Bleacher Report - Front Page

Frankie Edgar: 7 Title Fights In a Row and He's Hungry For More

Damon Martin — Tue, 18 Jun 2013 22:17:08 -0400

For the first time in more than three years and seven fights, Frankie Edgar will enter the UFC Octagon without a title belt on the line.

He will look to get back into the title race at UFC 162 when he faces Charles Oliveira in the co-main event that night. While Edgar has been fighting for UFC gold for years, Oliveira has never quite reached that same peak.

As dangerous of a fighter as he may be, Oliveira doesn't carry the same kind of top 10 name value that Edgar could have potentially faced. The reality is Edgar has never been a fighter who handpicks his opponents.

"I never picked fights," Edgar said in a recent interview with The Ultimate Show. "I'm never going to start to pick fights. If they ask me to fight someone, I'll say yes."

Edgar hopes that defeating Oliveira at UFC 162 in such a high-profile bout will insert his name into the title race again for a future shot at the featherweight strap. The New Jersey native knows that more goes into getting a crack at the belt than just winning, and he's prepared to do whatever it takes to get the gold around his waist again.

"I think one or two (fights away from a title shot)," Edgar stated. "Let's be real, it's not always the No. 1 contenders who get the title shots. It's who they invest money in, and whose kind of a known name. In the lighter weights just being that I fought seven title fights in a row, I think I'm that guy."

In the interview, Edgar also addressed the reality of fighting for a win after three straight losses, as well as preparing for a three-round bout for the first time in more than three years.

New York Yankees Acquire Former Top Prospect Fernando Martinez

Kenny DeJohn — Tue, 18 Jun 2013 22:14:13 -0400

Brian T. Smith of the Houston Chronicle reports that the Houston Astros have agreed to send outfielder Fernando Martinez to the New York Yankees in exchange for minor league right-handed pitcher Charles Basford.

Martinez, a former top prospect in the New York Mets organization who was ranked as high as No. 22 on Baseball America's Top-100 prospects list, has failed to make an impact in parts of five big league seasons with the Mets and Astros.

He owns a career WAR of -1.4, mostly because of his terrible triple-slash line of .206/.269/.362. He has just nine home runs, 29 RBI and two stolen bases to his name in 282 career at-bats.

It's unknown as to how Martinez will be used in New York. Manager Joe Girardi already has four outfielders—Vernon Wells, Brett Gardner, Ichiro Suzuki and Thomas Neal—on the roster. Neal could be sent down in favor of Martinez, though that doesn't necessarily represent an immediate upgrade.

Neal has one hit in five at-bats for the Yankees this season after just being called up a few games ago. He has power from the right side of the plate, but has only 11 games of major league experience. Martinez, albeit unimpressively, has logged 99 career games.

This is likely the last chance for Martinez, who doesn't become a free agent until 2018, to capitalize on his once-praised potential. The Yankees can't offer him much playing time to start, but he could eventually work his way into more frequent at-bats if he proves himself.

The chances of Martinez turning into the player he was expected to are slim, but the Yankees do have the opportunity to get lucky with this acquisition. We'll have to wait and see how much playing time he gets to find out.

Offseason Moves LA Lakers Must Consider to Revamp Bench

Alec Nathan — Tue, 18 Jun 2013 22:01:19 -0400

There were a number of reasons the Los Angeles Lakers disappointed during the 2012-13 campaign, but primary among them was the team's lack of depth.

L.A.'s bench mustered the league's third-worst point output last season, scoring 25.4 points per game. Only Indiana and Portland ranked worse, according to HoopsStats.

After a season of relying far too heavily on the team's aging starting unit, the Lakers now have an opportunity to overhaul their bench with several low-key signings. It's important to note that the Lakers won't be able to make a big splash, because the team already has more than $78 million committed in salary for next season, according to HoopsHype.

As such, the team will only be able to take advantage of the mini mid-level exception and veteran minimum contracts in order to revamp their second unit.

Note: All statistics courtesy of Basketball-Reference unless noted otherwise.

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Scouting Rumoured Chelsea Transfer Target Nemanja Matic of Benfica

Jerrad Peters — Tue, 18 Jun 2013 21:46:28 -0400

Nearly four years ago, Chelsea paid £1.5 million for midfield prospect Nemanja Matic, who had helped MFK Kosice win the Slovakian Cup that spring.

A month later he would suffer a metatarsal injury while on duty with Serbia at the European U-21 Championship—a setback that would prevent him from cracking the Blues’ squad ahead of the Premier League campaign and keep him on the outskirts of the first team the entire season.

Matic was loaned to Dutch side Vitesse the following summer, but in January 2011 he moved permanently to Benfica as a makeweight in the £21 million deal that brought David Luiz to Stamford Bridge.

Now Chelsea want him back, and they’re willing to pay a significant fee to repatriate him.

Matic, who played 39 matches in all competitions for Benfica last season, including eight in the Europa League as the Portuguese giants progressed all the way to the final, has an astronomical £42.4 million release clause written into his contract.

While his club would be willing to part with him for less than that they are still holding out for upwards of £38 million in compensation, as reported by David Woods of the Daily Star.

What they would be getting, or getting back, is a 24-year-old defensive midfielder who thrives on disrupting the opposition buildup and can both play a decent pass and pose the occasional threat from distance when in possession.

A selfless player, he would be an ideal partner for either Frank Lampard or Ramires in the centre of the park, although his arrival would surely signal a reduction in playing time for John Obi Mikel and another season on loan for Josh McEachran.

As reported by Charles Perrin of the Express, Manchester United and Monaco have also been linked with Matic, although at this point Benfica are under no pressure to sell—thus the asking price.

There’s no disputing this player’s ability, and at 6'4" the lanky destroyer would be a fine addition to most midfields, let alone Chelsea’s.

What the Blues have to consider is whether they wish to continue experimenting with David Luiz in the centre of the park and whether they’ve given up on McEachran.

Follow @jerradpeters

Blackhawks vs. Bruins: Keys to Game 4 of the Stanley Cup Final

Maxwell Ogden — Tue, 18 Jun 2013 21:41:50 -0400

The Boston Bruins have gained momentum in the 2013 Stanley Cup Final, defeating the Chicago Blackhawks by a score of 2-0 to take a 2-1 series lead. As a result, the Bruins picked up a momentous edge entering Game 4.

As always, there are certain keys to the game that will help decide Game 4—so what will they be?

High Shots

Corey Crawford has been magnificent this season, especially in the playoffs, where he ranks in the top five of victories, goals allowed per game and save percentage. Unfortunately, Crawford hasn't been good enough in recent games.

His major issue is stopping high shots.

Boston has realized that weakness and relentlessly attacked.

There's absolutely no reason to believe that the Bruins will ignore this area of weakness and thus move away from targeting the high corners of the net. Instead, they're almost guaranteed to exploit Crawford at every turn.

If the Blackhawks are to stand any chance of achieving victory and evening this series up, Crawford needs to protect the high angles.

Chicago's Power Play

During the 2012-13 NHL regular season, the Chicago Blackhawks were No. 19 in power-play percentage at 16.6 percent. During the 2013 NHL playoffs, the Blackhawks have set a new standard for being unable to cash in on power-play opportunities.

The Blackhawks haven't converted a power play in their past 11 attempts.

Dreadful.

