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NFL Super Bowls L and LI Will Be Hosted by San Francisco Bay Area and Houston

Mike Chiari — Tue, 21 May 2013 15:18:06 -0400

The Bay Area hasn't hosted a Super Bowl since the San Francisco 49ers knocked off the Miami Dolphins at Stanford Stadium in 1985, but that will change in 2016 as the NFL announced that Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif., will host Super Bowl L, according to Brian McCarthy of the NFL.

McCarthy is also reporting that Houston will host Super Bowl LI in 2017.

Santa Clara was in direct competition with Miami, Fla., which has already hosted the Super Bowl on 10 occasions. The league decided on the Bay Area, though, as the 49ers' new stadium was obviously deemed to be worthy of hosting the biggest event in football.

After losing the Super Bowl L vote to Santa Clara, Miami contested Houston for the Super Bowl LI bid. Miami once again came out on the losing end, however, as Houston's Reliant Stadium will host the Super Bowl for a second time.

The 49ers, who have played at Candlestick Park in San Francisco since 1971, will officially move into their new Santa Clara digs in 2014, according to Mike Rosenberg of the San Jose Mercury News. The state-of-the-art facilities will cost a total of $1.2 billion, so there is no question that the stadium should look immaculate when it hosts Super Bowl L.

According to Rick Jervis of USA Today, Super Bowl L will provide Santa Clara with an estimated $432 million economic boost, so it's certainly an advantageous union for everyone involved.

While Santa Clara was an attractive option for the NFL regardless of other factors, Miami's failure to solidify its bid may have locked things up for the Bay Area.

According to Chris Roberts and Damian Trujillo of NBC Bay Area, Miami hurt its chances by struggling to come up with a resolution with regards to Sun Life Stadium. Armando Salguero reported the same in pointing out that the Dolphins lost out on both because of the stadium issue. The NFL informed the city of Miami that Sun Life Stadium needed improvements, but lawmakers couldn't agree on a $350 million renovation project. That had to hinder Miami against both Santa Clara and Houston.

Renovations obviously aren't an issue for Santa Clara, as Levi's Stadium will be just two years old when it holds Super Bowl L. It's somewhat ironic that stadium issues may have sunk Miami's 2016 bid, as that is likely what has held back San Francisco over the past 28 years.

Earlier in the day, Rosenberg posted a picture on Twitter of the podium at which NFL commissioner Roger Goodell would ultimately make the historic announcement:

The victory comes at a great time for both Santa Clara and the 49ers, as they could be on the verge of another golden age in the franchise's history. They have reached the NFC Championship Game two years in a row and fell just short of winning the Super Bowl last season against the Baltimore Ravens.

San Francisco has a talented roster with a great blend of youngsters and veterans, which should be competitive for the foreseeable future. The 49ers played in and won the last Bay Area Super Bowl, and it wouldn't be a surprise to see something similar happen in 2016.

Now that the Bay Area is once again a player when it comes to Super Bowl bidding, the NFL appears to have more options than ever moving forward. Even cold-weather cities are in the running now, as Super Bowl XLVIII will take place at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, N.J., to close the upcoming season.

Earning the right to host the Super Bowl is always a huge accomplishment and a major coup, but it seems extra special for the Bay Area as its residents have been waiting a very long time for the Super Bowl to make its return.

Follow @MikeChiari on Twitter

Why Will the SEC Dominate Again in 2013? 11 of 14 Starting QBs Are Back

Barrett Sallee — Tue, 21 May 2013 15:16:38 -0400

You can't coach experience, and the SEC will have plenty of experience at the most important position on the field in 2013—quarterback.

Eleven of the 14 SEC teams return a quarterback or quarterbacks who started the majority of the 2012 season.

That group is headlined by reigning Heisman Trophy-winner Johnny Manziel at Texas A&M, Georgia signal-caller Aaron Murray and two-time BCS National Champion AJ McCarron at Alabama.

Manziel has the sizzle. He was a permanent fixture on highlight reels last season thanks to his 1,410 rushing yards; but he was marvelously efficient, completing 68 percent of his passes for 3,706 yards and 26 touchdowns.

Murray set the single-season Georgia record with 35 touchdowns passes in 2011, and then broke his own record with 36 last season. Not only has he performed like an All-SEC player in each of the last two seasons, he has virtually his entire supporting cast back in 2013 on offense. Not only can he draw on his own experience, but he can draw on his own experience with the same pieces.

That familiarity is invaluable.

McCarron is the most decorated but quite possibly the least appreciated of the trio of SEC superstar quarterbacks. The offensive MVP of the 2012 BCS National Championship Game following the 2011 season led the nation with a 175.28 passer rating a year ago, completing 67.2 percent of his passes for 2,933 yards, 30 touchdowns and only three picks.

All three of those players have proven during their respective careers that they have what it takes to be successful as individuals and lead a team to prosperity.

But it isn't just the stars in the SEC.

Bo Wallace was solid for Ole Miss as first-year head coach Hugh Freeze resurrected the program last season, Connor Shaw is in a battle at South Carolina but is a stud when healthy and Tyler Russell set Mississippi State single-season school records for passing yards (2,897) and touchdown passes (24) last season.

That's strong.

Even some teams with major quarterback questions this offseason, like Auburn, Kentucky and Missouri, have players who have started multiple games in the mix to win starting jobs.

That experience—even if it's largely negative—is important.

Sure, there have been exceptions to the rule.

First-year starting quarterbacks won four of the SEC's five BCS National Championships between 2007-11. But having a quarterback who knows what to do, and—perhaps more importantly—what not to do, allows the rest of the pieces of the offense to fall into place.

In 2006, former Georgia quarterback Matt Stafford was wildly inconsistent, completing 52.7 percent of his passes (135-for-256) for 1,749 yards, seven touchdowns and 13 interceptions. The very next season—his first as the unquestioned starter—his completion percentage improved slightly (55.7 percent), but he was more reliable, throwing for 2,523 yards, 19 touchdowns and 10 interceptions.

That Georgia team was perhaps the hottest team in America when the season ended, but was on the outside looking in as LSU went to and won the BCS National Championship Game over Ohio State.

Another somewhat recent example of a player succeeding after being written off is Jason Campbell at Auburn. He was remarkably average for the Tigers between 2001-03, but flourished in his first season under then-offensive coordinator Al Borges, completing 69.6 percent of his passes (188-of-270) for 2,700 yards, 20 touchdowns and seven interceptions en route to being named SEC Player of the Year by the Associated Press.

Sometimes quarterbacks get written off quicker than players at other positions. Just because players like Florida's Jeff Driskel and Auburn's Kiehl Frazier haven't lived up to the hype yet doesn't mean they will stay down forever. In fact, since they weren't successful right off the bat, it likely means the valleys won't be as deep if and when they do succeed.

The SEC is absolutely loaded with talent at quarterback this season.

When Missouri's James Franklin—a guy who two seasons ago was on the brink of a 3,000-yard passing/1,000-yard rushing season—is ranked eighth in our conference quarterback rankings and quite possibly could be ranked too HIGH by yours truly, it speaks to the depth of talent in the conference (as well as the fickle nature in which we evaluate players).

Positional strength goes in waves.

