Bleacher Report - Articles by Jon Wyhop

Not So Fighting Irish: ND Drops 5th Straight Game

Jon Wyhop — Sat, 31 Jan 2009 15:58:03 -0500

The Notre Dame Fighting Irish Men's basketball team has been everything but hot lately. Coming into last week with the largest active home winning streak and the longest home winning streak at home vs. Big East teams was snapped by the Huskies of UConn. That was just the start to their rough games ahead.

They went from winning around 43 home games straight to losing two in a row at home, and after today a total of five overall, and it probably wont end there with No. 16 UCLA and No. 7 Louisville yet to come on the schedule. This whole losing streak started with a loss at Louisville in OT.

The Irish have tried everything they can to win, they have changed their starting lineup to try and get some players rest and refocused. They also have changed their game plan, not basing it all around getting it in to Luke Harangody. In their loss to Pitt on Saturday they looked like they were just going to sweep the floor with them getting out to a 20-10 lead early. Luke Zeller, the McDonald's All-american started off hot hitting his first four three-pointers and the team hitting 11 of 24 in the first half. They then came out in the second half and didn't shoot one three pointer in the first 12 minutes.

The Irish came into the season as the No. 9 team in the country and showed it early getting to the finals in the Maui Invitation beating Texas to get there but then getting smoked by the number one team at the time the Tar Heels of North Carolina. They then continued a steady streak and getting to 12-3 record and ranked No. 13. Now they are 12-8 and most likely will not be ranked after the weekend.

So what does Notre Dame have to do to get back to its winning ways? Well no one can really answer that, so in my opinion they should just switch to a smaller conference although that will never happen so they will just have to push through and hope for a chance at the NCAA tourney.

Nick Lidstrom, Pavel Datsyuk Out for Red Wings: How Will This Affect West?

Jon Wyhop — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 16:44:19 -0500

With Detroit Red Wings' Pavel Datsyuk and Nick Lidstrom out with injuries the Western Conference will be down two great players. The replacements, Patrick Marleau and Stephane Robidas, are not bad players at all, but having them come from different teams could cause chemistry problems, since Lidstrom and Datsyuk already have chemistry. The have been playing together for the last eight years.

Also, the two Wings have a combined 26 goals this season, compared to the 27 of the other two players. It might not be a big change stat wise, but that shows that with Marleau scoring 25 of those goals he is, in a way, selfish. With Datsyuk and Lidstrom both having well over 20 assists, they provide a better chance for the team to win.

At least there are some positives in this. With the two Wings resting, they will be healthy and ready for the rest of the season as they try to make the playoffs for the 18th straight year and possibly win the Stanley Cup again back to back, just as they did in '97 and '98.

Hawks freeze as Wings heat up Winter Classic

Jon Wyhop — Mon, 05 Jan 2009 08:42:00 -0500

The Detroit Red Wings were on the verge of losing their top spot in the Central division if they would have lost the two games they played vs. the Chicago Blackhawks.

Ty Conklin, the goal tender of the Wings, played two great games this week vs. Chicago. He shut them out on Tuesday with a 4-0 win and then a 6-4 win Thursday in the Winter Classic.

Also helping out in the wins were Jiri Hudler, Johan Franzen, and Pavel Datsuyk all scoring two goals in the two games. These are two very good wins for Detroit keeping them on track to make the playoffs for 18 straight seasons.

The Wings just tormented the Hawks while out scoring them 10-4. If you look at the roster for the Wings, they have so many players who just play like there is no tomorrow. They play better as a team than any other team in the NHL.

They have the most pure talent on the ice at one time. Also if you look at when each players was drafted, only one player on the Wings was taken in the first round except for Dan Cleary.

Not So Chicago

Jon Wyhop — Fri, 03 Oct 2008 05:54:18 -0400

Well for all you Cubs fans who thought this is the year, you were wrong just like the last 100 years. I also know there were quite a few fans who were hoping for a Chicago World Series, HA HA wrong again.

Both of the Chicago teams are not looking so hot in the playoffs this year. The Cubs who had the best record in the NL are down two games to none to a Dodgers team that was a huge question going into the all-star break. Actually they thought that the D-Backs had it wrapped up until the Dodgers picked up Manny and just started playing Dodger baseball.

Then you have the White Sox who have showed how to let a rookie beat you on his own with two HR and a SB in his first playoff game, EVER! So if they keep it up and the Cubs do then the World Series will not be any where near the city of Chicago.

Although there is that small chance that the Cubs pull it off then they have to go and play the Phillies team who is just looking unbeatable. So for all you Cubs fans, MAYBE NEXT YEAR.

2008 Reload: Can the Cleveland Indians Bring Home a Title?

Jon Wyhop — Sun, 20 Jan 2008 04:20:16 -0500

2007 was the season Cleveland had been waiting for for over a decade.

Now it's time to see if they can come back even stronger.

Last season, the Cleveland Indians played consistently and finished strong, winning the Central Division and tying for the best record in the MLB with the Boston Red Sox.

The Indians did not make to many changes to their lineup, adding a few role players and releasing a few.

Not nearly as dramatic of changes as division rival Detroit Tigers.

The Tigers have added Dontrelle Willis to their rotation and Miguel Cabrera into their lineup, making a once dangerous team now seem deadly. With this lineup, Detroit seems like a lock to win the Central Division.

The Indians, however, still have the pieces to win the AL Wild Card and make a playoff run, regardless of what Detroit has planned.