Chicago has struggled on the power play all season, but no one expected them to be this bad. In fact, this is one of the worst power-play performances we could have ever imagined.

It doesn't help that Chicago's superstar has been ineffective.

Where is Jonathan Toews?

Jonathan Toews is one of the best players in the world, pairing elite offensive production with extraordinary defensive play. He finished with 48 points in 47 games during the regular season, registering 23 goals and 25 assists.

He was even presented with a postseason award.

How about that?

Unfortunately, Toews simply hasn't produced at the level expected of him during the playoffs. In fact, Toews is putting on the worst postseason performance of his career.

This comes just three seasons removed from the year in which Toews won the Conn Smythe Trophy.

Where has he gone?

If the Blackhawks are to even this series, they'll need their captain to step up and contribute offensively. While Toews truly hasn't played poorly, his lack of production is damaging to Chicago's title dreams.

It's time Toews shows the doubters why he's revered as one of the best in the world.

10 Early Winners and Losers of Minnesota Vikings Offseason

Tim Arcand — Tue, 18 Jun 2013 21:36:26 -0400

With the end of the Minnesota Vikings' OTAs, and June's mandatory minicamp coming up, there are still plenty of positional battles to be waged and starters to be named. Yet for some players, their stock is zooming right now, and everything is positive. While others find themselves in a situation that looks a bit bleak.

Here's a look at some of the biggest winners and losers from the Vikings' roster that currently sits at the NFL-maximum of 90 players.

The criteria used to determine if a player is a winner or loser is based on where they are on the team's depth chart compared to what was expected. This could be due to other rosters moves that have helped or hindered their chances, or to untimely injuries or other circumstances.

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Report: Rumored Plans for Dolph Ziggler Revealed

Colin I. McAndrew — Tue, 18 Jun 2013 21:36:08 -0400

Well, it's certainly no coincidence that I chose this picture from last year's TLC pay-per-view, as it appears we may be seeing Dolph Ziggler and the MITB briefcase reunite.

Unfortunately, it looks like former World Champ Dolph Ziggler may be going the same route as CM Punk from four years ago, as PWInsider (via WrestlingInc) revealed:

Dolph Ziggler is 100% cleared to wrestle and WWE's reports on their website yesterday were for storyline purposes. WWE officials feel that based on the reaction he gets from fans, Ziggler is better off as a babyface right now.

There was talk of having him win a briefcase at Money in the Bank and cash it in to face Alberto Del Rio for the World Heavyweight Title at SummerSlam.

Overall, I am hopeful that WWE doesn't force him to earn a briefcase in order to get the title back. The fact is, the "Show-Off" has more than proven his worth and should continue on his main event track.

Not to mention, most WWE fans have grown tired of Alberto Del Rio's main event run and could stand for a few fresh faces in the World Title picture. Personally, I feel like Ziggler and Ryback would have a great program together and could give each other the rub that current veteran stars have yet to do.

Let's face it: WWE has been putting a lot of stock in part-timers from the past to give the company some short-term juice. Meanwhile, its current full-time roster continues to do the heavy lifting, and very few have been rewarded for their work.

Sadly, Ziggler is one of those stars that is over with the fans and continues to job out to established stars that don't need his skills to put them over. Yet it appears that WWE is still not fully convinced that he is ready for the main event.

Ultimately, Ziggler is in his early 30s and WWE is running out of time to make him a top-tiered star.

Suffice it to say, if this continues, Ziggler will be on pace to become a modern day "Million Dollar Man" Ted DiBiase. Fortunately for Ziggler, that is not necessarily a bad thing, as most wrestling enthusiasts respect what DiBiase did for WWE during his heyday.

In the end, we can only hope that the company will put more stock in Ziggler and push him to the next level.

Patrice Bergeron: Why He Should Be Prominent In The Conn Smythe Discussion

Al Daniel — Tue, 18 Jun 2013 21:29:13 -0400

If the Boston Bruins hold on and prevail in the 2013 Stanley Cup Final, top point-getter David Krejci and otherworldly goaltender Tuukka Rask are both knee-jerk Conn Smythe Trophy candidates, and good ones at that.

Krejci’s consistency comes through on his game log, where one will notice that his only case of back-to-back pointless outings occurred in Games 2 and 3 of the final. He has turned in memorable multipoint efforts, including a hat trick in the first round and a pair of assists in the finals opener which, in a losing cause, at least helped to verify Boston’s competitiveness.

Rask is retaining a Tim Thomas-esque stat line with a .946 save percentage and 1.64 goals-against average whilst stifling top-notch offenses from Pittsburgh and Chicago. The way he kept the second game of the final competitive after a 19-shot first-period firestorm makes for one booming opening statement for his Conn Smythe case.

But upon digging beneath the top of Boston’s production leaderboard and the NHL’s netminding leaderboard and exploring the context of various individuals’ output, Patrice Bergeron warrants at least equal Conn Smythe consideration.

Bergeron leads all qualified playoff participants with a 62.7 percent success rate in faceoffs. His consistency in that area has rivaled Krejci’s in the point column. He has won the majority of his draws in 18 out of 19 postseason games.

His worst success rate in those 18 games was 52.2 percent in Game 4 of the Toronto series.

That 19th game, the only night when he finished with a losing record at the dot, ended with his second overtime goal of the spring, giving Boston a 2-1 win and 3-0 series lead over the Penguins.

That goal, along with five shots on net and a pair of takeaways, easily recompensed his uncharacteristic 13-for-35 showing in the faceoff department. It was also the third sudden-death strike Bergeron has had a hand in during this tournament.

In Game 7 of the opening round, he fired home a last-minute equalizer from the straightaway point through a forest, drawing a 4-4 knot and forcing bonus action against Toronto. He followed up by ending the series in the fourth period.

In the resultant second-round series opener against the New York Rangers, Bergeron followed up on all of that with the primary setup on Brad Marchand’s overtime clincher.

He also claimed credit for the secondary helper on the series clincher versus the Penguins. Ditto the goal that put Boston in the lead for good en route to a 5-2 victory over the Rangers in the second game of the second round.

Later in that match, Bergeron had a hand in a goal that augmented the lead to 4-2 in the tone-setting first minute of the third period. Similarly, in Game 2 of the Pittsburgh series, he was in on a last-minute strike that drained any momentum the Penguins might have drawn from hitting the board and cutting Boston’s lead to 3-1 in the first period.

He later made it 5-1 on the first shift on a fresh sheet in the closing frame.

At the other end, virtually every Bruin has done his part to join Rask in minimizing the opposing offense. But Bergeron stands out for helping to keep the opposing power play scoreless.

Of the 22 skaters to dress for Boston in the 2013 playoffs, 10 have yet to let an opposing power play convert on their watch. Of those 10, Bergeron is the leader in shorthanded ice time at 32:12, followed by his linemate Marchand at 28:15 and then Krejci a considerably distant third at 8:55.

Conversely, he has been on the ice for three of the Bruins’ power-play conversions, with all three of those coming off his own blade to tie him with rookie depth defenseman Torey Krug for the team lead.

The third of those five-on-four strikes came in Monday night’s 2-0 victory over the Blackhawks, helping them to a 2-1 lead in the series and a 2-0 goal differential on special teams.

Who has scored the only other man-up goal in this series?