The SEC was top-heavy with running backs in 2010 and 2012, with eight running backs topping the 1,000-yard mark a year ago. With four of those players gone and so many talented quarterbacks returning, 2013 looks to be a year driven by veteran quarterbacks.

If you're looking for a reason why the SEC will continue to dominate in 2013, look no further than the quarterbacks. There's a solid group of signal-callers coming through this season with many potential stars still flying under the radar.

Follow @BarrettSallee

Cold Hard Fact for Tuesday, May 21, 2013

Daily Cold Hard Facts — Tue, 21 May 2013 15:00:41 -0400

Fact: Because they both lost so many players to WWII military service, the Pittsburgh Steelers and Philadelphia Eagles combined to become the Steagles during the 1943 season.

Bleacher Report will be bringing sports fans the most interesting and engaging Cold Hard Fact of the day, presented by Coors Light.

Vitor Belfort Apologizes for 'Immature Way' He Handled Questions About TRT

John Heinis — Tue, 21 May 2013 14:59:00 -0400

UFC middleweight contender Vitor Belfort scored his second consecutive headkick knockout this weekend at UFC on FX 8, taking out former Strikeforce titleholder Luke Rockhold.

Prior to that, "The Phenom" stopped perennial contender Michael Bisping at UFC on FX 7 in January.

So why is the Brazilian getting overwhelmingly bad press?

During the UFC on FX 8 post-fight press conference, MMA Junkie's John Morgan decided to make the first move about bringing up Belfort's testosterone replacement therapy usage.

Belfort was less than thrilled with the line of questioning, as Morgan explained to his followers on Twitter:

Well, it's safe to say Vitor does not want to talk about testosterone. I was shushed for bringing it up. Sorry. I tried.

— John Morgan (@MMAjunkieJohn) May 19, 2013

As a matter of fact, the former UFC light heavyweight champ called for someone to beat up Morgan for his persistence:

Belfort asked someone 2 beat @mmajunkiejohn for asking about TRT. Rockhold says TRT doesn't teach 2 kick. Belfort refuses to answer Johns Qs
— Guilherme Cruz (@guicruzzz) May 19, 2013

As controversy continues to swirl around this hot button issue, Belfort decided to apologize for the way he handled the situation via TwitLonger, a social media platform that allows Twitter users to write a message that goes beyond 140 characters:

To all my fans and to all the reporters that was there on the after press conference I would like to ask for forgiveness the way I answer about TRT I RECOGNIZE THAT I ANWSER IN A IMMATURE WAY BUT WAS THE 10 th time that that reporter ask the same question. No excuse!! I made a WORNG call and I am here to ask for forgiveness God bless all you guys love to do what I do and I am keeping moving UP SEEKING GROW AS A MEN OF GOD AND AS A FIGHTER 'DONT DOUT ME I WILL PROUVE U WORNG' PEACE

Morgan took the apology in stride, noting that he never had any intention of putting the 36-year-old on the hot seat.

I appreciate @vitorbelfort's acknowledge of incident and don't hold any ill feelings toward him. We've all said something we later regret.

— John Morgan (@MMAjunkieJohn) May 21, 2013

My goal was not to ask @vitorbelfort about legality of TRT, why he's on it, etc., but to hear about how he handles fan backlash and critics.

— John Morgan (@MMAjunkieJohn) May 21, 2013

While many notable fighters including Chael Sonnen, Frank Mir, Dan Henderson and Nate Marquardt have all received TRT exemptions in the past, Belfort receives the majority of TRT-related criticism.

Perhaps the reason being is that Belfort failed a post-fight drug test for steroids in 2006 and steroid abuse is a known reason why the body does not produce enough testosterone naturally later in life (via MMA Weekly).

Additionally, Belfort has not competed on American soil since knocking out Yoshihiro Akiyama at UFC 133 in August 2011.

Each of his four contests since then have taken place in either Brazil or Canada and Belfort has never confirmed when he began using TRT.

This is all relevant information since Nevada State Athletic Commission executive director Keith Kizer told Bleacher Report in March that he couldn't see Belfort getting a TRT exemption in the United States.

With all that information in mind, is it a legitimate possibility that Belfort competes for UFC gold one more time before he calls it a career?

John Heinis is a featured columnist for Bleacher Report. He is also the MMA Editor for eDraft.com and contributes MMA videos to The Young Turks Sports Show.

Dwight Howard Reportedly Griped About Kobe Bryant, Could Team Up with Chris Paul

Dan Favale — Tue, 21 May 2013 14:53:51 -0400

Let the Los Angeles Lakers' worst nightmare commence.

Considered a favorite to retain Dwight Howard, Mark Heisler of Lakers Nation reports that Superman's return to Hollywood is far from a sure thing. And why? Because of Kobe Bryant, among other things:

Not to mention his frustration with Kobe Bryant. ESPN L.A.’s Dave McMenamin reported Howard told GM Mitch Kupchak he felt marginalized by D’Antoni, who looked to Bryant and Steve Nash for leadership but not him.

Worse, a league source told me that despite the apparent thaw between Howard and Bryant, Dwight complained privately about Kobe late in the season.

The rift between Mike D'Antoni is one thing. Magic Mike can be replaced if need be. Any falling out with Bryant is much more complicated.

Los Angeles isn't going to part ways (via trade or the NBA's amnesty provision) with Kobe, even if it means securing Howard. The Black Mamba has done too much for the franchise and holds five championship rings to Howard's zero. Dwight is the future of the Lakers, yet they're not about to re-sign him at Kobe's expense.

Any feud between the two being characterized as "irreparable" is difficult to believe as well.

Both have conceded they have their differences, but Kobe has made keeping Dwight in Tinseltown a priority of his. It's difficult to envision their relationship is then fractured beyond mending.

Abandoning the Lakers won't just be about Kobe or D'Antoni should Howard choose to leave. There will have to be something else at play—like teaming up with Chris Paul on the Atlanta Hawks.

Laugh if you must (even I'm giggling a bit), but Heisler says the two have already discussed forming a superteam of their own in Atlanta:

In any case, a league source says Paul will check out other teams, as Howard is expected to do. If Paul leaves, it could could pose a problem for the Lakers, who had enough already, if he and Dwight Howard decide to create a new option, joining up in Atlanta. Howard and Paul are pals. The Hawks can open up two maximum slots. They mused about Atlanta (D12’s from there, CP3 from North Carolina) years ago, before fate led them in other directions.

Before we all go crazy and Lakers fans begin ruing the day they dealt for Howard (if they haven't already), understand that this is Atlanta we're talking about.

The Hawks have the ability to open up two max-contract slots (or close to it), but they're notoriously mediocre. Atlanta isn't considered a desirable market. It pales in comparison to that of Los Angeles, the locale both Howard and Paul presently call home.

Even Heisler himself isn't convinced that this will happen. And we shouldn't be either.

Is it possible? Absolutely. Is it likely? Most definitely not.

Scenarios like these are always long shots. That's how it works. Still a month away from free agency, everything is pure conjecture at this point.

So let's not get carried away by any conspiracy theories. This isn't the first one, and it most certainly won't be the last. There's no need to panic if your loyalties lie with the Los Angeles Clippers or Lakers. Not yet.

Sadly, there's also no need for the few Atlanta fans that still exist to revel in the thought of the Hawks finally doing something right either.

