Bleacher Report - Articles by Gary Lloyd

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Gary Lloyd — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 20:29:00 -0500

What’s up, everybody? Hope all has been well.

I haven’t made a post since April 10, and I apologize to those who enjoyed my columns. I also apologize to those who criticized the columns, despised my analysis, because now you’re reading another one, wondering why I’ve come back.

Anyway, I’ve been covering The University of Alabama the past six or seven months (mainly football, basketball and recruiting) and I’m now focusing on the homestretch of my senior year at the Capstone, as I’m graduating in December.

I mainly covered football and recruiting during my Bleacher Report absence, so I’ve been itching to write some type of basketball article, college or pro.

All that time to think, and no solid ideas came to mind. I could post my college basketball preseason top 25, but I’m sure you’ve seen enough of those by now to want to gouge your eyes out, a tactic recently perfected by Florida linebacker Brandon Spikes.

Or I could write which NBA teams I think are going to make a run at the title this season, but you know the contenders.

Then, I looked back to that April 10 article, and it hit me: I would take the actual results of the 2009 NBA draft and offer analysis in the same way: objectively, offensively and seriously. So there you go. Enjoy.

1. Los Angeles Clippers took Oklahoma F Blake Griffin: I sympathized with the family of Michael Jackson on June 25, the day of his sudden, untimely death. Everyone had the Jacksons on their minds and in their prayers. The Clippers did, too, on this day, the same day as the draft. Los Angeles selected Griffin, a pick that was easy as A-B-C, 1-2-3.

2. Memphis Grizzlies took Connecticut C Hasheem Thabeet: I said bust then, and I say bust now. He did have four blocks in 12 minutes in a game this November, but also fouled out.

3. Oklahoma City Thunder took Arizona State G James Harden: Good pick for the Thunder. This team is putting together some very solid pieces.

4. Sacramento Kings took Memphis G Tyreke Evans: Another good top-five pick, and not too surprising. Ricky Rubio was still on the board, but apparently these teams knew something we didn’t. Spoke too soon, the Timberwolves didn’t know.

5. Minnesota Timberwolves took Italian G Ricky Rubio: Weeks after the draft, Rubio chose to stay in Spain to play. Details about his contract were problematic, sure, but I wouldn’t want to be in Minnesota, either.

6. Minnesota Timberwolves took Syracuse G Jonny Flynn: He’s been one of the best rookies so far, though the season is in its infancy stage. Guess Minnesota redeemed itself from that Rubio pick ASAP.

7. Golden State Warriors took Davidson G Stephen Curry: After Curry was drafted, he “tweeted” that he was “gonna catch some Zs” on the flight to California. I’ll catch some Zs watching the Warriors try to play defense this season.

8. New York Knicks took Arizona F Jordan Hill: Coach Mike D’Antoni said at the time of the draft that Hill reminded him of Amare Stoudemire. Ha! Hill has played just 1:45 clock time more than me so far this season. I’ve also scored as many points as Hill.

9. Toronto Raptors took USC G DeMar DeRozan: He’s a project, for sure, but it’ll be worth it for Toronto in the end. I really like DeRozan’s upside as a scorer and defender.

10. Milwaukee Bucks took Italy G Brandon Jennings: Jennings got grilled pretty good for going overseas to pursue the big bucks instead of enrolling at Arizona, even if for one year. Now, he’s making his critics pay.

11. New Jersey Nets took Louisville G Terrence Williams: It feels good to be right about at least one player. I praised Williams enough for two people during his senior season leading up to the draft, and he was even taken higher than I expected. Good for him.

12. Charlotte Bobcats took Duke G Gerald Henderson: The good news is Henderson didn’t have to relocate very far from where he played in college. The bad news is that place is, indeed, Charlotte.

13. Indiana Pacers took North Carolina F Tyler Hansbrough: I understand the Pacers wanted a tough, interior presence. But with a lottery pick, I have to question taking Hansbrough this early.

14. Phoenix Suns took Louisville F Earl Clark: Another understandable pick in the first round. Clark brings athleticism and a defensive presence to a Suns team that definitely needs it. Thought he’d go sooner, though.

15. Detroit Pistons took Gonzaga F Austin Daye: Who better to be Tayshaun Prince’s understudy at small forward? Daye is a seemingly famished player that can bury the outside shot, just like Prince.

16. Chicago Bulls took Wake Forest F James Johnson: I said in April that Wake players understand the first round, and first round only (see 2009 NCAA Tournament). Well, guess I was wrong, as Johnson has done nothing.

17. Philadelphia 76ers took UCLA G Jrue Holiday: Still a very young player, but I think he’ll be Philly’s starting point guard for a long time to come.

18. Denver Nuggets (from Miami and Minnesota) took North Carolina G Ty Lawson: I said in April Lawson should be one of the first five picks. I stand by that pick, but I’m sure the Nuggets don’t mind him slipping to No. 18.

19. Atlanta Hawks took Wake Forest G Jeff Teague: See pick No. 16. Kidding aside, I think Teague will be a solid playmaker at point guard.

20. Utah Jazz took VCU G Eric Maynor: I like this pick for Utah. Deron Williams needed a backup, and the Jazz got him in Maynor. It’ll take a while, as it does with most rookies, but Maynor should be a solid backup.

21. New Orleans Hornets took UCLA G Darren Collison: Um, why?

22. Portland Trail Blazers took Spanish F Victor Claver: Bet Portland wishes it would have selected DeJuan Blair now.

23. Sacramento Kings took Israeli F Omri Casspi: Would have never thought Casspi would already be getting the minutes he’s playing. Then again, it is Sacramento.

24. Oklahoma City Thunder (from Dallas and Portland) took Ohio State C BJ Mullens: At least the Thunder went ahead and got a legitimate first-rounder in Harden.

25. Dallas Mavericks (from Oklahoma City and San Antonio) took French G Rodrigue Beaubois: I’m gonna be honest, I have no idea what to say. Not because this was an outlandish pick, but because I don’t know much about Beaubois. Not even how to pronounce that name.

26. Chicago Bulls (from Oklahoma City and Denver) took USC F Taj Gibson: Ready or not, Gibson is set to be a starter for the Bulls with Tyrus Thomas out with a broken arm. Gibson has been a really good backup thus far, so expect his numbers to skyrocket, perhaps as much as some former USC athletes were paid.

27. Memphis Grizzlies took Missouri F DeMarre Carroll: The better of the two first-round picks for the Grizzlies. Yes, that’s a shot at you, Hasheem Thabeet.

28. Minnesota Timberwolves took North Carolina G Wayne Ellington: Management had to replace an overrated shooting guard from North Carolina, right? Exit Rashad McCants, enter Ellington.

29. New York Knicks (from LA Lakers) took Florida State G Toney Douglas: Oh, how things can turn for the worse so quickly, thinking you’re a Laker and ending up a Knick. Did I say worse? I meant worst.

30. Cleveland Cavaliers took Congo F Christian Eyenga: D’oh! Blair, Sam Young and Jeff Pendergraph were still on the board. Well, the first round started out with intelligent selections, but didn’t close the same way.

2009 NBA Mock Draft: April Edition

Gary Lloyd — Fri, 10 Apr 2009 00:22:50 -0400

This is a rather long mock draft, so let's just jump right in.

1. Sacramento Kings - Oklahoma F Blake Griffin

He’ll be treated and paid like a "king" in Sacramento, but unfortunately, he’ll have to play as one, too.

2. Los Angeles Clippers - Connecticut C Hasheem Thabeet

The Clippers suck at interior defense and rebounding. Thabeet doesn’t.

3. Washington Wizards - Arizona F Jordan Hill

I’m sure President Barack Obama will have some SportsCenter mock draft himself, but he probably won’t select a player for Washington from a red state, especially John McCain’s.

4. Oklahoma City Thunder - Arizona State G James Harden

Harden kept his beard growing as his Sun Devils won games this season. Guess if he’s drafted by Oklahoma City, he’ll be clean-shaven for a long, long while (though the Thunder will be a solid team in the coming years).

5. Minnesota Timberwolves - North Carolina G Ty Lawson

If Minnesota is the "Land of 10,000 Lakes," then the Wolves appear to have built their foundation in the middle of one; their players seem more fragile than a celebutante after 14 mai-tais. Adding another “Mr. Glass” in Lawson could exponentially increase the "this-squadron-will-self-destruct-in-15-seconds" potential, but, should they all stay healthy, their team could sneak up on you like HIV*.

* courtesy of John Gorman, check out his archive here

6. Memphis Grizzlies - Arizona G/F Chase Budinger

Chase, seriously, check this out, since I’ve got you heading to Memphis. Who knows, you may enjoy it more than playing for the Grizzlies.

7. Golden State Warriors - Louisville F Earl Clark

Clark’s shot selection is frequently poor, but he has tremendous upside. Yep, definitely a fit in Golden State.

8. New York Knicks - USC G Demar DeRozan

The Knicks had the No. 6 pick a year ago and wanted a USC freshman guard. Now, they get their "hot dog," just with less Mayo.

9. Toronto Raptors - Duke G Gerald Henderson

Figures that a Duke guard will play in another country. But wait, this one did make it as an NBA player?

10. Milwaukee Bucks - Memphis G Tyreke Evans

Evans earned McDonald’s All-American High School Basketball Game MVP honors a little over a year ago, and it was at the Bradley Center, the Bucks’ home court. Why not continue the hot streak in that building 41 times a year?

11. New Jersey Nets - Lottomatica Roma G Brandon Jennings

I’m being very generous to you, Brandon, placing you this high in the draft. But remember: If you make another big mistake (similar to not going to Arizona), you’re only about 14 hours away from some Italian league...again.

12. Indiana Pacers - Iowa State F Craig Brackins

I know what you’re thinking: ”Who the heck is this? I’ve never seen him on national TV.”

By the same token, can’t you say the same thing about the 2008-09 Pacers?

13. Charlotte Bobcats - Georgetown F Greg Monroe

Maybe, just maybe, Charlotte finally drafts that top-notch post partner that Emeka Okafor needs. Or, more than likely, they take yet another point guard or small forward prospect.

14. Detroit Pistons - Pittsburgh F Sam Young

The talk all season about Pittsburgh was its toughness. Young is tough, so why shouldn't he go to one of the traditionally tougher franchises in NBA history? Just makes sense.

15. Chicago Bulls - North Carolina G Wayne Ellington

If you know some history, you know the 1893 World’s Columbian Exposition was in Chicago, and that tons of bricks were put up to build it. Ellington will help eliminate some of those bricks that have been dropping in the Windy City in the 21st century.

16. Philadelphia Sixers - Davidson G Stephen Curry

College basketball fans love Stephen Curry, but if he does indeed go to Philly, making 6-of-17 shots from the floor against the big boys won’t have fans sending any praise his way. It’ll probably be popcorn or beer.

17. Phoenix Suns - Wake Forest F Al-Farouq Aminu

Welcome to Phoenix, Al-Farouq, where your shot-blocking and defensive tools will more than likely become "liabilities."

18. Minnesota Timberwolves (via Miami) - Wake Forest F James Johnson

Another Demon Deacon forward in the first round. Seems Wake players understand the first round, and first round only.

19. Atlanta Hawks - Syracuse G Jonny Flynn

Joking aside, I think this would be an excellent fit.

20. Dallas Mavericks - Louisville G Terrence Williams

The last time Dallas made a solid first-round pick was 2003, when Josh Howard became a Maverick. This pick would mirror that one, especially since Williams’ game is comparable to Howard’s. The only differences are Williams respects "The Star-Spangled Banner" and only gets high by way of his vertical jump.

21. Utah Jazz - Virginia Commonwealth G Eric Maynor

Among NBA point guards, Utah's Deron Williams ranks third in minutes per game this season. Like The Beatles, he "needs somebody, not just anybody, to help him out when he’s feeling a little down." Maynor would be a solid backup.

22. New Orleans Hornets - Wake Forest G Jeff Teague

Teague goes to The Big Easy, where it won’t be so "easy" for him to get sufficient playing time.

23. Portland Trailblazers - Pittsburgh F DeJuan Blair

This really fills a crucial need for the Blazers. The franchise has been struggling to fill the short, fat guy role since the departure of Zach Randolph.

24. Sacramento Kings (via Houston) - UCLA G Darren Collison

The Kings seriously need to add some point guard depth. Now, Collison has proven he’s abysmal in big games, but that’s OK with the Maloof brothers, since the team they own won’t be playing in any games of significance.

25. Oklahoma City Thunder (via San Antonio) - Ohio State C BJ Mullens

After really improving in the second half of the season, the Thunder must make a move that will help in their efforts to run Kevin Durant out of town after his rookie contract expires. This pick would would be a huge step in that direction.

