Bleacher Report - Articles by Brad Frank

Duke's Mason Plumlee Out Indefinitely With Broken Wrist

Brad Frank — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 17:08:10 -0500

According to the Associated Press, Duke freshman Mason Plumlee broke his left wrist during practice Wednesday and is expected to be out indefinitely.

A team official said Thursday that Plumlee fell hard and landed on his wrist. It is believed that Plumlee will not need surgery.

"Mason took a hard fall in practice on Wednesday that resulted in the wrist injury," said head coach Mike Krzyzewski. "It was an unfortunate play, but we are confident that he will make a full recovery. Mason is going to be a very good player for us and we look forward to him getting healthy and returning to the court."

Plumlee was a projected starter for the Blue Devils this season in the frontcourt along with his older brother Miles. No replacement in the starting lineup has been accounced.

Duke opens its season tomorrow at home versus UNC-Greensboro.

Plumlee was the second-best rated center and 10th-best prospect overall in the 2009 recruiting class. In two preseason games, he averaged 12 points and eight rebounds.

Coincidentally, Duke's rival, North Carolina, had its freshman power forward break his wrist last season almost a year ago.

Tyler Zeller broke his wrist last year in a game versus Kentucky. His injury required surgery and kept him out for most of the season.

Let the Season Begin! Team-by-Team NBA Over/Unders

Brad Frank — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 18:44:23 -0400

With the 2009-10 season set to tip-off tonight, let's take a look at each team. For some we'll discuss expectations for the team in general or a player in particular. This is one of the most intriguing NBA seasons in recent memory, largely to due a lot of offseason activity and transition. For example, a surefire Hall-of-Famer, Kevin Garnett, is coming off major knee surgery and trying to get Boston back to the Finals. Can he be a major force for the Celtics this season? Check out an over/under related to his return later in this slideshow. So with all this in mind, let's go team-by-team and examine some interesting over/under prop bets.

Begin Slideshow

2009-10 Duke Men's Basketball: Schedule Breakdown

Brad Frank — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 17:16:29 -0400

Duke announced the release of its 2009-10 men’s basketball schedule just over two months ago. So with just over a month left before the season tip-off, let’s look at what highlights Duke’s schedule this season.

The 2009-10 schedule features some familiar non-conference foes and a new opponent in the ACC/Big Ten challenge in Wisconsin. Last season in the challenge Duke dominated a much-improved Purdue team, 76-60.

Duke opens the season with UNC-Greensboro at home on Friday, Nov. 13.

St. John’s, Gonzaga, and Georgetown are among the similar non-conference foes slated to play Duke this season.

The Red Storm face the Blue Devils for the 15th time in history, with Duke leading the series 9-5.

Matt Bouldin appears ready to carry on the great backcourt tradition at Gonzaga. The senior has been named to the preseason Wooden Award watch list.

While Georgetown has lost some talent to the NBA Draft but returns super sophomore Greg Monroe.

Duke opens ACC play with Clemson at home, the first of three games in Durham out of Duke’s first four conference games.

The meeting with rival North Carolina will take place Wednesday, Feb. 10 in Chapel Hill. The home edition of the Tobacco Road feud takes place Wednesday, Mar. 6.

The toughest two-week stretch begins Saturday, Feb. 6.

During the stretch Duke heads to Chestnut Hill for a showdown with Boston College. Duke then travels to Chapel Hill for its first meeting with North Carolina. The following Saturday, Duke hosts Maryland, an opponent which always plays Duke well at some point in the season. Lastly, Duke heads to Coral Gables for a midweek matchup against Miami.

Duke welcomes the Tulsa Golden Hurricane to Cameron Indoor Stadium in late February for a rare non-conference game at that point in the season.

Again this season Duke is slated to play in the NIT Season Tip-off.

Aside from the Wisconsin game, Duke will not play a true road game until Jan. 9 at Georgia Tech. Duke plays the NIT Season Tip-off in New York, just like the Gonzaga game. Duke also plays Iowa State in Chicago in early January.

Duke is coming off a 2008 ACC Tournament title with a 11-5 record in conference play.

Duke lost four of six games in conference play at one point before winning five of its final six.

2009 College Football Preview

Brad Frank — Wed, 02 Sep 2009 20:59:27 -0400

Last year at this time I was not a member of Bleacher Report. However, I did write a 2008 college football preview merely for my own enjoyment.

Among the highlights, I had Florida and Oklahoma, the two most recent national championship participants, in my preseason top five.

Among the atrocities, I picked Auburn and Ohio State to play for the national championship. Auburn fired its coach midseason, and Ohio State got trounced by USC in Week Three, an early indication that the Buckeyes were not capable of hanging with a team like Florida or Oklahoma.

So this season I am afforded the chance to make predictions and provide analysis again only this time for the upcoming 2009 season I‘ll have a bigger audience to embarrass myself in front of. And I couldn’t be more thrilled to do so.

On the eve of my favorite day of the year, I hope this sparks your interest for the entirety of the college football season.

I’m starting with a preview of who I think will be the best teams.

Top five teams:

1. Florida

Never before last season did I believe that one person single-handedly could refuse to let his or her entire team lose. And that’s what happened with Tim Tebow. After Florida lost to Ole Miss, he performed on another level, a level at which Florida needed him to perform in order to play in the national championship.

I have every reason to believe that he’ll deliver again this season. I’m positive Urban Meyer won’t let one ounce of complacency enter the Florida locker room. I know they’ve lost a bit of talent to the NFL, but I think they’re going to look quite impressive this season

2. Texas

Texas returns the most talent in college football this season. Colt McCoy is going to command this team much like Tebow did last season with Florida. He won’t have to lead the team in rushing this season, but he’ll have even more of an impact on the games in which Texas plays.

Defensively, Texas will be quite good. I know Big 12 defenses don’t get credit for being good, but Texas’ will be terrific compared to the rest of the conference and good enough compared to the rest of the nation.

3. Alabama

After last season, I’m no longer doubting a Nick Saban-coached team again.

They have a new quarterback this season, so I’m a little skeptical about ranking this team as high as I am. But the reason I have Alabama as high as I do is because when Alabama plays as well as it possibly can, it can beat any team in the country. And I feel Alabama can play at that level in any game regardless of its opponent.

4. Oklahoma

I have to put Oklahoma this high because they return excellent athletes at the offensive skill positions. Sam Bradford will be terrific, but I just don’t think his supporting cast will perform at the level he needs them to perform.

I have Oklahoma losing three games this season. The defense won’t probably be good enough the entire season, and issues with the offensive line are concerning.

5. USC

This last spot came down to USC and Penn State. Sure USC is set to start a true freshman at quarterback, and that might be the only advantage Penn State would have over USC.

Everywhere else USC has big-time recruits who have speed and toughness not seen anywhere else in college football. The only reason I can’t rank the Trojans any higher is because they always seem to slip up one game each year for whatever reason. So that leaves me to believe they have weaknesses somewhere. I just don’t know where.

Next I’m providing a conference breakdown of where each team will finish along with projected records. I went through each game involving an FBS team and predicted a winner, and these are the results.

Atlantic Coast Conference

Atlantic
Florida State 8-4
NC State 8-4
Wake Forest 7-5
Clemson 7-5
Boston College 6-6
Maryland 4-8

Coastal
Virginia Tech 11-1
Georgia Tech 9-3
North Carolina 7-5
Miami FL 7-5
Duke 4-8
Virginia 3-9

Big 12 Conference

North
Colorado 9-3
Kansas 8-4
Nebraska 7-5
Missouri 6-6
Kansas State 4-8
Iowa State 2-10

South
Texas 11-1
Oklahoma State 11-1
Oklahoma 9-3
Baylor 8-4
Texas Tech 7-5
Texas A&M 4-8

Big East Conference

Cincinnati 9-3
West Virginia 9-3
Rutgers 8-4
South Florida 8-4
Pittsburgh 6-6
Louisville 6-6
Connecticut 5-7
Syracuse 2-10

Big Ten Conference

Penn State 11-1
Ohio State 11-1
Illinois 9-3
Minnesota 9-3
Iowa 8-4
Wisconsin 8-4
Michigan State 8-4
Northwestern 7-5
Michigan 5-7
Indiana 3-9
Purdue 2-10

Conference USA

West
Houston 9-3
Rice 8-4
Tulsa 7-5
UTEP 6-6
SMU 4-8
Tulane 2-10

East
Southern Miss 8-4
East Carolina 7-5
UCF 4-8
Memphis 4-8
Marshall 3-9
UAB 2-10

Independents

Notre Dame 8-4
Navy 8-5
Army 6-6

Mid-American Conference

West
Central Michigan 9-3
Western Michigan 8-4
Ball State 6-6
Northern Illinois 5-7
Toledo 3-9
Eastern Michigan 2-10

East
Buffalo 9-3
Ohio 9-3
Bowling Green 7-5
Akron 6-6
Kent State 5-7
Temple 4-8
Miami OH 2-10

Mountain West Conference

BYU 11-1
TCU 10-2
Utah 8-4
San Diego State 7-5
Colorado State 6-6
Air Force 5-7
New Mexico 5-7
UNLV 4-8
Wyoming 1-11

Pacific 10 Conference

Oregon 11-1
USC 10-2
Oregon State 10-2
California 8-4
Stanford 7-5
Arizona State 5-7
UCLA 5-7
Arizona 4-8
Washington 3-9
Washington State 1-11

Southeastern Conference

West
Alabama 11-1
LSU 11-1
Ole Miss 9-3
Arkansas 7-5
Auburn 6-6
Mississippi State 2-10

East
Florida 11-1
Georgia 9-3
Tennessee 8-4
South Carolina 6-6
Kentucky 5-7
Vanderbilt 3-9

Sun Belt Conference

Troy 10-2
Louisiana-Lafayette 8-4
Louisiana-Monroe 6-6
Florida International 6-6
Florida Atlantic 6-6
Middle Tennessee St. 5-7
Arkansas State 2-10
Western Kentucky 2-10
North Texas 1-11

Western Athletic Conference

Boise State 11-1
Nevada 10-2
Louisiana Tech 6-6
Hawaii 6-6
Fresno State 5-7
New Mexico State 4-8
San Jose State 4-8
Utah State 4-8
Idaho 1-11

Now that’s done, so we’ll get onto some predictions. Last season I did okay with my predictions. This season I feel can do much better.

Along the lines of SI.com’s Peter King’s segment “Three Things I Think I Think,” I’m going to create something similar and give this next section the following title:

“Three Things I’m Predicting But Probably Shouldn’t.”

1. Someone other than Tebow, McCoy, and Bradford will unarguably deserve to win the Heisman Trophy.

2. Tennessee will lead Florida at halftime and then lose.

3. Four non-BCS schools win finish in the top 16 when the final standings are released.

Last season I predicted Pittsburgh’s LeSean McCoy to win the Heisman Trophy. Even though he had a great season, he came nowhere close to winning. This season, based on my first prediction above, I’m probably going to look even more foolish when making this prediction.

Winner: Zac Robinson, QB, Oklahoma State

Unfortunately I’m already convinced that voters will let Tebow, McCoy, or Bradford win the Heisman Trophy even before the season begins. Regardless, I’m thinking that Robinson will have a better season than the other three. And it won’t even be close. But somehow, he’ll get screwed and one of the above three will win it.

I know a lot of people are predicting Oklahoma State as a trendy pick to win the Big 12 North if not the entire conference. I’m not on that bandwagon, but I do think that Robinson will have a terrific season.

Seven Intriguing Teams to Watch:

1. Syracuse -- New coach. New quarterback. The Orange may still lose a bunch of games, but I’m surely going to be following them.

2. Ohio -- For whatever reason my instincts tell me that Ohio is going to have a great season, somehow the Bobcats will force people to pay attention to the MAC.

3. LSU -- The Tigers seem like they’re thrilled to death that people are letting them fly under the radar. I think they’ll have a great season and have fun while doing so.

4. Boise State -- The Broncos are going to be a pure joy to watch this season. I couldn’t be more excited to them in their opener vs. Oregon.

5. Minnesota -- The Gophers are set to tackle the beasts of the Big Ten. I’ve got them winning nine games. Tim Brewster’s doing a fantastic job rebuilding this program.

6. Ole Miss -- Like Oklahoma State, I’m not entirely on this bandwagon, but I’m not going to deny that the Rebels will be an exciting team to watch.

7. Oregon -- The Ducks might challenge last season’s Oklahoma team for most points scored in a season. They might give up a lot of points too, but at least their games will be fun to watch.

And finally, my predictions for the BCS Bowls:

BCS National Championship: Florida over Texas
Rose Bowl: USC over Penn State
Fiesta Bowl: Boise State over Ohio State
Sugar Bowl: Alabama over Oklahoma State
Orange Bowl: Virginia Tech over Cincinnati

Let’s hope for a fantastic football season full of great games and continued controversy about the postseason format.

College Football: A Fan's Complete TV Guide To Week One

Brad Frank — Tue, 01 Sep 2009 00:46:07 -0400

With the start of college football season approaching, let’s take a look at how you can spend your college football opening week without ever leaving the couch by highlighting the most interesting games to watch.

South Carolina at NC State (Thurs., 7 p.m. et, ESPN)

You just need to watch this game to serve as a filler before the premier matchup of the night. But don’t underestimate how good of a game this one could be.

South Carolina is under the radar this season, and if the Gamecocks could solidify their quarterback play, they could be a sleeper in the SEC.

NC State is a sleeper itself in the ACC, although it’s become more of a trendy pick as we inch closer to the start of the season. The player to watch in this game is NC State quarterback Russell Wilson, the ACC’s leading returning passer.

Oregon at Boise State (Thurs., 10:15 p.m. et, ESPN)

Thursday night features one of the most intriguing non-conference showdowns for the entire season, Oregon at Boise State.

