Final 4 Predictions

My predictions for the last 3 games of the college basketball season.

Louisville vs. Wichita State
Winner: Louisville

Smith and Siva are one of
the best guard duos in America

 All Logic says Louisville will win this game. They have the better coach in Rock Pitino, though Greg Marshall is no slouch, and a more talented roster. Russ Smith is one of the hottest players in the tourney, and Peyton Siva is one of the best guards in the nation. But after the the horrific leg injury suffered by sophomore Kevin Ware against Duke, you have to wonder how it will affect Louisville going forward. Wichita State forward Carl Hall is a man beast, and Cleanthony Early can ball. If the Cardinals come out slow and the Shockers knock down shots, then they have a chance to pull the upset. But I don't think that will happen. Pitino will have his guys ready to go, they'll come out firing and should easily handle Wichita State, ending their Cinderella run.

Syracuse vs. Michigan
Winner: Syracuse

Syarcuse is one of the best
in the nation when Sutherland
is hot from downtown

Jim Boeheim's defense is clicking on all cylinders after holding Marquette to 39 points and Indiana, one of the to teams in the nation, to 50. Michael Carter Williams is playing great basketball, whether scoring (24 vs. Indiana) or not scoring (12 vs. Marquette). Meanwhile, Trey Burke and the Michigan Wolverines are playing out of their minds. After an unbelievable comeback against Kansas and blowing out Florida, John Beilein's team is cooking. Freshmen forward Mitch McGary has been big down low for Michigan and has been one of the best big men in this tournament  I think in this game, James Sutherland shoots well from beyond the arch, and the Syracuse 2-3 zone slows down Burke, Tim Hardaway Jr, and Glen Robinson enough to lead Boeheim back to the final for the first time since 2003,where he and Carmelo Anthony won  his only championship. This is the tougher game to pick of the two match ups.

Carter-Williams can dominate scoring
and distributing the ball

The Final: Syracuse vs. Louisville
Winner: Syracuse

The last time these two teams met, Louisville came back after being down more than 15 to win the final Big East Tournament as we know it. You have to think that still stings for the Orange. The Cardinals have beat the Orange twice this season, including at the Carrier Dome. Jim Boeheim is one of the best coaches of all time, and I don't see him losing to a team 3 times in one season with this talented a team. Their playing the best defense they've played all year, and if they hit their shots, it will carry them to a win. It seems fit that the final is two Big East rivals in the last year of one of the greatest conferences in the history of the game, and on this night, Syracuse will arise the champions.



Let me know what ya think,

NasDaddy

Who should be #1 Seeds

These are the teams I believe should get #1 seeds in the NCAA Tournament. (In no particular order)

1. Duke 27-5
2. Gonzaga 31-2
3. Indiana 27-6
4. Louisville 29-5

Other Possibilities: Miami 26-6, Kansas 29-5

Ryan Kelly

Duke: Ryan Kelly is healthy. When he is healthy, Duke has only lost one game this season, an upset by Maryland in the ACC tournament.Most likely they will end up as a two seed, especially if Miami beats North Carolina today in the ACC Championship, giving them the tournament championship and the regular season championship. But if Miami loses, then Duke has a good resume and is one of the top teams in the nation, and should be considered for a number one seed.

Kelly Olynyk

Gonzaga: This team has done nothing wrong. They won their league and their conference tournament. they are ranked #1 in the land right now and are playing great basketball. Kelly Olynyk is a player of the year candidate. They are guaranteed a top seed.

Cody Zeller

Indiana: Big Ten regular season champions. That's all they need. The Big Ten is the toughest conference in basketball and Indiana won it. Victor Oladipo and Cody Zeller will be top picks in this years NBA draft and lead this team.  Losing to Wisconsin in the Conference tournament hurts their chances to be the top overall seed, but they still deserve to be a number one seed.

Peyton Siva

Louisville: After coming back from down 16 to beat Syracuse last night in the Big East Championship Game, Louisville and Rick Pitino look like the best team in basketball. They have two of the best guards in the game in Peyton Siva and Russ Smith, and won the Big East regular season title, one of the best conferences in the nation. This teams has a strong case for the number one overall seed.

Shane Larkin

Miami: The Canes have been a great story all season and won the ACC regular season title. If they beat UNC today, it will be the first time a team based outside of North Carolina has won both titles in one season. They have proven they can compete with the best. Shane Larkin and Durand Scott are one of the best guard duos in the nation and Reggie Johnson is a beast down low. This team deserves a number one seed if they beat the Tarheels today to win their first ACC Tournament.
 

Ben Mclemore

Kansas: One of the all time powerhouse programs in college basketball, Bill Self has this team playing at the top of its game at the right time. They won the Big 12 regular season title, and steam rolled through the Big 12 Tournament. Ben Mclemore istheir leading scorer, and is likely to be the top pick in the NBA draft. Jeff Whithey is an artist when it comes to blocking shots and Elijah Johnson is on top of his game. If Miami loses today, it will be a tough decision between Duke and Kansas for the last number one seed.

Let me know what ya think and leave comments,
NasDaddy

Grading the Pats offseason

My reaction to the moves the Patriots have made so far this off season...

1. Letting Welker go and bringing in Amendola. 
It's the Patriot way. If they don't believe a guy can continue to be as productive as he has been, they wont pay extra for him. It's their price or your gone. Wes Welker is the latest victim of this system. I believe Welker would have made the same contributions over the next two seasons as he has over the last few years and we should have paid him somewhere between 6 or 8 million. But the Pats(Bill and Kraft) decided he wasn't worth more than 5 and let him go. Until we signed Amendola, I thought this move was really going to hurt the pats, but now i feel that it won't have as much of an effect on the team. Amendola should be able to put up similar numbers to Welker thanks to Brady, assuming he can stay on the field. Amendola has missed 20 games in the last two seasons. If he stays healthy, then he is a younger Wes Welker and the Patriots come out of this looking like they made a good football move, but i still believe that they would have been better off going with Welker. He deserved to be paid.

2. Loss of Woodhead.
Danny Woodead signed a two year deal with the San Diego Chargers today. Woodhead was one of the most popular Patriots during his time in New England. The short play maker did it all, running and catching the ball in big spots. I personally would have liked to have brought him back. He's a fan favorite and can make plays on offence, but i also believe that he will not be missed on the field. I believe this is the Pats way of telling Steven Ridley that he is their starting running back going into the season and they believe in him. This in another good football move by the Patriots.

3. Resigning Arrington.
Kyle Arrington isn't the best corner in the NFL. We all know that, but he isn't horrible. The kid is a good special teams player, and a good guy to have on the depth chart at corner. I would like to see the patriots go out and get a better guy to start over him, but i believe that it was a good idea for them to sign him to a four year deal, which is not likely for much.


4. Bringing in Adrian Wilson and Leon Washington.
The Pats lacked many things last year, including a dynamic return man and solid defensive backs. They just solved two of those issues with the additions of former Cardinals safety Adrian Wilson and former Seahawks return man Leon Washington. Washington is one of the best return men in the history of the game and will be a significant improvement over Devin McCourty. With Wilson, the Pats get a twelve year veteran who knows how to hit and is good in coverage. A veteran presence will be good for the rest of the Patriots young secondary. Wilson is a four time all pro pick.

Overall i believe New England have had a great off season so far. They got a young, new target for Brady to throw to, brought in a dynamic returner, and got some veteran leadership for the secondary. I believe they need to continue to improve the defense through the draft, and must find another receiver if they intend to cut ties with Brandon Lloyd.
Off season Grade: B+

Let me know what you think
NasDaddy