26. Chicago Bulls (via Denver) - Georgia Tech F Gani Lawal

Between Lawal and Tyrus Thomas, the Bulls would have the league’s best rotation of offensively unskilled and overdrafted power forwards.

27. Memphis Grizzlies (via Orlando) - Villanova F Dante Cunningham

What can I say, Memphis has a thing for scrawny power forwards from the Big East.

28. Minnesota Timberwolves (via Boston) - Georgetown F DaJuan Summers

Raising the number of people named “DaJuan” in the state of Minnesota to one.

29. Cleveland Cavaliers - North Carolina F Tyler Hansbrough

Huge move here in the Cavs’ attempt to keep LeBron James. The team is sending a big message about its commitment to winning championships by a acquiring a spastic forward to dance like Mark Madsen at title celebrations.

30. Los Angeles Lakers - Connecticut G A.J. Price

Look for this new Windows commercial: After a day of Beverly Hills shopping, A.J. gets a few fully loaded MacBooks and gets to keep all of his $1,000.

Additional Notes

Draft order is based on how I think the regular-season records end and which teams have the best chance of landing top picks.
I left out European players, because their contracts are apparently as confused as an unsolved Rubik’s Cube.
This is all assuming current declarations stand and who I think will declare will (for instance, Kentucky forward Patrick Patterson said he’s returning to UK, but if he does end up making the jump, he’d be a lottery pick, and the same thing goes for a lot of players on the fence).
The selections with "(via [team])" denotes a trade. If you're curious as to why certain teams get another team's pick, you can research that yourself.

Hope this was enjoyable.

Candidates aplenty for Bama Basketball job

Gary Lloyd — Mon, 26 Jan 2009 20:05:12 -0500

Monday afternoon, in a meeting with athletics director Mal Moore, Mark Gottfried agreed to step down as the Alabama head coach. He compiled a 210-131 record in his near 11 years at the Tide’s helm.

Now, the attention shifts to the coaching search. It’s still really early to tell who’s a serious candidate and who isn’t, but the names should pour in in the coming months. These are my top candidates for the job, rated from most likely to least likely to get the job. Note that I excluded Mark Few, Gonzaga’s coach, simply because I don’t foresee him leaving Spokane, Wash., though you may disagree.

1. Anthony Grant, Virginia Commonwealth: Grant has been a hot name the last couple years, especially after almost taking over the Florida Gators when current head coach Billy Donovan agreed to be the coach for the NBA’s Orlando Magic. He’s a high-energy guy who deserves a shot at a big-time program. If Alabama doesn’t get him now, they won’t get another chance at this hot commodity. Hiring a black coach would help the school’s image, too.

2. Mike Anderson, Missouri: I think Anderson will be intrigued by this job, despite having a gig at a BCS program. He did big things as the Alabama-Birmingham coach prior to getting the Missouri job, and lots of basketball fans in this state like him. His frenetic, “40 minutes of hell” style is something Alabama fans desperately want to see.

3. Sean Miller, Xavier: Miller has a good thing going at Xavier right now, but maybe he’d take a look at a bigger job. His name is thrown around a lot these days, but the buyout on his contract could be pricey. Miller is signed through the 2017-2018 season to coach the Musketeers.

4. Scott Sutton, Oral Roberts: Sutton is a young coach who hasn’t gotten a shot at a big-time job. He’s been at Oral Roberts since 1999, and has had his team in the NCAA tournament the last three seasons, averaging just over 22 wins in that time.

5. Mike Davis, UAB: Davis played at Alabama and came back to assist David Hobbs from 1995-1997. He took Indiana to the National Championship in 2002, losing to Maryland in the ultimate game. From what I’ve gathered, Davis isn’t a flashy coach but relates well with his players.

6. Brad Stevens, Butler: A hot name, but not a lot of experience for Stevens. He’s a mere 32 years old, and is in only his second season as Butler head coach. His name will surely be out there, but I don’t think he’ll make the jump to a major program just yet.

7. Tubby Smith, Minnesota: Fans around Tuscaloosa are screaming this name on local radio shows and whatnot. His resume is sensational, despite the pressure to resign after his 2006-07 Kentucky team compiled a 22-12 record and making it to the NCAA tournament’s second round. It would be a great hire, but can Alabama lure Smith from Minnesota, a school he is just now turning around?

8. T.R. Dunn, Houston Rockets assistant: Dunn has been an assistant coach for three NBA teams, and his ties to Alabama make him a viable candidate. Dunn may have a nice pitch to recruits, having coached for years in the NBA.

9. Tony Bennett, Washington State: Bennett is the only coach in WSU history to take the Cougars to back-to-back NCAA tournaments. This year has been somewhat of a struggle for Bennett, though his name still floats around. The transition to the SEC may be tough, especially since most people in the South don’t know much about Bennett. His style of play is methodical, so fans might object given the aforementioned names.

10. Roy Rogers, New Jersey Nets assistant: Like Dunn, Rogers is a former Alabama star that now assists on an NBA team. This is a reach, but if it’s one of those “keep it in the family” hires, his name will be brought up. This is, I think, the unlikeliest of the previous nine, but his name belongs nonetheless.

Other coaches that may have a shot at the job

Gregg Marshall, Wichita State

Steve Alford, New Mexico

Mark Fox, Nevada

College Football: Way Too Early Look at 2009

Gary Lloyd — Tue, 06 Jan 2009 09:18:05 -0500

We're still two days away from the BCS National Championship Game and nine away from the deadline for early entries into the 2009 NFL draft.

Meaning, it's way too early to project next season's rankings, but I'll give it a quick shot.

1. Florida Gators

Reason to believe the ranking: Tim Tebow could return for his senior season, and we should all know to not bet against him. Reason to doubt the ranking: Tebow could say goodbye to Gainesville and head for the NFL.

2. Texas Longhorns

Reason to believe the ranking: Colt McCoy will be the Heisman frontrunner upon his return to school, and he makes average receivers look good. Reason to doubt the ranking: If Texas’ defensive line does not reload, Big 12 quarterbacks may have all day to throw against the Longhorns’ young secondary.

3. Alabama Crimson Tide

Reason to believe the ranking: The Tide defense will be among the best in the nation, while the running game will continue to open up a better passing game in 2009. Reason to doubt the ranking: Alabama loses three starting offensive linemen from one of the best lines in America. Young, inexperienced linemen will get their shot early in the spring.

4. USC Trojans

Reason to believe the ranking: Most of the skill players should be back, which means lots and lots of points. Reason to doubt the ranking: USC has to pretty much reload its entire defense, so it’ll have to find some young studs to fill all positions.

5. Ohio State Buckeyes

Reason to believe the ranking: Terrelle Pryor will have the ball in his hands at all times and will be ready to lead a team on his own. Reason to doubt the ranking: If Chris Wells decides to enter the NFL draft, then the Buckeyes will struggle mightily having to rely solely on Pryor’s arm.

6. Oklahoma State Cowboys

Reason to believe the ranking: Quarterback Zac Robinson is back to hand the ball of to Kendall Hunter and throw it deep to Dez Bryant, who should be the frontrunner for the Biletnikoff Award. Reason to doubt the ranking: The secondary will be very inexperienced, but that could be a good thing given how bad the Cowboys’ pass defense was this season. We’ll see.

7. Oklahoma Sooners

Reason to believe the ranking: Chris Brown and DeMarco Murray are back, so if Sam Bradford isn’t, then the running game will be successful for sure. Reason to doubt the ranking: The backs will be in place, but what about Bradford and the offensive line? Bradford is likely gone, as is the O-line. And like Oklahoma State, the secondary is a problem.

8. Ole Miss Rebels

Reason to believe the ranking: It was Houston Nutt’s first year in Oxford, and he has his most productive skill players back. Reason to doubt the ranking: The anchors of both offensive and defensive lines are gone in left tackle Michael Oher and nose tackle Peria Jerry. Can QB Jevan Snead be protected? Can the new NT draw extra blockers like Jerry did?

9. Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets

Reason to believe the ranking: The Yellow Jackets return all the key components of a backfield that’s very tough to defend. Reason to doubt the ranking: The top defensive tackles and one of the best defensive ends in America are gone. Filling in for those three will be difficult.

10. Virginia Tech Hokies

Reason to believe the ranking: Elusive QB Tyrod Taylor is back and running the show solo with Sean Glennon now departed. The defense will be solid again, of course. Reason to doubt the ranking: Virginia Tech has always been sure of its linebackers, but 2009 doesn’t look so sure right now. Maybe a couple guys will step up for the defending ACC champions.

Best of the rest

11. Georgia Bulldogs

12. LSU Tigers

13. Pittsburgh Panthers

14. Penn State Nittany Lions

15. Texas Tech Red Raiders

16. Minnesota Golden Gophers

17. Iowa Hawkeyes

18. North Carolina Tar Heels

19. Florida State Seminoles

20. Oregon Ducks

21. Boise State Broncos

22. Kansas Jayhawks

23. Miami(FL) Hurricanes

24. South Florida Bulls

25. California Golden Bears

Sugar Bowl: Bama's Power Against Utah's Speed

Gary Lloyd — Tue, 30 Dec 2008 06:10:57 -0500

The lone game Andre Smith missed in his three-year career at Alabama came Sept. 6 against Tulane. He was out with a sprained knee he suffered in the season-opener against Clemson. With the Outland Trophy winner sidelined, Alabama managed just 172 total yards, 99 of which came on the ground.

Not good.

With Smith out again after reportedly improperly speaking with an agent, Alabama will have its hands full in the trenches.

Left guard Mike Johnson will slide over to tackle, while David Ross will fill in at left guard.

Losing Smith for the game drops Alabama’s average offensive line weight to 299.6 pounds from roughly 308. Utah, however, averages just over 258 pounds on its defensive line, a somewhat skinny number.

It seems to be shaping up as a classic matchup between power and speed. Utah head coach Kyle Whittingham has said it’s no secret he will be loading the box with eight or nine guys at a time to slow the Alabama run. Because of the size difference, Utah’s defensive front will have to bank on quickness and giving Alabama a lot of different defensive looks.

Alabama knows the box will be loaded and congested running lanes will be the norm Friday night. But, they’ll run it anyway. When the box is loaded, that leaves one-on-one coverage for the wide receivers. Julio Jones is Alabama’s go-to guy, and he’ll be covered by one of the nation’s best cornerbacks in Sean Smith, who matches up well with Jones’ size.

But, in my opinion, Alabama’s run game will be OK. Sure, losing Smith is monumental, but tight end Travis McCall acts as just another offensive lineman. He prides himself more on blocking than catching passes, as seen by only seven grabs for 52 yards this season. McCall could be a key factor in Alabama’s run game, lining up alongside Johnson on the left side of the line and containing All-Mountain West defensive end Paul Kruger, who has 15.5 tackles for loss and 7.5 sacks this season.

Also, late this season, Crimson Tide running backs Glen Coffee and Mark Ingram had success running to the right side of the line behind guard Marlon Davis and tackle Drew Davis. Coffee had exceptional touchdown runs against Auburn and Florida that veered to the right side. Ingram is more of the power runner, so if the Tide’s size prevails over the Utes’ speed, he could be the guy pounding between the tackles in the red zone.

I see the Sugar Bowl shaping up to go in favor of the Crimson Tide. I don’t see Alabama completely dominating in the trenches or running all over Utah, but I do think key conversions on third down will keep the Utes’ offense off the field. If the running game is stuffed on occasion, look for Jones and tight end Nick Walker to have more than a few receptions from quarterback John Parker Wilson.

Ultimately, I look for Coffee to knife his way through the Utah defense for a few big runs, setting up Ingram to cap them off with a couple of short-yardage rushing touchdowns .

The Tide rolls, 31-17.

Ole Miss Hoops in Limbo

Gary Lloyd — Fri, 19 Dec 2008 14:00:03 -0500

Those poor Rebels can’t catch a break.

First, it was sophomore guard Trevor Gaskins tearing the ACL in his left knee Nov. 6.

Second, it was junior guard Eniel Polynice learning he needed season-ending surgery on his left knee Nov. 18.

Third, it was head coach Andy Kennedy supposedly punching a cab driver while yelling racial slurs at the man Dec. 18.

That same night, it was sophomore guard Chris Warren, the fourth leading scorer in the SEC, tearing the ACL in his left knee, inevitably ending his season as well.

Probably the only legitimate threat left on the roster is junior David Huertas, who is currently averaging 20.9 points-per-game.