Oregon is looking for a nice road win to start the season so that it can build some momentum to roll through non-conference action into Pac-10 play. The Ducks have a legitimate chance to win the Pac-10 title outright, as they host Cal, USC, and Oregon State at home.

Boise State, meanwhile, is in position to go BCS bowling again this season like it did in 2007.

Minnesota at Syracuse (Sat., noon et, ESPN2)

Expectations are high for Minnesota this season, as Tim Brewster leads an experienced Gopher team. Minnesota is expected to finish in the top half of the Big Ten.

Syracuse unleashes a new era of Orange football under coach Doug Marrone. Plus, former Duke point guard Greg Paulus will make his college football debut as the starting quarterback.

Marrone and Paulus are seeking to properly begin a rebuilding effort at Syrcause, one of college football’s most tradition-laden programs.

Georgia at Oklahoma State (Sat., 3:30 et, abc)

Tune in to this one to see what the Georgia offense can do after the departures of Matthew Stafford and Knowshon Moreno. Georgia typically is a good road team. You can’t find a better early road test than Oklahoma State.

The Cowboys are trying to manage some lofty expectations this season. BCS dreams can’t stay dreams unless you take care of your first game. The high-powered offense will look to take care of the ‘Dawgs, thus beginning what could be a magical season for the folks in Stillwater.

BYU vs. Oklahoma (in Arlington, TX) (Sat., 7 p.m. et, ESPN)

Perhaps those of you on the East Coast have a bit of time to grab some dinner after the Georgia-Oklahoma State game before tuning in for this one. For those on the West Coast, your day’s just beginning on this magnificent day for college football.

Oklahoma opens its season in the new Cowboys Stadium with a worthy opponent, BYU. Sam Bradford will look to lead the Sooners and begin them on the right foot.

BYU, meanwhile, has every reason to believe that it has legitimate BCS aspirations, assuming it can survive the brutality that is its Mountain West schedule.

Alabama vs. Virginia Tech (Sat., 8 p.m. et, abc)

ESPN’s College Football GameDay will travel to Atlanta to spotlight this spectacular non-conference showdown.

Each team appearance in its respective conference championship last season. Alabama is breaking in a new quarterback, while Virginia Tech returns Tyrod Taylor.

Both defenses appear to be stout and among the best in the nation. Expect this game to feature quite an atmosphere inside the Georgia Dome.

Maryland at California (Sat., 10 p.m. et, ESPN2)

People on the West Coast will have an opportunity to see the nation’s best running back, Cal’s Jahvid Best, play in prime time.

Those on the East Coast may just want to tune in to see a glimpse of the great tailback, unless you’re one of the dedicated college football fans, the end of the Alabama-Virginia Tech game might be the end of your college football watching night.

This one’s also worth watching because it may be your first opportunity to see Maryland coach Ralph Friedgen, after he shed 80+ pounds during the offseason. Maryland football fans may be in for a long season, so you may not want to spend your time staying up late watching this game.

LSU at Washington (Sat., 10:30 p.m., ESPN)

We’re not done yet. The Tigers head west to take on the Huskies in Steve Sarkisian’s coaching debut.

Quarterback Jake Locker returns for Washington after an injury-plagued season last year.

LSU is hungry again. The Tigers appear to have rebounded after a shaky season last year, and nothing would feel better than picking up a road win in a tough Husky Stadium environment.

Cincinnati at Rutgers (Mon., 4 p.m. et, ESPN)

Perhaps the de facto Big East championship in Week One?

Cincinnati will look to start its season off on the right foot after a loss in the Orange Bowl.

Rutgers finished last season quite strongly and will look to maintain that level of success.

Miami FL at Florida State (Mon., 8 p.m. et, ESPN)

The in-state rivalry kicks off this opening week. Each team is looking to start conference play with a win.

Florida State will look to escape the troubles of its academic scandal by putting a thumping on the ‘Canes, while Miami FL is looking to return to national prominence, and nothing would help better than a road win against a ranked team in Week One.

Other games to watch:

Nevada at Notre Dame (Sat., 3:30 p.m. et, NBC)
Missouri vs. Illinois (in St. Louis) (Sat., 3:40 p.m. et, ESPN)
Navy at Ohio State (Sat., noon et, ESPN)

Which Team Is the Best Fit for Stephen Jackson?

Brad Frank — Sat, 29 Aug 2009 17:46:10 -0400

Golden State guard Stephen Jackson has indicated that he wants to be a traded to a contender. Jackson hired an agent recently to set his wish in motion.

Jackson said he'd like to play for Cleveland or any of the three NBA teams in Texas.

In tough economic times, not every team is a position to take a chance on him. But that's not to say teams won't take a chance, either.

So, which team is the best fit for him? Let's take a look.

We'll start with Cleveland. Most experts would probably say that Cleveland's roster is set for this season and that Cleveland would have to more than it's willing to bring Jackson aboard.

Cleveland was fortunate to sign Leon Powe to a minimum contract, so it's highly unlikely that the Cavaliers can assume Jackson's contract, even though this would be done by trade.

Jackson signed a three-year, $28 million extension last season and is scheduled to make just over $7 million this season.

What about San Antonio?

Jackson, 31, would join the team with the second-highest average player age. (Dallas is first.)

These two teams would not get any younger by bringing in Jackson, unless they could unload a couple veterans who are older than Jackson.

Strategically, acquiring Jackson doesn't make sense for San Antonio because he's a scorer by nature. With Tony Parker increasing his scoring aptitude, with Manu Ginobili coming off the bench as a pure scorer, and with Tim Duncan providing nearly 20 points per game routinely, Jackson's strength isn't necessarily a need for the Spurs.

I have to rule out the Spurs at this point.

Back to Dallas. Jackson would certainly be a better fit here than with Cleveland or San Antonio.

Obviously, Dirk Nowitzki is the Mavs' premier scorer, with Jason Terry and Josh Howard providing the secondary firepower.

But Terry and Howard aren't tremendously consistent—they're streaky. Perhaps Jackson could stabilize the backcourt for Dallas with some consistency at the starting shooting guard position.

Dallas would love to unload a bad contract—namely the contract of Erick Dampier—in order to bring in a veteran scorer like Jackson.

Courtesy of ESPN's NBA Trade Machine, the following trade would work: Dallas trades Dampier and Shawne Williams to Golden State for Jackson and Speedy Claxton.

This works for Dallas because it unloads the hefty Dampier contract, while Jackson is a clear upgrade over Williams.

Golden State has a much more manageable payroll than Dallas, so it can afford to assume Dampier's contract for two years. Plus, Golden State is a bit too loaded at point guard, so moving Claxton could free some playing time for rookie Stephen Curry.

Maybe the only way to counterargue the above proposed trade would be to say that Dallas is left without anyone who is capable of being a legitimate starting center.

Lastly, would Houston be a good fit for Jackson? I think so.

This works for two reasons. First, Jackson and Tracy McGrady would give the Rockets a lethal backcourt scoring duo. Second, Jackson would be one heck of an insurance policy for McGrady in case he continues to struggle with injury.

Houston is a bit younger compared to most teams. Thus, Jackson could provide some needed veteran leadership while buying some time for younger players to progress.

Houston is in a worse situation payroll-wise than Golden State. A trade to assume a large contract like Jackson's may not work out.

But you can't deny how much Jackson would help the Rockets become one of the best backcourts in the NBA with him, Aaron Brooks, McGrady, Shane Battier, and Trevor Ariza.

If Golden State is willing to take a hit financially after trading Jackson, Houston has some nice young pieces which could add to the Warriors' nucleus for the future.

In review, Cleveland and San Antonio are set with their teams this season. Plus, they're not as able financially to consider a trade for Jackson.

Dallas and Houston appear to be good fits, though Houston is handcuffed financially more so than Dallas.

If the Warriors comply with Jackson's trade demands, they'd likely suffer a blow financially for the immediate future in order to do so.

USC-Ohio State: A Spectacle Without Substance

Brad Frank — Mon, 17 Aug 2009 18:26:44 -0400

As America awaits the start of college football, one topic intrigues me, yet it probably goes unnoticed to most college football fans around the nation.

Recently my friends and I had a discussion about the college football regular season schedule. We pinpointed which regular season games we were most looking forward to, which games we thought were going to better than advertised, and which games we suspected will be overrated.

The game that stood out to me during our discussion was USC at Ohio State.

The game will surely be a sight, without question. ESPN's College GameDay is headed to Columbus on the second Saturday in September. With an 8 p.m. EST start, the night game inside Ohio Stadium, "The Horseshoe," will be a spectacular vista. Few games in recent years have had more hoopla and intensity surrounding them than this game will have.

But, this game lacks impact and meaning. I told my friends I felt this game would be overrated. Let me explain.

Essentially, the winner of this game remains in contention for a berth in the national championship game. The loser, meanwhile, must rebound and concentrate on winning its respective conference in order to earn a berth in the Rose Bowl.

I know the last three winners of the BCS National Championship each had at least one loss, but winning every game nearly assures a team a berth in the title game, so I can't downplay the importance of avoiding a loss.

I understand college football fans want to see games like these, in which two national powers, preferably non-conference opponents, square off in a clash of tradition for bragging rights. Fans want to see a great game so that they can walk away from it knowing the game was worth watching.

I'm like those fans, to a point.

But I can't comprehend how a team with a legitimate chance to win the National Championship would schedule a game like this one.

There's no point.

These days in college football, winning every game should be the approach a team takes because teams can't count on another team to lose a game and subsequently drop below them in the rankings.

So why would a team like USC or Ohio State risk losing when each has a rigorous conference schedule to survive?

Now I'm sure there's some financial incentive for playing this game. I understand money keeps programs in operations, but ultimately the goal of every team is to win the National Championship. And so playing a game like this one simply isn't worth it.

I know this game is nearly a month away. I know other games have similar implications as this one, but the USC-Ohio State game seems to be the premier non-conference match-up this season.

So this is why my attention is focused on this game.

I will watch this game in hope of seeing a great one. I will marvel at the atmosphere this game will present. But today in college football, the body of work a team constructs is ultimately what matters. This game is only a fraction of the puzzle needed to complete a run to the national championship game.

Which Sport Has The Most Meaningful Regular Season?

Brad Frank — Thu, 23 Jul 2009 15:15:33 -0400

I consider myself a pretty big sports fan.

I absolutely love certain sports, but I don't really care as much for others.

I've determined that the intensity with which I follow a sport during its entire season largely depends on the impact each regular season game carries in terms of how postseason berths are awarded.

I have my preferences when choosing to watch regular season games, to say the least.

So I'm wondering what you prefer.

Can you watch a regular season game even if it's not important? Or do you live for each regular season game because you believe every game is crucial for teams playing?

In 1978, Yankees shortstop Bucky Dent hit a three-run go-ahead home run in a one-game tiebreaker against the Red Sox.

Essentially, his home run made the Red Sox' regular season meaningless, as this one game decided the postseason fate of the Red Sox that year, without regard for anything they did in the regular season.

Should all regular season games carry the type of importance that 1978 one-game tiebreaker held?

Or can some if not many of them be almost routine, having little impact on the postseason?

So I ask:

With its current setup, which of the following leagues has the most meaningful regular season?

National Football League (NFL)

NFL teams play 16 games over a span of 17 weeks. So the NFL offers quality over quantity when compared to other leagues, which play dozens more games in their regular seasons.

Twelve of the league's 32 teams, eight division winners and four wild cards, qualify for the playoffs, six teams from each conference. The two teams with the best record aside from the division winners earn the wild card berth. The two teams from each conference with the best records receive a first-round bye. The playoffs are a single-elimnation tournament.

Teams that win nine or 10 games in the regular season often secure a playoff berth. So teams are allowed a few slip-ups during the course of the season. For the most part, 16 games is enough to determine which teams are worthy of playoff berths.

National Hockey League (NHL)

The NHL employs an 82-game regular season followed by its playoffs that feature best-of-seven series between the 16 participants. The 82-game season not only tests the durability of each player, but also a team's consistency.

In the NHL, a 30-team league, points are awarded after each regular season game. Two points are awarded for a win, one point for losing in overtime or a shootout, and zero points for a loss in regulation.

At the end of the season, the team in each division with the most points is declared the division winner and receives a playoff berth. Then, the five teams with the most points aside from the division winners also receive playoff berths.

In the playoff series, the team with the higher seed is awarded home-ice advantage. So in the NHL, compiling the most points possible is crucial to gain every advantage possible in the postseason.

National Basketball Association (NBA)

Like the NHL, the NBA employs an 82-game regular season, which is followed by the playoffs that feature best-of-seven series between 16 of the league's 30 teams. The NBA regular season is long enough to ensure that teams which play well most consistently emerge as a higher seed in the playoffs.

Eight teams from each conference qualify for the postseason. The teams are seeded based on the number of wins they have, even though the three division winners earn the top three seeds. In each round, the team with the better record owns home-court advantage, regardless of its seed.

Major League Baseball (MLB)

MLB teams play a 162-game regular season over a span of six months. MLB's regular season is a marathon.

The best teams are truly rewarded for their play during the regular season, as the MLB postseason is as exclusive as any, unlike the NBA and the NHL, in which nearly half of the league's teams qualify for the postseason.

Eight teams qualify for the postseason, four in each league, including three division winners and one wild card. In the playoffs, the wild card plays the team with the best record outside of its division.

Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) College Football

The collection of teams which compete in the Bowl Championship Series (BCS) participate collectively in what is called the Football Bowl Subdivision, which is formerly known as Division I-A.

College football teams do not participate in a tournament at the end of the regular season. Instead, teams compete in exhibition games called "bowls" to win shares of revenue for their own conference.