That’s right. Bergeron converted in Game 1 to spot Boston a 3-1 lead―which, granted, the team ultimately spilled, although none of Chicago’s four goals occurred when he was on duty.

That stinginess is sound enough, but its significance is amplified considering whom Bergeron has been tasked with helping to shut down these last two rounds (Sidney Crosby, Jonathan Toews, etc.).

On top of that, he has repeatedly complemented his flustering defensive work with involvement in every brand of back-breaking goal. Though his line has not been as prolific as Krejci’s, it has generated more than its share of first- or last-minute tallies, power-play conversions, rally-completing equalizers and overtime clinchers.

For that exemplary two-way excellence and timely tangible output, Bergeron deserves nothing less than to sit with Krejci and Rask among Boston’s finalists for playoff MVP.

If the debate boils down to who has done the most in key situations with the most frequency and reliability, Rask may be his only rival among the Bruins in the race.

Unless otherwise indicated, all statistics for this report were found via NHL.com.

Kawhi Leonard Puts Mike Miller on a Poster During Game 6

Ken Dorset — Tue, 18 Jun 2013 21:27:47 -0400

Kawhi Leonard throws it down all over Mike Miller.

WWE WTF: Eric Young, Tim Tebow and More

BRtv — Tue, 18 Jun 2013 21:15:43 -0400

WTF did former WWE champion Steve Austin say about Dallas Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo? Why the heck is CM Punk feuding with the LA Kings mascot? Is Bray Wyatt’s religious cult leader gimmick crazy enough to work?

WWE is never without its shortage of the bizarre both in and out of the ring. Watch WWE for long enough and it becomes impossible to tell the difference between life imitating art and art imitating life.

Wrestling’s social media pitfalls and Iron Sheik sightings inspire fans to ask the new-age question, WTF? And if the answers can’t be found, the subject matter will be further questioned, dissected and mocked all at the same time.

Follow @ThisIsNasty

Chicago Blackhawks: Tony Amonte Should Get Facts Straight Before Ripping Hossa

Jon Fromi — Tue, 18 Jun 2013 21:05:49 -0400

Former Chicago Blackhawks right winger Tony Amonte is entitled to his opinion. He just may want to check his facts before he opens his mouth.

Amonte, who played for the 'Hawks for part of nine seasons, took Marian Hossa to task on Tuesday. Following Hossa's absence in Game 3 of the Stanley Cup Final between Chicago and the Boston Bruins, Amonte called Hossa's injury into question.

Amonte, who is doing analyst work for Comcast SportsNet New England, made the following statement Monday:

Marian Hossa ... I admire the way he plays, he's a very good player, he's got a Stanley Cup on his résumé, but he's not the guy with the highest pain threshold in the NHL. If you look back to his stats and you look throughout his career, he usually plays about 60 games, takes about 20 or 30 off every year just to make sure he's fresh coming into the postseason. He's not a guy that will play through a lot of injuries."

Amonte expounded on Hossa Tuesday on the "Mut and Merloni Show" on Boston's WEEI-FM, saying the following to Mike Mutnanski and Lou Merloni:

You're in the Stanley Cup finals. I think you play until you can't play anymore. You give whatever you can to your organization and that's the way most guys will do it. That's what [Bruins forward] Nathan Horton's doing right now. He's probably got no right being out on the ice with that shoulder the way it is, but he's going to gut it out, play the next possibly four games at the most and then go in, get his shoulder fixed and be ready for the next season.

The above quote comes from ESPNChicago.com's report on Hossa's injury. In another report Tuesday, Scott Powers of ESPNChicago.com wrote that Hossa is likely to play in Game 4 Wednesday.

Joel Quenneville told Powers that Hossa is suffering from an upper-body injury. Amonte claimed to Mutnanski and Lou Merloni he heard it was a groin injury.

Amonte weighed in on the 'Hawks performance and made some valid points on Chicago's game. He was pretty even-handed with his thoughts on the Blackhawks and their performance in the series. It is odd that he went off on Hossa the way he did.

Amonte claims that the usual Hossa season is 60 games. Hossa has played 15 seasons in the NHL. In seven of those seasons, he's played over 80 games. In three others, Hossa has logged at least 72 games. Hossa played seven games as a call-up late in the the 1997-98 season, so let's focus on the 14 full seasons he has played.

There are three seasons that have any resemblance to Amonte's claim to a "normal" Hossa campaign:

1998-99: 60 games in his rookie season.

2009-10: 57 games in his first season with the 'Hawks. Remember, he missed the first couple of months recovering from shoulder surgery. He certainly wasn't coasting for the playoffs.

2010-11: 65 games in a season when he was out with a couple of injuries. Again, most of those injuries came in the first half of the season

Three seasons out of 14. That is far from a frequent occurrence.

Amonte is a former player and I defer to him as far as his wealth of hockey knowledge. If he wants to question Hossa's toughness, that's his business. However, his claim that Hossa sits out 20-30 games a year has no basis in fact.

Does Roy Oswalt Have Enough Left to Be Rockies' NL West X-Factor?

Josh Schoch — Tue, 18 Jun 2013 21:05:43 -0400

The Colorado Rockies will call Roy Oswalt up from Double-A back to the MLB on Thursday after completing his rehab, according to Troy Renck of The Denver Post.

Official that Oswalt will start Thursday
— Troy Renck (@TroyRenck) June 18, 2013

After breezing through the minor leagues in his rehab starts, Oswalt is on his way up, according to NBC Sports.

Oswalt made five starts in the minors, throwing 33 innings with a 2.16 ERA and 25/7 K/BB ratio at Double-A, where he was just named the Texas League pitcher of the week. He held opponents to a .211 batting average, but did serve up five homers in five starts.

Oswalt’s most recent outing was 8.1 innings of shutout ball Friday with seven strikeouts versus one walk.

Oswalt will face the Washington Nationals in his first start this year, a team that he has gone 4-4 against with a 3.33 ERA in the last three years.

The timing for Oswalt's return couldn't have been more perfect. He is coming back at a time when the Rockies need him most, as they are half a game back of the Arizona Diamondbacks in the NL West and are trying to make a push as they head toward the All-Star Break.

Oswalt could play a vital role for the team as it enters a very important part of the season. The Rockies' pitchers have a combined ERA of 4.44 this year, which isn't terrible but it isn't great.

The three-time All-Star can help Colorado in a few ways as it tries to climb up the standings.

First and foremost, Oswalt can win games.

He is just two years removed of his surge in Philly, when he posted an ERA of just 1.74 in 10 starts after being traded to the Philadelphia Phillies.

However, in the last two years Oswalt has dealt with injuries and age. After starting at least 30 games for seven straight seasons from 2004 to 2010, he started 23 in 2011, and just nine in 2012. His stuff was poor in those games too, as his ERA ballooned to 3.69 in 2011 and 5.80 in 2012, not to mention his 1.34 and 1.53 WHIPs, respectively.

At 35 years old, Oswalt is finally back, but he might not be everything the Rockies hope he will be.

Even if Oswalt can't come out and shut hitters down, his most valuable asset is his experience and knowledge.

Tracy Ringolsby of MLB.com recently wrote an article about why Oswalt is a great fit for the Rockies, citing his experience in the big leagues.

Oswalt, who has earned $96 million in 12 big league seasons, knows about success. He reached double figures in wins in nine of his first 10 full seasons. He has a 163-96 big league record.