Ole Miss lost its two top big men from a year ago in Dwayne Curtis and Kenny Williams to graduation. Curtis, an All-SEC second team selection a year ago, dropped 14.9 points and grabbed 9.6 boards his senior year. Williams contributed 8.5 points and 6.6 rebounds.

And we’re not even to conference play.

Now, I did the math, and these numbers are staggering.

Last season, Ole Miss averaged 79.5 points-per-game. Of that total, the five aforementioned who have either graduated or torn a left knee ligament accounted for 55.8 points, or 70 percent.

The Rebels ranked 12th nationally a year ago with 40.6 rebounds-per-contest. Of that, 25, or 61.6 percent, were made by the five contributors.

Ole Miss dished 15.9 assists-per-game last year, and 11.7 of those came from these five players, or 73.6 percent.

Finally, the five previously mentioned Rebels took away 4.7 of the team’s 6.9 steals-per-game. That number is good for 68.1 percent.

So there you go. The numbers don’t lie. That’s absolutely staggering for a team that lost only two major contributors to graduation.

Can the Rebels recover?

Most would say no, based on those statistics and the negative publicity the program is currently receiving.

But it’s the SEC West, and any team can reign supreme in that division.

NBA: 10 Bold Predictions for the 2008-09 Rookies Revisited

Gary Lloyd — Thu, 18 Dec 2008 07:21:42 -0500

Back on June 29, I made 10 bold predictions for this year's rookie class.

Given this NBA season is just over a quarter of the way finished, the projections don't look so good now. Still a good bit of time to turn them around, but it doesn't look promising. Here are the 10 predictions from June, revisited.

10. Kevin Love will have a rookie campaign similar to that of Al Horford's in 2007-08.

In his rookie season, Horford averaged just over 10 points and just under 10 rebounds in 81 games. Horford was the Hawks' main post presence, while Love has the aid of soon-to-be All-Star Al Jefferson. Love is averaging eight and eight right now, so his rookie campaign seems fairly comparable to Horford's.

So far: Solid prediction

9. While Darrell Arthur will have a solid impact as a rookie for Memphis, Marc Gasol will be the team's best big man.

Arthur's impact has been solid for the Grizzlies, averaging nearly six points and five rebounds in almost 20 minutes per game. Gasol, on the other hand, has been the big man Memphis needed, compiling about 11 points and seven rebounds per contest this season.

So far: Right on prediction

8. Roy Hibbert will average more rebounds as a Pacer rookie than he did as a Georgetown senior.

Hibbert has made just two starts as a rookie and is only playing 11 minutes per game. At Georgetown last year, Hibbert played 26 minutes per contest and grabbed 6.4 boards. As a Pacer, 2.6 has been his rebounding average.

So far: Not-so-good prediction

7. Sean Singletary will make the Kings' roster, and will make at least one start as a rookie.

Well, Singletary wasn't in Sacramento long enough to get that starting chance. He did, however, move on to Phoenix and get to start Nov. 29 against the Miami Heat. Steve Nash was out with a right thigh contusion, giving Singletary the nod. He played just 11 minutes but started nonetheless. It's been Singletary's lone professional start.

So far: Made roster for Phoenix and Charlotte, but only started as a Sun

6. The Charlotte Bobcats had two top-20 picks in the draft, but Kyle Weaver, the 38th pick, will be the most productive rookie.

Um, whoops. DJ Augustin has been one of the most impressive rookies to date, and Weaver never suited up for the Bobcats. He's in a much worse situation, playing just over seven minutes per game for the 2-24 Oklahoma City Thunder. Alexis Ajinca, still a Bobcat, is having a similar season to Weaver.

So far: Total whiff of a prediction

5. Sonics guard Russell Westbrook will be more productive as a rookie than much more publicized Grizzlies guard OJ Mayo.

I said in June that Westbrook's stats would be superior to Mayo's, and in certain categories, they are. Mayo is playing nearly 10 minutes per game more than Westbrook, averaging almost 21 points per game. Westbrook, however, is scoring just 13 per contest, but dishing four assists and grabbing four rebounds. Westbrook is averaging the same amount of rebounds, more assists and more steals than Mayo.

So far: Mayo scores in bunches, Westbrook takes the other major statistical categories

4. Derrick Rose was the first overall pick of the draft, but he will not finish in the top three in Rookie of the Year voting.

Another whiff. Rose, in my opinion, has been the top overall rookie thus far this season. He scores, he rebounds and gets his team involved. Michael Beasley, Greg Oden and OJ Mayo have all been great early in their careers, but Rose is the best right now.

So far: Terrible prediction

3. Eric Gordon will start as a combo guard, and the Clippers will make a very strong push for the playoffs.

Gordon has now started 12 games in a row, averaging almost 14 points per game as a starter. This prediction was made before Elton Brand left for Philadelphia and before Baron Davis agreed to be a Clipper. Los Angeles is 11 games under .500, but at least Gordon is starting.

So far: Good on Gordon, bad on Clippers

2. Michael Beasley will win Rookie of the Year honors by more votes than Kevin Durant did last season.

Probably not going to happen. Derrick Rose is doing too much as a Bull and Greg Oden is staying healthy for the first time in long time. Beasley will definitely finish in the top five for Rookie of the Year, but he doesn't appear to be the clear winner.

So far: No chance

1. Three Portland Trail Blazers rookies will finish in the top 10 for Rookie of the Year, but only one will have been drafted in 2008.

Greg Oden looks to be a top 10 lock for Rookie of the Year, while Rudy Fernandez is making a strong push for it, dropping 11 points per game off the bench. Jerryd Bayless, however, has only played in 10 of the team's 26 games, totaling 2.3 points and one rebound per game.

So far: Probably for Oden and Fernandez, no chance for Bayless.

December Bracketology: Building on Last Month's Predictions

Gary Lloyd — Mon, 15 Dec 2008 12:25:02 -0500

Jeff Teague and the Demon Deacons made a pretty big move in the last month.

There have been some changes since last month's projections. Here they are:

No. 1s: North Carolina (ACC), Connecticut (Big East), Pittsburgh (Big East), Oklahoma (Big 12)

No. 2s: Duke (ACC), Xavier (Atlantic 10), Texas (Big 12), Gonzaga (West Coast)

No. 3s: Wake Forest (ACC), Syracuse (Big East), Louisville (Big East), Purdue (Big Ten)

No. 4s: Notre Dame (Big East), Georgetown (Big East), Ohio State (Big Ten), UCLA (Pac 10)

No. 5s: Tennessee (SEC), Villanova (Big East), Arizona State (Pacific 10), Davidson (Southern)

No. 6s: Baylor (Big 12), Michigan State (Big Ten), Memphis (Conference USA), Clemson (ACC)

No. 7s: Florida (SEC), Maryland (ACC), Marquette (Big East), Michigan (Big Ten)

No. 8s: Miami (ACC), Kansas (Big 12), Arizona (Pac 10), LSU (SEC)

No. 9s: Dayton (Atlantic 10), Florida State (ACC), Texas A&M (Big 12), Illinois (Big Ten)

No. 10s: Boston College (ACC), Kentucky (SEC), Stanford (Pac 10), UAB (Conference USA)

No. 11s: Wisconsin (Big Ten), Butler (Horizon League), Creighton (Missouri Valley), BYU (Mountain West)

No. 12s: Minnesota (Big Ten), Akron (MAC), Missouri (Big 12), Temple (Atlantic 10)

No. 13s: Arkansas-Little Rock (Sun Belt), Pacific (Big West), East Tennessee State (Atlantic Sun), Navy (Patriot League)

No. 14s: Vermont (America East), Utah State (WAC), Harvard (Ivy League), Virginia Military (Big South)

No. 15s: Portland State (Big Sky), Hofstra (CAA), Siena (MAAC), Lamar (Southland)

No. 16s: Hampton (MEAC), Quinnipiac (Northeast), Jacksonville State (Ohio Valley), Play-in game: Oakland (Summit League) vs. Prairie View A&M (SWAC)

November Bracketology: Early March Madness Predictions

Gary Lloyd — Sun, 23 Nov 2008 13:45:27 -0500

Can Dominic James lead his Marquette Golden Eagles through the tough Big East and into the NCAA tournament?

OK, so it's only November, but on a boring Sunday night, why not take a look at which teams might be dancing in March? A little on the absurd side, I know, but here's what I've got as of right now.

1: North Carolina (ACC), UConn (Big East), Louisville (Big East), Texas (Big 12)

2: Pittsburgh (Big East), Notre Dame (Big East), UCLA (Pac-10), Gonzaga (WCC)

3: Michigan State (Big Ten), Duke (ACC), Purdue (Big Ten), Tennessee (SEC)

4: Oklahoma (Big 12), Memphis (Conference USA), Miami (ACC), Arizona State (Pac-10)

5: Wake Forest (ACC), Florida (SEC), Davidson (Southern), Wisconsin (Big Ten)

6: Marquette (Big Ten), USC (Pac-10), Villanova (Big East), Xavier (A-10)

7: Georgetown (Big East), Kansas (Big 12), Syracuse (Big East), LSU (SEC)

8: UNLV (Mountain West), Baylor (Big 12), Ohio State (Big Ten), UAB (Conference USA)

9: Alabama (SEC), Saint Mary’s (WCC), Texas A&M (Big 12), Clemson (ACC)

10: BYU (Mountain West), Missouri (Big 12), West Virginia (Big East), OK St. (Big 12)

11: Washington State (Pac-10), Arizona (Pac-10), Nevada (WAC), Kentucky (SEC)

12: Kent State (MAC), Maryland (ACC), Temple (A-10), Belmont (A-Sun)

13: Winthrop (Big South), Oral Roberts (Summit League), Dayton (A-10), Siena (MAAC)

14: Cal State Fullerton (Big West), Lamar (Southland), VCU (CAA), UMBC (America East)

15: Cornell (Ivy League), Morgan State (MEAC), Portland State (Big Sky), American (Patriot)

16: Mount St. Mary’s (Northeast) vs. Jackson State (SWAC) in play-in game, Murray State (OVC), Cleveland State (Horizon League), Arkansas State (Sun Belt)

Some of these teams have big wins already as of Nov. 23. Some may not even have a win yet (Jackson State as of now).

Regardless, maybe it was fun for you to just take a look at. Maybe I'll check back in March and see how many of the 65 tournament teams I predicted correctly.

2008-09 College Basketball (Late) Preview

Gary Lloyd — Fri, 21 Nov 2008 14:30:00 -0500

OK, so I realize it's Nov. 21 already, but I've been busy with school and writing for another website.

But I know a while back I promised a preview for this season, and since I have time tonight, I'll follow through with that promise now.

Top 25

1. North Carolina - too much talent, despite the early injuries.

2. Louisville - three NBA forwards on this squad.

3. Connecticut - very experienced group ready to get it done in March.

4. Notre Dame - yet another Big East squad in the mix for a national title.

5. Duke - may not be pretty, but the Blue Devils get it done.

6. Gonzaga - this team should go undefeated in West Coast Conference play.

7. Michigan State - just don't bet against Tom Izzo, I beg you.

8. Purdue - kind of like Duke - experienced and not pretty, but gets it done.

9. Pittsburgh - Levance Fields must stay healthy.

10. Texas - top 10 without DJ Augustin. Nice.

11. UCLA - frontcourt needs help to reach another Final Four.

12. Oklahoma - Blake Griffin and Willie Warren together? Big 12 title.

13. Tennessee - Tyler Smith is SEC Player of the Year while Scotty Hopson is SEC Freshman of the Year.

14. Georgetown - young stars will have ups and downs, but will be there come March.

15. Marquette - one more chance for Dominic James to raise his draft stock.

16. Miami (Fla.) - dark horse to take the ACC.

17. Memphis - Tyreke Evans will undoubtedly lead the team in shots per game.

18. Villanova - tough Big East keeps Nova from being top 10, possibly.

19. Arizona State - not out of the question to win the Pac-10.

20. Davidson - Stephen Curry, you are ridiculous.

21. Florida - Calathes will make a run for conference player of the year.

22. Ohio State - BJ Mullens is a top-five draft pick, probably after this season.

23. Southern California - this team will be more successful than when it had OJ Mayo.

24. Baylor - could make a run at the Big 12 with its top five players back.

25. Syracuse - too much talent not to be ranked; may be on the bubble yet again.

JUST MISSED: LSU, UAB, Kansas, Kentucky, Wisconsin.

First Team All-America

G - James Harden, Arizona State - might be a tad high, but I think this kid can do it.

G - Stephen Curry, Davidson - come on, there was no doubting it.

F - Blake Griffin - already racking up huge double-doubles, so he's gotta be here.

F - Tyler Hansbrough - maybe he'll play soon and prove why.