College football teams typically play 12 games in the regular season. At the end of the regular season, conference champions from BCS conferences automatically qualify for a BCS Bowl. Teams outside of BCS conferences are known as "mid-majors" and rarely compete in a BCS Bowl.

The BCS committee uses a formula to rank teams in order to determine which teams are most deserving of BCS Bowl bids. The formula is quite controversial, as it combines human opinion and computer output. Overall, however, the formula separates the great teams from the good teams and the good teams from the bad teams.

In order to maintain any chance of playing in the national championship, the formula nearly requires teams to finish their regular seasons unbeaten. With one loss, a team usually doesn't regain that chance until every FBS team incurs a loss.

Men's and Women's College Basketball

Men's and women's college basketball teams play in more than 30 regular season games before they participate in conference tournaments.

Conference tournament winners are awarded an automatic bid to the single-elimation tournament which determines the national champion. Teams that don't win their conference tournament can qualify for the tournament with an at-large bid, which is awarded to teams by a selection committee that determines the remaining participants in the postseason tournament.

The college basketball regular season forces teams to compile a resume in the hope that it is pleasing to the committee. Teams are seeded one through 16 in the tournament based on the strength of their resumes at regular season's end.

So, with an idea of how each postseason shapes as a result of the regular season, based on your experience of watching sports, which sport has the most meaningful regular season?

In other words, how important is the outcome of each and every game a team plays during the course of its regular season schedule?

My answer is college football. What's yours?

Cleveland Cavaliers Make Huge Mistake By Re-Signing Anderson Varejao

Brad Frank — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 17:34:30 -0400

The Cleveland Cavaliers re-signed forward Anderson Varejao on Wednesday, agreeing to a six-year contract worth as much as $50 million.

Varejao, a five-year veteran, played in 81 games last season and averaged 8.6 points, 7.2 rebounds, and 28.5 minutes per game.

He posted career highs in field goal percentage, free throw percentage, points, rebounds, assists, and blocks, largely due to a career high in minutes and games started.

But Varejao is not as valuable as the Cavaliers believe he is.

The coaching staff and his teammates exaggerate the impact of his defensive energy and hustle, while they ignore his lack of an offensive arsenal and shot-blocking ability.

As soon as Varejao announced his intention to opt out of the last year of his contract July 1, it was quite obvious the Cavaliers would end up overpaying him if they were going to re-sign him.

Varejao will be paid $7 million per season for the next six seasons, a spending fiasco by a team on the brink of NBA Finals contention.

Notice that none of the teams around the league showed strong interest in signing Varejao.

Dallas was reported to have contacted Varejao, a rumor he denied. Memphis was a possibility. But it's not like the Cavaliers engaged in a bidding war to sign Varejao.

You would have thought Cavaliers GM Danny Ferry and the front office would have seen the writing on the wall.

The bottom line is Varejao is nothing more than a role player who is valued by only the organization for which he plays.

The following categories are probably the most important statistical measures of production for a power forward.

Varejao ranked 154th in the league last season in points per 48 minutes. This conceivably means 30 starting lineups could be filled based on the NBA's most proficient scorers, and Varejao wouldn't be included in them. In other words, Varejao would be the fourth best bench player in the NBA if teams chose the best scorers.

He ranked 35th among big men last season in rebounds per 48 minutes. This means more than half of the starting big men in the league rank higher than Varejao. Many of them were free agents at the start of this offseason. None of them, however, were pursued by the Cavaliers.

Presumably the Cavaliers are finished with offseason activity since they have no more cap space to spare, unless a possible trade follows through.

Among power forwards, five of the league's 10 best rebounders per 48 minutes last season were free agents this offseason. (David Lee, Chris Andersen, Paul Millsap, Leon Powe, and Lamar Odom.) Yet, none of them were pursued by the Cavaliers in free agency.

Varejao ranked 41st last season in blocks per 48 minutes. Again, there were free agents who performed better in this category than Varejao.

Seven players entering free agency this offseason are listed below, accompanied by the most appropriate statistics to compare power forwards. They were seven of the most viable candidates to fill Cleveland's need at power forward. The first four have signed new contracts, while the last three are still free agents, as of Friday. Statistics not listed in parentheses are averages per 48 minutes played.

Anderson Varejao, Cavaliers: 14.4 points, 12.1 rebounds, 1.37 blocks, 5.0 fouls (53.2 FG%, 61.6 FT%)

Chris Anderson, Nuggets: 14.2 points, 14.5 rebounds, 5.75 blocks, 5.7 fouls (54.8 FG%, 71.8 FT%)

Rasheed Wallace, Pistons: 18.0 points, 11.1 rebounds, 1.94 blocks, 4.5 fouls (41.9 FG%, 77.2 FT%)

Charlie Villanueva, Bucks: 29.0 points, 11.9 rebounds, 1.28 blocks, 5.8 fouls (44.7 FG%, 83.8 FT%)

Leon Powe, Celtics: 21.0 points, 13.5 rebounds, 1.49 blocks, 7.5 fouls (52.4 FG%, 68.9 FT%)

David Lee, Knicks: 22.0 points, 16.2 rebounds, 0.37 blocks, 4.4 fouls (54.9 FG%, 75.9 FT%)

Paul Millsap, Jazz: 21.5 points, 13.7 rebounds, 1.53 blocks, 6.0 fouls (53.4 FG%, 69.9 FT%)

After comparison, Lee and Millsap appeared to be the most logical choices for Cleveland. But the Cavaliers chose not to actively pursue any of these players and instead offered a long-term deal to Varejao.

The problem isn't necessarily Varejao, but he isn't the solution.

The Cavaliers aren't getting to the NBA Finals with Varejao starting at power forward.

The Cavaliers' inactivity is a problem.

Other teams got better this offseason, while the Cavaliers faded from championship contention as a result of a lackluster offseason.

Why isn't David Lee a Cavalier by now?

How is the Cavaliers' front office not willing to sign Lee to the mid-level exception only to give up one team block per game?

Compare him and Varejao above. I'm stunned the Cavaliers didn't act on this. Cleveland could have had Lee for three to four years for half as much in guaranteed money as Varejao will receive.

I'm not disrespecting Varejao in any way, but he's not the type of player who brings the Cavaliers to the next level.

Now, Cavaliers fans must sit and wait until next June, as the front office appears to be content with the current roster.

Perhaps many of those fans will consider this offseason the "Summer That Could Have Been." Then, probably none of them will be surprised when this summer is called the "Summer That Made LeBron Leave."

Cleveland Cavaliers Fail To Land Artest, Ariza: What's Next?

Brad Frank — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 12:21:04 -0400

Thursday left Cavaliers fans not so hopeful this offseason. Ron Artest announced Thursday evening he would leave the Rockets to sign with the Lakers. Trevor Ariza announced hours later he would leave the Lakers to sign with the Rockets.

The Cavaliers' front office was in pursuit of both players.

With Artest and Ariza agreeing to deals, the Cavaliers are still without a big swingman who can defend a taller offensive player. Artest and Ariza were the best available in that category until last night.

So where do the Cavaliers look next in pursuit of another piece to their championship puzzle?

Some fans might say to GM Danny Ferry, "Hey, just re-sign Wally Szczerbiak. He won't command as much money as his last contract gave him to stay in Cleveland."

Re-signing Szczerbiak is not the solution to the problem, since he is largely the problem. A small forward to spell LeBron James is not a need; the Cavaliers need an upgrade over Szczerbiak.

After the Cavaliers came up empty by not picking a small forward in this year's draft, free agency seems to be the most viable option, aside from acquiring someone via trade.

Possible free agents to fill the need to displace Szczerbiak include Marvin Williams (Hawks), Linas Kleiza (Nuggets), Lamar Odom (Lakers), Grant Hill, Matt Barnes (Suns), and Shawn Marion (Raptors).

Odom will likely re-sign with the Lakers. The Cavaliers have reportedly been in contact with Kleiza. Marion is expected to re-sign if the Raptors offer him enough money. Hill might be headed to the Knicks. While talk of Williams and Barnes finding new homes is minimal.

Any of these players will be an improvement over Szczerbiak. I'm not disrespecting him in any way, but the bottom line is he's not getting in done for the Cavaliers. The players listed above can be the piece of the championship puzzle the Cavaliers need.

Right now, the Magic are slight favorites over the Cavaliers to win the Eastern Conference next season, while the Lakers are now the clear favorite to win the NBA Finals next season.

The Cavaliers don't need to be the favorite in the league to have accomplished a successful offseason, but at this point, they're not on par with the Magic and Lakers, both of whom advanced further than the Cavaliers in the playoffs last season.

Therefore, the Cavaliers need to find a small forward who can be an improvement over Szczerbiak in order to cure what ailed them in the playoffs versus the Magic.

Duke's Gerald Henderson Is Rising: Knicks Likely; Nets, Bobcats Possible

Brad Frank — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 17:21:23 -0400

After Duke lost to Villanova in March during the Sweet 16, the question on most Duke fans' minds was: Will Gerald Henderson return to Duke or enter the NBA Draft?

Henderson vastly improved from the beginning of the season to the end, specifically with his jump shot and defense away from the ball. As a result, Henderson was named a first-team All-ACC performer his junior season.

Henderson signed with an agent May 19, securing his place in the NBA Draft. Many experts project him to be a lottery pick.

Henderson is probably the most recognized potential lottery pick, aside from Blake Griffin, Hasheem Thabeet, and Stephen Curry, all who have received significant national exposure for their performances this past season.

The Los Angeles Clippers won the NBA Draft Lottery and announced shortly after that the team will select Griffin with the No. 1 overall pick.

So with Griffin a lock for the Clippers, let's see how the rest of the first round projects with analysis for lottery picks and brief commentary on the remainder of the picks.

1. Los Angeles Clippers — Blake Griffin, F, Oklahoma

Again, the Clippers have already announced their intention to select Griffin, who is a wise pick because he fills a need, even though he isn't necessarily the best player in this draft.

Each of the big men for the Clippers have their own problems, making a trade of one of them a sensible option to make room for Griffin both on the floor and financially.

Selecting Griffin will solidify the frontcourt and give the Clippers a foundation for the future.

2. Memphis Grizzlies — Hasheem Thabeet, C, Connecticut

Regardless of whether Memphis trades this pick, Thabeet appears to be Memphis' man. Even though Thabeet missed a recent workout with the Grizzlies, they are quite interested in him.

If the Grizzlies picks Thabeet, I applaud them. He gives them size inside and decent big man who can come off of the bench to substitute for Marc Gasol.

Or, they could trade him to Minnesota for someone like Stephen Curry.

3. Oklahoma City Thunder — Ricky Rubio, PG, DKV Joventut (Spain)

Like Memphis, the Thunder really can't go wrong with this pick. Picking any one of these four, Thabeet, Rubio, Curry, and James Harden would be a great addition to this steadily improving team.

Concern arises about whether Rubio and the Thunder's first round pick last year, Russell Westbrook, can co-exist in the backcourt. I see no problem with it, however.

The Thunder could very well trade this pick to Minnesota or New York. If they keep the pick, the Thunder don't need to worry about Rubio's buyout from his Spanish team, as they are of the few teams in the league with cap room to spare.

4. Sacramento Kings — Tyreke Evans, PG, Memphis

Reports from Sacramento indicate Evans is favored over Rubio. So even if Rubio is off the board, Evans appears to be the Kings' guy. His size would be a great fit for Sacramento since he can play either guard position.

Sacramento certainly needs a point guard. One would probably still be available at No. 23, but Evans will suit Sacramento well. So there is no need to worry about one later in the first round.

5. Minnesota Timberwolves — Stephen Curry, G, Davidson

Minnesota acquired the No. 5 pick Wednesday from Washington as part of a five-player trade. Now with consecutive picks, not drafting Curry is inexcusable if he's still available.

Curry would be a great fit for Minnesota, as he could be the facilitator of the future for the Timberwolves. He'd be an ideal candidate for the pick-and-roll with Kevin Love and for lobbing passes inside to Al Jefferson.

6. Minnesota Timberwolves — James Harden, G/F, Arizona State

Consider getting Harden a steal. The Timberwolves would be the hands-down winner of this draft if these two guys are their selections at Nos. 5 and 6. Harden is a solid player who could contribute right away.

Chances are he could be an immediate upgrade at shooting guard over Mike Miller, who was part of the trade to Washington.

7. Golden State Warriors — Jordan Hill, F, Arizona

Head coach Don Nelson said he wouldn't let Hill get past him at No. 7 if Hill was still on the board. Hill would solidify the Golden State frontcourt. He's about halfway between reaching potential and immediate production.

Brandon Jennings and DeMar DeRozan were also discussed for this pick, but the Warrior didn't want to upset Monta Ellis by drafting a point guard. So the Warriors take Hill, and let Ellis run the team.

Jamal Crawford appears to be heading to Atlanta for two points guards, which makes taking Hill even more sensible for Golden State.

8. New York Knicks — Gerald Henderson, G/F, Duke

Recent news from the Knicks indicates Henderson could be the pick. Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski recommended former Duke point guard Chris Duhon to Knicks head coach Mike D'Antoni last summer.

So perhaps D'Antoni is sold on another former Duke player.

Henderson brings stability to the Knicks backcourt right away. Jennings was also a possibility for the Knicks, but he probably will take longer to develop than Henderson.

9. Toronto Raptors — DeMar DeRozan, G, Southern California

DeRozan could be the replacement for aging Anthony Parker, who is an unrestricted free agent this summer. DeRozan brings an up-tempo style to Toronto that suits point guard Jose Calderon.

If the Raptors are able to re-sign Shawn Marion, the combination of him and DeRozan could make Toronto one of the most nightmarish fast-paced teams in the league this season.

10. Milwaukee Bucks — Jonny Flynn, PG, Syracuse

The Bucks feel they won't be able to re-sign free agent Ramon Sessions this offseason.