Follow @danfavale

Vinny Del Negro Reportedly Won't Return as Head Coach of Los Angeles Clippers

Tim Keeney — Tue, 21 May 2013 14:48:39 -0400

A franchise-record 56 wins and two straight playoff appearances weren't enough for Vinny Del Negro, who will not be retained by the Los Angeles Clippers.

The news comes from Yahoo! Sports' Adrian Wojnarowski:

It's been a truly polarizing run for the 46-year-old head coach.

On one hand, he took over a franchise that had been to the playoffs just once in the last 13 years and immediately guided it to two postseason appearances in three seasons.

During his time in L.A., he compiled a record of 128-102.

On the other hand, however, his in-game decisions and coaching strategy often left much to be desired (via CBS Sports' Ken Berger):

And that's putting it very lightly.

In fact, Del Negro's coaching ability has become somewhat of a running joke within both media and fan circles—and it's not exactly difficult to see why (via The Basketball Jones' J.E. Skeets):

Most recently, Del Negro not only received a boatload of criticism for the lineup decisions he made against the Memphis Grizzlies, but his team was also noticeably flat en route to a disappointing first-round exit.

He wasn't just drawing crestfallen reviews from the fans and media, either, as the players also chimed in (via Hoopsworld's Alex Kennedy):

It's difficult to put yourself on the hot seat after following up a Western Conference semifinals appearance with a 56-win season, but Del Negro is special in that way.

The Clips have yet to announce a replacement for the maligned head coach, but time is of the essence. All-world point guard Chris Paul is set to hit free agency this summer—and finding a coach who increases the chances of bringing CP3 back to Los Angeles is of the utmost importance.

In early May, CSN Bay Area's Ric Bucher suggested a potentially fascinating idea that was being tossed around:

A tantalizing candidate to be the Clippers' next head coach posited by one NBA executive if the team would like to maximize its chances of Chris Paul re-signing with the franchise: Chauncey Billups. I can't tell you if Billups is interested in retiring as a player at this point, or even if being a head coach is what he wants to do next, but he certainly knows the game well enough, has long held unusual authority among his peers on the court and in the locker room.

No matter who replaces Del Negro, most see this as a major step forward for the Clippers organization.

Texas A&M Football: Toughest Positional Matchups for the Aggies in the SEC

Michael Taglienti — Tue, 21 May 2013 14:46:54 -0400

The Texas A&M Football team is considered a legitimate Southeastern Conference and national title contender in 2013. The Aggies will face multiple teams during the conference season who they will struggle to match up with at the positional level.

Sophomore quarterback Johnny Manziel will lead one of the top offenses in the country. The defense should again be solid under second-year defensive coordinator Mark Snyder.

On paper the Ags should be a good bet to win every game. On the field, the opposing coaches can take advantage of some positional mismatches in order to find a way to beat A&M.

This is a look at which teams are the worst mismatch for the Aggies on a position-by-position basis in the SEC.

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Nationals' Ryan Mattheus Loses Fight with Locker, Hits DL with Broken Hand

Gabe Zaldivar — Tue, 21 May 2013 14:35:15 -0400

Lockers and other inanimate objects continue their impeccable record against frustrated athletes.

The Washington Post (h/t Larry Brown Sports) reports Nationals reliever Ryan Mattheus broke his right hand after hitting his locker following a lackluster performance on Sunday.

Fans learned of the incident following the Nationals' loss to the San Francisco Giants at AT&T Park on Monday night.

It seems Mattheus was none too pleased with how he performed in the 13-4 loss to the San Diego Padres, a game wherein he gave up four hits, two walks and five earned runs in only one inning of work.

It was the kind of line that takes you from the locker room straight to the bar to ease the pain. It seemed Mattheus wasn't interested in dulling the misery from his outing, because he had a one-round bout with a locker; one he lost.

The effects of the broken right hand will be felt by more than just the 29-year-old pitcher who has a 4.96 ERA in a shade over 16 innings worth of work this season.

The Washington Post report reminds us that the Nationals hardly needed a hit to the bullpen at this point of the season. The staff had five available relievers for Monday's game and "zero available long relievers."

This is hardly the first athlete to think it wise to place hand firmly and quickly on an immovable object. Last year, Knicks star Amar'e Stoudemire severely cut his hand after slugging a fire extinguisher casing.

And then there was Yankees star pitcher Kevin Brown, who famously punched a wall and left with a broken left hand, via ESPN.

This should serve as a lesson to the young athletes in the crowd. Punching a wall, locker or any other inanimate object may seem like a fantastic idea, but it clearly is not.

As for Mattheus, the report states that he left the locker room with a bruised hand and later realized he couldn't grip a ball. After an X-ray, staff found a fracture at the "the knuckle at the base of his ring finger."

The pitcher will now see a specialist who will then determine how long the Nationals can expect to be without his services.

The locker was unavailable for comment.

Hit me up on Twitter but go easy: Follow @gabezal

NFL Week 1 Picks: Baltimore Ravens vs. Denver Broncos

Jeff Grant — Tue, 21 May 2013 14:32:44 -0400

The Baltimore Ravens have covered the number in their last five season openers, which is important to consider when making your Week 1 NFL picks, as they prepare to take on the Denver Broncos on Thursday, Sept. 5 at Sports Authority Field at Mile High.

Sports bettors will find that the Ravens are 8.5-point road underdogs in the pro football odds (courtesy of SBR Forum), while the total stands at 49.5 in the market.

Let's take a closer look at this AFC matchup from a betting perspective, while offering up an against-the-spread pick along the way.

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D'haquille Williams Decommits from LSU: Tigers Lose No. 1 JUCO WR

Andrew Kulha — Tue, 21 May 2013 14:25:44 -0400

LSU's 2014 recruiting class has taken a huge hit, as it's being reported that 5-star JUCO wide receiver D'haquille Williams has decommitted from LSU.

Per his Twitter account, Taylor Hamm of 247Sports cites a text he received from Williams saying that he'd decommited from the Tigers:

Williams has elite measurables, checking in at 6'3'', 213 pounds, running a 4.40 40, according to 247Sports. He's also ranked as the No. 1 JUCO wideout in the nation and the No. 1 overall JUCO recruit in the 2014 class, according to the 247Sports Composite.

As far as JUCO players are concerned, Williams is the best of the best, so losing his commitment is a massive blow to LSU's recruiting efforts in 2014.

He committed to LSU earlier in May, but apparently he's ready to open his process back up. To that point, Shea Dixon of Geaux247.com tweeted that Williams decommitted from LSU so he could "experience" the recruiting process:

If there's any good news for LSU here, it's that the Tigers still have a class of nine with incredible potential. They boast the commitment of 5-star safety Edward Paris, as well as 4-star offensive guard Garrett Brumfield.

LSU is also in the running for elite recruits like No. 1 overall player—according to the 247Sports Composite—5-star running back Leonard Fournette (top two), 5-star offensive tackle Cameron Robinson (top two), 5-star cornerback Tony Brown (leader) and 5-star safety Laurence Jones (leader).

Les Miles and his staff still have the ability to bring in a class that could contend to be the best in the nation, so there's still plenty to look forward to if you're an LSU fan.