F - Luke Harangody - Digger Phelps, we know about him, OK?

Second Team All-America

G - Darren Collison, UCLA - should bounce back from an abysmal NCAA tournament.

G - Scottie Reynolds, Villanova - I do think this much of Reynolds, even against all that Big East talent.

F - Tyler Smith, Tennessee - produces nicely in all statistical categories.

F - Jon Brockman, Washington - the Huskies may not be very good, but Brockman is a nightly double-double.

C - Hasheem Thabeet - coming back to school may pay off with a national title in reach.

Third Team All-America

G - Ty Lawson - one of the best point guards on the No. 1 team.

G - Nick Calathes - great size and athleticism for one of the best sophomores in college basketball.

F - Patrick Patterson, Kentucky - when he gets touches, he doesn't miss.

F - Damion James, Texas - what an active force in the middle.

C - BJ Mullens, Ohio State - more freshmen could be on these list, but Mullens for sure.

NEXT IN LINE: Chase Budinger (Arizona), DeJuan Blair (Pittsburgh), DeMar DeRozan (USC), Patrick Mills (Saint Mary's), Jrue Holiday (UCLA), Wayne Ellington (North Carolina), Tyreke Evans (Memphis), Tyrese Rice (Boston College), Robert Vaden (UAB), AJ Ogilvy (Vanderbilt).

National Coach of the Year

Mark Few, Gonzaga

National Player of the Year

Blake Griffin, Oklahoma

Freshman of the Year

BJ Mullens, Ohio State

This was done late and put together quickly, so take it all for what it's worth.

Alabama Crimson Tide Sports the Cause of My Three-Week Stalemate

Gary Lloyd — Sun, 27 Jul 2008 15:27:41 -0400

Until now, I haven't posted any article on Bleacher Report in three weeks.

Why, you may wonder (or, most likely, probably not)?

I haven't been lazy. I haven't lost interest. I haven't had any tragedies occur, thank God.

I've just been busy. That's all.

During the summer, I work out in the heat for nearly 50 hours per week. Then, when I get home, I write for this site, as well as a couple others.

And that's where the plot of this story goes.

I used to blog pretty regularly at this site about mostly Alabama football and basketball. Good experience, and I did use quotes from press releases and pressers to make it more professional. I currently write a weekly column here, titled "Mouth of the South," in which I cover anything and everything sports.

I write like a typical Southerner talks, which makes for a good 'ol time. See what I mean?

I also keep in touch with one specific Journalism professor at The University of Alabama, who taught my Intro to Journalism course. He's already written a recommendation letter for me and talks to me regularly, and I greatly appreciated an e-mail I received from him a few weeks ago.

It was a forwarded e-mail from a guy that runs Crimson Confidential, an affiliate of ESPN. He was looking for a student writer to help with football practices and press conferences in the fall.

Well, now I'm that student writer. I'll be going to those practices and pressers, and hopefully basketball practices, games and pressers later in the fall. Writing four or five stories a week after going to class and these events will take up most of my time, so my production here will probably be about what it has been the last month or so - not much.

You can find the link to all the ESPN-affiliated sites here. Scroll down a bit on the right side, and you'll see the links to the current sites.

This is just another step in my sports writing direction that I wanted and needed to take. It's more involved with the actual profession, and I can't wait to start.

I just hope the man in the picture doesn't go off on me.

2008 MLB All-Star Game: The Final Picks

Gary Lloyd — Mon, 30 Jun 2008 14:54:15 -0400

The 2008 MLB All-Star Game is just a couple weeks away, and the deadline for voting is quickly approaching.

At the end of May, I compiled my own All-Star squads, giving praise to those who are putting up great numbers, despite being lesser-known on the national stage.

This will be exactly the same, just an updated version. Here goes.

AMERICAN LEAGUE STARTERS

1B—Kevin Youkilis, Boston Red Sox: I'm still giving Youkilis the nod, though Twins' star Justin Morneau is close behind.

2B—Ian Kinsler, Texas Rangers: Just check the stats. It's not even close.

3B—Alex Rodriguez, New York Yankees: As long as he's healthy, he'll always be an All-Star starter.

SS—Derek Jeter, New York Yankees: This was a tough call, but I had to go with Jeter over Michael Young.

C—Joe Mauer, Minnesota Twins: Mauer has one of the best batting averages in the AL, and he doesn't strike out much.

LF—Carlos Quentin, Chicago White Sox: What a surprise Quentin has been for the surging White Sox. I'll give him some love since Manny Ramirez will start in this spot.

CF—Josh Hamilton, Texas Rangers: Tied for the most homers in the AL, has an outstanding batting average, and leads baseball in RBI. No contest here.

RF—Jermaine Dye, Chicago White Sox: Dye is leading all AL right fielders in home runs, and should be getting more consideration than he is.

DH—Milton Bradley, Texas Rangers: With David Ortiz out of the All-Star Game, Bradley should get the nod.

SP—Cliff Lee, Cleveland Indians: Best ERA in the AL, coupled with the most wins. What more does he need to prove?

AMERICAN LEAGUE BENCH

1B—Justin Morneau, Minnesota Twins

2B—Dustin Pedroia, Boston Red Sox

3B—Evan Longoria, Tampa Bay Rays

SS—Michael Young, Texas Rangers

C—AJ Pierzynski, Chicago White Sox

LF—Manny Ramirez, Boston Red Sox

CF—Grady Sizemore, Cleveland Indians

RF—Magglio Ordonez, Detroit Tigers

SP—Joe Saunders, Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim

SP—Daisuke Matsuzaka, Boston Red Sox

SP—John Lackey, Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim

RP—Francisco Rodriguez, Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim

RP—Jonathan Papelbon, Boston Red Sox

RP—Scott Linebrink, Chicago White Sox

NATIONAL LEAGUE STARTERS

1B—Lance Berkman, Houston Astros: He's a legitimate Triple Crown threat this season.

2B—Chase Utley, Philadelphia Phillies: Utley gets the nod because his numbers, and team, are slightly better than Dan Uggla's of the Florida Marlins.

3B—Chipper Jones, Atlanta Braves: Health is a big concern for Jones, but how can you not go with a guy whose batting average is nearly 100 points higher than the next-best third baseman?

SS—Hanley Ramirez, Florida Marlins: The NL has all the star shortstops, and Ramirez sits atop the list.

C—Brian McCann, Atlanta Braves: McCann is hitting well this season, and should get the start over Cubs young phenom Geovany Soto.

LF—Ryan Braun, Milwaukee Brewers: One of many, many All-Star games he'll be a part of.

CF—Nate McLouth, Pittsburgh Pirates: McLouth has been great for a Pirates team that is on the rise.

RF—Ryan Ludwick, St. Louis Cardinals: Like McLouth, Ludwick has been an outfield surprise this season.

DH—Matt Holliday, Colorado Rockies: Given that the game will be played to the tune of the AL, Holliday's bat has to be present.

SP—Tim Lincecum, San Francisco Giants: I love this kid's stuff. He'll start more than one All-Star game.

NATIONAL LEAGUE BENCH

1B—Albert Pujols, St. Louis Cardinals

2B—Dan Uggla, Florida Marlins

3B—David Wright, New York Mets

SS—Jose Reyes, New York Mets

C—Geovany Soto, Chicago Cubs

LF—Carlos Lee, Houston Astros

CF—Rick Ankiel, St. Louis Cardinals

RF—Corey Hart, Milwaukee Brewers

SP—Edinson Volquez, Cincinnati Reds

SP—Brandon Webb, Arizona Diamondbacks

SP—Ben Sheets, Milwaukee Brewers

RP—Kerry Wood, Chicago Cubs

RP—Carlos Marmol, Chicago Cubs

RP—Brad Lidge, Philadelphia Phillies

NBA: 10 Bold Predictions for the 2008-09 Rookies

Gary Lloyd — Sun, 29 Jun 2008 10:59:09 -0400

You've seen my list of top rookies for the 2008-09 season.

It's still very early to determine who'll be playing with who next season, what with potential injuries and moves on the free agent market.

However, the following are my top 10 bold predictions for the 2008 NBA rookie class:

10. Kevin Love will have a rookie campaign similar to that of Al Horford's in 2007-08.

Love will be a better scorer than Horford was in his rookie campaign, and he'll come close to averaging a double-double for the Minnesota Timberwolves. Kevin McHale wanted Love from the minute he declared for the draft, so he'll see enough playing time to have a shot at this.

9. While Darrell Arthur will have a solid impact as a rookie for Memphis, Marc Gasol will be the team's best big man.

He's a bit under the radar since he was drafted in 2007, but the younger Gasol brother is ready to make the transition to the NBA. He's been in Spain the last two years fine-tuning his game, and his impact should be felt as a rookie in the league.

8. Roy Hibbert will average more rebounds as a Pacer rookie than he did as a Georgetown senior.

Hibbert had just five games of 10+ rebounds as a senior for the Hoyas, and I expect him to get enough playing time as a rookie to surpass that. He averaged 6.4 boards as a college senior, so this prediction could be a stretch. But, it is possible.

7. Sean Singletary will make the Kings' roster, and will make at least one start as a rookie.

One start doesn't seem like much of a prediction—but for a guy that most didn't expect to get drafted, it's a solid guess. Sacramento is thin at point guard—to say the least—and the team's starter from a year ago may be on his way to a new team via free agency.

6. The Charlotte Bobcats had two top-twenty picks in the draft, but Kyle Weaver, the 38th pick, will be the most productive rookie.

DJ Augustin definitely has first-round talent, but ninth overall seems a bit high. Raymond Felton could end up in a new city, allowing time for Augustin to play, but I still think Weaver will be more productive right away. Alexis Ajinca, the 20th pick, is a project for the future.

5. Sonics guard Russell Westbrook will be more productive as a rookie than much more publicized Grizzlies guard OJ Mayo.

Both Seattle and Memphis were awful last season, finishing last and next-to-last, respectively. However, Westbrook should see more playing time than Mayo as a rookie, as he plays on a team that lacks a productive backcourt. Westbrook is also a much better defender right now, so his season stats will be superior to Mayo's.

4. Derrick Rose was the first overall pick of the draft, but he will not finish in the top three in Rookie of the Year voting.

Rose will see a lot of time as a rookie, but as long as Kirk Hinrich is a Bull, he won't be the starter. Hinrich could end up with a different team before the season begins, though, so we'll just have to wait and see what happens. Oh, and here are three other rookies I think will finish ahead of Rose in the voting.

3. Eric Gordon will start as a combo guard, and the Clippers will make a very strong push for the playoffs.

Despite a 23-59 season last year, the Clippers will be poised to make a legitimate run at the playoffs. Shaun Livingston may miraculously see time at the point guard position this season, with Chris Kaman and Elton Brand (if he doesn't switch teams) in the post. Al Thornton was very strong as a rookie last year, so Los Angeles has a lot of options offensively.

2. Michael Beasley will win Rookie of the Year honors by more votes than Kevin Durant did last season.

Sonics guard/forward Kevin Durant won the award last year by 155 points over Hawks forward Al Horford. It is my belief that Beasley will be in a rookie league of his own during the 2008-09 season, and will undoubtedly take the award.

1. Three Portland Trail Blazers rookies will finish in the top ten for Rookie of the Year, but only one will have been drafted in 2008.

Jerryd Bayless has an outside shot at starting a few games for Portland, but he'll be the first scoring option off the bench. Greg Oden and Rudy Fernandez were both drafted in 2007, but neither played in an NBA game (Oden had knee injuries and Fernandez stayed overseas). Oden will lead all rookies in blocked shots, and Fernandez will be an excellent complement to Brandon Roy.

Knew it All Along: Richard Hendrix Should Have Returned for Senior Season

Gary Lloyd — Sat, 28 Jun 2008 11:48:23 -0400

On March 26, 2008, Richard Hendrix made himself eligible for the 2008 NBA Draft.

That day, I was very skeptical about Hendrix's decision. I'm not a doubter of his game but of how Alabama early entrants have faired in past drafts.

Under head coach Mark Gottfried (1998-present), only one Tide early entrant has been drafted in the first round - Gerald Wallace in 2001.

Mo Williams left after his sophomore season and was taken late in the second round of the 2003 NBA Draft.

Three former Tide players—Schea Cotton, Rod Grizzard, and Kennedy Winston—all left UA for the NBA after their junior years. As did Hendrix this year.

See why the skepticism would ensue with Hendrix's decision?

Throughout the draft process, it was difficult to get a read on where Hendrix might be selected. Some mock drafts had Hendrix going as high as No. 20 overall, whereas some had him in the middle of the second round.

