this year at 17.8 points per game, but he is doing this while shooting 60% from the field. On top of the offense that Howard brings to the floor, he is also averaging a league leading 13.3 rebounds and 2.73 blocks. Howard changes the game at the Defensive end of the floor as much as any player in the NBA and if he will continue to work on his offensive game he will define himself as the best big of his Era.

Honorable Mention: Chris Bosh, Deron Williams, Monta Ellis, John Wall

Clip of the Night:

The Pilot

So here it is. The Blog That is Lacking a Plan. I'll do my best to captivate you by writing about sports. I'll write about Basketball, Football, Futbol, and Baseball...but not the NHL( the best year the NHL ever had was the lockout) and not NASCAR. I'll take any constructive criticism and any column ideas that you have with pleasure. Let the bias, and the ranting and raving begin.

So everyone loves Kobe and Lebron, they have stolen the NBA spotlight in every way possible. Gilbert Arenas had to use pull out the guns just to take a little of the spotlight. The youngest guys in the league aren't exactly getting a lot of publicity so I'll take this opportunity to highlight some of the top young guns that will be playing in this years Rookie Challenge.

1. Tyreke Evans
Evans came out of the gates firing and has not ceased to impress. He is a very similar player to Derrick Rose, who also jumped to the NBA after just one year under John Calipari at Memphis, he likes to get to the basket and has proved that he can finish even against the big men of the NBA. Like Rose, he shoots around 25% from 3 and could be come close to unstoppable if he will work hard to develop a consistent jump shot. The comparisons to Rose will only grow after this year as he is seen as the front runner to win the NBA Rookie of the Year, an honor that Rose took home a season ago.

2. Stephen Curry
Curry has stepped onto the NBA landscape and proven that he can ball at the next level. He is still the same dangerous scorer he was throughout college, averaging 14 points per game while shooting 46%. There were doubts that Curry would ever perform at a high level in the NBA, but he's proved that he can put up big numbers. When Monta Ellis (25.8 ppg) has been out with an ankle injury Curry has put up 25 and 27 ppg respectively. Curry has shown that he has the talent and work ethic to thrive in the NBA game.

3.Dejuan Blair
Dejuan Blair is the biggest steal of this draft. He was an incredible college talent at Pittsburgh and it looks like he could have easily been a lottery pick (pick 37). While his numbers aren't huge (7.2 ppg, 6.6 rpg) neither are his minutes (18 per game). In a 1 point win over the Thunder in which Tim Duncan didn't play the Spurs forward went off for 28 points on 11 for 18 shooting from the field while also piling on 21 rebounds. He is possibly the most efficient player in the 2009 draft class and a possible Tim Duncan in the making.

4. Marc Gasol
Gasol is one of the most overlooked players in the NBA, and this year he is coming into his own. Averaging 15.2 points and almost 10 rebounds on an up and coming Grizzlies team he is putting up numbers very similar to his older brother Pau (17.4 ppg, 11 rpg) but taking two fewer on average. As we saw with Pau, the Grizz are more than willing to part with good talent for less than they are worth if it will save them a little money. Be on the lookout for Gasol to go to a Title contender in the next couple of years.

5. Russel Westbrook
Westbrook is the perfect Point Guard for the Thunder in his second year out of UCLA. Averaging just over 15 ppg and 7.4 assists per game Westbrook has quarterbacked this Thunder team to more wins already this year than they had all last season. He has proven that he can score when the team needs him to with a season high of 33 points and he has shown he can defer to the Thunders other scorers with 12 games of 10 or more assists. Westbrook is well on his way to becoming one of the best true point guards in the league today.

These are just a few of the gems that you will have a chance to watch in the Rookie Challenge (Feb. 12 in Dallas). Look for them to quickly become the future of the NBA, whether it is with their current team or they are traded or signed by a Title Contender.