That doesn't take away from the magnitude of this recruiting loss though.

Williams could have been a major deep-threat in LSU's offense, so unless he was to recommit (always a possibility), losing out on his commitment will go down as a major negative point during an otherwise exciting recruiting cycle for the Tigers.

All player ratings courtesy of 247 Sports.

UFC Champion Renan Barao Injured and out of UFC 161 Main Event

Damon Martin — Tue, 21 May 2013 14:15:54 -0400

UFC 161 is currently without a main event after interim bantamweight champion Renan Barao suffered a foot injury in training that will force him out of his scheduled bout against top contender Eddie Wineland.

The news of Barao's injury first surfaced on Saturday during UFC on FX 8, which took place in the champion's native country of Brazil.

At the time, UFC officials were hesitant to count Barao out of the fight just yet until he had a chance to visit with doctors on Monday.

As of Tuesday, however, UFC representatives confirmed with Bleacher Report that Barao is officially out of UFC 161. UFC President Dana White initially confirmed the news with MMAJunkie.com, stating that Barao's injuries were severe enough that he would be unable to fight Wineland on June 15.

According to White, Barao suffered torn ligaments in his foot and had to be pulled from the show due to the injuries.

It leaves the UFC with a tough spot to fill seeing as the UFC 161 card is less than a month away now, and options would seem few and far between to replace the entire main event.

Two featured light heavyweight bouts are on the card already with former champion Rashad Evans taking on Dan Henderson, while Mauricio "Shogun" Rua faces Antonio Rogerio Nogueira in a rematch of an epic battle the two Brazilians had while competing under the Pride banner.

As of Tuesday, White was unable to confirm if the UFC had an alternate plan in place for a new headliner for UFC 161 or if the current card would move forward with either of the light heavyweight fights moving up to take the main event spot.

Barao's injury also muddies up the UFC bantamweight division even more because while he is serving as the interim title holder, 135-pound champion Dominick Cruz remains on the mend following back-to-back knee surgeries that have kept him out of action for more than a year.

It's unclear when Barao will be able to return to action, and Cruz's timeline has not been determined either until he gets doctor's clearance to get back into full training following the two difficult surgeries.

Meanwhile, it leaves top contender Eddie Wineland in a difficult position as the top contender with no fight as of now. If Barao's injuries are not too severe he could potentially return and face Wineland later this year, which would also give Cruz more time to heal up before unifying the titles when he gets back in the cage.

Either way, right now, UFC 161 stands without a defined main event with Barao out due to injury and no word on a fight that could fill the space instead.

Damon Martin is a Featured Columnist for Bleacher Report

SEC Baseball Tournament 2013 Rosters: Team-by-Team Preview and Biggest Stars

Timothy Rapp — Tue, 21 May 2013 14:12:45 -0400

As usual, the SEC had a deep and talented slate of teams this year, finishing the year with six teams ranked in the Top 25, including the top-ranked team in the nation, Vanderbilt, and LSU, which has remained a Top Five team for much of the year.

In other words, this year's SEC tournament promises to a whole lot of fun, as 12 talented teams battle it out for the right to call themselves conference champions.

Let's preview each team.

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NFL Week 1 Picks: New England Patriots vs. Buffalo Bills

Jeff Grant — Tue, 21 May 2013 14:07:22 -0400

The New England Patriots are 8-1 against the spread in their last nine road games against the Buffalo Bills, which is important to consider when making your Week 1 NFL picks, as the two teams meet on Sunday, Sept. 8 at Ralph Wilson Stadium.

Sports bettors will find that the Patriots are 6.5-point favorites in the pro football odds (courtesy of SBR Forum), while the total sits at 53 in the market.

Let's take a closer look at this AFC East matchup from a betting perspective, while offering up a prediction on the total along the way.

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Best- and Worst-Case Scenarios for Every SEC Team

Kevin McGuire — Tue, 21 May 2013 14:05:40 -0400

Every college football fan spends time looking at the upcoming fall schedule and dreams up a perfect scenario that has his or her team celebrating a national championship. For many fans in the SEC, this is not quite as much of a dream scenario as it is a realistic goal.

When the SEC has won seven straight BCS championships, you might say the odds are in your favor if you root for an SEC team. The conference could just be a little top-heavy but if you run down the best-case scenarios throughout the conference, there are six schools that could make a run for a BCS title and four legitimate Heisman Trophy contenders to watch throughout the season.

We ran through the entire conference and came up with a realistic best-case and worst-case scenario for each school. These best-case scenarios may not translate to an undefeated season for everybody, but we also avoid the talk of significant injuries derailing a season from the start as well.

Take a look to see how your favorite SEC team stacks up under both situations, and then share your thoughts on any team with your own best- and worst-case scenarios in the comments.

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Liverpool Reportedly Agree to Permanent Deal Selling Andy Carroll to West Ham

Rob Goldberg — Tue, 21 May 2013 14:01:19 -0400

Andy Carroll got his wish, and he will now remain at West Ham on a permanent basis.

According to Sky Sports News, Liverpool agreed to sell the player to the fellow English Premier League club after he spent the year there on loan:

Carroll started 22 matches for West Ham, scoring seven goals with four assists. The 24-year-old forward helped the club to a 10th-place finish in the EPL after the squad competed in the championship division the year before.

He also has been used as a member of the English national team, scoring a goal in a Euro 2012 match.

Manager Sam Allardyce stated that keeping the talented player around was one of the biggest priorities of the summer (via The Telegraph):

If we can start with Andy Carroll that would be a great achievement for us as he can only get better and better.

Then we build around that in terms of how we want to improve next year, with better quality. It is our target to make it a permanent situation.

Additionally, Carroll was encouraged about the possibility of sticking around after this season. According to ESPN's Kevin Palmer, the forward said in April, "It has been great here and every minute has been fantastic. The lads have been great, the gaffer has been great and the fans are unbelievable."

It appears he got what he was looking for to help the young club continue to improve heading into next season.

As for Liverpool, the club had little room for Carroll with Luis Suarez playing well and the emergence of Daniel Sturridge. This will allow the squad to possibly improve another position of need to help get the historic program back to the top of the league table.

Carroll and West Ham got their wish, and this is a move that appears to make sense for all parties involved.

Mike Golic's Son Jake Will Transfer from Notre Dame to Cincinnati

Ian Berg — Tue, 21 May 2013 13:56:29 -0400

Over the past 40 years, the Golic name has become synonymous with Notre Dame football. That era is now coming to an end as Cincinnati.com reports that Mike Golic’s son Jake will transfer for 2013 (h/t CFB Talk).

Jake was never able to crack the starting lineup at tight end for the Irish, playing behind Tyler Eifert and Kyle Rudolph. He is immediately eligible at Cincinnati and should have a shot at relevance.

He will look to help the Bearcats fill the void left at tight end by third-round draft pick Travis Kelce. His competition for the starting job will be Blake Annen, who only has three career receptions for 35 yards.

Mike Golic is a well-known alumnus thanks to his ESPN radio show “Mike and Mike” and his eight seasons in the NFL. Mike’s brother Bob was also a Notre Dame defensive tackle and former pro, and his eldest son Mike Jr. just departed the Irish program.

Mike Jr. recently signed with the Pittsburgh Steelers after five years at Notre Dame.