I figured the most legitimate option for Hendrix was going 29th to the Detroit Pistons. That didn't happen, as the Pistons took DJ White, who was later traded.

Watching the draft, I kept waiting for NBA Deputy Commissioner Adam Silver to read Hendrix's name off that little white card he carried. Pick after pick, a younger player with more upside was taken.

But finally, during a commercial, Hendrix's name appeared on the bottom of my TV.

He was taken by the Golden State Warriors with the 49th overall selection. It was a bittersweet feeling. I was happy he got drafted but disappointed that it was that late in the draft.

On April 1, I wrote an article for MVN.com explaining the reasons why Hendrix should return to Alabama for his senior season.

I still stand by every bullet point written in that three-month-old article.

If Hendrix would have returned to the Tide, it would easily be the favorite in the SEC West, possibly the entire conference.

Hendrix's statistics probably wouldn't improve upon his junior season, but he'd definitely average a double-double...and for a contender, not a pretender like the 2007-08 squad.

The 2008 draft class was very deep relative to the power forward position. Hendrix is not a great athlete, so that definitely went into why he fell on draft boards. However, the 2009 draft class is looking less and less impressive at the same position. Assuming Alabama would make the NCAA tournament next year with Hendrix, he'd move up draft boards because of the exposure.

He'd be a sure-fire first-rounder. No doubt about that.

Gottfried was obviously upset about how the draft went for Richard.

"I'm disappointed to see a player with eligibility left go 49th," said Gottfried following Thursday's draft. "But I do believe he has to make the most of it. Richard has improved every year, and I believe he would have continued to improve. But that's behind us now. He's got to do what he can and turn it into a good situation."

Hendrix was a bit more optimistic.

"There was a little bit of waiting that went farther than I wanted," said Hendrix. "I was ready for the best and ready for the worst and I got my name called. As of right now I'm happy to be a Golden State Warrior. The name 'Warriors' is really what I think I am. I'm ready to go give them what I have to offer."

I believe Hendrix has a lot to offer the NBA, especially the Warriors, a team that struggles rebounding the ball.

I know Richard has the work ethic and determination to make the Warriors' roster.

However, I also knew all along that he'd be a first-rounder next year with a guaranteed three-year contract, playing on a title-contending team.

Top NBA Rookies for 2008-09

Gary Lloyd — Sat, 28 Jun 2008 07:47:20 -0400

The 2008 NBA Draft has been over for nearly 48 hours.

The top prospects are working on their contracts in their new cities of residence.

The rest of the players are doing the same, all the while wondering if they'll be part of possible trades.

Right now, though, things are somewhat quiet around the league--behind closed doors, if you will.

That makes it as good a time as any to reveal the top impact rookies for the 2008-09 NBA season.

1. Michael Beasley, Miami Heat: Beasley will see more than adequate playing time right away for a team that won just 15 games a year ago. He can score so many different ways, no matter if he's playing small forward or power forward.

2. Kevin Love, Minnesota Timberwolves: After being drafted by Memphis, Love was traded to the T'Wolves. He should put up great rookie numbers alongside future All-Star Al Jefferson.

3. Greg Oden, Portland Trail Blazers: Remember Oden? He was taken first overall in 2007, but missed all of last season with a knee injury. Assuming his knee is good to go, he should be a beast in the middle.

4. Derrick Rose, Chicago Bulls: Rose may not start from day one, but he'll make practice difficult for Kirk Hinrich and Larry Hughes. The former of those two could end up in a new city before the season begins, though, allowing more minutes for the No. 1 pick.

5. Danilo Gallinari, New York Knicks: Knicks fans that attended the draft should apologize to Gallinari for the boos and jeers heard throughout the Garden. With his talent, he won't be booed like that again.

6. OJ Mayo, Memphis Grizzlies: Mayo was sent to Memphis in the aforementioned Kevin Love trade. Because of a couple previous lottery picks by Memphis, Mayo's minutes may be somewhat limited. He'll still have a big impact, though.

7. Rudy Fernandez, Portland Trail Blazers: Fernandez, like teammate Oden, was drafted in 2007 but didn't play in a single NBA game. He will, however, suit up for Portland this season. He's quite possibly the best player overseas, and I'm not willing to bet against his talent.

8. Brandon Rush, Indiana Pacers: Rush should provide instant perimeter defense and makes from beyond the arc. His length and athleticism will serve him well in Indiana.

9. Russell Westbrook, Seattle Supersonics: Westbrook should get significant minutes from the get-go in Seattle or Oklahoma City. He may very well lead all rookies in steals, and will surely tally up some assists dishing the rock to Kevin Durant.

10. Marc Gasol, Memphis Grizzlies: Marc, Pau Gasol's brother, was drafted in 2007 but chose to stay in Europe. He should be with the Grizzlies this season, and should be one of the top bigs in the rotation.

11. Eric Gordon, Los Angeles Clippers: Gordon will have to learn some point guard responsibilities, but his ability to stretch the defense is what will make him a solid rookie. Opening things up for Elton Brand and Chris Kaman in the middle is a must for the Clippers' success.

12. Courtney Lee, Orlando Magic: Don't be surprised if Lee earns the starting spot at the 2 for Orlando this summer. He fits Stan Van Gundy's system perfectly, and should be a nice complement to Dwight Howard and company.

13. Brook Lopez, New Jersey Nets: The Nets have needed a go-to guy in the post for a couple seasons now. Lopez is their guy, despite needing to vastly improve his rebounding at the next level.

14. Donte' Greene, Houston Rockets: Tracy McGrady needs some help on the offensive end, and Greene has no problem putting up shots.

15. Jason Thompson, Sacramento Kings: I was high on Thompson throughout his senior year and draft workouts. I didn't expect him to go as high as No. 12 overall, but his ability to bang in the post and shoot jumpers from the outside makes him an intriguing rookie for the Kings.

There you have it. Those are my top candidates for Rookie of the Year honors.

Let me know who yours are.

2009 NBA Draft: Early Big Board

Gary Lloyd — Sun, 22 Jun 2008 07:57:30 -0400

The 2008 draft class is stacked, no doubting that.

2009 will definitely have its stars near the top—but after that, there seems to be a dropoff.

This upcoming college basketball season, lesser-known players will make names for themselves throughout the season—and, most importantly, during the NCAA tournament.

The ensuing list contains mainly collegiate players, but there are a few internationals. This list is also based on who I think has the best shot at going pro as an early entrant.

Enough babble, though. Here's my early 2009 Big Board:

1. B.J. Mullens, Ohio State freshman center

2. Blake Griffin, Oklahoma sophomore forward

3. Demar DeRozan, USC freshman guard

4. James Harden, Arizona State sophomore guard

5. Ricky Rubio, Spain guard

6. Chase Budinger, Arizona junior forward

7. Hasheem Thabeet, Connecticut junior center

8. Earl Clark, Louisville junior forward

9. Patrick Patterson, Kentucky sophomore forward

10. Brandon Jennings, Arizona freshman guard

11. Wayne Ellington, North Carolina junior guard

12. Tyreke Evans, Memphis freshman guard

13. Tyler Smith, Tennessee junior forward

14. Al-Farouq Aminu, Wake Forest freshman forward

15. Terrence Williams, Louisville senior forward

16. Ty Lawson, North Carolina junior guard

17. Tyler Hansbrough, North Carolina senior forward

18. Austin Daye, Gonzaga sophomore forward

19. Damion James, Texas junior forward

20. Gerald Henderson, Duke junior guard

21. A.J. Ogilvy, Vanderbilt sophomore center

22. Darren Collison, UCLA senior guard

23. Kyle Singler, Duke sophomore forward

24. Greg Monroe, Georgetown freshman forward

25. Jrue Holiday, UCLA freshman guard

26. Stephen Curry, Davidson junior guard

27. Raymar Morgan, Michigan State junior forward

28. Jordan Hill, Arizona junior forward

29. Rodrigue Beaubois, France guard

30. Dionte Christmas, Temple senior guard

31. Omri Casspi, Israel forward

32. Tyrese Rice, Boston College senior guard

33. Victor Claver, Spain forward

34. Derrick Brown, Xavier junior forward

35. Curtis Jerrells, Baylor senior guard

36. Alonzo Gee, Alabama senior forward

37. Jeff Pendergraph, Arizona State senior forward

38. Eric Maynor, VCU senior guard

39. Stanley Robinson, Connecticut junior forward

40. Taj Gibson, USC junior forward

41. Willie Warren, Oklahoma freshman guard

42. Robert Vaden, UAB senior guard

43. Nick Calathes, Florida sophomore guard

44. Sam Young, Pittsburgh senior forward

45. A.J. Price, Connecticut senior guard

46. Connor Atchley, Texas senior forward

47. Josh Carter, Texas A&M senior guard

48. Jeff Adrien, Connecticut senior forward

49. Ronald Steele, Alabama senior guard

50. Stefon Jackson, UTEP senior guard

51. Lorenzo Wade, San Diego State senior guard

52. Jerel McNeal, Marquette senior guard

53. Josh Heytvelt, Gonzaga senior forward

54. Danny Green, North Carolina senior forward

55. Joe Ingles, Australia forward

56. Greivis Vasquez, Maryland junior guard

57. K.C. Rivers, Clemson senior guard

58. Chris Johnson, LSU senior forward

59. Antonio Anderson, Memphis senior guard

60. Dominic James, Marquette senior guard

Keep in mind that this was a very, very early look at some of next year's prospects. Other names will deserve to be on this list, a lot of which will probably be freshmen phenoms and international players.

2008-09 College Basketball Top 25: June Edition

Gary Lloyd — Sat, 21 Jun 2008 07:22:46 -0400

June 16 was the last day for collegiate basketball players to make a decision on whether to stay in school or stay in the pool of names for this year's NBA draft.

Since that date has come and gone, as well as the signing periods for incoming freshmen (most of whom are taking summer classes as we speak), it's an obvious time to take a very early look at which college basketball squads we'll be talking about next season.

1. North Carolina: Most early predictions are educated guesses, but this one is a certainty. The top six scorers are back for the Heels, and they have to be the heavy favorite for the national title.

2. Connecticut: Hasheem Thabeet turning down NBA money for one more season for UConn. He, along with experienced teammates and highly-ranked incoming freshmen, should push UConn to the top tier of college basketball for the entire season.

3. UCLA: Ben Howland lost three starters to the NBA draft, but adding the No. 1 recruiting class will make up for that. Combine that with an experienced backcourt in Darren Collison and Josh Shipp, and the Bruins could be bringing home another Pac-Ten title.

4. Notre Dame: Luke Harangody and Kyle McAlarney should be one of the top scoring duos in the nation. They'll make the Irish an instant contender.

5. Louisville: Samardo Samuels should step in immediately to fill the void in the paint for Rick Pitino. Expect at least an Elite Eight for Louisville.

6. Duke: Duke will yet again have to make its three-pointers consistently, as inside help will be at a minimum. There's still too much talent there not to have them in the top ten, though.

7. Purdue: The top three scorers return for Purdue, a team that surprised many last season. They won't be sneaking up on anyone this season.

8. Tennessee: McDonald's High School All-American Scotty Hopson will step in right away for the collegiate All-American Chris Lofton. The Vols should be the favorites to take the SEC again.

9. Pittsburgh: Mike Cook has yet to find out whether he'll have another year of eligibility (ACL tear last season), but Pitt is a top 10 team even if he isn't granted that eligibility.

10. Michigan State: Raymar Morgan should contend for Big Ten Player of the Year this season. Incoming freshman Delvon Roe should contend for Big Ten Freshman of the Year. Also, never bet against Tom Izzo.

11. Gonzaga

12. Villanova

13. Texas

14. Marquette

15. Miami(FL)

16. Georgetown

17. Southern California

18. Oklahoma

19. Memphis

20. Arizona State

21. Wake Forest

22. Kansas

23. Syracuse

24. Wisconsin

25. Ohio State

Another edition will be posted closer to the season's start.

Anthony Randolph Will Bust—History Tells Us So

Gary Lloyd — Sun, 15 Jun 2008 15:46:38 -0400

On Feb. 2, 2008, I saw Anthony Randolph play against Alabama in Tuscaloosa.

The freshman phenom had a respectable game, scoring 13 (on 4-14 shooting) and grabbing 12 rebounds en route to LSU's ninth loss in its last 10 games.

A month later, I saw Randolph absolutely dominate the Tide in Baton Rouge.

He connected on 10-of-16 shots and hit all nine of his free throws on his way to a career-high 29 points. He also added five rebounds and five blocks. LSU won the game by six.

That's somewhat inconsistent, but what college freshman hasn't been?