Flynn would be somewhat of a steal at this point considering how high he's been on teams' draft boards leading up to the draft.

Flynn's speed and toughness would be an ideal addition to the young Milwaukee team. And with proper pace in his development, Flynn could be one of the best point guards from this draft class in the near future.

11. New Jersey Nets — Tyler Hansbrough, F, North Carolina

The Nets have indicated this pick will either be Henderson or Hansbrough, who will likely be the Nets' pick since New York appears to be leaning toward Henderson.

Though many feel he'd be a reach at this point, taking Hansbrough is defensible because a team like the Nets would want to grab him in case a team behind them wants him badly.

If Hansbrough proves to be a valuable contributor, the Nets will be pleased they didn't let him slip past them at No. 11, since as many as five teams behind them are also interested.

12. Charlotte Bobcats — Terrance Williams, G, Louisville

The Bobcats, namely head coach Larry Brown, merely want the best available fit. Apparently the Bobcats had their eye on Henderson or Williams. And, again, with Henderson going to the Knicks, Williams heads to Charlotte as Raja Bell's backup.

The Bobcats are seeking impact with this pick.

Williams is a nice athlete who appears to be able to make an impact right away. If they feel unsure, however, they have indicated they're not scared to trade out of this position.

13. Indiana Pacers — Ty Lawson, PG, North Carolina

GM Larry Bird has identified point guard as a position of need. Bird said he's looking to draft a player with a lot of experience, namely North Carolina's Lawson and Hansbrough or Pittburgh's Dejuan Blair.

Lawson ultimately gets the nod since the Pacers have a mess at point guard right now.

The Pacers can likely do without a big man while they still have Troy Murphy, Jeff Foster, Roy Hibbert, and Josh McRoberts, who apparently has recommitted himself this offseason to being a valuable contributor.

14. Phoenix Suns — Earl Clark, F, Louisville

Most people would believe Phoenix needs a point guard to replace Steve Nash. But Clark is a splendid talent, too good to pass up. Plus, point guards are plentiful in this draft, so Phoenix could get one another way if it needed to.

Clark would bring athleticism to the frontcourt and be a good replacement should Grant Hill or Matt Barnes, or both, leave due to free agency.

15. Detroit Pistons — B.J. Mullens, C, Ohio State

The Pistons have reportedly promised Mullens to take him and have yet to deny the report.

16. Chicago Bulls — Dejuan Blair, F, Pittsburgh

Blair would be good insurance in case Chicago loses Tyrus Thomas in a trade.

17. Philadelphia 76ers — Eric Maynor, PG, Virginia Commonwealth

Philadelphia seems to be set on a point guard. And apparently Maynor's been the guy all along.

18. Minnesota Timberwolves — Brandon Jennings, PG, Virtus Roma (Italy)

Jennings will fall because of the uncertainty surrounding his year in Europe, but passing up on his upside would be difficult for Minnesota.

19. Atlanta Hawks — Ty Lawson, PG, North Carolina

With so many free agents, knowing where to start is tough. Lawson will be a reliable rookie point guard.

20. Utah Jazz — Sam Young, G/F, Pittsburgh

Head coach Jerry Sloan likes Young because of Young's toughness and experience.

21. New Orleans Hornets — Marcus Thornton, G, Louisiana State

The Hornets will likely either select Thornton or sell this pick.

22. Portland Trail Blazers — Austin Daye, F, Gonzaga

Portland wants toughness, Daye, though undersized, is a rugged, versatile scorer.

23. Sacramento Kings — Jrue Holiday, PG, UCLA

Holiday, like Evans, could play both guard spots, giving Sacramento tremendous backcourt flexibility.

24. Dallas Mavericks — James Johnson, F, Wake Forest

Dallas wants to solidify its frontcourt. Johnson would be a nice pick if he falls this far.

25. Oklahoma City Thunder — Rodrique Beaubois, PG, Cholet (France)

The Thunder can stockpile him overseas as insurance for Rubio without having to pay him right away.

26. Chicago Bulls — Darren Collison, PG, UCLA

Chicago reportedly wants a point guard, meaning it might trade Kirk Hinrich.

27. Memphis Grizzlies — DeMarre Carroll, F, Missouri

Memphis has said it will take Carroll if he's available here.

28. Minnesota Timberwolves — Chase Budinger, G/F, Arizona

Minnesota could punctuate an already tremendous draft by drafting Budinger, who could have been a lottery pick last year.

29. Los Angeles Lakers — Jonas Jerebko, F, Angelico Biella (Sweden)

In case the Lakers can't sign Lamar Odom and Trevor Ariza, they like Jerebko. If not, Patrick Mills is a possibility.

30. Cleveland Cavaliers — Derrick Brown, F, Xavier

Cleveland needs a tough, defensive swingman to spell LeBron James. Brown could fill the void if Cleveland can't fill it in free agency or through a trade.

The NBA: Truly a Make-Or-Miss League

Brad Frank — Mon, 15 Jun 2009 17:03:25 -0400

ESPN/ABC NBA announcer Jeff Van Gundy sometimes says that the NBA is a "make-or-miss" league. What he means is that teams essentially win or lose games by making or missing shots, despite all of the in-game strategies teams employ.

But during the "rebirth" of the NBA (post-championship Jordan era), a closer look reveals more misses (bad) than makes (good) when examining nearly every aspect of the league, except how well teams shoot the ball.

Let's begin with the Tim Donaghy betting scandal, a clear miss.

A report surfaced in July 2007, revealing allegations against Donaghy, a 13-year NBA official, in regard to bets he made on games he officiated.

Commissioner David Stern insisted publicly that Donaghy's actions were an isolated incident and that Donaghy was merely a "rogue official." The league has had officiating issues ever since, not with gambling but with efficiency and accountability.

Fans have grown weary of "superstar treatment.”

This occurs when the NBA's best players receive favorable calls so that they may retain that status in the league. Recipients of such treatment include Kobe Bryant, LeBron James, and Dwyane Wade, among a few others. These players barrel into the paint, bouncing off opposing defenders, and expect a foul to be called for them.

Superstar treatment is just one of the many issues fans have with current NBA officials, some of who seem to have personal vendettas with certain players and teams (i.e. Joey Crawford vs. Tim Duncan, Danny Crawford vs. the Mavericks).

Another complaint contests that officials are simply too old.

Officials need to make split-second decisions on the same court as the best athletes in the world in a game's most crucial moments. Yet, most referees in the league are far older than its players.

Then there's the issue of flopping. Players have made it habitual to exaggerate their movements in order to create the illusion of contact or to sell the contact's severity as worse than it actually is. Unfortunately, the officials are buying into this.

Instant replays of flopping has rendered officials' work as deplorable. (Understandably, however, the officials don't have the benefit of judging each play with slow-motion capability.)

Another problem is with the flagrant foul system.

It's not uniform across the league, partly because each official calls games differently, but mainly because quantifying the severity of fouls is difficult.

For all of the above reasons, the NBA game has become a clear miss in terms of officiating.

For one last miss, let's review the NBA's "One-and-Done" rule.

Unfortunately, this rule stunts the growth of the game of basketball from the high school level to the NBA. High school juniors and seniors are now deciding to play in Europe instead of going to college in an attempt to get paid for playing basketball.

Some have even skipped finishing high school, leaving without their diploma.

College programs are at a disadvantage because they cannot build programs upon a solid core of incoming freshmen. The freshmen whom teams can build programs around leave for the NBA.

As a result, the quality of college teams is becoming worse. More and more young players remain in school for only a short time while less talented players stay, leaving the college game without many veteran superstars.

This rule hurts the NBA because it's a feeble attempt to say to high school students, "We think college is important, so please go. But just for one year, then we'll take you."

The NBA policy should either convey that college is not important or all-important. The rule should be: Players can enter the NBA Draft right after high school, after they complete three years of college, or after they obtain a degree.

Now for a quick short-list of “makes” for the NBA.

The semicircular line or restricted area has had an ultimately positive affect on the NBA game.

Although it creates more opportunities for players to complain about a block/charge call near that area, the semicircle decreases the chance of injury, allows for more offensive efficiency, and provides better opportunities for fast-break success.

The area essentially eliminates charge calls under the rim. Slashers are better able to finish at the rim without being penalized for the inability to change direction mid-flight to avoid a charge call.

The new dress code is also a plus because it cleans up the NBA's "hip-hop" image.

Players now look like they're going to work rather than a concert or party. The image the league conveys is hugely important because the NBA, more than any other league, is a first impression. Fans either hate it or love it.

The NBA has also excelled with its All-Star festivities in the past few years, thanks to the dunk contest. The NBA now has the most entertaining All-Star festivities of any professional sports league.

Finally, as calculated as it is, and as forced upon the players as it is, the NBA Cares program is a great measure for the league. It brings goodwill and a lot of joy to communities, particularly to the youth of this country.

Like all professionals leagues, the NBA has its shortfalls. The degree to which fans commit to the league depends on how much the positives outweigh the negatives.

Truly a make-or-miss league, the NBA is either hated or loved. True fans ignore the bad. Skeptics can't find anything right. Me? I love it.

Stay steady. And stay with the NBA. Even with its “misses,” it has some great things to offer.

The State Of the Cleveland Cavaliers

Brad Frank — Mon, 01 Jun 2009 20:22:42 -0400

After a record setting regular season, the Cleveland Cavaliers were eliminated Saturday in Game Six of the Eastern Conference Finals by the Orlando Magic. Numerous storylines surrounding the Cavaliers unfolded in the days after.

LeBron James is receiving much criticism regarding his decision to not congratulate the Magic players for advancing to the NBA Finals. Plus, James chose not to address the media immediately after the game. He will not be fined by the NBA, however.

The reason his postgame actions are receiving so much publicity is because of the unlikelihood of these decisions. Throughout his career, James has been the NBA's most accessible superstar. He's been a model for sportsmanship and respect for both his teammates and opponents.

In defense of his postgame actions, James said Sunday, "It's hard for me to congratulate somebody after you just lost to them."

"I'm a winner. It's not being a poor sport or anything like that. If somebody beats you up, you're not going to congratulate them. That doesn't make sense to me. I'm a competitor. That's what I do. It doesn't make sense for me to go over and shake somebody's hand," he said.

This is a non-issue. James simply has done so many things right in his NBA career that the media are overplaying something he did "wrong" after Saturday's loss to the Magic.

The second major storyline concerns comments Cavaliers center Ben Wallace made. The former four-time NBA Defensive Player of the Year announced he is contemplating retirement.

After an injury-plagued season, the 34-year-old Wallace said Saturday, "I'm going to sit down and talk with my family, weigh my options, and come up with a decision. Nothing's definite, but there's a strong possibility that this was my last season."

Wallace is under contract for one more year with Cleveland and is scheduled to earn $14 million next season. A buyout of his contract is possible, perhaps somewhere in the neighborhood of $8 million.

Should Wallace retire, Cleveland would suffer another blow to its frontcourt, as big men Zydrunas Ilgauskas, Anderson Varejao, and Joe Smith could all conceivably leave Cleveland since they are free agents this summer.

The third major storyline concerns exactly that: the Cavaliers' activity in free agency this summer.

The Cleveland Plain Dealer reported Monday that Varejao intends to opt out of his contract to become a free agent Jul 1.

Ilgauskas and Smith will likely re-sign, perhaps for less than they deserve in order to free cap space to sign a notable free agent, so they can make a couple more title runs before they retire.

Veterans Wally Szczerbiak and Lorenzen Wright are unrestricted free agents in addition to the trio of big men listed above.

Brian Windhorst of the Cleveland Plain Dealer cites three team needs as the Cavaliers head into the offseason. Even if Cleveland re-signs all of its free agents, filling these needs is still crucial if Cleveland is going to win a championship soon.

The first need is a skilled big man. Presumably this means a young, athletic shot blocker with developed offensive skills.

So who is available that resembles part if not all of this mold?

Lamar Odom, David Lee, Paul Millsap, Marcin Gortat, Chris Andersen, and Leon Powe.

Lee and Powe would be better and cheaper replacements for Varejao. Millsap would be a terrific addition; he would be an immediate upgrade over Wallace or Smith off of the bench. Andersen and Gortat would be quiet glue guys to rebuild Cleveland's interior defense.

The second need is a tall wing defender. Here is where the Cavaliers need to spend the most time and money in free agency this summer. Here's who is available to suit the Cavaliers:

Marvin Williams, Ron Artest, Trevor Ariza, Matt Barnes, Linas Kleiza, and Shawn Marion.

Ariza would be the best fit of these six players. Signing Artest would move Delonte West to the bench. Kleiza, Marion, and Barnes all would be solid additions to the Cavaliers' lineup. Williams is probably too big to play shooting guard and thus too good to ask to come off of the bench.

The third need is a backup point guard. The Cavaliers will probably have the least difficultly in signing one should they pursue one. The only problem is whether this point guard needs to be a scorer in case the Cavaliers can't add another scorer. So does Cleveland simply insert a veteran to manage the offense when James is not on the floor or does it go with a scorer just in case?

Potential candidates include: veterans Brevin Knight, Jacque Vaughn, Bobby Jackson, Kevin Ollie, Lindsey Hunter, Anthony Carter, and Stephon Marbury; scorers Ramon Sessions, Jamal Crawford, and Raymond Felton; and veteran scorers Andre Miller, Jason Kidd, and Mike Bibby.

Any of the above veterans would be suitable if that's what Cleveland feels its best course of action is. The three scorers listed above would be outstanding additions to the Cavaliers' backcourt, as would the three veteran scorers.

So in review, James' postgame actions should subside in the near future.

Wallace could hurt the Cavaliers by retiring, especially if Varejao opts out and if Ilgauskas and Smith want more money than the Cavaliers would like to give them.