The Golic Notre Dame legacy is as legendary as any in college football, but it has now come to a screeching halt with the news of the transfer.

Golic marks the second former Irish player to transfer to Cincinnati this offseason. Quarterback Gunner Kiel announced his departure for the Bearcats in May.

The two former Irish players will not hit the field together as Kiel must sit out due to transfer rules, but having them both land in Cincinnati is a unique storyline in its own right.

While Golic may have been unable to make a mark on the Irish program, he has a new start and an open door with the Bearcats.

Follow @ShugJordanPkwy

EA Sports UFC: First Glimpse of the Next-Generation UFC Game

Jeremy Botter — Tue, 21 May 2013 13:54:36 -0400

UFC fans around the world got their first-ever glimpse at the next-generation Ultimate Fighting Championship game during today's reveal for the new Xbox One gaming system from Microsoft.

The announcement took place at the Xbox campus in Redmond, Washington.

During the official EA Sports presentation, we were shown interview clips from UFC stars Jon Jones and Anthony Pettis, along with Lionel Messi, Robert Griffin III and Kyrie Irving.

Jones and Pettis spoke eloquently about the fight game in short sound bites, but the cool stuff came next: We got our first official look at the next generation of EA UFC games (powered by a new engine called Ignite) with a short clip of an unknown fighter walking out in a wire-framed arena.

After the interview presentation, a trailer for four next-generation EA Sports games was shown: Madden, FIFA 14, NBA Live and UFC.

In the EA UFC game clips, which were interspersed between rapid-fire clips from the other games, we were shown a familiar scene: Anthony Pettis running towards UFC lightweight champion Benson Henderson. In the next clip, we saw Henderson backing away and Pettis beginning his ascent up the cage wall. And in the final clip, Pettis unleashed a beautiful Showtime Kick (in a UFC cage, not the WEC version) that sent Henderson's face comically sprawling about in all different directions.

The clip looked like pre-rendered art, but EA Sports representatives noted that it was what the final UFC game would look like while running on the Xbox One.

EA Sports UFC has no scheduled release date, but is not expected until after April 2014. All four EA Sports games shown during today's media event will be released within the next 12 months, with FIFA and Madden titles expected at launch.

MORE ON EA UFC:

EA Sports UFC on Xbox One: Can it do for the UFC what Madden did for the NFL? My colleague McKinley Noble checks in with a very informed look at what the new UFC game might be able to do for the UFC's worldwide brand.

This post will be updated with more information on EA Sports UFC as it becomes available.

Why the Denver Broncos Must Go with RB-by-Committee in 2013

Chris Trapasso — Tue, 21 May 2013 13:51:01 -0400

The rest of the NFL is doing it, so it's time the Denver Broncos caught on.

After all, it's a copycat league, right?

The trend?

Running back committees.

In order to keep feature backs viable for as long as possible during their already short careers and show the defense a change of pace, clubs are frequently using two and sometimes three running backs.

(Teams are simply not running the ball as much as they did in the past anyway.)

Peyton Manning's pass-happy Broncos—who boast one of the best and most diverse receiving corps in football which now includes run-game stand-in Wes Welker—has to evolve to a more collegiate-esque running back committee.

They distinctly did not implement a running back committee in 2012, until they had to.

Before Willis McGahee was hurt on November 18 against the San Diego Chargers, he was averaging 17.7 carries per game.

Meanwhile, Ronnie Hillman was averaging 5.2 carries, Lance Ball was averaging 2.1 carries and Knowshon Moreno had eight total carries.

McGahee's injury forced the Broncos to implement a makeshift running back committee that featured Moreno and was supplemented by Hillman and Ball.

After the Week 11 game in which McGahee was lost for the remainder of the regular season, the newly formed Denver running trio averaged 3.91 yards per carry, which was a respectable yet unspectacular figure.

The Broncos know and probably like that their main means of moving the football is through the air, but there's a chance they selected Montee Ball in Round 2 of the 2013 draft due to their relative run-game inefficiency without the elder McGahee last season.

With the addition of Ball, it likely means the team has plans to keep one or maybe two of McGahee, Ball, Moreno or Jacob Hester off the final 53-man roster come September.

While there's no way to tell which player or players won't make the cut, whatever Denver ultimately decides to do with its incumbent running backs, a more evenly-balanced running attack is essential.

If McGahee is kept along with any of the other youthful backs, the elder veteran who's closing in on 2,000 career NFL carries should have his attempts scaled back.

If McGahee is cut, any remaining combination would be extremely unproven, so it would be somewhat foolish for the Broncos to rely on one primary runner.

In a pass-predicated offense that will mainly be operated from the shotgun, smaller speed backs who excel in space, pass-block well and are comfortable catching the ball out of the backfield will be ideal.

Using them as a complement to what likely will be a prolific passing attack will be vital in keeping defenses honest.

The Broncos should accessorize their aerial-based offense with the two or three most complete backs on their roster and utilize the popular running-back-committee approach that keeps everyone fresh and typically yields efficient results.

Follow @ChrisTrapasso

Winners and Losers of Proposed NFL Draft Move to May

Zach Kruse — Tue, 21 May 2013 13:48:11 -0400

The NFL's desire to move its annual draft back to the month of May will produce both winners and losers.

According to ESPN's Adam Schefter, the NFL and NFL Players Association are "on the verge" of moving the draft from its customary date in April to May, starting in 2014. The start of the new league year is also expected to be moved up, from the middle of March to early March.

While no changes have been confirmed by commissioner Roger Goodell or NFLPA executive director DeMaurice Smith, moving the draft back would seem to fit the NFL's plan to extend the window of the league's news cycle during the offseason. The NFL draft remains one of the biggest events on the NFL calendar.

In the following slides, we'll break down the winners and losers of moving the draft back to May.

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Chicago Bulls: 3 Free Agents That the Bulls Should Chase After

Andy Hu — Tue, 21 May 2013 13:46:02 -0400

The Chicago Bulls' season is over, and it's hard to see the same handful of free agents returning to the roster.

Fortunately for the Bulls, this upcoming free-agent class is very deep and talented. They could potentially pick up a few key pieces to help the team contend for a championship in 2013-14, where they should have a healthy Derrick Rose to lead them.

The Bulls got eliminated in the second round of the playoffs after seemingly exceeding expectations, but they still cannot return next season with the same lineup and expect to win a championship.

Now it's time to hit the market and see what the team can get to improve themselves.

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Duke Basketball: ACC Teams the Blue Devils Should Be Worried About

Dantzler Smith — Tue, 21 May 2013 13:42:15 -0400

Even for an absurdly talented Duke team, the road to an ACC regular season title and tournament win will be tough. Maryland is around for one more year and newcomers Pittsburgh, Notre Dame and Syracuse are staunch opponents.

Whether it’s just a head-to-head matchup or a threat to Duke’s chances at winning the conference, there are at least five teams that should worry the Blue Devils.

While those five most obvious threats are probably the best teams in the conference alongside Duke, even the mid-tier teams can’t be overlooked. Pitt won’t be a pushover and both Georgia Tech and Boston College should be much improved.

So what follows is a list of the biggest threats to Duke, but even the teams not mentioned constitute their own challenges.