He pitched in the postseason with Houston in 2004 and '05, and with Philadelphia in 2010 and '11. He'd like to add a fifth postseason to his resume in 2013 with Colorado, returning to an NL team after his first AL exposure a year ago.

Oswalt has been around the block a few times, and he has knowledge that the Rockies' pitchers just don't have.

While Jorge De La Rosa and Jeff Francis are 32 years old and have been in the majors for a while, Jhoulys Chacin, Juan Nicasio and Tyler Chatwood are 25, 26 and 23 years old, respectively. These guys haven't been around all that long, and they could definitely benefit from being around a knowledgeable veteran.

The biggest question surrounding Oswalt's return is whether or not he has enough talent and knowledge to help lead the Rockies to the postseason, but it doesn't look good.

We can't expect much out of Oswalt on the mound.

While he dominated Double-A ball, the opponents he faced in Tulsa are a far cry from those in the major leagues, and he will be pitching half of his games in hitter-friendly Coors Field.

The biggest reason why Oswalt won't be enough is the offense.

Led by Troy Tulowitzki and Carlos Gonzalez, the Rockies' offense had been on fire and was carrying the team.

However, Tulo went down with a broken rib and Carlos Gonzalez was hit by a foul ball, taking out both stars in one foul swoop.

While CarGo is back and playing well, Tulo will be out for 4-6 weeks.

With the Arizona Diamondbacks overachieving and the reigning World Series champion San Francisco Giants hanging around, the west is one of the tightest divisions in baseball, and losing Tulo for this long is essentially a death sentence.

Oswalt will be a nice addition for the Rockies, but don't expect to see them playing in mid-October.

Follow @JoshSchoch

UFC 162 Video Preview: Dan Henderson Offers His Take on Silva vs. Weidman

Trent Reinsmith — Tue, 18 Jun 2013 21:04:51 -0400

UFC 161 is becoming more distant by the day. If you look into the not-too-distant future, you’ll see that UFC 162 is just over the horizon and getting closer by the second.

UFC 162 will take place on July 6. The event features a pretty deep card, especially in the featherweight division. Three of the top 10 fighters in that weight class will be competing at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, Nevada on that night.

However, the featherweights will not be the main attraction on that Saturday night. No, that honor goes to the middleweights. There will be four 185-pound contests on the fight card.

On the preliminary portion of the card, Chris Leben and Andrew Craig will look to rebound from losses, while Mark Munoz and Tim Boetsch will hope to stay in the top 10 of the division with a win.

Moving on to the main card, Strikeforce imports Tim Kennedy and Roger Gracie will look to show the UFC bosses that they belong with the promotion.

The other middleweight bout on the card is the one most fans, fighters and MMA pundits will be endlessly analyzing from now until the cage door locks behind the combatants. Those combatants will be middleweight champion Anderson Silva and the No. 1 contender in the division, Chris Weidman.

Many believe that Weidman, a strong wrestler with a brown belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, has the skills to give the longstanding champion fits.

One person that doesn’t see things that way is the vanquished opponent of Silva, Dan Henderson. Rick J. Lee recently caught up with the former Pride and Strikeforce champion to get his take on the bout.

NBA Draft 2013: Prospects Who Will Contend For Rookie of the Year

Brian Mazique — Tue, 18 Jun 2013 21:04:00 -0400

To win Rookie of the Year in the NBA, a prospect must have two things. First and foremost, they must have a talent that is cultivated enough to make an impact in their first year.

The NBA draft is largely about potential and upside, but a Rookie of the Year candidate has to have enough game from day one to make a statement.

Secondly, the prospect must land in a spot that gives him the opportunity to play a major role. A player drafted to be a star's backup may have the talent, but he probably won't see the minutes to make his mark.

With that criteria established, here are the players who have the best chance of winning the award for the 2013-14 season.

Ben McLemore

McLemore's smooth jump shot led to 42.9 percent shooting from three-point range. He's such a pure shooter that his long-range game will translate to the NBA nicely.

He also has explosive athleticism that will allow him to be productive in transition. It is hard to see McLemore landing anywhere outside the top five.

Playing in Cleveland, Orlando, Charlotte or Phoenix should give McLemore plenty of opportunities to shine. Of all of the players in the 2013 NBA draft class, McLemore has the best shot at winning the award.

Trey Burke

Two of the most important qualities an NBA point guard can have is the ability to hit the outside shot and create for his teammates. As a sophomore, Burke made 38 percent of his threes and dished out 6.7 assists per game.

These skills will allow him to get his own offense if he lands with a team that needs his scoring. His proven playmaking will allow him to contribute to a team that already has a top scoring option as well.

Burke's outside shooting will even allow him to put up scoring numbers while playing off of an established player.

Anthony Bennett

As inside-outside games go, Bennett has perhaps the most polished attack. The 6'7" beefy forward is a bit of a tweener, but he can score from anywhere on the court.

He can score with his back to the basket and even has range out to the three-point line. He made 37 percent of his threes and even grabbed eight rebounds per game. Though Randolph is a bit undersized for the power forward position, he has a 7'1" wingspan.

That length will allow him to succeed no matter what forward position he plays. Bennett won't be drafted to play behind an established star. The team that selects him will be looking for him to score.

Follow me, basketball brings us all together.

College World Series: UNC's Moran Sends LSU Home with His Bat

J.P. Scott — Tue, 18 Jun 2013 20:42:01 -0400

Colin Moran didn't show up to the postgame press conference on Tuesday afternoon. He had already said all he needed to with his bat.

After a disappointing 0-for-3 outing to open up the College World Series against rival North Carolina State, Moran looked much more like the player that the Miami Marlins drafted sixth overall in this year's MLB draft when he took the field against LSU.

Moran led the No. 1 seed Tar Heels to a 4-2 win over the Tigers with a three-hit, one-RBI performance while scoring two runs.

His play was the spark that North Carolina needed to oust LSU, which may as well have been playing a home game.

The Tigers are inexplicably almost always the crowd favorite in Omaha, and it showed on Tuesday. In addition to LSU traveling well, countless numbers of otherwise neutral fans filled TD Ameritrade Park decked out in purple and gold.

Carolina pitcher Trent Thornton did his part for the Tar Heels as well. The freshman right-hander turned in a seven-inning performance, giving up only two runs. Though he had taken the mound a few times in the NCAA tournament, it was the first time he actually started a game since March 27.

Carolina coach Mike Fox had high praise for Thornton after the game. "Well, we had the utmost confidence in Trent today. I think all of his teammates did as well. He's pitched like that for us all year long. So we're sort of used to that."

LSU will head back to Baton Rouge, joining Louisville as one of the first two teams to be eliminated from the College World Series.

North Carolina will play the loser of tonight's North Carolina State-UCLA contest Thursday night at 8 p.m. EST in another elimination game.

J.P. Scott is a Senior Analyst for Bleacher Report. Unless otherwise noted, all quotes were obtained firsthand via the postgame press conference.

Texas Football: 5 Longhorns on Offense with the Most to Prove

Jonathan Woo — Tue, 18 Jun 2013 20:26:21 -0400

The Texas Longhorns appear to be on the up-and-up, but they are not without their flaws, some of which encumbered their efforts a season ago.