Most of them these days turn out to be future All-Stars anyway.

But Randolph?

I'm not so optimistic.

Take a look at the last two top-five draft picks from LSU.

In 2000, Stromile Swift was taken by the Vancouver Grizzlies with the second overall pick. He was coming off a year at LSU in which he averaged 16 points, eight rebounds and over two blocks per game.

This past season, Randolph averaged almost 16 points, eight rebounds and over two blocks per game.

Eerily similar numbers for the athletic NBA prospect.

To date, Swift's career averages are 8.6 points and 4.7 rebounds. This constitutes the word "bust" for a No. 2 overall selection.

In 2006, Tyrus Thomas was taken by the Chicago Bulls with the fourth overall pick. As a freshman in Baton Rouge, Thomas averaged 12 points and nine rebounds per game. He was also one of the nation's top athletes and shot-blockers, swatting away just over three per game.

Randolph was one of the nation's top athletes last year, as well as one of the SEC's top shot-blockers.

In his first two NBA seasons, Thomas possesses averages of six points, four rebounds and just one block per game.

For two top-five draft selections, those numbers aren't too great, are they?

Swift and Thomas were drafted because of their freakish athletic ability and down-the-road potential.

Randolph will be as well.

At the pre-draft camp in Orlando earlier this month, Randolph measured 6-foot-9 without shoes and a starving 197 pounds. In a nutshell, if Randolph turns sideways to you, you may lose sight of him—he's that thin (4.7 percent body fat). He even wore long sleeves at that camp to conceal his wiry arms.

He's got a subpar jump shot, as he stands almost sideways to the goal, which doesn't allow his shoulders to line up to the goal. He struggles to control himself when driving to the basket, takes untimely shots and understandably gets pushed around by bigger players (197 pounds, remember?). Basically, Randolph is nowhere near his mental potential as a basketball player.

Positively, Randolph does have a good handle on the ball for a player his size. As a left-hander, he should create difficulties for NBA defenders.

His potential is through the roof because of his 7-foot-3 wingspan, but so is his likelihood to bust as a pro.

Best case scenario, Randolph turns out to be a player comparable to Tayshaun Prince of the Detroit Pistons.

Worst case scenario, Randolph completes the trio of LSU Tiger busts taken in the lottery.

Rays-Red Sox: The Newest MLB Rivalry

Gary Lloyd — Sun, 08 Jun 2008 15:28:11 -0400

Every season since the franchise's inception (1998), the Tampa Bay Rays have served as the doormat for the Boston Red Sox and New York Yankees.

That's putting it lightly.

In 2007, the Red Sox finished the regular season with a 96-66 record, while the Rays finished with those same two numbers, just flip-flopped. The Yankees were 94-68.

In 2006, the Yankees were an AL East best 97-65, while the Red Sox were 86-76. The Rays finished with 101 losses that season.

In 2005, both the Yankees and Red Sox finished 95-67, while the Rays, still playing the role of doormat, finished 67-95.

Tampa Bay has been awful. That's understood.

Boston and New York have been the class of the AL East for a long time now, also understood.

But, in 2008, a shift in AL East power has been brewing. Boston is still the class of the division, but a youthful, athletic Tampa Bay squad has solidified itself as one of the best teams in baseball.

New York, on the other hand, has solidified itself as one of the worst teams in the majors relative to pitching, as it possesses a 4.51 team ERA through June 8.

At 37-26 through June 8 and a game-and-a-half back of the defending World Series champs, it could be a bit premature to proclaim the young Rays as a contender.

But I don't think so. The Rays' most important and decorated players—Scott Kazmir, James Shields, Evan Longoria, Carl Crawford and B.J. Upton—were all born in the 1980s. This suggests the team's youth.

Inexperienced by most standards, this team is not intimidated by the lore of the Sox or Yanks.

Proof can be found from the June 5 brawl at Fenway Park. Rays pitcher James Shields hit Red Sox outfielder Coco Crisp with a pitch in the second inning this past Thursday, prompting a bench-clearing scuffle that resulted in multiple player suspensions.

Crisp attacked Shields, but was taken to the ground by Rays catcher Dioner Navarro, then swarmed by Jonny Gomes, Akinori Iwamura and Carl Crawford.

Shields' teammates had his back.

Why?

Because this team is young. They have no fear. They're confident. They have chemistry.

"I'm so excited about what's to come," said Rays first baseman Carlos Pena. "Being from Boston, I understand these rivalries, mostly Red Sox-Yankees, but I think we're going to see a good rivalry with Boston and our team.

"I can see that the teams really respect one another. There's no reason why we can't keep up in the standings and be a contender, and we know that Boston's going to be there."

I concur.

To become a legitimate rivalry, though, the Rays are going to need to get some wins in Boston. Tampa Bay has yet to do so in 2008, posting an 0-6 record at Fenway.

Those wins will come, however. More punches as well, I'm sure.

And was it at all obvious that I haven't mentioned that team from the Bronx in a while?

Tampa Bay has gone from the doormat to the penthouse, while New York is on its way out the door.

San Antonio Spurs: From Experienced to Old

Gary Lloyd — Fri, 30 May 2008 15:41:17 -0400

The San Antonio Spurs, yet again, will not have a chance at defending their crown.

With a 100-92 Game 5 loss in Los Angeles to the Lakers Thursday night, the Spurs' season came to an abrupt and inevitable end.

For a franchise that has won four championships since 1999, how would an inevitable end at the Western Conference Finals be possible?

Because, in addition to being an experienced playoff team, the Spurs are now old.

And it's not something that "just happened." Everyone gets older with time, it's a fact of life. The Spurs, as an overall unit, have gradually gotten to be an old team year-in and year-out for the past few seasons, despite their enormous success.

If you check out the team's roster on its nba.com site, you'll find that eight of the 15 listed players have been in the league for 10 seasons or more.

Only four players were born in the 1980s (Matt Bonner, 1980; DerMarr Johnson, 1980; Ian Mahinmi, 1986; Tony Parker, 1982). Of those, only one (Parker) sees legitimate playing time.

Tim Duncan and Manu Ginobili are now in their early 30s, and are still more-than-capable superstars, but are far more inconsistent than in years past.

Just look at games during the 2008 NBA Playoffs.

Duncan scored just five points in Game 1 against the Hornets. He scored 18 in the next contest. In Game 2 of the Western Conference Finals against the Lakers, Ginobili scored just seven points on 2-8 from the floor. In the very next game (in San Antonio), Ginobili scored 30.

See the inconsistency?

San Antonio was blown out three times in New Orleans, something that would never happen to the "experienced" Spurs. It does happen, however, to the "experienced and old" Spurs.

Brent Barry, Bruce Bowen, Michael Finley and Robert Horry (the Spurs' three-point threats) have combined to play for 50 NBA seasons. All are close to retirement, obviously.

Tony Parker's point guard backups (Jacque Vaughn and Damon Stoudamire) have a combined 22-year NBA career.

Experienced? Check.

Old? Definitely check.

The Spurs blowing 17-point leads in playoff games didn't happen in years past, but it does now. The experience is still there, yes, but the "old factor" now outweighs the experience.

The Spurs will still compete at a high level for the next few years because of its big three, but as they continue to get older, playoff wins will decrease. Wins in the regular season will decrease.

The Spurs have been the most successful NBA franchise of the last 10 years, but it's now time for younger squads (like the Lakers, Jazz and Hornets) to take their place atop the Western Conference.

The Spurs are just too old to stay on top for much longer. That's the bottom line.

MLB All-Star Picks through May

Gary Lloyd — Sun, 25 May 2008 17:04:38 -0400

The 2008 MLB All-Star Game is scheduled for July 15 at Yankee Stadium.

The format for my selections is not exactly how the MLB actually does it, as I will have the nine starters for the National and American leagues, one backup per position, four starting pitchers, three relief pitchers, and one designated hitter per team since the game is being played in an American League park. Also, I don't base my selections on popularity.

You follow?

I hope so, because here it goes.

AMERICAN LEAGUE STARTERS

1B—Kevin Youkilis, Boston Red Sox: Youkilis finally gets some All-Star love.

2B—Ian Kinsler, Texas Rangers: The AL isn't very deep at second base, but Kinsler is having a solid season.

3B—Alex Gordon, Kansas City Royals: For me, it's not a popularity contest. It's a production contest. Gordon has been productive for the improving Royals.

SS—Derek Jeter, New York Yankees: Like second base, shortstop is not very deep in the AL. Jeter is still the guy.

C—Joe Mauer, Minnesota Twins: No home runs this season, but one of the best batting averages in baseball gives him the nod.

LF—Carlos Quentin, Chicago White Sox: If the season ended today, it would already be Quentin's best of his young career.

CF—Josh Hamilton, Texas Rangers: With home run totals down, Hamilton is a legitimate triple crown threat.

RF—Magglio Ordonez, Detroit Tigers: The Tigers have been a disappointment thus far, but Ordonez has not.

DH—David Ortiz, Boston Red Sox: The batting average is down, but the home run and RBI numbers are high.

SP—Joe Saunders, Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim: Saunders is among the top pitchers in the AL in terms of wins and ERA.

AMERICAN LEAGUE BENCH

1B—Casey Kotchman, Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim

2B—Dustin Pedroia, Boston Red Sox

3B—Evan Longoria, Tampa Bay Rays

SS—Michael Young, Texas Rangers

C—Jason Varitek, Boston Red Sox

LF—Manny Ramirez, Boston Red Sox

CF—Grady Sizemore, Cleveland Indians

RF—Milton Bradley, Texas Rangers

SP—Cliff Lee, Cleveland Indians

SP—Daisuke Matsuzaka, Boston Red Sox

SP—Ervin Santana, Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim

RP—Scott Linebrink, Chicago White Sox

RP—Joakim Soria, Kansas City Royals

RP—Francisco Rodriguez, Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim

NATIONAL LEAGUE STARTERS

1B—Lance Berkman, Houston Astros: Like Josh Hamilton of the Rangers, Berkman has an outside shot at the triple crown.

2B—Dan Uggla, Florida Marlins: Uggla's numbers are slightly better than Chase Utley's, so he gets the start.

3B—Chipper Jones, Atlanta Braves: If Berkman is going to compete for the triple crown, Jones' above-.400 average will have to subside.

SS—Hanley Ramirez, Florida Marlins: He's been the best player for the surprising Marlins.

C—Geovany Soto, Chicago Cubs: Soto has been by far the most productive NL catcher this season.

LF—Ryan Braun, Milwaukee Brewers: Braun plays LF and 3B, but he had to make this team somehow.

CF—Nate McLouth, Pittsburgh Pirates: McLouth is well on his way to his best season in the big leagues. What a surprise he's been.

RF—Ryan Ludwick, St. Louis Cardinals: Like McLouth, Ludwick has been a surprising outfielder for an NL Central team.

DH—Matt Holliday, Colorado Rockies: Wasn't exactly room for Holliday in the outfield, but there is always room for his bat.

SP—Brandon Webb, Arizona Diamondbacks: A possible winner of 30 games? Probably not, but he'll come the closest.

NATIONAL LEAGUE BENCH

1B—Albert Pujols, St. Louis Cardinals

2B—Chase Utley, Philadelphia Phillies

3B—Aramis Ramirez, Chicago Cubs

SS—Miguel Tejada, Houston Astros

C—Brian McCann, Atlanta Braves

LF—Pat Burrell, Philadelphia Phillies

CF—Aaron Rowand, San Francisco Giants

RF—Xavier Nady, Pittsburgh Pirates

SP—Edinson Volquez, Cincinnati Reds

SP—Tim Lincecum, San Francisco Giants

SP—Carlos Zambrano, Chicago Cubs

RP—Carlos Marmol, Chicago Cubs

RP—Brandon Lyon, Arizona Diamondbacks

RP—Jose Valverde, Houston Astros

College Basketball: Possession arrow should be shown the door

Gary Lloyd — Sat, 17 May 2008 07:28:07 -0400

Already, the 2008-09 college basketball season will see two new rules.

One, the 3-point line will be extended from 19'9" to 20'9".

Two, the goaltending rule now states that a ball that is completely above the rim and has already hit the backboard cannot be touched, regardless of whether it is on an upward or downward trajectory.

Both changes will help college basketball in its own right, but the NCAA needs to take a long, hard look at the alternating possession rule.

Fans, coaches and players have a legitimate love-hate relationship with this rule throughout the college basketball season. For instance, a fan for Team X screams for joy when a player for Team X fights for the ball with a player from Team Y. The team he's pulling for, Team X, is awarded possession and goes on to win the game.

However, in the next game, that same Team X fan preaches blasphemy when another tie-up occurs and Team Y is awarded possession.