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MLB Picks: Los Angeles Dodgers vs. Milwaukee Brewers

Jeff Grant — Tue, 21 May 2013 13:33:41 -0400

Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Zack Greinke is 15-0 with a 2.89 ERA in 24 games at Miller Park, which is important to consider when making your MLB picks Tuesday as he prepares to take on the Milwaukee Brewers.

Sports bettors will find that the Dodgers are -130 road favorites in the pro baseball odds (courtesy of SBR Forum), while the total sits at 8.5 in the market.

Let's take a closer look at this National League affair from a betting perspective, while offering up a prediction along the way.

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Roger Federer Can't Afford a Weak Display at the 2013 French Open

John Rozum — Tue, 21 May 2013 13:19:53 -0400

Roger Federer enters the 2013 French Open ranked No. 3, but he is coming off a disappointing performance in which he was dismantled by Rafael Nadal in the Italian Open final.

In short, the Maestro needs to at least reach the semifinals of the Roland Garros to find a rhythm for this season.

Prior to the Rome Masters, he bowed out in Round 3 of Madrid to Japan's Kei Nishikori, fell to Nadal in the Indian Wells quarterfinals and Tomas Berdych in Dubai's semifinals. Thus far in 2013, Federer's best victory is over Jo-Wilfried Tsonga—who currently ranks No. 8—at the Australian Open.

Combine his recent early exits, two losses to Nadal and only one finals appearance, and it becomes clear that Federer must get back on track in France.

With Nadal ranked No. 4—not to mention the French Open being his best tournament—the Swiss is at risk of slipping further down the rankings. As Jon Wertheim of Sports Illustrated wrote on Monday, Federer might as well be lumped into the pool of of players fighting for second place:

Novak Djokovic—whom most would have picked to win the event not long ago—is suddenly backsliding. Murray might well miss the event because of a back injury. Federer is looking decidedly mortal on clay. And David Ferrer threatens Nadal the way Bing threatens Google.

That said, Djokovic at least defeated Nadal on clay this year; the two squared off in Monaco and Djokovic won in straight sets.

Regardless of his draw, Federer needs to make a deep run. According to Tennis Connected, this is the first year in over a decade where Federer has no victories before the Roland Garros:

Other challengers he must also be concerned with are Berdych and David Ferrer.

Previously mentioned was Berdych's win over Federer in Dubai. Berdych also enters France with impressive victories in recent tournaments, as he upset Andy Murray in Madrid's quarterfinals and then Djokovic in Italy.

As for Ferrer, he has given Nadal a tough match in their previous two meetings and took Murray to three sets in Miami's final.

Although Federer definitely still possesses the talent to fend off anyone but Nadal on clay, failing to build on Italy's finals appearance won't bode well regarding Wimbledon. Despite that having been his best tournament, Federer's recent roller-coaster play must get smoothed out with consistency.

Otherwise, he'll gradually slip as the season progresses.

SEC Baseball Tournament 2013 Scores: Day 1 Results, Highlights and Analysis

Timothy Rapp — Tue, 21 May 2013 13:17:42 -0400

The SEC tournament is upon us, folks, and the stakes are huge on Tuesday, as the first four games are all elimination contests.

On the docket is No. 6 Ole Miss facing No. 11 Kentucky; No. 7 Alabama taking on hated rival, No. 10 Auburn; No. 8 Florida facing No. 9 Texas A&M; and No. 5 Mississippi State taking on No. 12 Missouri.

Let's review the day's action.

Ole Miss beats Kentucky, 4-1

Behind Mike Mayers (6.1 IP, 6 H, 1 ER, 4 SO) and Austin Anderson (2-for-4, 1 R, 1 RBI), Ole Miss advanced to the double-elimination portion of the SEC tournament with a 4-1 victory over Kentucky.

Ole Miss would waste little time in this game, jumping out to a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning. After back-to-back singles by Austin Anderson and Stuart Turner, Andrew Mistone would drive in Anderson on a sacrifice fly.

The Rebels would strike again in the third inning. After Tanner Mathis doubled and was sacrificed over to third base, Anderson ripped a double into right field to give Ole Miss a 2-0 lead.

Kentucky would cut the lead in half in the fourth.

Zac Zellers doubled and moved to third on a fielder's choice. Austin Cousino then walked and attempted to steal second but no one covered the bag. The throw from Ole Miss catcher Stuart Turner sailed into the outfield, allowing Zellers to cut the deficit to 2-1.

Ole Miss would stretch the lead to 4-1 in the bottom of the sixth. After Andrew Mistone doubled, Auston Bousfield knocked him home with an RBI single. An Austin Knight single moved Bousfield to second and Will Allen then singled him home.

Kentucky made things interesting in the top of the seventh. They loaded the bases with one out on three singles, but Michael Thomas popped out to second and Kyle Barrett grounded out to second, ending Kentucky's last major threat on the game.

For a team that started the season 22-6, this result will be wildly disappointing for Kentucky, who is now 8-19 in their last 27 games. Kentucky's postseason hopes took a major hit with this result.

Meanwhile, Ole Miss will face Arkansas on Wednesday as the double-elimination portion of the tournament gets underway.

How the Detroit Red Wings Are Leading the Series?

PJ Sapienza — Tue, 21 May 2013 13:13:37 -0400

Coming into their second-round series against the Chicago Blackhawks, it appeared that the Detroit Red Wings had little chance of winning. All of the stats favored the Blackhawks, who had already beaten Detroit in all four games during the regular season. But this is why the NHL playoffs are great. It does not matter what happened in the regular season; unlike any other league, the NHL playoffs become a completely different beast.

They are only halfway to pulling off the upset, but the Red Wings are playing extremely well. In Game 1 they were full of mistakes and just could not get anything going. Still, they were able to stay close until the third period when the Blackhawks eventually pulled away to a 4-1 victory. Since then, they have played much better in all facets of the game.

The Blackhawks scored on their first power play of the series, but have yet to score since then; they now only have one power play goal through nine attempts. Detroit's penalty-kill unit has been very effective at shutting down the Blackhawks' attack.

The Red Wing have been outshot in every game but since the first game, they have taken more quality shots. For the series they have been outshot by 41 shots. They key is that the defense has forced the Blackhawks into bad angles and shots that goalie Jimmy Howard is able to see.

The aggressiveness of the Red Wings has been a big factor in the last two games, outhitting the Blackhawks 64 to 48. Captain Jonathon Toews was complaining (via Detroit Free Press) before Game 3 that “there’s a lot of clutch and grab, a lot of interference.” The physical play seems to be really getting to the Blackhawks.

Both teams won 50.8 percent of their faceoffs during the regular season. In this series the Red Wings have taken the lead, raising that number to 55.7 over the past two games. This has allowed them to control the puck better than they did in the first game.

The real key to the teams’ success is that they are getting contributions all the way down the bench. The bottom two lines and the young players are really playing well and the return of Drew Miller has been a tremendous boost.

Brendon Smith bounced back from an ugly Game 1 with a goal in Game 2 and an assist in Game 3.

Damien Brunner has two goals and an assist while Gustav Nyquist has one of each. The centers and forwards from the end of the bench have combined for four of the team’s eight goals this series.