Equipped with an up-tempo offense and vast amounts of experience—something Texas lacked in 2012—the Longhorns are a prized pick to win the Big 12.

But winning on paper and winning on the field are two very different scenarios. Despite the veteran presence all over the field on either side of the football, the Texas program has been missing that flavor of success in recent seasons, which is why the 'Horns still have those who doubt their chances of success in 2013.

If the Longhorns can play with a chip on their shoulders, having it out to prove something to the college football public, they will be a force in the conference and potentially crack the BCS in January.

Offensively, Texas appears to be set for a strong campaign, but there are a number of pieces that—if primed correctly—can help transform the offense entirely.

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One Loss Each Great College Basketball Coach Will Never Forget

C.J. Moore — Tue, 18 Jun 2013 20:22:23 -0400

Coaches never forget the losses.

Every coach can tell you about a loss that haunts them for the rest of their career. Sometimes a championship down the road can ease the pain, but not entirely.

In a tournament as fickle as the NCAA tournament, it's going to happen eventually. Even John Wooden had a few that probably irked him.

In the current game, these are seven of the greatest coaches, and one loss for each that they'll never forget.

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NCAA Basketball Recruiting 2014: Strengths and Weaknesses of Every 5-Star Player

Thad Novak — Tue, 18 Jun 2013 20:21:56 -0400

Andrew Wiggins and Jabari Parker haven’t even taken their first collegiate shots yet, but the never-ending cycle of NCAA basketball recruiting is already shifting to focus on the next crop of superstars-to-be. As coaches evaluate the rising seniors at high schools around the country, they’re looking not just for what a player does well, but also for what he’ll need to improve at the next level.

Cliff Alexander, for instance, is one of the top big men in the country thanks to his exceptional combination of power and agility. However, he’s also a subpar shooter by the standards of top-flight post players, a deficiency he’ll be working to improve throughout his senior season.

Herein is a closer look at Alexander and the rest of the 5-star prospects in the 2014 class (as rated by Scout.com) with a focus on the best and worst areas of each high schooler's game.

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2013 Stanley Cup Final: Have the Boston Bruins Found Corey Crawford's Weakness?

Steve Silverman — Tue, 18 Jun 2013 20:19:29 -0400

The Chicago Blackhawks would never have gotten to the Stanley Cup Final if Corey Crawford had not played stellar goal in the first three rounds of the playoffs.

He stopped the Minnesota Wild in the first round with little trouble. He helped the Blackhawks overcome a 3-1 deficit against the Detroit Red Wings in the conference semifinal. He won a goaltending duel with Jonathan Quick in the Western Conference Final.

The Blackhawks have no reason to complain about Corey Crawford. He has a 1.74 goals against average, a .936 save percentage and he has one shutout during the postseason.

As well as Crawford has played, he is not perfect. Neither is Tuukka Rask for that matter. All goalies have vulnerable areas and can be beaten from time to time.

The Blackhawks' job is to figure out how they can get pucks by Rask and then execute when they find out where his weak spot is. Through the first three games, they have not done that.

However, it appears the Bruins have found an area they can exploit with Crawford. It's not something that is going to turn into a deluge of goals like the Bruins were able to get when they played Roberto Luongo and the Vancouver Canucks two years ago. They pinned an eight-spot on the Canucks in Game 3 of the 2011 Stanley Cup Final.

NBC analyst Pierre McGuire pointed out the Bruins are trying to fire high shots on Crawford whenever they can (43-second mark). They have scored seven goals in the first three games of the series and all of them have gone at least halfway up the net. Two of the goals have gone high to the blocker side. Five have gone high to the glove side.

The Bruins opened the scoring in the Stanley Cup Final with two Milan Lucic goals in Game 1. The first was a hard wrist shot to the upper corner on the glove side and the second was a slap shot to the same area.

Few goalies would have been in a position to stop the first Lucic goal, but the second one was not a good goal.

They also scored on Patrice Bergeron's slap shot that rang in off the post high on the glove side.

In Game 2, Chris Kelly tied the game up on a goal-mouth scramble. The puck seemed to go to the blocker side, but Kelly was not targeting any area. He was just trying to get good wood on the puck for his first goal of the postseason.

The game remained tied until deep into the first overtime when Adam McQuaid worked the puck to Tyler Seguin. Instead of firing a shot himself, Seguin made a perfect pass to Daniel Paille. With the puck on his tape, Paille unfurled a wrister that went high and off the post to Crawford's glove side. It angled back into the net and the Bruins had their overtime win.

Paille opened the scoring in Game 3 with another quick shot to the glove side. Those two game-winners were clearly the biggest goals of Paille's NHL career.

Crawford should have stopped Lucic's second goal and he also may have had a chance on Paille's Game 3 score.

It's doubtful that many other goalies would have been able to stop any of the other shots that the Bruins have scored on in the Stanley Cup Final.

If the Blackhawks are going to steal Game 4 in Boston, Crawford can't give the Bruins a thing. If he gives up more than a goal or two, it may be difficult for his teammates to beat Rask three times.

The Blackhawks scored four goals in the triple overtime 4-3 victory in in Game 1, but they have only scored one one goal since then.

Chicago dominated the first period in Game 2, but they have not scored since then and they will carry a 122:26 scoreless streak into Game 3.

Hockey Night in Canada analyst and former Bruins head coach Don Cherry told Boston radio hosts Michael Felger and Tony Massarotti that the Blackhawks are not playing with the kind of effort needed to win at this point and they showed him "nothing" in Game 3.

That's why the Blackhawks are going to need a near-perfect effort from Crawford if they are going to bounce back.

Head coach Joel Quenneville is going to have to do something to rally his players so they challenge the Bruins for every loose puck. if he can do that, Crawford is going to have to do his part and stop those shots that come whistling in high on his glove side.

Penn State Football: 3 Things Christian Hackenberg Must Do Better

Colin Tansits — Tue, 18 Jun 2013 20:18:57 -0400

The future of Penn State football can potentially lie in the hands of soon-to-be freshman quarterback Christian Hackenberg.

The top-rated pocket passer by ESPN is coming into Happy Valley as the co-starter next to former junior college quarterback Tyler Ferguson.

There is little doubt which of the two signal-callers has more hype and potential coming into the 2013 season; it’s obviously Hackenberg. But like any young quarterback, there is much more to improvement to be made before he can earn his stripes and be named the starter.

It may be tough to pick out problems in Hackenberg’s game with his sharp release, strong arm and great accuracy.

Nonetheless, Hackenberg is nowhere near his ceiling in terms of raw tools.

Aside from building off his already strong arm, good release and accuracy, there are a few more things the young quarterback must do if he wants to start on this team.

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College World Series 2013: Position Players with Best Chance to Raise MLB Stock

Maxwell Ogden — Tue, 18 Jun 2013 20:18:15 -0400

The 2013 College World Series has cut down the field and only the elite teams remain in the pursuit of baseball supremacy. While the teams may garner the headlines for their collective success, we'd be remiss to ignore the individuals remaining in the field.

The question is, which position players have the best chance to raise their MLB stock?

Certain players have solidified their status as future stars, but lack the breakout performance at the College World Series to push their name into the first round. Others have been drafted, but would do well for their MLB future by stepping up in Omaha.

The future is now for these players.