Notice the love-hate relationship?

Here are two examples from recent NCAA Tournaments to paint the picture:

During a 2004 NCAA Tournament second round game between fourth-seeded Wake Forest and 12th-seeded Manhattan, Manhattan forced a held ball with less than 15 seconds to play while down two points. Wake Forest luckily had the possession arrow, and put the game away after going up by four. The possession arrow potentially kept 12th-seeded Manhattan from a berth in the Sweet Sixteen. The alternating possession rule had a profound impact on that game.

During the 2006 NCAA Tournament Washington D.C. Regional final between powerhouse Connecticut and unknown George Mason, the latter of the two led by four with less than a minute to play. Connecticut had possession of the ball, but a George Mason player locked his hands to the ball as well, giving George Mason possession and, ultimately, a win sending the tournament Cinderella to the Final Four. I bet UConn fans would like that possession back.

And that's why this college basketball commandment should be amended.

The referees, sidelines, baselines, game clock and shot clock are meant to regulate the game, not determine which team deserves possession of the basketball.

Why not let the players determine the outcome of the game? That's why they play, right?

This collegiate rule should mirror that of the NBA. When a ball is tied up between opposing teams, the ball should be jumped at the free throw line on the side of the court where the tie-up occurs. If it happens at halfcourt, jump it up like it's the start of the game.

Makes sense, right?

And none of this is to say college basketball would be perfect by adopting the NBA's version of the rule. It wouldn't. But it sure would be a fairer way to go about future tie-ups. The players would be determining the game's outcome, so fans, players and coaches alike would not logically be able to blame the referees for a loss.

That's a change to a rule at least worth thinking about.

N.C. Double "Pay"?: College Athletes Should Not Be Compensated

Gary Lloyd — Tue, 13 May 2008 13:03:44 -0400

First of all, if you think this is going to be one of those in-depth examinations of USC, the NCAA, or Rodney Guillory, you're wrong.

If that's what you want to read, go elsewhere.

This is basically a short rant at those who feel collegiate athletes should be compensated for their efforts on the gridiron, hardwood, or any other athletic surface.

Let's jump right in, shall we?

If you believe O.J. Mayo deserved that money, those clothes, and that T.V., you're insane. If you believe Reggie Bush deserved the benefits he wrongfully received, you're insane as well.

See, there's a reason there are college sports and professional sports.

College players compete on the magnified athletic stage, but they also go to class and earn degrees, which should be their top priority. If these student-athletes can find time for a job bagging groceries at Publix or cutting grass in the summer, so be it. That's legitimate.

Professional players compete on the highest level. They lift weights, fine-tune their game, and do endorsement-type events when they're not on national television. For that, they get the fat paycheck. That's also legitimate.

However, it is utterly ridiculous to think student-athletes should be paid for their athletic services.

They're already going to the school of their choice for free and working out in state-of-the-art facilities for free. Not to mention tutors who oversee every paper a student-athlete writes or quiz he takes. More often than not, that work is done for these athletes, for the most part.

So, if you think about it, going to school for free when the majority of students are going broke for their education, it's almost like student-athletes are already being paid. Take it from me, college is in no way cheap.

But it's cheap for the athletes. The books are free. The meals are free. The tuition is free. The athletic gear is free. Traveling to away games is free. Playing for that school, honoring the tradition, and getting exposure along the way is free.

There's plenty of time for these young stars to play professionally and make thousands and thousands of dollars.

College is in no way that time.

NFL: Top 10 Impact Rookies in 2008

Gary Lloyd — Sun, 11 May 2008 14:50:23 -0400

It's probably a bit early to compile an impact rookie list, but I figured what the heck.

It'll at least elicit some discussion among you NFL gurus.

So, here goes.

10. James Hardy, Buffalo Bills WR: I like Hardy to win the wide receiver spot alongside Lee Evans. With Evans' ability to stretch a defense and go deep, Hardy, at 6-foot-5, should have no problems catching some balls across the middle and in the end zone.

9. Keith Rivers, Cincinnati Bengals LB: Rivers will start right away at linebacker for the struggling Bengals, and could be higher on this list. Rivers could have a rookie season similar to that of DeMeco Ryans in his first year with the Texans.

8. Kevin Smith, Detroit Lions RB: Running back isn't the strongest position for the Lions, so Smith should see adequate playing time early on in his career. I expect some long touchdown runs from Smith during his rookie campaign.

7. Jake Long, Miami Dolphins OL: Sure, Long was the first pick of the draft, but this team has so much more to worry about. He'll start from Day One at left tackle, but the Dolphins will still struggle all season.

6. Malcolm Kelly, Washington Redskins WR: I think Kelly will have an impact similar to that of James Hardy of the Bills. He should push the more experienced receivers for playing time, and will get possession receptions with down-the-field threat Santana Moss playing alongside him.

5. Darren McFadden, Oakland Raiders RB: McFadden will put up solid yards per carry numbers, but won't get as many carries as Adrian Peterson did a year ago. Justin Fargas and Michael Bush will be getting carries, too.

4. Jerod Mayo, New England Patriots LB: Mayo will definitely find his way onto the field as a rookie in New England's 3-4 defense. He'll make his playing time worthwhile, no matter how much he gets. I've learned not to bet against the Patriots' personnel.

3. Jonathan Stewart, Carolina Panthers RB: McFadden was all the talk at the running back position during the 2008 draft. However, I think Stewart will have a more immediate impact for a Panthers squad that is thin at the running back position. He could rush for 1,000 yards in his rookie campaign.

2. Glenn Dorsey, Kansas City Chiefs DT: The Chiefs were one of the worst teams in the NFL last year in terms of rushing yards allowed. Adding Dorsey immediately fixes that, and he'll come up with a lot of stops in the middle for K.C.

1. Sedrick Ellis, New Orleans Saints DT: This pick could be somewhat of a stretch, but I'm really high on Ellis. The Saints were solid against the run in 2007, but the addition of Ellis is huge. I think he'll lead all rookies in tackles for loss.

SEC Football Roundtable: Alabama

Gary Lloyd — Fri, 09 May 2008 09:16:37 -0400

What are some of the major position battles going on within your team?

It seems it will be running back by committee for the Tide in 2008. Glen Coffee, Terry Grant and Roy Upchurch will get the bulk of the carries. Wide receiver is another place with battles. Mike McCoy and Nikita Stover are currently the No. 1s, with guys like Will Oakley, Earl Alexander, Darius Hanks and Brandon Gibson backing them up.

In Saban's 3-4 defense, linebacker has been a spot for newcomers. Converted RB Jimmy Johns, Rolando McClain, Cory Reamer and Brandon Fanney seem to be the top four right now. Freshmen coming in over the summer and in early August will add depth, especially Jerrell Harris.

Who are some players on each side of the ball that you see emerging as stars this year?

Offensively, I think McCoy will emerge as John Parker Wilson's favorite target. With DJ Hall, Keith Brown and Matt Caddell now gone, receptions are literally up for grabs.

Defensively, I like CB Kareem Jackson. He was outstanding as a freshman and will be the Tide's top corner in 2008.

Are there any injuries your team is worrying about?

I don't think there have been any big-time injuries in the spring, but of course you always worry about it happening. Terry Grant is an injury-prone back, so I'll worry about his durability. Lorenzo Washington, probably the starting nose tackle, has had a couple surgeries, but he should be back to full strength.

What do you think your team’s major strengths and weaknesses will be?

No real strengths jump out at me. I think the offense will be solid, as well as the defense, but nothing just over-the-top great. Weakness could be the inexperience at wide receiver and linebacker.

What games are you most looking forward to watching this year?

The Clemson game Aug. 30 at the Georgia Dome, at Georgia, at Tennessee, at LSU and especially Auburn at home. The streak ends this year.

What record do you think your team will end the regular season with?

Bama fans continue to talk about recruiting and being back on the national stage, but I don't think that year is this year. I'll say the Tide goes anywhere from 7-5 to 9-3 in the regular season.

For more SEC Roundtable, go here.

Class of 2009: Alabama Crimson Tide No. 1 Again?

Gary Lloyd — Sun, 04 May 2008 16:19:30 -0400

The incoming Crimson Tide freshmen make up what was the top class of 2008.

Wide receiver Julio Jones is the headliner. Jerrell Harris (linebacker), Burton Scott (athlete), and a few others should have an immediate impact on the program in 2008.

Despite these players from the 2008 class becoming stars in the next few years, their positions will not be easily secured.

The class of 2009 has a host of talent from the top of the rankings to the bottom. Young talent will fill depth charts across the country, especially at Alabama with Nick Saban playing the role of master recruiter.

Alabama already has four verbal commitments for 2009.

D.J. Fluker, a four-star defensive tackle playing at Foley (Ala.) High School, committed to Alabama in November 2007. Fluker is just a mammoth human being, and might be converted to an offensive lineman.

Kellen Williams and Darius McKeller, offensive linemen from Georgia, committed to the Tide in April 2008.

Alabama's most recent commitment, four-star quarterback A.J. McCarron, from Mobile, is very accurate and a sharp signal-caller.

Here is a rundown of some of the top uncommitted players from the class of 2009 that Alabama has a legitimate shot at signing.

Rueben Randle is one of the top-ranked wide receivers in the nation, and has the Tide on his short list.

Dre Kirkpatrick, one of the top cornerback prospects in America, was a high school teammate of Alabama signee Jerrell Harris at Gadsden City (Ala.). Most seem to think he's an Alabama lock. We'll see in the coming months.

Another top receiver, Marlon Brown, ranks the Tide high among other high-profile schools.

From Louisiana, defensive tackle Chris Davenport recently trimmed his favorites list to a few schools. Though LSU is probably the favorite, Alabama is in the mix.

Morgan Moses, an enormous offensive lineman from West Virginia, has Alabama as one of his favorite schools.

Nico Johnson and Tana Patrick, two of the top linebacker prospects in America (both from Alabama), are thought to be Bama locks, though they have not yet committed.

I could continue reeling off name after name of top recruits that like the transformation taking place in Tuscaloosa, but that would get old. You get the picture. Nick Saban is an awesome recruiter. It's that simple.

Back-to-back top-ranked recruiting classes would be amazing because of the parity in college football today, but I ultimately don't see it happening.

My prediction is that Southern California will have the top class in 2009. The Trojans already have verbal agreements from 10 players, four of which are five-star prospects (including quarterback Matt Barkley, the No. 1 overall prospect from the 2009 class).

Anything can happen, though. I didn't expect Alabama to sign 32 players this year, but it happened. I don't expect the Tide to sign all the players I mentioned above, but it could happen.

The Tide is slowly rising to the upper echelon of college football again, and I'm not going to bet against Nick Saban.

NBA Mock Draft: Pre-Draft Camp Edition

Gary Lloyd — Sat, 03 May 2008 18:05:38 -0400

You have seen all the early entrants and the few players who have decided to play one more collegiate season.

You have seen my big board for this year's draft. The early entry deadline has come and gone, so the only thing left to go is the Pre-Draft Camp in Orlando, which gets underway in late May and ends in the first week of June.

It seems like as good a time as any to mock the first round, so here it goes. The order of teams is based on 2007-08 final record, because the draft lottery isn't until May 20.

1. Miami Heat select Derrick Rose, Memphis Point Guard

Miami needs a lot, and they could certainly go with Michael Beasley, but a point guard who can do it all will be a perennial All-Star.

2. Seattle/Oklahoma City Sonics select Michael Beasley, Kansas State Forward

Everyone has seen the crazy numbers Beasley put up at K-State, so this pick is a no-brainer.

3. Minnesota Timberwolves select O.J. Mayo, Southern California Guard

Mayo is a dynamic combo guard who could help the T'Wolves right away in the scoring column.

4. Memphis Grizzlies select Brook Lopez, Stanford Center

This seems like a simple pick to me. There are lots of guards in the draft, but the Grizz have taken a lot of guards in the recent past. Pau Gasol is no longer in Memphis, so they need to add some front court depth.

5. New York Knicks select Jerryd Bayless, Arizona Point Guard

Bayless has tons of room to improve, but his high motor and passion would be great for the Knicks' locker room.

6. Los Angeles Clippers select Eric Gordon, Indiana Shooting Guard

When healthy, Chris Kaman and Elton Brand combine for a solid front court tandem. A shooter, like Gordon, would spread out the defense and be great for L.A.

7. Milwaukee Bucks select Danilo Gallinari, Italy Small Forward

Like a lot of European players, Gallinari has a fluid offensive game with a few question marks. However, he can be somewhat of a defensive liability. He will fit into the league, no doubt.