Players like Pavel Datsyuk and Henrik Zetterberg will play well more often than not. In a playoff series, it is often the second-tier players that can help propel a team to the next round. In the case of the Red Wings, these are not just second-tier players; they are also the future leaders of the team.

While the series is far from over, the Red Wings have shown that they are not intimidated by the Blackhawks and that they are ready to play. The young players, while still prone to a bad play, are learning and getting better every game. What was thought to be an easy series for the Blackhawks is now a battle and one that the Red Wings hope to win.

*updated 5/21/13 2:40pm EST due to stat error*

Massive Marvel Eric Spoto Breaks World Record with 722-Pound Bench Press

Gabe Zaldivar — Tue, 21 May 2013 13:13:08 -0400

Ah, so it seems you do indeed lift, bro.

Eric Spoto is just a man with a true affinity for lifting things. It just so happens he is good at it. Actually, he is the best after lifting a world-record 722 pounds recently.

Here is the video with some noticeable NSFW language:

I am not an expert when it comes to lifting heavy objects. Hell, I have limited experience in lifting light objects.

Still, I sit in awe of Spoto, putting down my hamburger just to give him proper applause from this side of the Internet.

Because I know you can't get enough of this mountain of a man lifting ridiculous weight, here he is lifting 700 pounds like you lift doughnuts for breakfast, fatty.

As is noted in the YouTube description and various comments, this was from a training session, so Spoto was allowed the various aids of sleeves and other gear not normally allowed in record-breaking attempts.

Still, you try to lift 700 pounds and come away without exploding all over the place in a fury of muscles that just quit on you.

To put this into perspective, Spoto here could bench press about two gorillas or one extremely large lion. Well, if he could do so without being maimed in the process, of course.

This drastically overshadows my own personal accomplishment of 30 minutes on the elliptical. Sometimes you just have to tip your cap to someone far better at the gym game.

Hit me up on Twitter for more updates on world go-getters: Follow @gabezal

2013 NBA Draft Breakdown and Scouting Report for Steven Adams

Jonathan Wasserman — Tue, 21 May 2013 13:12:25 -0400

Steven Adams found himself on that can't-miss list entering his freshman year at Pittsburgh. Ironically, it turns out he was pretty tough to find.

The New Zealand native played a minimal role in Jamie Dixon's offense. During one loss to Cincinnati, Adams played 24 minutes without taking a shot.

He's still learning the game and figuring how he fits in.

However, Adams drew rave reviews at this year's NBA Combine, where he was able to showcase some hidden talent and a likable personality. With just five weeks left before the draft, the buzz on Adams is starting to pick up.

Physical Tools

At a legit 7'0'' with a massive 7'4.5'', wingspan (second-largest at the combine), Adams' physical profile is built for NBA play. He's also exceptionally athletic and mobile. Adams runs and jumps with the same rhythm as a guard.

At 255 pounds with a strong upper body, Adams is a human missile in the frontcourt.

This is where the hype came from. Adams has tremendous physical tools that he has to learn how to use.

Offensive Capabilities

Adams is awfully limited offensively, but he's a gigantic target at and above the rim—and that's something you can't teach. He turns tough or non-existent scoring opportunities into easy ones.

Watch his point guard Tray Woodall just lob the ball to a space knowing Adams has the length and hops to finish above the rim:

With his ability to play almost 12 feet in the air, Adams is a presence on the offensive glass and a threat to tip in misses. He's an easy-bucket guy, which doesn't require much skill at 7'0'' tall.

Touch

Adams didn't take many jumpers at Pittsburgh, but he showed he's got the touch to eventually play the pick-and-pop.

He's got great balance and fluidity when he rises up. Without many opportunities to let it fly in college, his confidence will build with repetition.

Here's a look at Adams running the pick-and-pop and converting on the baseline:

At the NBA Combine, scouts were impressed with Adams' shooting touch. He was knocking down shots off the catch and the dribble, and looked natural doing it.

As Adams travels for workouts, his jumper will play a big role in his draft stock. Given how limited he looked at Pittsburgh, coaches will want to know he's got more than just size and athleticism.

Rim Protection

Steven Adams blocked two shots per game in 23.4 minutes, an excellent rate for a young center prospect.

Given his size, length, mobility and leaping ability, Adams has all the tools to effectively protect the rim.

Below is a great example of Adams playing his man off the ball while also reading the play. After seeing a perimeter defender get beat, Adams recovers to the rim in time to block the attacker's shot:

Adams projects as a defensive asset, which is why coaches will be patient with his offensive development. If they can carve out an athletic, two-way, seven-foot center, the time it takes will be worth the wait.

Weakness, Limitations

Adams doesn't have much of a post game at the moment, though he acknowledged at the combine that it's on his priority list. He's capable of hitting the over-the-shoulder hook, but to call it a strength would be considered a stretch.

Otherwise, he hasn't shown any shot-creativity with regard to the rest of his game. We're finding out during this pre-draft process he can make shots when set, but creating them is a different story.

This won't be news to scouts and coaches. They're just going to want to see that there's a foundation here to build from, which seems to be the case as we inch closer to the draft.

Adams is an adequate rebounder—there are no red flags, though there's no confetti either.

He really needs to improve at the free-throw line where he only shot 44.3 percent. It's a little weird considering the touch he's shown in spot-up situations. His coach of course came on the ESPN broadcast of the combine to warn everyone that Adams is a better shooter than his free-throw percentage suggests.

That doesn't sound unreasonable.

Draft Breakdown and NBA Outlook

He finished his freshman year averaging 7.2 points and 6.3 rebounds while shooting 57 percent from the floor. At this point in his career he's a finisher and a shot-blocker.

Adams is a project who's going to need a season on the bench before he's ready to take the stage. Teams eying him will be well aware of this, and the one that pulls the trigger will have been sold on his potential.

His stock is currently on the rise after his introduction at the combine. Many there were impressed with how well he interviewed, a very underrated part of the process.

In a draft where there aren't many standout options at the power forward, small forward and shooting guard positions, big men could fly off the board quickly this year. Adams has the upside to generate interest from teams drafting as early as the mid-to-late lottery.

NBA Draft 2013: Safest Picks Available in First Round

Rob Goldberg — Tue, 21 May 2013 13:09:51 -0400

Everyone wants to draft the next LeBron James, but sometimes it is better to go for a safer pick in the first round.

While this year's class has no sure-fire superstars, there are plenty of high-upside players. Guys like Nerlens Noel and Alex Len have the potential to be All-Star centers, although they could also end up struggling immensely at the next level and being out of the league in a few years.

For some teams without a lot going for them, this is absolutely worth the risk. For others that are close to contention, it might be smarter to know what you are going to get out of a young player.

These prospects might not end up being Hall of Famers, but they are certain to be impact players in a rotation very early in their careers.

Otto Porter, SF, Georgetown

It seems the only thing that will hold back Otto Porter from being a true superstar is his mentality.

Last season at Georgetown, the wing proved that he can fill up the stat sheet in almost every category. He can run the offense like a point guard, rebound like a forward and shoot as well as anyone in the class. Additionally, he has great length which he uses to be an excellent on-ball defender.

Porter has the size and athleticism to enter an NBA lineup and play as well as he did in college.

The problem is that he is almost too unselfish, and will often pass up a shot when he should be the one with the ball. He was easily the best player on his team last season, but he rarely took over the game.