Michael Conforto, Oregon State Beavers

Position: Outfield

Drafted: N/A

2013 Season Statistics

63 GS, .335/.456/.536, 48 R, 13 2B, 11 HR, 47 RBI

One of the last remaining favorites is the Oregon State Beavers, as they defeated Louisville to move into an elimination game against Indiana. With their College World Series eligibility on the line, the Beavers will turn to their stars.

Expect Michael Conforto to improve his draft stock for the 2014 selection process.

Conforto is already a top prospect, hitting both for power and average in order to make a powerful impact with his bat. Conforto is also a respected fielder, which suggests that his two-way upside could result in his becoming a first round draft choice.

Conforto can solidify that status by leading his team to a win over Indiana.

Conforto has 11 home runs and 47 RBI in 63 games this season, hitting .335 and scoring nine runs. He's also hit 12 doubles, which displays just how consistent Conforto has been at hitting for extra bases.

A strong performance is on the horizon from one of college baseball's brightest stars.

Adam Frazier, Mississippi State Bulldogs

Position: Shortstop

Drafted: No. 179 (Pittsburgh Pirates)

2013 Season Statistics

68 GS, .360/.406/.476, 61 R, 20 2B, 0 HR, 38 RBI

With the 179th selection in the 2013 MLB draft, the Pittsburgh Pirates selected shortstop Adam Frazier out of Mississippi State. While this year's class of shortstops has been criticized as relatively weak, Frazier is a genuine MLB prospect.

It all starts with the bat.

Frazier is not a power hitter by any stretch of the imagination, as he's failed to register a single home run this season. With that being said, Frazier is hitting .360 and boasts an on-base percentage of .476.

Paired with 20 doubles and 38 RBI, Frazier has become one of the top pure hitters in the nation.

That's the type of value that any team would love to have at the top of their batting lineup, as Frazier can get on base at an elite rate. While his draft spot may suggest mediocrity as a prospect, Frazier's upside is undeniable.

He can go a long way toward improving his stock entering the MLB by stepping up at the College World Series.

Kyle Schwarber, Indiana Hoosiers

Position: Catcher/Outfielder

Drafted: N/A

2013 Season Statistics

58 GS, .372/.462/.658, 65 R, 10 2B, 18 HR, 54 RBI

At this stage of the game, Indiana Hoosiers catcher Kyle Schwarber has the look of a genuine superstar. The sophomore catcher is one of the top hitters in the nation, mixing elite power with the type of contact play that would intrigue any scout.

Schwarber can solidify his status as a top-pick contender in 2014 by continuing his path to super-stardom at the College World Series.

Schwarber is currently hitting .372 with 18 home runs and 54 RBI in 58 games. Not only do those numbers jump off of the page, but they're evidence as to how dominant he can be when focused on the task.

The question is, will the Indiana star step up as his team faces elimination against Oregon State?

Going up against one of the top pitching staffs in the nation won't be easy, but Schwarber has proven capable. Not only is he hitting for power at the event, but he's getting on base and serving as the catalyst to Indiana's high-octane attack.

Schwarber can make the leap into the top-pick conversation with any further hitting brilliance.

World Cup Qualifying: X-Factors for US National Team in Crucial Honduras Match

Steven Cook — Tue, 18 Jun 2013 20:16:49 -0400

The U.S. men's national team have been on a surge as of late through their World Cup qualifiers, but they'll face a familiar and pesky foe in Honduras on Tuesday night.

While the Americans lead the CONCACAF standings with 10 points through five games, they'll be put in a tough position should they struggle in the match. However, a win would go a long way toward ensuring the side's qualification for the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.

The Hondurans took down the U.S. back in February with a 2-1 victory on their home soil, but the home-field advantage will be reversed this time around as the two teams face off in Rio Tinto Stadium in Utah.

Let's take a look at the biggest X-factors who the USMNT need to step up during their World Cup qualifying tilt with Honduras.

Brad Evans

Even before ripping this unexpected gem that won the Americans' recent tilt with Jamaica in extra time, Brad Evans' playing level was through the roof and it continues to soar.

Head coach Jurgen Klinsmann made the bold move of pushing the former midfielder to an unfamiliar position at right-back, and it's paid dividends. Evans has been a constant factor in the Americans' shored-up back line.

Klinsmann told Kevin Baxter of the Los Angeles Times that Evans has been showing great form as of late in his switch. Per Baxter's report, Klinsmann said "Now that Brad Evans is playing that role very, very strongly, he made a very strong case for himself going toward the World Cup in Brazil."

The 28-year-old has had his moments with the USMNT, some brighter than others. But he's enjoying one of the best stretches of his international career, and it continuing on Tuesday night would do wonders for the Americans' chances.

Jozy Altidore

The U.S. go as Jozy Altidore goes, and that's the biggest reason why they've been able to have success as of late in the CONCACAF World Cup qualifying.

The American striker has been scoring goals at will, despite changes being made to his supporting midfield by Klinsmann in virtually every contest.

With so many question marks surrounding the best starting lineup for the USMNT, it's imperative that Altidore learns how to have success even if he doesn't know who will be lining up next to him. And recently, he's proven that with prowess and domination in manufacturing goals.

The Americans need Altidore to play with anger, energy and strength in order to have success, and that is just what the 23-year-old has been doing.

Jermaine Jones

It's unclear as of yet whether Jermaine Jones will return from injury after experiencing concussion-like symptoms after the team's 2-0 win vs. Panama, but Klinsmann hinted at it to MLSsoccer.com just prior to the team's battle with Honduras.

With DaMarcus Beasley out after picking up excessive yellow cards, the Americans could surely use Jones' attacking ability and strength on the pitch. Against a Honduras team that is always dangerous but tends to leave opportunities out there for the opponent, Jones could turn into a hero again.

The 31-year-old is one of the leaders on the USMNT, and his presence is felt positively on the pitch no matter how he's performing. He makes his teammates better and allows more comfort for the youngsters.

If Jones is able to start Tuesday's match, it will give the Americans a huge leg up, and Honduras will have their hands full.

Johnny Manziel Should Already Be a Millionaire, but the NCAA Is Holding Him Back

Amy Daughters — Tue, 18 Jun 2013 20:02:51 -0400

Though it’s pretty easy to see that Texas A&M star QB Johnny Manziel is literally “living the dream,” what if in reality he’s just another young athlete getting screwed?

Yes, “Johnny Football” has access to the best parties, elite travel opportunities, pretty girls and boatloads of fans but at the end of the day what is it all really worth?

Think about the bottom line for Manziel: what does he really have to show for his first-ever freshman Heisman and his skyrocket ride to fame?

Sure, we’ll always remember him, but if he gets hurt in 2013 or turns out to be a one-hit wonder with zero pro prospects, what does Manziel take with him when he goes?

The answer here is really simple; nothing.

Manziel—in partnership with coach Kevin Sumlin and a group of talented teammates—has managed to turn Texas A&M football on its ear and with that the university, the SEC conference and college football as a larger entity, has enjoyed huge financial rewards.

And, due to the way the NCAA defines “student athletes” Manziel and his band of talented on-field cohorts have virtually nothing in their bank accounts to tell of their storied success.

Though money doesn’t always define success, when you’re dealing with a multimillion dollar-generating sport like college football, it’s tough to stomach the fact being a top cash generator doesn’t mean you’ll see a single penny.