8. Charlotte Bobcats select Kevin Love, UCLA Power Forward

The Bobcats have forwards similar to Love, but none with an offensive game that comes close to that of Love.

9. Chicago Bulls select Darrell Arthur, Kansas Power Forward

The NCAA Tournament should raise Arthur's stock, and he would fit in beautifully with the Chicago Bulls.

10. New Jersey Nets select DeAndre Jordan, Texas A&M Center

Jordan did not play significant minutes at A&M, so his numbers weren't huge. However, his potential is through the roof, and that's what the draft is all about.

11. Indiana Pacers select Anthony Randolph, LSU Forward

Like Jordan, Randolph's potential exceeds his current skill. He has the ability to be a stat-sheet stuffer at the small forward position.

12. Sacramento Kings select D.J. Augustin, Texas Point Guard

There is still speculation as to whether or not Augustin will return to school, but I believe he is a lottery pick this year and the Kings could use a point guard like D.J.

13. Portland Trail Blazers select Russell Westbrook, UCLA Guard

Westbrook will have to learn the ropes of playing point guard in the NBA, but he has the ability to be an exceptional defender and game-breaker.

14. Golden State Warriors select Kosta Koufos, Ohio State Center

Opponents out-rebounded the Warriors by four rebounds per game in 2007-08, and Koufos would certainly help on that end. His athleticism fits Don Nelson's game well.

15. Phoenix Suns (from Hawks) select Nicolas Batum, France Shooting Guard

Batum is fluid offensively and has the tools needed to become a solid defender in the NBA.

16. Philadelphia 76ers select Joe Alexander, West Virginia Small Forward

Alexander can shoot from anywhere on the court, and that's something the 76ers need desperately.

17. Toronto Raptors select Chase Budinger, Arizona Shooting Guard

The Raptors are currently thin at the 2-guard position, and Budinger would be a nice pick at No. 17.

18. Washington Wizards select JaVale McGee, Nevada Center

McGee is one of the longest players in the draft (7-foot-6 wingspan). His athleticism, considering his size, should allow him to play for a long time in the league.

19. Cleveland Cavaliers select Brandon Rush, Kansas Shooting Guard

LeBron James is probably the best all-around player in the NBA, but the knock on him is he doesn't like to take the last shot, yet Brandon Rush would not shy away from it.

20. Denver Nuggets select Robin Lopez, Stanford Center

This Lopez is not as solid offensively as his brother, but he is a hustle player who could be a great interior defender.

21. New Jersey Nets (from Mavericks) select Davon Jefferson, Southern Cal Forward

Jefferson is a highlight waiting to happen, and once he develops a consistent outside shot, he'll be a solid offensive player in the NBA.

22. Orlando Magic select Jason Thompson, Rider Power Forward

Thompson didn't play against the best competition at Rider, but I'm still intrigued by this athletic forward.

23. Utah Jazz select Donte Green, Syracuse Small Forward

With Green's size and perimeter game, he could be a tough matchup for years in the NBA.

24. Seattle/Oklahoma City Sonics (from Suns) select Lester Hudson, UT-Martin Point Guard

Hudson reminds me, and a lot of others, of Rodney Stuckey of the Detroit Pistons. He is a dynamic guard from a small school and will put up solid numbers as a pro.

25. Houston Rockets select Roy Hibbert, Georgetown Center

Hibbert actually hurt his stock by returning to Georgetown, so we'll see how he pans out as a pro.

26. San Antonio Spurs select Chris Douglas-Roberts, Memphis Shooting Guard

CDR has a lot of question marks heading into the draft, but, quite frankly, he is just simply a winner and the Spurs have some experience in that field.

27. New Orleans Hornets select Ryan Anderson, California Forward

Anderson lacks great quickness, but he can fill it up in a hurry. At 6-foot-10, he'll have an advantage shooting the three-ball, which is a strong suit for him.

28. Memphis Grizzlies (from Lakers) select Joey Dorsey, Memphis Power Forward

Yeah, it looks like a nice story with a Memphis player going to Memphis, but it is actually a fit. Dorsey will never be an offensive factor, but his defense and high motor will energize his team.

29. Detroit Pistons select Courtney Lee, Western Kentucky Shooting Guard

Lee was already an NBA prospect, but the NCAA Tournament certainly helped his stock. Lee has a lot of skill factors going against him, but he could develop into a solid sixth man.

30. Boston Celtics select Kyle Weaver, Washington State Guard

Weaver has the ability to play either guard position, but his money will be made on the defensive end. He could be a steal late in the first round.

Bitter Wizards Continue To Talk

Gary Lloyd — Tue, 29 Apr 2008 10:48:17 -0400

I feel bad for the best two all-around players for the Washington Wizards — Caron Butler and Antawn Jamison.

And don't try to convince me they're not the two best Wizards. They are.

The best two talkers on the team, though, are DeShawn Stevenson and Brendan Haywood (Gilbert Arenas is the best blogger).

I wish those two would shut up, don't you?

First it was DeShawn Stevenson saying LeBron James is overrated.

Are you serious, DeShawn? Have you seen what this guy has done in his still extremely young career? Have you? By calling King James overrated, you obviously have not.

James retaliated, saying, "With DeShawn Stevenson it is kind of funny. It's almost like Jay-Z saying something bad about Soulja Boy. There's no comparison. Enough said."

Jay-Z is a vastly popular and accomplished rapper, just like LeBron James is to the NBA. To me, however, the DeShawn Stevenson-Soulja Boy analogy makes no sense.

Soulja Boy is a one-hit wonder. Stevenson isn't even that.

In his eight-year career, Stevenson has averaged just under nine points and two assists. Staggering numbers for the 23rd pick of the 2000 NBA Draft.

Brendan Haywood, added to the name-calling and deemed James a "crybaby" after Game 4 of the series. Haywood was ejected because of a flagrant-two foul in Game 2 (seen in the article's photo).

Said Haywood, "He wears 23, he wants to be Michael Jordan, I can respect that, he's a great player. You saw what Mike went through. Mike got fouled way worse than this. No one is trying to hurt him, everybody is trying to play basketball, trying to play tough. Play basketball and leave it alone."

Wrong, Brendan.

You blatantly went after James and hurled him into the photographers who were sitting under the basket. You, Brendan, were tossed from the game.

LeBron led his team to victory with a near triple-double (one rebound short).

LeBron is a humble guy, so he's not going to show you he's hurting or he's mad.

He's going to beat you by shooting or dishing the ball. Not by dishing words.

This will be the third straight year that the Wizards get bounced in the first round by the Cavaliers.

What do you have to say to that, DeShawn? Brendan?

Revenge is a dish best served cold.

NBA: Pat Riley's Coaching Career is Done...For Now

Gary Lloyd — Mon, 28 Apr 2008 13:55:57 -0400

I'm probably way off since I don't know all the details, but on the surface, it seems Pat Riley is a quitter.

I know he's considered one of the top coaches in history, has titles and will be in the Hall of Fame in September, but I can't help but feel this way.

Today, Riley resigned as the head coach of the 15-67 Miami Heat, but will remain as the team's president.

He obviously had a legitimate reason to take time off last season when he had surgery on his knee.

However, he resigned as Heat coach after a 25-57 2002-03 season and hired Stan Van Gundy, who lasted just over two seasons in Miami. Riley decided he wanted back in as coach, returned to the bench in December 2005 (postponing a hip replacement) and ultimately was the head coach at the time of Miami's first NBA Championship. Just two years later, after an abysmal season, he's done yet again.

Do you sense a pattern? Because I do.

When things are going good, Riley wants to be at the head of the bench. When things are going bad, he wants to sit in his luxury box as team president where no one can see him.

Last year, Riley said he was committed to coaching three more NBA seasons. At his press conference today, he admitted he never believed what he said just a year ago.

That tells me, and should tell anyone, he lied. His word is thus compromised.

At today's press conference in which he resigned, Riley said, "I am definitely sure that I don't want to do this anymore."

OK, Pat. Sure you don't.

He went on to say this: "I think the call from the Hall of Fame did something to me. There was a lot of emotion on that telephone call. When you come to the finish, or you know it's the best time, it's a clean ending."

We'll see, but don't be surprised if Riley takes back his word yet again when the Heat start to win a few games.

NBA Draft: Looking at the Big Board

Gary Lloyd — Sun, 27 Apr 2008 10:20:55 -0400

April 27 was the last day for college freshmen, sophomores and juniors to enter their names for June's NBA Draft.

Players who have already signed with agents or will sign with one in the next month-and-a-half cannot return to the college game.

However, most hold off on signing with agents. This gives them until June 16 (10 days before the draft) to withdraw their names from the draft pool.

Since the entry deadline has now passed, I figured I'd go ahead and lay out my big board for the 2008 NBA Draft.

1. Derrick Rose, Memphis Point Guard
Rose led his team to a National Championship appearance as a freshman and will hire an agent. I can't pass on an NBA-ready point guard with so many skills in the No. 1 slot.

2. Michael Beasley, Kansas State Forward
Beasley will hire an agent, foregoing his college eligibility. Rightfully so. Beasley will not fall out of the Top Two in this year's draft, and he should help some lucky team on offensive right away.

3. O.J. Mayo, Southern California Guard
Mayo will never be just a point guard or just a shooting guard at the next level, but he will be an explosive scorer and a nice defender.

4. Brook Lopez, Stanford Center
This Lopez has the better hair and the better game, and will therefore have the better NBA career. With a Top Five draft pick, look for the Memphis Grizzlies to push hard for him.

5. Eric Gordon, Indiana Shooting Guard
Gordon probably has the most range of any guard in this draft. His outstanding athletic ability will make up for his 6-foot-4 height.

6. Danilo Gallinari, Italy Small Forward
Like most international players, Gallinari can run the point guard position at 6-foot-9. He'll have a difficult time guarding other NBA guards, however, due to his slow footwork.

7. Russell Westbrook, UCLA Guard
Westbrook has shown improvement at the point guard position. He will have to continue that progression to be a successful NBA player. Watch for some highlight dunks from Westbrook at the next level, too.

8. JaVale McGee, Nevada Center
Not a lot of people know about McGee, but they will learn about him in the next two months. This athletic center will hire an agent and will be a lottery pick based on his enormous potential.

9. Jerryd Bayless, Arizona Point Guard
Developing the necessary point guard skills is what Bayless needs to improve the most. He plays with a very high level of intensity, so that could make up for his small size. He could still be a Top Five pick.

10. DeAndre Jordan, Texas A&M Center
This is yet another pick based on potential, as Jordan only played 20 minutes per game as a freshman. He put up nice numbers as a freshman in his limited time, so keeping him on the floor should lead to big numbers.

11. Anthony Randolph, LSU Small Forward
Definitely a "boom or bust" pick for whichever team selects him. He has the height to be a power forward, but his frame doesn't seem to hold a lot of weight. Currently, he's a small forward type player, but his outside shooting is very questionable.

12. Darrell Arthur, Kansas Power Forward
His size, athleticism and ability to extend his range project him well into the NBA. Scoring 20 points and grabbing 10 rebounds in the National Championship game against Memphis certainly increases his stock.

13. Kevin Love, UCLA Power Forward
Love's post skills, size and passing ability will make him an exceptional NBA player for years. He's a high-character guy, and the team that drafts him will be getting a winner.

14. Nicolas Batum, France Guard/Forward
Batum has a great all-around game and plays smoothly. After watching various clips of him, my only real question is how he'll translate to the life of the NBA.

THE REST

15. Kosta Koufos, Ohio State Center

16. Donte Greene, Syracuse Small Forward

17. Jason Thompson, Rider Power Forward

18. Brandon Rush, Kansas Shooting Guard

19. Chase Budinger, Arizona Shooting Guard

20. Robin Lopez, Stanford Center

21. Kyle Weaver, Washington State Guard

22. Mario Chalmers, Kansas Point Guard

23. D.J. White, Indiana Power Forward

24. D.J. Augustin, Texas Point Guard

25. Roy Hibbert, Georgetown Center

26. Lester Hudson, Tennessee-Martin Point Guard

27. Wayne Ellington, North Carolina Shooting Guard

28. Ryan Anderson, California Forward

29. Joe Alexander, West Virginia Small Forward

30. Chris Douglas-Roberts, Memphis Shooting Guard

NEXT IN LINE

Joey Dorsey (Memphis), Shan Foster (Vanderbilt), Richard Hendrix (Alabama), J.J. Hickson (North Carolina State), Davon Jefferson (Southern California), Ty Lawson (North Carolina), Courtney Lee (Western Kentucky), Richard Roby (Colorado), Marreese Speights (Florida), Ante Tomic (Croatia).