Numerous free agents are suitable to the Cavaliers. The degree to which Cleveland is aggressive in free agency depends on which of its big men return next season. Note that Cleveland has two picks in this month's NBA Draft.

If I were the Cavaliers general manager Danny Ferry, here is what I would like the 2009-10 team to look like:

Starting Five: PG Mo Williams, SG Trevor Ariza, SF LeBron James, PF David Lee, C Zydrunas Ilgauskas

Bench: PG Ramon Sessions, SG Daniel Gibson, SG Delonte West, SF Sam Young, PF Joe Smith, PF Darnell Jackson, PF J.J. Hickson, C Ben Wallace

Basically, let Varejao and Szczerbiak go. Trade Pavlovic and his contract for draft picks. Either welcome Wallace back for the same role he had this season, or buyout his contract if he retires. Draft Pittsburgh small forward Sam Young.

Keep in mind the Cavaliers have improved in key ways since making the playoffs four seasons ago. Sure, they were swept by San Antonio in the 2007 NBA Finals. However, the year after, they battled the eventual-Finals winner Boston to seven games with a team which played only half of a season together.

This season, the same team won a franchise-high 66 games and faced an Orlando team which posed matchup problems too difficult to overcome. One could argue the Cavaliers overachieved in the regular season anyway and that an Eastern Conference Finals appearance was more than most expected.

So Cleveland needs to retain its core, address issues that will help it matchup better with Orlando, and add depth in some areas to become a more well-rounded team.

Cleveland fans don't need to be frustrated about losing to Orlando. This summer afford Cleveland numerous opportunities to make that next step to the NBA Finals.

Greg Paulus Decides to Play Football at Syracuse In 2009

Brad Frank — Thu, 14 May 2009 12:40:56 -0400

Former Duke point guard Greg Paulus told reporters Thursday morning in a conference call that he will play football at Syracuse this fall, using his lone year of collegiate football eligibility.

Paulus plans to enroll in graduate school at Syracuse to obtain a master's degree, but he needs a waiver from the NCAA to allow him to join the football team.

Paulus had considered options such as basketball in Europe, coaching, joining a team in the NFL, or playing college football in an attempt to continue his athletic career.

In the course of searching for a college football program to join, Michigan, Syracuse, Duke, and Nebraska all expressed interest in Paulus since the conclusion of the Duke basketball season. Paulus said about two dozen other college football programs expressed interest in him as well.

While in high school, Paulus received scholarship offers from Notre Dame and Miami to play football. According to many recruiting services, Paulus was the No. 1 high school quarterback prospect in his class.

First-year head coach Doug Marrone has already named a starting quarterback, Ryan Nassib, for this season. Paulus said Marrone made no promises about playing time when he informed Marrone of his decision Thursday morning.

Paulus says he plans to drive to Syracuse in the next few days to complete the necessary paperwork in order to begin the process of playing football.

The Best of Cleveland Sports Media

Brad Frank — Fri, 01 May 2009 00:05:19 -0400

Players, managers, coaches, and ownership change quite often in sports. What doesn't change are certain media personalities that sports fans follow. Often media personnel can be the staple of a franchise. Often they can be more popular than the players and coaches. What makes a great media personality is their dedication to their work and the mark of excellenece they achieve every day in their profession. Cleveland, Ohio, enjoys a group of media personalities few other cities can match. Some are as wildly entertaining as can be; others are unmatched in their professional approach to their craft. Here is a salute to the very best of the Cleveland sports media.

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Reports: Greg Paulus to Make Football Visit at Syracuse

Brad Frank — Wed, 22 Apr 2009 18:16:49 -0400

ESPN.com's high school sports reporter Christopher Lawlor reported Monday that former Duke point guard Greg Paulus is expected to make a football visit to Syracuse as early as this weekend.

Late afternoon today, ESPN's BottomLine had Joe Schad indicating that Paulus would likely join the Syracuse football team.

Between Lawlor's report and the information from Schad, there appears to be some communication, or the visit itself, between Paulus and the Syracuse coaching staff yet to be confirmed. Otherwise, Paulus joining the Syracuse football team without a report of a visit seems unlikely.

Paulus attended high school at Christian Brothers Academy in Syracuse, N.Y., where he was the winner of the 2004 Gatorade National Football Player of the Year award.

Meanwhile, SportingNews.com is reporting that Nebraska is interested in Paulus. The report cites an Internet story from the Omaha World-Herald, which indicates that Nebraska has talked to him about playing quarterback.

All of this follows a recent chain of events that had Paulus working out for the NFL’s Green Bay Packers, visiting and receiving a scholarship offer from Michigan, and receiving a tryout as a wide receiver at Duke.

NBA Playoff Preview: Celtics Look To Survive Without Kevin Garnett

Brad Frank — Fri, 17 Apr 2009 15:34:21 -0400

The Celtics’ quest for back-to-back NBA titles just became more difficult, as reigning defensive player of the year Kevin Garnett is out for the playoffs due to a knee injury.

Garnett helped Boston raise its first title banner since 1986 last season. He was acquired before the season in a trade, and immediately become the heart and soul of the Celtics. On the way to the title, Garnett improved Boston’s team defense dramatically.

This season, Garnett missed 13 games following the knee injury suffered Feb. 19. The Celtics were hopeful he would return before the end of the regular season, but that never came about.

Celtics head coach Doc Rivers told a Boston-based sports radio station Thursday morning that Garnett is out for the playoffs.

The Celtics have gone 18-7 in games without Garnett this season. But in those games, the Celtics are allowing opponents to score nearly eight points more per game. From the field, opponents are averaging 44.2 percent in those games compared to 42.2 when Garnett plays.

Boston begins its title defense Saturday against the Chicago Bulls. Boston is the No. 2 seed in the Eastern Conference behind the Cleveland Cavaliers, the team Boston beat last season in the Eastern Conference semifinals on its way to the franchise’s 17th NBA title.

The Cavaliers enjoyed a league-best 39-2 home record this season, finishing with franchise records for most wins, most home wins, and most road wins. Boston appeared to be Cleveland’s biggest threat throughout the regular season with Garnett in the lineup.

The Cavaliers finished the regular season with a 66-16 record, which allowed them to clinch home-court advantage throughout the playoffs. Cleveland clinched Monday against the Indiana Pacers. Cleveland beat out the Los Angeles Lakers for home-court advantage. The Lakers are the No. 1 seed in the Western Conference.

In its opening playoff series, Cleveland plays the Detroit Pistons, who have appeared in the Eastern Conference finals the last six seasons. Detroit will sit Allen Iverson for the entire postseason due to his back injury and his grumblings about playing time.

Elsewhere in the Eastern Conference, the third-seeded Orlando Magic play the Philadelphia 76ers. Orlando has battled injuries all season. Point guard Jameer Nelson was lost for the remainder of the season exactly halfway through this season. Now, starters Hedo Turkoglu and Rashard Lewis are recovering from recent injuries as they head into the playoffs.

The other Eastern Conference matchup features the Atlanta Hawks and the Miami Heat. The Hawks nearly upset the Celtics last season, taking Boston to seven games in the first round. Meanwhile, the Heat made the playoffs despite winning just 15 games last season. The Heat are led by first-year coach Erik Spoelstra and MVP candidate Dwyane Wade.

The team Boston beat last season in the NBA Finals was the Lakers, who finished first in the Western Conference this season like last year. The first-seeded Lakers enjoy the return of starter Andrew Bynum as they head into the playoffs. Bynum missed 32 games this season due to a knee injury suffered Jan. 31.

The Lakers’ first-round opponent is the No. 8 seed Utah Jazz. The Lakers won two of the three meetings against the Jazz this season with both wins coming at home. Utah, meanwhile, enjoyed a 13-game winning streak in late February and early March, but struggled down the stretch, losing seven of its last nine games.

After acquiring point guard Chauncey Billups midseason, the Denver Nuggets turned their season around. The second-seeded Nuggets will play the New Orleans Hornets in the first round. Led by All-Star point guard Chris Paul, the Hornets struggled late in the regular season like Utah, losing six of their last eight games.

The San Antonio Spurs beat New Orleans last season in the conference semifinals. This year, the third-seeded Spurs will face the Dallas Mavericks in the first round. But the Spurs are without Manu Ginóbili, a centerpiece of their last three titles.

San Antonio has won the NBA Finals every other year since 1999 except in 2001, while Dallas has made the postseason the last nine seasons but has not won an NBA title in that time.

In the 4-versus-5 matchup, the Portland Trail Blazers face the Houston Rockets. Led by third-year All-Star guard Brandon Roy, the Blazers are one of the youngest teams in the playoffs.

Houston has lost seven consecutive postseason series, tying Denver for the longest active streak. Houston guard Tracy McGrady, who has never won a playoff series, missed the last 30 games of the regular season and is out for the playoffs.

The three hottest storylines surrounding the 2009 NBA Playoffs concern three teams, Boston, who is without Garnett, and Los Angeles and Cleveland, the No. 1 seeds in their respective conferences.

Cleveland outlasted the other two during the regular season to earn home-court advantage throughout the playoffs. Cleveland is led by MVP candidate LeBron James, who enjoyed a career year this season. He begged for a sufficient supporting cast around him since he was drafted.

Now with one, Cleveland is the favorite to win the title.

In Cleveland’s way are the defending-champion Celtics and the Lakers.

The Celtics won 72 percent of their games without Garnett this season. Plus, they have home-court advantage for the first two rounds of the playoffs.

For the Lakers, those likely to contend with them for the Western Conference title will likely play more games on their way to the conference championship, according to most experts, who believe the Lakers won’t play more than four or five games until the NBA Finals.

So with the focus on Boston, Los Angeles, and Cleveland this postseason, two questions remain:

With Cleveland and Los Angeles as heavy favorites in their respective conferences, is this matchup a lock for the Finals? Or will Boston show resilience without Garnett and make consecutive Finals appearances?

Greg Paulus Meets With Rich Rodriguez, Receives Football Tryout at Duke

Brad Frank — Wed, 15 Apr 2009 12:58:29 -0400

An article on FoxSports.com reported Tuesday that former Duke point guard Greg Paulus met with Michigan head football coach Rich Rodriguez to discuss joining the team. According to the article, which surfaced last night, Paulus met with Rodriguez in Ann Arbor and watched Michigan practice Tuesday.

The article did not confirm whether the intent is to have Paulus play quarterback, just like none of the reports Tuesday confirmed whether Paulus tried out as a quarterback for the NFL's Green Bay Packers.

Sources told Fox Sports that Paulus has been in contact with several college programs and other NFL teams besides the Packers, as reported Tuesday.

He has one year of collegiate eligibility in football remaining. As it stands currently, Paulus would not have to sit out a year as most transfers do, should he decide to leave Duke for another school.

The article also mentioned that Paulus has not ruled out the possibility of continuing his basketball career.

Meanwhile, early Wednesday afternoon, ESPN.com reported that Duke head football coach David Cutcliffe invited Paulus to spring practice to try out as a wide receiver. The article indicated Cutcliffe has said that Paulus would have a better shot playing quarterback at Michigan with its spread offense.

Reports: Greg Paulus Works Out With NFL's Green Bay Packers

Brad Frank — Tue, 14 Apr 2009 15:47:19 -0400

The Wisconsin State Journal is reporting that former Duke point guard Greg Paulus worked out for the NFL’s Green Bay Packers last week.

According to the story, a Duke spokesman told the newspaper that Paulus had worked out for the Packers with current Duke wide receiver Eron Riley.

Numerous other media outlets are reporting the story as well. But none of the reports have confirmed Paulus worked out as a quarterback.

At Christian Brothers Academy in Syracuse, New York, Paulus set six passing records, including most career passing yards. He was a four-time football All-American and won the Gatorade National Player of the Year for football in 2004.

Paulus chose to attend Duke to play basketball over enrolling at Notre Dame or Miami to play football.

As a three-year starter at Duke, Paulus was benched his senior season to accommodate Nolan Smith into the starting lineup. Paulus’ minutes were reduced significantly, and he played a limited role the remainder of the season.

Paulus led the ACC in assists his freshman year. Throughout his career at Duke, he improved his accuracy from beyond the three-point line.

That Paulus was not going to have a career in the NBA was well-known. Speculation suggested he would join coach Mike Krzyzewski as an assistant coach in the near future.

But with the report of the recent NFL workout, Paulus appears to be heading in a different direction.

Duke Needs Focus Thursday Versus Villanova to Proceed in Final Four Run

Brad Frank — Tue, 24 Mar 2009 21:07:16 -0400

In the middle of February, I wrote an article which outlined three tasks Duke men’s basketball could still achieve at that point in the season.

The first task was to win the ACC regular season championship. But on Mar. 8 in Chapel Hill, a loss to North Carolina ended that possibility.

The second task was to win the ACC tournament title. And a week later in the Georgia Dome, that goal became a reality for Duke after it beat Florida State, 79-69, in the ACC Championship.

The third task was to reach the Final Four in the NCAA Tournament. Now two wins away, Duke needs to complete this task more than the other two.

After early exits the past two seasons in the NCAA Tournament, a lot of people familiar with college basketball began to wonder if Duke had lost its edge as a national power. But now, Duke is two wins away from solidifying its claim as a national power once again.

With two drastic lineup changes, beyond the highs and lows of this season, Duke’s focus must be more central than ever, more than any other time this season.

Some would argue that extracting that type of needed focus is too much to ask of a young basketball team, a team in the midst of its first Final Four run together. Here, the counterargument is that in order to reclaim that national swagger Duke basketball is accustomed to having, that amount of focus is a must.

So to achieve this final task, two wins are needed.

A win over Villanova is the first challenge.