The truth is given an alternate universe Johnny Manziel’s wild popularity—which is not just limited to the confines of College Station, Texas, the Lone Star State or the SEC region of football—could equal a tidy sum in endorsements, appearance fees and profit-sharing.

That is if the NCAA allowed such crazy benefits to the “student athletes” whose participation actually generates the dollars.

Isn’t it ironic that the kid who is clad in a Texas A&M uniform with “Adidas” plastered all over it won’t see a single penny from his school’s relationship with the athletic supplier?

Yes, isn’t it just a bit odd that Manziel can’t—by NCAA law—earn a dime from sales of jersey’s bearing his name and number and that he’ll never get a piece of the action from his image as an Aggie?

Not in a video game, not in a photo and not in footage that can be sold as a part of Texas A&M’s glorious revival and foray into the SEC ranks.

Sure, Manziel may cash in his epic collegiate career on a full-fledged and very lucrative stint in the NFL, but the chances of that happening, in reality, are slim especially given the difference between the two levels of play (more pronounced at the QB position) and the risk of injury.

So, how much money would Manziel be looking at after just one single season at A&M if the NCAA opted to raise the shifty veil separating amateurism from the stacks of cash in the college football coffers?

Well, you’d have to figure given the frenzy associated with the first-ever freshman Heisman winner and the first bronze statuette in Aggieland since John David Crow carried one home in 1957, that the number could easily exceed a million bucks.

Especially if the right marketing people struck while the iron was hot.

This all leads to the obvious question of who really has the right to make money off Johnny Football?

Is it the institution where he enrolled to play college ball? Is it the SEC who negotiated his TV rights, the BCS which rules college football, ESPN which covers it so completely, or is it the NCAA which allows all these parties to reap in huge gains by utilizing a sentimental shield misnamed “student athlete?”

On one side, college football isn’t a business because Johnny Manziel is not an “employee” of the program he works for even though he earns that same institution a boatload of cash by using his talent and risking his athletic future.

Yes, college football can’t be a business because Johnny Football couldn’t even file a workman’s compensation claim if he were injured.

And this is true even though he generates as much cash as any single employee in the town he “works” in.

On the flip side, college football is a multimillion-dollar industry where everyone is getting crazy rich…well, that is except for the guys who actually play the game.

Again, these are the young men who risk their physical futures to add to a bottom line which they share no part in.

Their due reward?

A college scholarship which they would gladly toss aside, half used, for a coveted place in the NFL draft.

But, remember that as per an article posted in 2012 on BusinessInsider.com only 1.7 percent of college football players make the pros.

These numbers are direct from the NCAA and mean that 98.3 percent of the guys who don’t earn a penny as a college player, but in many cases toil to earn other parties stacks of cash, will never make a career of football.

In other words, if you take 100 college football players, less than two of them will ever be financially rewarded for greasing the big money wheel of collegiate athletics.

Johnny Manziel is making lots of people lots of money but if fizzles out before leaving Texas A&M or gets seriously injured in the process, he’s left high and dry with nothing to show for it.

Meanwhile, the fat cats are happy to move on to the next set of victims and stand up for age-old values such as “amateurism” and the sacred concept of the “student athlete.”

Before immediately accepting the long-standing belief that college athletes shouldn’t be paid, seriously consider the following questions.

Is offering zero compensation to institutional athletes an honorable attempt to keep collegiate athletics free of the money-hungry brand of capitalism we kneel down to?

Or, instead is it a complete sham used to take advantage of the very athlete’s whose performances are the game, not just a part of it?

And where does a guy like Johnny Manziel, a superstar with loads of cash potential, fit into this unjust picture?

Arsenal Transfer Rumours: 4 Attainable Players on Arsene Wenger's Radar

Charlie Melman — Tue, 18 Jun 2013 19:57:07 -0400

With no club football to occupy us during these summer months, silly season has taken hold of some of the more hopeful fans out there.

Of course, some rumors that pop up during the offseason will eventually materialize, but the vast majority are utter nonsense. Often, one wakes up in a cold sweat on September 1 and wonders how one could have ever been coaxed into believing such sensational stories were true.

So let's focus on those transfer rumors that, while by definition are hopeful, actually have some chance of bearing fruit.

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Picking the Under-25 MLB All-Star Team for 2013

Jason Catania — Tue, 18 Jun 2013 19:54:04 -0400

What if the Major League Baseball All-Star Game was played only by those younger than 25 years old?

While "old fogeys" like Miguel Cabrera (30 years old), Robinson Cano (also 30), Joey Votto (29) and even Buster Posey (26) will get their due on the big stage at Citi Field in July, we thought it would be more fun to focus on identifying the most All-Star-worthy youngsters in the game this season.

Here's a look at the Under-25 All-Star Team for 2013.

All statistics come from Baseball-Reference and FanGraphs; WAR totals come from FanGraphs.

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Alabama Football Recruiting: Biggest Storylines to Emerge from OL/DL Camp

Sanjay Kirpalani — Tue, 18 Jun 2013 19:49:49 -0400

Alabama held its second summer camp session last weekend, which focused strictly on players manning the offensive and defensive lines.

There were a number of the nation’s top linemen participating and getting familiar with the surroundings in Tuscaloosa.

Both trench units are points of emphasis for Nick Saban and his staff in this cycle, so what are the biggest nuggets of information that Tide fans can take away from this camp?

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New York Rangers' Biggest Short-Term and Long-Term Problems

Andrew Capitelli — Tue, 18 Jun 2013 19:49:39 -0400

It was only last May that the New York Rangers were just two wins away from a Stanley Cup Final berth. Glen Sather built a team that head coach John Tortorella could work with, and in 2011-12, together the two helped the team reach its peak.

Although the Rangers completely bought into Tortorella’s defensive system, the team lacked the offensive production to see them through to the finals. Sather saw the summer of 2012 as an opportunity to add to the team’s anemic offense and trade valuable depth for superstar Rick Nash. At the same time, the then 12-year Rangers exec found himself in several contract disputes with even more depth forwards, players like Ruslan Fedotenko, John Mitchell and Brandon Prust.

All three were eventually allowed to walk and join other clubs, so when the Rangers opened up training camp in January of 2013, Tortorella was surrounded by a host of new faces. The ensuing season will forever be considered a disappointment, despite the team’s ability to reach the second round of the playoffs. There was a clear lack of depth down the middle, a severe shortage of goals and lack of team fluidity.

In the end, Marian Gaborik and Tortorella became causalities, Brad Richards found himself the press box and Henrik Lundqvist left the organization doubting whether or not he plans to be in New York for the long haul.

The point is, the Rangers were on cloud nine just one year ago, but now things aren’t as peachy. Numerous problems have arisen over the past 12 months, so today we’ll sort through them and take a look at the most serious short-term and long-term problems.

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2014 Recruiting: Power Ranking the 5 Most Shocking Commitments so Far

Edwin Weathersby — Tue, 18 Jun 2013 19:46:50 -0400

Although the 2014 recruiting cycle is still young, much has taken place thus far.

Recruiting classes are taking shape; recruits are starting to narrow down their lists and summer visits will begin to take place.

However, there have also been several instances of surprising commitments. A stud running back shockingly flipped schools while another committed to a program much earlier than anticipated. An Elite 11 quarterback recently announced his commitment, but it was not to a school many expected him to choose.