Still, if he goes to a team with talented players around him, he will help generate a lot of wins.

Mason Plumlee, C, Duke

Mason Plumlee improved a great deal in every season at Duke. By his senior year, he averaged 17.1 points and 10 rebounds per game while being a major part of a very good team.

He has excellent technique around the basket that helps him score on a consistent basis from inside of 10 feet. On defense, he is not a great shot-blocker but is always in the right spot and helps out a lot on pick and rolls.

Additionally, Plumlee is much more athletic than people give him credit for and can finish huge dunks above the rim.

The only downside is that teams do not see much room for improvement at 23 years old with a nearly finished game. General managers would rather grab a player who could be great than one they know will be good, but Plumlee will very good at the next level.

Victor Oladipo, SG, Indiana

Calling Victor Oladipo safe will depend highly on when he is drafted and what is expected out of him.

If he is taken with one of the top-three picks to a team that expects him to be a big-time scorer, he will not reach that level. On the other hand, he is the type of player that will be around the league for a long time.

Oladipo is the best on-ball defender in this class. He has the strength, wingspan and quickness to guard multiple positions on the floor and this will make him a valuable player for a long time.

Offensively, the Indiana player turned himself into an excellent shooter this season and proved that he has good range when he gets an open look at the basket.

While he will not be the best player on a good team, Oladipo could be similar player to Bruce Bowen and stick around for over a decade.

Jeff Withey, C, Kansas

There are few players in this class ready to contribute immediately as much as Jeff Withey. At about 6'11", he has the size to play center and the skill to be a rotational player for a competitive team.

Withey is known as one of the best interior defenders in the class after finishing third in the nation in blocks per game last season. What he lacks in pure athleticism he makes up for in timing and experience inside.

The four-year player also learned to avoid foul trouble to allow him to stay in the game longer. This is not easy for a shot-blocker, but it is important for an NBA team looking for someone to help off the bench.

Although it is hard to imagine Withey lighting things up on the offensive end, his size and skill on defense should be enough to help a contending team win a championship.

Follow @TheRobGoldberg

French Open 2013: Don't Forget About Victoria Azarenka

Lindsay Gibbs — Tue, 21 May 2013 13:08:25 -0400

You may not have heard a lot about her lately, but the first two months of 2013 definitely belonged to Victoria Azarenka.

Every WTA headline, triumphant or controversial, involved the blonde Belarusian. She withdrew before a much-anticipated semifinal against Serena Williams in Brisbane due to a botched pedicure. She took the medical timeout heard around the world during her Australian Open semifinal match against America’s newest sweetheart, Sloane Stephens. She beat Li Na in a dramatic Australian Open final to defend her title and retain her No. 1 ranking.

She even publicly paraded around with her stand-out-from-the-crowd boyfriend RedFoo. And she managed to (finally) beat Serena Williams in the Doha final, just one match after the legend had taken away Azarenka’s No. 1 ranking.

Then the withdrawals began to pile up. After beating Serena, she withdrew from Dubai due to a bone bruise on her right foot. Though obviously hobbled, she played Indian Wells, but withdrew before her quarterfinal match with Caroline Wozniacki due to pain in her right foot and ankle. She missed Miami and Stuttgart as well. All in all, she was off the tour for nearly seven weeks.

While she was gone, Maria Sharapova won Indian Wells and Stuttgart and made the finals of Miami and Madrid, while Serena won Miami, Charleston, Madrid and Rome. In short, her competition wasn’t resting. They were surging. The WTA went full speed ahead without its Australian Open champion, and honestly the media didn’t seem to miss her.

Out of sight, out of mind.

Azarenka’s relationship with the media has always been a complicated one, to put it mildly. According to many, she’s too loud on the court and too quiet off it. She’s not very open in press conferences, doesn’t offer great sound bites and she certainly isn’t a brand. Her withdrawals before—and particularly during—tournaments have caused many to publicly question her mental and physical durability.

Plus, as she proved after her semifinal in Australia, she’s filtered and unfiltered at all the wrong moments.

But behind the questionable judgments and social awkwardness lies a shy, sweet and well-meaning girl, whose fiercely competitive nature, immense talent and enviable consistency lifted the WTA from the slamless No. 1 years in style, and brought out the best in her competitors in the process.

Azarenka might not have the polish or the celebrity of some of her peers, but day-in and day-out the WTA is a drastically more competitive and interesting tour when she is around.

Two weeks ago, Azarenka re-emerged in Madrid. Her fitness and form had certainly taken a hit during her lay-off. She lost in her second match to the selectively-dangerous Ekaterina Makarova, losing her temper and getting a point-penalty along the way.

But Rome was a different story. She absolutely throttled Julia Goerges in the first round, dropping only two games. On her way to the final she impressed with wins over two recent Roland Garros finalists, Samantha Stosur and Sara Errani. Even when Serena Williams beat her soundly in the final, 6-1, 6-3, Azarenka held her head high.

Though she’s been in seven finals and has one title on the surface, clay never has been—and probably never will be—Azarenka’s greatest surface. The French Open, where she’s only twice seen the quarterfinals, is by far her worst slam. On red clay she seems to always be a step behind, leaving her constantly susceptible to being knocked out by any aggressive hitter having a great day.

Still, there are a lot of reasons to keep an eye on Azarenka heading into the French Open this year.

We’ve seen recently how players such as Li Na and Sharapova have turned around their clay-court fortunes later in their careers. There is nothing to say that Azarenka can’t do the same. Beating Stosur and Errani on clay in only her second tournament back from injury is certainly nothing to scoff at, and seems to prove that she’s finally finding her footing on the surface, both literally and figuratively.

Azarenka has a proven and well-tested champion’s instinct that, not unlike Serena Williams, will allow her to play herself into form and get more comfortable during the course of the tournament. That will help her as she tries to regain her fitness after her layoff.

But most importantly, Azarenka has made the finals of the last two majors, thrived under the pressure of the No. 1 ranking and successfully defended her Australian Open title under media scrutiny that would have crumbled a lesser will. For someone who Bruce Jenkins of SI.com accused of looking like she wished she was “invisible,” Azarenka seems to have no problem shining when all eyes, ears, and judgments are upon her.

Simply put, she knows how to win.

I think Azarenka will win the French Open someday. If she stays healthy and focused, and a few things break her way, someday could come in a few weeks.

Serena Williams is the clear-cut favorite to win the French Open this year. Maria Sharapova is the defending champion. But forget about Victoria Azarenka at your own peril.

Coach Tim Beckman's Biggest Challenges for 2013

Jason Parini — Tue, 21 May 2013 13:06:36 -0400

Only 102 days remain until the kickoff of the 2013 Fighting Illini football season, and Fighting Illini fans can anticipate another interesting season of Illinois football.

The Fighting Illini begin 2013 with an in-state matchup against the Southern Illinois Salukis (cough cough, my alma mater). Fans have a lot to look forward to in the upcoming season including the "Chicago Homecoming" game at Soldier Field as well as their first trip to Lincoln to face the Cornhuskers since 1985.

Second-year coach Tim Beckman has many obstacles facing him and the team in 2013, including a very tough schedule. Here we look at Tim Beckman's biggest challenges for 2013.

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