Thursday in Boston, the Blue Devils face an experienced and explosive Wildcats squad. Neither team starts a player taller than 6’8”.

The players to watch in this game are Duke’s Kyle Singler and Villanova’s Dante Cunningham.

Although they probably won’t guard each other, these two couldn’t be more similar. Both are 6’8” and very versatile. Both score 16 points and grab seven rebounds per game. And each player is his team’s best interior player, without question.

Scoring-wise, these two teams couldn’t be more similar. Villanova scores 77 points per game, while Duke scores 78.1. Defensively, Villanova allows 67.1 points per game, while Duke allows 65.6.

In nearly every other team statistic, Duke and Villanova are nearly identical. (Please, take a look.)

So what will differentiate these two teams Thursday?

To pinpoint two differences in this game, coaching and depth favor Duke.

Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski has the experience needed at this level to propel his team further in the tournament. Not taking anything away from Villanova coach Jay Wright and his staff, but Coach K simply is more prepared in this aspect.

In terms of depth, to be really technical, Villanova has eight players who average over 18 minutes played per game. Duke has just five. Expect Duke to utilize its rotation a bit more often on Thursday than usual in order to wear down a seemingly thin Villanova bench.

In summary, Duke could not have scripted a better opportunity to complete this task.

To complete a Final Four run, Duke needs to beat Villanova, first. Without looking or thinking about it briefly, I don’t know which teams might await Duke in the regional championship, nor should Duke.

A tremendous challenge in Villanova awaits Duke on Thursday. To regain that national prestige, not only is a win over Villanova needed, but another win in the Elite Eight is needed as well.

A huge amount of concentration and sincere focus is required to earn two more wins this season. And without question, no program needs two wins more than Duke at this moment.

With two wins, only then can Duke as a program say with full confidence that it has returned. With two wins, Coach K adds another Final Four berth to his phenomenal career. Only a Hall-of-Famer like Coach K could place his confidence in a young team amidst two mid-season lineup changes.

In no way is Duke guaranteed this needed Final Four berth, but what an accomplishment it would be to reach the Final Four with this team, especially a team that lacks an interior presence like Duke does.

Messages to 20 Bubble Teams During Championship Week

Brad Frank — Tue, 10 Mar 2009 20:05:16 -0400

As Selection Sunday nears, let's look at 20 bubble teams' fate during Championship Week. Entering Tuesday night, nine automatic bids have already been claimed. So this leaves the 22 other conference champions and 34 at-large teams, half of which are locks already, to find a place in the NCAA Tournament.

The following 20 teams are squarely on the bubble. They are discussed alphabetically, not by how good their chances are of making the NCAA Tournament.

Arizona (19-12, 9-9 Pac-10)

You're in, but barely. Your five quality wins, home wins over Washington, Kansas, UCLA, and San Diego State and a neutral-site win over Gonzaga, keep you ahead of the rest of the bubble teams.

However, you are just 2-9 on the road this season, and have yet to beat Arizona State, whom you play in the first round of the Pac-10 tournament. A win secures your bid; a bad loss eliminates it.

Projection: You are IN as a No. 12 seed

Auburn (21-10, 10-6 SEC)

Congratulations, Auburn, you have won eight of your last nine games. However, you went 0-3 against South Carolina, Florida, and Kentucky, all of whom are fellow bubble teams. Your best SEC road win was an 18-point win against Mississippi State.

Although you did beat NCAA tournament-locks LSU and Tennessee, your best non-conference win was a two-point win at Virginia.

Projection: You are OUT and need to win the SEC Tournament

Creighton (26-7, 14-4 Missouri Valley)

After your blowout loss to Illinois State in the Missouri Valley Tournament, you still have one of the most deserving bids as any mid-major team on the bubble. With three RPI top-50 wins, nine wins against the RPI top-100, and an 8-4 road record, your resume is favorable against teams like Saint Mary's and Davidson.

Is an 18-point home win over Dayton enough, in terms of a signature win, to put you in the tournament?

Projection: You are the first team OUT and need other bubble teams to lose

Davidson (26-7, 16-2 Southern)

You lost to College of Charleston in the semifinals of your conference tournament. You have four losses, Duke, Purdue, Oklahoma, and Butler, against teams who are locks for the NCAA Tournament.

You beat West Virginia without one of its best players. Your case could not be any simpler. Does the committee wish to see you, America's Cinderella, in the dance? Or is it wishful thinking that your resume is comparable to other mid-majors on the bubble?

Projection: You are OUT and need other bubble teams to lose

Florida (22-9, 9-7 SEC)

The lone bright spot on your schedule is a neutral-floor win over Pac-10 champion Washington in late November. But, you won just two SEC road games in eight attempts. You are just 1-3 in your last four games, the lone win against Kentucky at home.

No wins against LSU or Tennessee hurts, and the two-point loss at Georgia doesn't help either.

Projection: You are OUT and need to win the SEC Tournament

Kansas State (21-10, 9-7 Big 12)

You have three RPI top-50 wins. However, your best non-conference wins were against Cleveland State and Oakland. Keeping you in bubble contention is a home win over Missouri and road wins over Texas and Texas A&M.

With the 117th-ranked strength of schedule, the committee is looking for more wins over quality opponents, which could come against Texas in the second round of the conference tournament.

Also, you had three winning streaks of five or more games during the regular season. Perhaps, your a team capable of winning a few in the either the conference or NCAA tournaments.

Projection: You are OUT and need to beat either Kansas or Oklahoma

Maryland (18-12, 7-9 ACC)

Two signature wins, Michigan State at a neutral site and North Carolina at home, are keeping you afloat among bubble teams. Your only good wins in conference aside from North Carolina were against Miami and Virginia Tech.

A bad home loss to Morgan State also doesn't help, and you were blown out by Gonzaga and Georgetown at neutral sites.

Projection: You are OUT and need to win two ACC Tournament games

Miami FL (18-11, 7-9 ACC)

Without a signature non-conference win and just two wins against the RPI top-50, your chances are looking pretty bleak right now. You went just 2-6 in road ACC games. However, two wins over Boston College and home wins versus Florida State and Wake Forest may just save you.

Projection: You are OUT and need to win three ACC Tournament games

Michigan 19-12, 9-9 Big Ten)

Playing the 10th-most difficult schedule in the country, you managed to beat Duke at home and UCLA at a neutral site. You split with Purdue and Illinois, but you were swept by Wisconsin and Ohio State, not to mention you lost to Iowa on the road. Your best Big Ten road win is Minnesota.

But with six and 10 wins against the RPI top-50 and top-100, respectively, you appear to be safe.

Projection: You are IN as a No. 11 seed

Minnesota (21-9, 9-9 Big Ten)

You have zero bad losses. You beat Louisville. Everything looks good with the exception of your last nine games, where you went 0-5 in road games against likely tournament-bound teams. You blew a 12-point lead at home versus Michigan, which would have secured your bid in the NCAA Tournament.

But, five RPI top-50 wins keep you in at the moment, including a sweep of Wisconsin.

Projection: You are IN as a No. 11 seed

New Mexico (21-10, 12-4, Mountain West)

Just four conference losses appears credible on the surface. However, those four losses came in splits against BYU, Utah, UNLV, and San Diego State, all of whom are vying for the maximum number of bids, four, your conference will receive.

You failed to collect a signature win in non-conference play, and you have three losses outside of the RPI top-100.

Projection: You are OUT and need to win the Mountain West Tournament

Northwestern (17-12, 8-10 Big Ten)

Defending 17 wins is tough. Defending just eight conference wins is tougher. And blowout losses at Minnesota and Wisconsin are nearly indefensible. However, six wins against the RPI top-50, road wins over Michigan State and Purdue, and a 14-point home win over Florida State is quite impressive.

But a loss at Iowa and getting swept by Michigan puts you on the outside looking in. Plus, you lost at Stanford, which nearly cancels the Florida State win.

Projection: You are OUT and need to win two Big Ten Tournament games

Penn State (21-10, 10-8 Big Ten)

Zero notable non-conference wins hurts. And you, like so many other Big Ten bubble teams, lost to Iowa. However, a home win over Purdue and a road win against Michigan State help. Six RPI top-50 wins also help.

You swept Illinois, but Wisconsin swept you. Can your lack of an important non-conference win and the 309th-toughest non-conference strength of schedule hold up?

Projection: You are IN as a No. 12 seed

Providence (18-12, 10-8 Big East)

Your best Big East road win was against Cincinnati. You went just 2-8 against the RPI top-50. And your best wins were over Pittsburgh, Syracuse, and Rhode Island, all at home.

With 12 losses against the RPI top-100, a three-win run in the Big East tournament is needed to remain in contention for an at-large bid, especially now since you can't win your third game over Cincinnati.

Projection: You are OUT and need to win three Big East Tournament games

Rhode Island (22-9, 11-5 A-10)

With that one-point home loss to Massachusetts on Saturday, you now have three losses against team outside of the RPI top-100. Plus, you have only two RPI top-50 wins, but wins over VCU and Penn State help somewhat.

However, your 139th-ranked strength of schedule might concern those on the selection committee.

Projection: You are OUT and need to win the A-10 Tournament

Saint Mary's (25-6, 10-4 WCC)

You've lost to Gonzaga three times. And you lost to UTEP in non-conference play. Wins over Providence and San Diego State help. But is that the type of bid the committee is looking for? Sorry, Patrick Mills did miss some time, but your resume doesn't hold, with or without him.

Now you must sit and wait, hoping that other bubble chances blow their opportunities to earn an at-large bid.

Projection: You are the second team OUT and need other bubble teams to lose

San Diego State (21-8, 11-5 Mountain West)

You play UNLV in your first game of the conference tournament. If you beat UNLV, that win will be your third against the Rebels. Surely, the committee will not put them in ahead of you if you beat them three times.

You didn't win any notable non-conference games, however, and, like New Mexico, you went just 4-4 against the other four teams in contention for your conference's four bids.

Projection: You are OUT and need to beat UNLV in the Mountain West Tournament

South Carolina (21-8, 10-6 SEC)

Talk about a soft non-conference schedule. Your best win? A one-point victory at Baylor, one of the biggest disappointments in the country.

In conference, you went 0-3 against LSU and Tennessee, the only SEC locks for the NCAA Tournament. And your only RPI top-50 win was a one-point win at home versus Florida.

Projection: You are OUT and need to win the SEC Tournament

UNLV (21-9, 9-7 Mountain West)

With four RPI top-50 wins, you have the most favorable bid compared to New Mexico and San Diego State, who have three and just one, respectively. Your one-point win at Louisville is the best win of any team in your conference, and a home win over Arizona helps.

However, you lost to every team in your conference except the worst team, Air Force, who didn't win a conference game, and the best team, BYU. But, all discussion aside, you merely have to beat San Diego State in the conference tournament to stay alive.

Projection: You are IN as a No. 10 seed

Virginia Tech (17-13, 7-9 ACC)

You have lost six or your last seven games. You are just 2-8 against the RPI top-50. And you have to losses outside of the RPI top-100. Yet somehow, you are still alive on the bubble.

To your credit, however, roads win over Wake Forest and Clemson will help, and your last four losses came against North Carolina, Duke, and Florida State twice. And your four non-conference losses came by a margin of just eight total points.

Projection: You are OUT and need to beat Miami FL in the ACC Tournament

Duke-UNC: Which Team Has More at Stake in Sunday's Game?

Brad Frank — Sat, 07 Mar 2009 12:24:34 -0500

After a brutal two weeks full of school work at college, a Duke-North Carolina game seems to be the most appropriate time to return to action on Bleacher Report.

The No. 7 Duke Blue Devils play the No. 2 North Carolina Tar Heels on Sunday in Chapel Hill. Duke enters the rivalry game behind North Carolina in the ACC standings, trailing by one game.

After losing four of its previous six games, Duke has now won five consecutive games, including one of the most impressive four-game winning streaks by any team in the country with home wins over Wake Forest and Florida State and road wins over Maryland and Virginia Tech.

Duke will likely earn a No. 2 seed in the NCAA Tournament. The question is whether a win at North Carolina, along with any notable wins in ACC Tournament, will allow the Blue Devils to earn a No. 1 seed.

Duke has 12 wins against the RPI Top 60, the most of any team in the country, but just two of those wins came against teams in the RPI Top 20. Duke also is playing the fifth-most difficult schedule in the country this season.

North Carolina is 13-1 at home this season, with its lone home loss coming to Boston College in the conference opener. After losing its first two ACC games, North Carolina rebounded by winning 12 of its last 13 conference games to take a one-game lead in the conference.

North Carolina, a likely No.1 seed in the NCAA Tournament, has two wins against the RPI Top Six, Michigan State and Duke, and can add another with a win over Duke on Sunday. The Tar Heels are playing the 26th-most difficult schedule in the country.

Again, Duke has deep collection of solid wins, while North Carolina is the best team in the country when playing at its best.

Now, the question is which team has more at stake in this matchup Sunday.

North Carolina has more at stake than Duke heading into Sunday's game.

Not only will a win clinch the ACC regular-season title, but a win against Duke will assure North Carolina a No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament and the opportunity to play its first two games in Greensboro, NC., a virtual home environment for North Carolina.

Duke doesn't have as much on the line. Although a share of the ACC regular-season title with North Carolina would be impressive, considering the preseason expectations North Carolina faced, Duke is likely a No. 2 seed in the NCAA Tournament, win or lose.

Some would say, though, Duke needs this win to know they can beat a team as good as North Carolina. Here, the counterargument is Duke will not have to play a team like North Carolina until the Final Four.

And based on Duke's last two NCAA Tournament appearances, such a task will be quite difficult to begin with.

North Carolina needs this win more because the momentum to be gained can fuel an ACC Tournament championship run. And if these Tar Heels can enter the NCAA Tournament with an ACC regular season and Tournament title, along with the momentum of a six-game winning streak, the teams in their path to the national championship will be in trouble.