Shocking commitments happen in every recruiting cycle, so brace yourself.

Player evaluations are based on review of tape at Scout.com, Rivals, 247Sports & ESPNU.

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The One 2013 Free Agent Each NBA Team Is Most Hotly Linked to

Adam Fromal — Tue, 18 Jun 2013 19:44:47 -0400

Even while the NBA Playoffs rage on, the 30 teams in the Association have been positioning themselves for the offseason. Focusing on the 2013 NBA draft and the ensuing free-agency period, each team is interested in maximizing the strength of its roster.

Although teams can't officially comment on free agents—or else they face potential tampering charges—certain franchises and free agents are already starting to be linked together. In most cases, one particular free agent has emerged as the one a team is most hotly linked to.

That said, there are seven teams who legitimately have generated no free-agent rumors whatsoever:

Boston Celtics: The Doc Rivers/Kevin Garnett/Paul Pierce distractions have prevented any rumors from surfacing.
Miami Heat: They've had more important things to focus on. You know, like the NBA Finals.
Orlando Magic: With the No. 2 pick in the draft looming, that's been the primary concern for general manager Rob Hennigan.
Phoenix Suns: In this case, nothing has surfaced yet. It defies explanation, other than the fact that Phoenix isn't the most attractive destination right now.
San Antonio Spurs: See: Heat, Miami.
Utah Jazz: It's too tough to pick out one player since the entire roster seems to be hitting unrestricted free agency.
Washington Wizards: The debate between Otto Porter and Anthony Bennett rages on and prevents any hot rumors from boiling over.

The other 23 teams have taken part in the rumor mill, so let's see what's been churned up.

Note: All contract information comes from Spotrac.com.

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CWS 2013: Keys to Victory for Each Remaining Contender

Justin Onslow — Tue, 18 Jun 2013 19:43:36 -0400

The 2013 College World Series hasn’t lacked excitement. The road to Omaha, Nebraska, was paved with tremendous games, and we saw yet another last night.

In a thrilling 5-4 contest, Mississippi State came from behind to upend Indiana and secure a berth in the semifinals. The Bulldogs now wait for Oregon State and Indiana to battle it out in the loser’s bracket for a chance at redemption in the semifinal round.

No. 1 North Carolina earned its place in the next round with a 4-2 victory over No. 4 LSU on Tuesday. The Tar Heels are already in the loser’s bracket after having lost 8-1 to NC State a round prior and will wait for the loser of the NC State vs. UCLA matchup set for 8 p.m. EDT on Tuesday.

Let’s take a look at keys to victory for each of the six remaining teams in the tournament, highlighting the most crucial factor for each squad as it closes in on a College World Series title.

NC State

It’s All About the Pitching

Playing winning baseball doesn’t require a complicated formula. At its core, the game is all about pitching, hitting and defense.

Obviously.

But NC State hasn’t needed much offense to get this far in the College World Series. Wolfpack starting pitching has been absolutely dominant, starting with college baseball’s strikeout king, Carlos Rodon.

NC State has held opponents to an average of 1.8 runs per contest in the tournament. And while scoring a little more than five runs per game hasn’t hurt its cause, the hottest team in the country hasn’t needed that run support.

Unfortunately for UCLA, hitting hasn’t been the strongest facet of its game this year. With a team batting average of .250, the Bruins are going to need a few clutch performances at the dish to have a chance against NC State.

If the Wolfpack continues pitching as it has throughout the tournament, though, this game might not even be a contest.

UCLA

Clutch Hitting

As already noted, UCLA hasn’t exactly been an offensive juggernaut this season. It’s going to take more than a couple runs to upend NC State on Tuesday night.

The Bruins offense has been consistent throughout the tournament—it just hasn’t been all that explosive. Averaging just 4.5 runs per game without a single performance topping six runs, UCLA can’t hope to open things up against a tremendous NC State pitching staff.

However, teams don’t have to score in bunches to win in the tournament. Sometimes getting timely hitting is enough.

Two runs were enough to upset LSU in the previous round, courtesy of some terrific pitching. If UCLA can get a similar performance from its hurlers on Tuesday and find a way to string together some timely hits, the Bruins will have a chance of cooling off the red-hot Wolfpack.

Indiana

Kyle Schwarber

Yes, baseball is a team game. But it’s also a team game predicated on individual matchups and performances.

Catcher Kyle Schwarber is the heart of Indiana’s team, both behind the dish and next to it. When Schwarber doesn’t perform, the Hoosiers are at a big disadvantage.

But in his last two games, the team’s leading slugger and No. 2 hitter has struck out six times and notched just three hits in 10 at-bats. At the top of the lineup, Schwarber has to find a way to put the ball in play.

With an elimination game on the horizon against an Oregon State team that dominated Louisville 11-4 on Monday, the Hoosiers need to come prepared to put up some runs. Schwarber will be the key to doing just that.

Oregon State

Don’t Change a Thing

No one expected Oregon State to take it to Louisville as it did on Monday evening. With an 11-4 drubbing that saw both clutch hitting and strong pitching, the Beavers look primed for another big performance against the Hoosiers on Wednesday.

If it’s not broken, don’t fix it.

The top of Oregon State’s lineup is far from broken. In the Beavers’ win over the Cardinals last round, each of the team’s top five hitters notched at least one hit, including two or more from the top three spots. With that kind of production at the top of the order, it isn’t difficult winning ballgames.

It may be easier said than done, but Oregon State doesn’t need to change anything to beat Indiana on Wednesday. An 11-run performance goes a long way toward building confidence and lessening the pressure, and the Beavers should look loose and confident when they face the Hoosiers.

Mississippi State

Keep the Pressure off

It took three runs in the eighth inning to pull ahead of Indiana and leave enough cushion to withstand a ninth-inning run from the Hoosiers en route to a 5-4 victory. But at this stage in the tournament, the Bulldogs can’t afford to back themselves into a corner like that.

Mississippi State got on the board first in that contest with a run in the first inning, but its offense remained mostly stagnant until the eighth inning. The Bulldogs may not be so lucky in a potential rematch.

Mississippi State will await the winner of the Indiana-Oregon State contest set for Wednesday night. But regardless of their opponent, the Bulldogs can’t afford to fall behind early and rely on a late-inning rally to save them again.

If Mississippi State falls behind early, it has to hope its relief pitching can hold out long enough for a late-inning comeback—not the ideal situation for a team that has dipped into its bullpen fairly often in the tournament.

North Carolina

The Big Boppers

North Carolina is one of the most explosive offensive squads in the nation, led by Landon Lassiter, Colin Moran, Brian Holberton, Cody Stubbs and Sky Bolt. All five hitters (No. 2 though No. 6 in the lineup) are hitting over .300 on the season and combined for nine hits in the Tar Heels’ 4-2 win over LSU on Tuesday afternoon.

That string of mashers is a veritable gauntlet for opposing pitching, and as long as the quintet continues hitting as it did against LSU, it won’t matter what the bottom of the order does.

Terrific starting pitching was critical in their win over LSU, but the Tar Heels don’t need to hold opponents to two runs or fewer to win ballgames. Even against the tough pitching of NC State or UCLA, North Carolina should have a decided advantage.

North Carolina is No. 1 for a reason. If the middle of their lineup continues performing at this level, there is no team remaining that can stop the Tar Heels.