Cleveland brings two of the most dominate pitchers in the AL, possibly in all of basebal—C.C. Sabathia and Fausto Carmona. They both finished around the 20 win milestone and were in the top of the league in strikeouts. Sabathia's 2007 campaign won him the AL Cy Young, proving he has truly dominant stuff.

2008 is the proving ground for the Cleveland Indians. They have the pieces in place to make a stretch run and now have the playoff experience they lacked in 2007. But is is this year the year everyone in Cleveland has waited for?

Never say never, even in Cleveland.

Who Will Make the Super Bowl?

Jon Wyhop — Sun, 20 Jan 2008 04:05:43 -0500

The Green Bay Packers are probably the team that has the best chance of making it out of today's games.

The New York Giants are more concered with beating the cold rather than playing and winning their game. They are playing in Green Bay, and its snowing and its cold—two elements the Packers like to play in.

Sure, the Giants are used to cold in New York—but not this cold.

I also don't think that Eli Manning is ready for this. He is too young, and this is his first time in the NFC championship game. He will not be ready for this kind of pressure.

The other game is New England and San Diego. If San Diego's defense can keep Tom Brady off the field like they did to Peyton Manning, they will have the best chance of winning.

If the Patriots play like they have the last few games, they will be okay. But if they play like they did against the Ravens and the Eagles, then they will get beaten. The Chargers will take huge advantage of any weakness, and kill them.

Beating History: Red Wings Aim to Overcome Presidents' Trophy Jinx

Jon Wyhop — Sat, 19 Jan 2008 15:57:29 -0500

When the Detroit Red Wings have won the Presidents' Trophy in the past, they end up losing in the playoffs.

This year the Wings are on track to win the Presidents Trophy and probably lose in the playoffs, if history tells us anything. But I think with the team they have now, Detroit actually does have a shot at the Stanley Cup, proving they are not cursed for having best record in the NHL.

They have the best record right now and, if they keep it up, they will clinch a playoff spot faster than any team in NHL history. That means they will be able to rest their players more and be able to see if any younger guys can prove themselves as role players to help them with depth on the bench.

They also have not had a dynamic duo between the pipes like they have this year with Hasek and Osgood. Those two can go on and off in the playoffs and the Red Wings would lose nothing. Both goalies have been playing at a high level all year long.

They also have the best power play line in the NHL with Datsyuk, Zetterberg, and Holmstrom as the forwards, all averaging a high amount of goals and assists this season. With Coach Mike Babcock, selected to coach the all-star team, don't doubt that the Red Wings will be prepared to stop history dead in its tracks this season.

So, if you think this year will repeat itself, think again.

Another Unbeaten Gone: North Carolina Falls to Maryland

Jon Wyhop — Sat, 19 Jan 2008 15:47:29 -0500

Earlier today, Maryland beat No. 1 North Carlolina by two points at Chapel Hill.

College basketball, folks, is officially in full swing.

Does this mean that UNC does not deserve the number one ranking in college basketball after losing by two to a in conference rival?

Of course it does.

UNC should still be No. 2.

But the Memphis Tigers deserve the No. 1 spot due to their ability to beat the teams they should and grind out the close ones. Memphis, despite being in the Conference USA, has proven itself to be able to compete with anyone, anywhere, thanks to a tough non-conference schedule.

The North Carolina Tar Heels are still one of the top teams in college basketball but i do not think they deserve the No. 1 spot after losing a game. They will still probably win the ACC, one of the toughest confrences in college basketball, and they will still be a No. 1 seed.

Right now UNC is a Final Four team, but for now let's let another team enjoy being No. 1 till UNC can prove just one time that they deserve the top spot.

Thanks to Maryland, it looks like March Madness might be coming a couple months early.

Colts and Dallas Both Out?

Jon Wyhop — Wed, 16 Jan 2008 08:09:25 -0500

This is probably the most talked about subject around the NFL right now. No, its not can the Pats win it all or man Brett Favre just cant be stopped.

No, it's that Indy and Dallas both lost when they were both favored by an decently large margin to win. They both had their chances and blew them.

They both could have played a thing I like to call Defense, but they didn't and there is nothing they can do to change it. The Chargers and the Giants both won fair and square.

Now speaking of the Giants, I would hate to be them right now having to go to the Frozen Tundra in Green Bay in mid-January is probably the worst thing that could have happened. So I think that the Packers will win that game and then the Chargers will beat the Pats to end the perfect season. Then they will be in the Super Bowl and i will make a new article on that when that time comes.

Notre Dame Basketball: Another Home Win

Jon Wyhop — Wed, 16 Jan 2008 08:02:12 -0500

The Notre Dame Fighting Irish now have a 30 game home win streak! The Irish are loaded with young talent. If they can keep all these guys throught their senior year then they will have a chance at winning the National Championship. They are lead by the 6'8'' 250 pound sophomore out of Schererville, IN—Luke Haragody. He has been dominant this season as well as the last season.

The Irish took down Cincinnati last night (91-74) to extend thwir winning streak to 31 games at home. Now if you say thats not impressive enough they are also averaging under 80 pionts per game. They are 13-3 this season with losses to Baylor and Georgia Tech early in the seaon but the margin or those 2 loses combined is just 5 points. Then their other loss was a blow out from No. 16 Marquette (92-66) at Marquette.

The Irish go on the road for two game now to No. 6 Georgetown and to No. 21 Villinova. If they can come through and win both those games and then beat Providence and the Joyce then i think they should be in the top 25 in a sinch. They actually should be up there now but they havent showed anything i guess as of right now. I guess beating Kansas State, West Virginia, and Connecticut, all very good teams, is just not enoguh for the board to say they desreve a spot up there.