Also, Duke is battling injury issues right now. Nolan Smith is out for the North Carolina game. Brian Zoubek has a broken nose. And Lance Thomas is combating a sprained ankle.

Duke couldn't beat North Carolina at home at full strength. Imagine the task at hand with these injuries in Chapel Hill.

Duke doesn't need this win. What Duke does need, however, is to regain full health near the end of the ACC Tournament, so that it can be at full strength at the beginning of the NCAA Tournament. Only then will things start to truly matter for Duke.

What Duke Stands to Gain in the Remainder of This Season

Brad Frank — Sun, 15 Feb 2009 14:18:46 -0500

Duke men’s basketball is currently 20-4 overall and 7-3 in the ACC. The Blue Devils are in second place in the ACC. But the team is just 2-3 in its last five games after starting 18-1.

Coming into this season, many projected this year’s team to be better suited for an extended NCAA Tournament run compared to the previous two tournaments. Duke held the No. 1 ranking for just one week this year before losing at Wake Forest.

Many cited this team’s favorable chances to advance deeper in the NCAA Tournament primarily because of its depth and also because of its tremendous team defense.

Depth has served Duke well so far this season. Coach Mike Krzyzewski employs as much as an 11-man rotation, with nine players averaging over 10 minutes per game.

Defensively, Duke holds its opponents to just 62.7 points per game. Duke enjoys a turnover margin of +3.6, despite troubles of its own. And Duke also ranks 14th nationally in steals per game (9.1).

Duke can’t control what has happened so far this season. The loss at Michigan and the 27-point blowout loss at Clemson are the low points, clearly. The near completion of a comeback at Wake Forest and the surrender of an eight-point halftime lead at home to North Carolina are the disappointments.

Regardless, much is left to gain for the Duke Blue Devils this season. A regular season ACC championship is within reach. An ACC Tournament title is certainly within the realm of possibility. And a Final Four berth is seemingly doable.

Starting with the ACC regular season championship, Duke is only one loss behind the current leader, North Carolina. The rematch of last Wednesday’s game in Durham will be played Mar. 8 in Chapel Hill, perhaps for a share or outright claim of the conference title.

Before that game, however, Duke must survive a brutal upcoming schedule; three road games against Boston College, Maryland, and Virginia Tech and home games versus Wake Forest and Florida State stand in the way. And then the aforementioned rematch concludes Duke’s regular season.

In terms of the ACC Tournament title, Duke is capable of crafting a four-game stretch good enough to claim the title. Certainly, many of the remaining foes on Duke’s schedule will be most formidable in this tournament.

And ultimately, Duke seeks to not only advance further this season in the NCAA Tournament than the previous two instances, a first-round loss to Virginia Commonwealth in 2007 and a second-round loss to West Virginia last year, but also to reclaim its stake as a national power with a Final Four berth.

How Duke will pursue its attempt to regain its place as one of college basketball’s elite programs is unclear. That is left for Coach K to decide. However, the way in which Duke should go after these titles this season is crystal clear.

First and foremost, Duke must be relentless on defense. If the old adage “Defense wins championships” holds true, Duke has as good of a chance of any this season. As good as Duke seems on defense, it doesn’t statistically fare as well nationally as one might think.

Secondly, its offensive efficiency must not only improve but also begin to stabilize. Specifically, this team needs to find a third scorer behind Kyle Singler and Gerald Henderson. And Duke must start relying less on making three-pointers to keep pace with the opposing offense.

Lastly, since turnovers have been an issue for Duke in losses (sometimes in wins also), this team must understand the value of each offensive possession. Each time a player turns it over, Duke loses an opportunity to score, which is difficult enough to do already.

For some Duke fans, the writing is on the wall. They’re thinking this team is no different from the previous two editions of Duke basketball. For others, they are optimistic, hoping this team is able to prove the detractors wrong.

The rest of the college basketball world is wondering if Duke can manage to find its stride once again in the NCAA Tournament because the success everyone was used to seeing from Duke has been hiding lately.

So in essence, Duke stands to gain nearly everything in the remainder of this season.

An ACC regular season championship would be impressive, considering Duke’s current position in the standings. Overcoming a one-loss deficit is more difficult than it appears.

An ACC Tournament title is never something to take for granted; there, the victor is always worthy of some praise for that feat. Winning three or four games in as many days is truly remarkable after finishing the brute that is the ACC regular season.

And, most importantly, a Final Four berth would give Duke the opportunity to regain national acclaim, something that needs to be restored.

Duke 78, Miami FL 75: Greg Paulus Starts, Leads Duke to Overtime Win

Brad Frank — Sat, 07 Feb 2009 16:48:32 -0500

Duke head coach Mike Krzyzewski chose to start point guard Greg Paulus on Saturday versus Miami (FL). Perhaps Coach K was hoping the senior would provide a spark for a team that desperately needed one following its 27-point loss at Clemson.

The decision slowly but surely helped Duke win the game against Miami, 78-75, in overtime.

The Hurricanes controlled the boards throughout the first half, which limited Duke in second chance opportunities. Miami had out-rebounded Duke 11-3 by the 10:25 mark in first half.

To aid Miami, Duke shot poorly from the field in the first half. At halftime, Duke had shot just 6-for-31 from the field, including 4-for-16 from three-point range. Duke guard Gerald Henderson, who has been playing well lately, struggled to steady Duke offensively in the first half with just one point.

For the second consecutive game, Duke was held without a field goal for more than five minutes. This time, the Duke drought allowed Miami to sustain a 15-4 run to end the first half.

Eight minutes and 30 seconds passed between Duke’s final two field goals of the first half. Overall, Miami played well in the first half; the Hurricanes led Duke 32-19 at halftime.

Down 38-22 with 17:42 left in the game, the 16-point deficit was the largest that Duke would face. A small run brought Duke within 10 at 42-32 with 15:15 left in the second half. Then, in just four minutes, Duke grabbed a four-point lead with the aid of a 14-0 run.

Duke held narrow leads for most of the second half. A three-pointer by Paulus and two free throws by Scheyer gave Duke a three-point lead with 31 seconds left.

To force the game into overtime, Miami guard Jack McClinton tied the game at 68 with a three-pointer with 11 seconds left. McClinton made four straight field goals to close the second half, and he scored the last 18 points for Miami en route to a 34-point performance.

Duke held Miami scoreless in overtime until McClinton made a three-pointer with 32 seconds left. With the score 74-71, Duke made four of six free throw attempts to finish the game, despite four more points by McClinton in the final 11 seconds.

Duke earned 17 offensive rebounds as opposed to just four by Miami. Despite not being able to control the glass in the first half, Duke eventually out-rebounded the Hurricanes, 39-35. Duke also won the turnover battle, 19-9.

The Blue Devils shot 12-39 from three-point range and just 33 percent from the floor. Scoring-wise, Jon Scheyer had a breakout game with 22 points, including four three-pointers and 8-for-10 shooting from the foul line.

Paulus finished with 18 points in 40 minutes. Kyle Singler scored 17 points and grabbed 10 boards for a double-double. Henderson scored all but one of his 19 points in the second half. And David McClure, who had two points and 13 rebounds, seven of which were offensive, provided a scrappy performance for Duke in the comeback win.

Sophomore Nolan Smith’s playing time went to Paulus. Smith did not score, committing a turnover and three fouls in just seven minutes of action.

Duke improves to 20-3 overall and 7-2 in the ACC. Should North Carolina win Saturday versus Virginia, it sets up a showdown between the two first place teams. The winner gets control of the conference for the remainder of the regular season. Also, a potential No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament is on the line.

Duke-Clemson Preview: Blue Devils Look to Regain Familiar Stride Against Tigers

Brad Frank — Sun, 01 Feb 2009 16:53:59 -0500

Duke travels to Clemson on Wednesday to face an impressive Tigers squad, which enters the game with a 17-2 record. The Tigers’ pair of losses came to fellow two-loss teams Wake Forest and North Carolina.

Thanks to Georgia Tech, which earned its lone ACC win Saturday versus Wake Forest, Duke regains control of the conference standings. Now the Blue Devils are 5-1 in conference play with a one-loss lead over North Carolina.

That being said, Duke enters Wednesday’s game at Clemson coming off a difficult loss at Wake Forest on Jan. 28, followed by a 79-54 win against Virginia on Sunday.

In terms of the big picture, Duke is seeking a No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament, as well as the right to play its first two tournament games in Greensboro, N.C., one of eight subregional sites and a virtual home environment for Duke.

Within the scope of the Clemson game, however, Duke needs to re-establish its relentless tone that allowed Duke to race to a second consecutive 18-1 start.

Specifically, Duke needs to regain its defensive swagger. In the loss at Wake Forest, the Blue Devils allowed Wake Forest to shoot 47.8 percent in the first half en route to a two-point loss.

Clemson, meanwhile, is a decent offensive team. The Tigers are third in offensive field goal percentage and fourth in scoring offense in the ACC, but second-to-last in free throw percentage.

In order to win the game Wednesday, Duke must limit opportunities for Clemson to shoot a lot of free throws. If the Tigers manage only single-digit free throw attempts, combined with their poor percentage, this will give Duke a great advantage in the game.

To retain the lead in the ACC standings, Duke must also find a consistent third scorer behind Kyle Singler and Gerald Henderson.

Singler has been steady for the Blue Devils all season in terms of scoring output, while Henderson is surging as of late with four 20-point games in his last seven, with point totals of 19, 17, and 18 in the other three.

A handful of players are capable of fulfilling this role: Jon Scheyer, Brian Zoubek, Nolan Smith, and Greg Paulus. Each player has issues that seemingly prevent him from doing so.

Scheyer's issue is inconsistency. Zoubek lacks talent that would keep him on the floor long enough to be productive. Smith isn’t aggressive enough. And Paulus doesn’t garner enough minutes because of his new role.

Duke must also recognize that it isn’t potent enough offensively to rely on three-pointers in order to win. To support its routinely stout defensively efforts, Duke must find ways to increase its offensive efficiency.

In its two losses, at Michigan and at Wake Forest, Duke shot just 21 and 18 percent from three-point range, respectively, not to mention only 21 percent in its win versus Michigan.

If Duke is to clinch the ACC regular season title and then advance further in the NCAA Tournament than the last two seasons, these percentages must increase.

This Wednesday, Duke has an excellent opportunity to improve in these areas against a quality opponent, Clemson. The Tigers are the caliber of any power conference champion and any eventual Sweet 16 participant.

As Duke struggled with the interior length of Wake Forest, expect that to continue as the Tigers are equally gifted inside. Clemson ranks seventh in the country in blocked shots per game.

The Tigers are also ranked in the top 15 in both steals per game and turnover margin. At times, Duke has struggled this season with pesky defensive teams that force unnecessary turnovers.

In order to beat Clemson, Duke must channel its efforts to break the Tigers of their success in these categories. This means using extra caution on offense so that Duke reduces its turnovers, shoots a better percentage from three-point range, and avoids nosy shot-blockers at the rim.

Certainly, the Clemson faithful will create a tough road environment for Duke.

Wednesday’s game is a chance for Duke not only to retain its lead in the ACC standings, but to earn a very respectful road win.

A win against Clemson will provide Duke with the confidence to fuel its mission to become the ACC regular season champion.

With a win, Duke can also gain the conviction that it is capable, again, of winning an ACC road game against a great opponent in Clemson after suffering a heartbreaking loss at Wake Forest exactly a week ago.

Further, a victory at Clemson can provide the Blue Devils the will to win once more as well as the swagger necessary to complete an NCAA Tournament turnaround from the last two seasons.

The game at Clemson is a tremendous test for Duke. The Tigers have proven to be quite resilient this season. Their résumé speaks for itself with road wins against likely NCAA Tournament participants Illinois and Virginia Tech.

Duke is seeking not only to beat Clemson, but also to overcome issues to propel itself further in the NCAA Tournament, where the program is looking to move past its recent struggles.

Big East-ACC: Which Conference Is Better Doesn't Matter

Brad Frank — Sat, 24 Jan 2009 11:58:31 -0500

As college basketball gets into the bulk of conference play, one of the topics in the spotlight this season debates which conference is better, the Big East or the ACC.

Such debate mentions that the Big East is the deepest league in the country. At multiple times this season, four teams in the Big East were ranked in the top 10 and seven total were ranked in the top 25.

On the other hand, many fans claim the ACC boasts the best top-four teams in the nation. The argument continues to mention that the teams in the ACC are not as deep as the teams in the Big East.

This struggle for conference supremacy is unneeded, however. The hierarchy of college basketball conferences is irrelevant. Teams play others teams, not conferences.

Conferences are constructed primarily based on proximity. And so to suggest that teams should fight to represent their conferences, or to say that collectively conferences must battle for a ranking order is pointless.

Conferences are arranged to reduce costs while traveling as much as possible. In no way did teams congregate when forming conferences to build a coalition in order to develop a conference stronghold.

Troubling is when fans attempt to convince fellow fans that the conference which their favorite team is in is better. Even more troubling is when crowds of fans begin to chanting the name of the conference they choose to represent.

Never at any point will this debate determine the path to the national championship. And so to continue to participate in an argument such as this one is foolish.

So if North Carolina and Duke earn a berth in the Final Four this season, as opposed to just one Big East team, this does not mean that the ACC is a better conference than the Big East.

Likewise, if more teams from the Big East play deeper in the NCAA tournament than the ACC, this does not conclude that the Big East was the best conference this season.

Again, to insist that a team should carry a mindset that focuses on defending the pride of its conference is a poor stance. Not only is this debate meaningless, but also in the end the debate proves nothing.

At the end of the season, a team wins the national championship. Sure, this team is a part of a conference, but in no way did a conference “win” that title. That team represents its university, first and foremost, not its conference.

Duke-Georgetown Recap: Foul Trouble, Free Throws Defeat Hoyas

Brad Frank — Sat, 17 Jan 2009 16:21:54 -0500

The No. 12 Georgetown Hoyas held their own on Saturday in Cameron Indoor Stadium.

Against the No. 2 Duke Blue Devils, the Hoyas experienced multiple bright spots throughout the game. The Blue Devils, however, came away with a 76-67 win in one of the best non-conference meetings thus far this season.

Coming into the game, the teams were expected to engage in a slugfest, a tough, hard-fought battle without much glamour.

It was likely that Duke would not be able to reach its points-per-game season average, 81. Then again, also likely was that Duke would be able to limit Georgetown to under its points-per-game season average, 75.

Three developments factored into the outcome of this game.

First, the efficiency that Duke attained on offense was not only tremendous but also needed.

Second, the foul trouble that Georgetown center Greg Monroe battled allowed Duke to seize opportunities it wouldn’t normally have with him in the game.

Lastly, Duke made the Hoyas increase the pace of the game, to which Georgetown was not accustomed.

Duke was able to manufacture a 15-2 run to close the first half on the strength of Gerald Henderson's play. The senior guard found a rhythm and finished the first half with 17 points.

Beyond Monroe’s foul trouble, one problem that crippled the Hoyas was Duke holding them without a field goal for the final eight minutes of the first half. Such time allowed Duke to build a 40-29 halftime lead on the strength of the aforementioned 15-2 run.

Duke’s pressure forced Georgetown to quicken the pace of the game when the Hoyas held the basketball—so much that Georgetown was not able to run a large amount of offensive sets.

When Georgetown had possession, often it was in transition scenarios while converting from offense to defense. Georgetown probably had hoped to pursue more chances in the half-court offensive mode in order to stay in the game. The following recaptures significant events in the game, most of which signaled notable changes or increases in momentum.

From the outset, Georgetown forward DaJuan Summers made apparent his intent to help his team win. The junior scored 12 points within the first 10 minutes of the contest.

Helping Summers was freshman center Greg Monroe, who posted eight points in the first half.

In the article I wrote earlier this week, I highlighted the importance of the battle for free throws in this game.

Entering the game, both teams shot similar percentages from the foul line, but the game rested upon which team was able to utilize that area to its advantage.

Duke entered the one-and-one bonus situation with 5:47 remaining in the first half but only managed two free throw attempts with the advantage.

Out of the locker room in the second half, Georgetown quickly seized the momentum.

The Hoyas closed the gap to 46-42 within five minutes to begin the second half. Duke had began to miss shots at a higher rate than it was accustomed to, and Georgetown began to utilize its speed while transitioning from defense to offense for easy points.

Moments later, Georgetown head coach John Thompson III garnered a technical foul. Duke guard Jon Scheyer converted the pair of free throw attempts that Duke was awarded, and two subsequent layups for Duke sparked a 6-0 run to extend its lead, 52-42.

Moments prior, however, Monroe was whistled for his fourth personal foul, leaving Thompson III to bench his freshman sensation. At that juncture, Monroe was 5-for-5 from the field with 10 points.

Following the technical foul, Duke increased its pressure and began to make shots again, forging the lead to 57-45.

As the game progressed, Duke began to experience foul trouble.

However, the effects were less severe that what Georgetown faced because of which player, Monroe, the foul trouble concerned.

Advantageous for Duke was its depth. Though it was wary of foul trouble, The Blue Devils were able to battle it with their depth, focusing on maintaining the lead, instead.Credit to Georgetown is due.

The Hoyas never quit at any point in the game. Despite how well Duke played, Georgetown always managed to keep the lead within reach in order to hold on to any comeback possibilities.

Duke stayed strong and outlasted the Hoyas in the end.

Alluding back to my Duke-Georgetown preview article, again I highlighted the free throw battle within this game. Duke finished 12-13 from the free throw line, while Georgetown finished 10-18.

Clearly, had Georgetown made a few more free throws, it would have had more favorable chances to win the game in the end, since Georgetown trailed by only five points within the final two minutes of the game.

A concern for Duke surfaced in the comments section of my article.

The concern was how Duke center Brian Zoubek would be utilized on defense. Would he be allowed to guard Greg Monroe?

The answer was no. Zoubek played less than one minute in the game.

The final score, 76-67, proved to hold both teams under their season average.

Ultimately, Duke’s consistency throughout the game allowed them to win this game. Its success rate at the free throw line factored into the win.

Though Georgetown is a tremendous team, today, it was hindered by the foul trouble that Monroe suffered.

The Hoyas never really attained a comfort level in order to truly compete for the game against Duke.

Duke-Georgetown Preview: Free Throw Battle Magnifies on Saturday

Brad Frank — Wed, 14 Jan 2009 22:19:25 -0500

On Saturday, the No. 2 Duke Blue Devils play the No. 12 Georgetown Hoyas at home. The game is Duke’s toughest non-conference matchup to date, and Georgetown enters the game in search of a tough road win in its final non-conference game of the regular season.

Duke is 15-1 this season, with its lone loss to Michigan. The Blue Devils' conference record is 3-0, which ties them for first place.

Georgetown, meanwhile, is 12-3, losing to Tennessee in non-conference play and to Pittsburgh and Notre Dame in Big East conference play.

Both teams are a joy to watch. Both teams appear tremendously sound on paper.

One aspect that usually determines the outcome in a contest between two great teams is the free throw battle.

Often, the team that avoids foul trouble and limits the number of fouls it commits finds success throughout the course of the game.

For starters, Georgetown commits two less fouls per game on average than Duke.

Surely, the nature of the officiating crew can determine that average. Nonetheless, that average is often indicative of how aggressive a team is on defense and how mindful of its foul situation a team is when the calls aren’t favorable.

Georgetown is a solid defensive team because it has length and athleticism all over the floor. The defense does not overextend and commit silly mistakes, namely fouls, in crucial situations.

On the other hand, Duke prides itself on furious aggression, defensively. The Blue Devils smother their opponent, and, as a result, Duke can often commit cheap fouls.

To their credit, however, the Blue Devils always manage to not only commit fewer fouls than their opponents, but also attempt more free throws in the process.

As a team, Georgetown shoots 73.7 percent from the free-throw line, while Duke coincidentally shoots 73.8 percent.

Finally, when watching the game on Saturday, pay special attention to this particular battle. In the case that either team experiences foul trouble, both teams have depth, but not necessarily at all positions. The victor of this in-game battle is likely to win the game.

The following is commentary concerning the game on Saturday in three distinct categories:

On the Floor

Each starting lineup appears to be nearly equally talented. From observation, both teams can turn the ball over at a dangerously high rate. But the equalizer lies in their efforts on defense.

Georgetown owns a myriad of shot-makers in its starting unit. As a result, the team does not struggle through offensive droughts to the extent that Duke does.

The Blue Devils understand offensive concepts as well as any team in the country, but they struggle to achieve continuity on offense largely due to their susceptibility to commit turnovers and reliance on making three-pointers.

Defensively, Georgetown’s length and athleticism makes operating on offense difficult for its opponents. At the rim, the Hoyas have a decent shot-blocker in freshman center Greg Monroe. Georgetown also has explosive athletes capable of contesting shots near the basket via their leaping ability.

Duke relies on its pressure to force turnovers and bad shots. This season, Duke has held opponents scoreless for a handful of minutes on multiple occasions. Though not a guarantee, such a possibility can help tremendously, especially against a team the caliber of Georgetown.

Bench

Duke has the advantage here. Not necessarily because of its quality of play, but rather because of the range of its depth is why Duke has the edge.

At times, Duke is able to utilize a 10-player rotation. Georgetown, on the other hand, does not have the luxury of such a deep bench and it does not have the experience that the Duke bench enjoys.

Coaching Staff

Unquestionably, both coaching staffs have advantages in certain categories without getting into specifics. Both coaching staffs will treat this game with the importance a conference game should hold.

The edge, however, goes to the Duke coaching staff in this contest. The reason is Georgetown will have to adjust its style of play to win the game, more so than Duke.

The Hoyas must combat the stout on-ball defensive pressure from Duke. This will likely force Georgetown to increase the pace of its offense, resulting in fewer quality shots and more turnovers than normal.

Regardless of which positions produce the most favorable matchup for each team, the bottom line is that both teams must play with outstanding effort and desire backed by the strength of their preparation. What a phenomenal game this should be.

Duke-Davidson Preview: Stephen Curry and Co. Looking for First Signature Win

Brad Frank — Mon, 05 Jan 2009 08:15:28 -0500

National player of the year candidate Stephen Curry and the Davidson Wildcats travel to Cameron Indoor Stadium to play Duke, searching for their first signature win of this season.

Duke enters the game now ranked No. 2, looking to gain momentum heading into the bulk of conference play, which began Sunday with a 69-44 win at home against Virginia Tech.

Davidson, meanwhile, is looking to win its first game against a ranked team this season, as the Wildcats have already lost to then-No. 14 Oklahoma and then-No. 18 Purdue.

To Davidson’s credit, it has a solid win over West Virginia, which is a second-rate Big East team and likely to make the NCAA tournament. Note, however, that the Mountaineers were troubled with injury in the game but managed to keep it close until the end.

The Wildcats received national attention after their magical run in the NCAA tournament last season, which included wins over Gonzaga, Georgetown, and Wisconsin. This season, they were “rewarded” with exposure to the national audience via a handful of prime time games against big-time programs.

But the exposure is grinding on the Wildcats because the team has less depth compared to last season and because the team lost leading assist man Jason Richards to graduation, forcing Curry to assume the point guard role.

Davidson is projected to win the Southern Conference. An undefeated conference record is likely, and an NCAA tournament at-large berth is nearly a lock for Davidson if it doesn’t manage to win the Southern Conference tournament title.

Wednesday against Duke, the Wildcats are likely to have a lot of difficulty in Cameron Indoor Stadium for three reasons.

First, Duke has one of the best defenses in the country and is capable of shutting down an entire roster of great players. Conversely, Davidson has only one great player in Stephen Curry. Expect Duke’s defense to give the Wildcats fits when they are on offense.

Second, Duke has a tremendous size advantage compared to Davidson. Duke starts 7’1” center Brian Zoubek, who is notably taller than Davidson’s starting forwards, who stand no taller than 6’8”.

Kyle Singler leads the Blue Devils in points, assists, and rebounds. The 6’8” forward is very versatile and creates matchup problems for those similar or taller in height to him. Also, expect Jon Scheyer to guard Curry. Scheyer is an inch taller and has decent length, which could pose problems for Curry.

Lastly, this game is at home for Duke. The Cameron Crazies always aid Duke in its attempt to harass opposing offenses. Therefore, the atmosphere will be too intimidating for Davidson to pull off the upset.

Despite Curry’s talent, the size and depth of Duke will overmatch Davidson. The home crowd will overwhelm the visiting Wildcats. And finally, Duke performs tremendously at home against non-conference opponents.

Top 25 Moments and Images of College Football in 2008: Part Three

Brad Frank — Fri, 02 Jan 2009 08:49:52 -0500

Admittedly, college football in 2008 did not have the peril at the top of the rankings like the season before. However, this season did provide many lasting images and memorable moments.

Prevalent themes for this season included the searches for the Cinderella mid-major to crash the BCS party and the team that could separate from the rest of the national title contenders.

Along the way, some teams, some players, and some coaches manifested greatness beyond expectations in moments that captivated the college football nation.

Finally, here are the top 25 moments and images of college football in 2008 (in three parts), accompanied by a headline and description about what made it so special.

Below is the third part. To read the first part, click here. To read the second part, click here.

5. Nick Saban resurrects Alabama, which steamrolled conference foes for SEC West title

Following a lackluster 7-6 season, Alabama wasn’t expected to do much this season. But head coach Nick Saban quickly changed the culture in Tuscaloosa—so much so that Alabama ascended rapidly in the rankings, reaching No. 1 in the BCS standings in Week 10.

Alabama used devastating power and sufficient speed to steamroll through the SEC. Following its undefeated season, Alabama earned a berth in the conference championship against Florida. The Tide lost to the Gators in a tremendous ball game, but clearly they enjoyed their return to the prominence that Tide fans are accustomed to.

4. Texas beats Oklahoma, who beats Texas Tech, who beats Texas; BCS controversy follows

The most memorable moment of college football in 2008 that didn’t occur in a game was the controversy that ensued concerning the circus atop the Big 12 North. Texas beat Oklahoma in Dallas on Oct. 11. Then on the first of November, Texas’ bid for four straight wins over top 12 teams ended against Texas Tech.

After beating Oklahoma State, the Red Raiders were destroyed by Oklahoma, giving Texas, Texas Tech, and Oklahoma one conference loss each. The tiebreaker to determine the Big 12 North representative became the BCS standings after other determinants expired.

Ultimately, Oklahoma was awarded the trip to Kansas City for the Big 12 Championship. The Sooners routed Missouri, 62-21, becoming the first team in college football history to score 60+ points in five consecutive games. The win evidently gave voters no excuse not to make the Sooners the No. 1 team in the country, which put Oklahoma in the national title game.

3. Florida dropped by gutsy Ole Miss at home; Tebow makes stirring postgame promises

The Florida Gators were one of many teams projected to win the national championship this season. They started strong but lost to Ole Miss at home in an un-Gator-like performance. Following the game, quarterback Tim Tebow essentially vowed not to let Florida lose the remainder of the season.

The promise proved to be true, as the Gators dominated their opponents the rest of the way. Tebow played so well that he finished third in the Heisman Trophy standings. He led the Gators to nine straight wins, including a win over Alabama in the SEC Championship.

To see Tebow’s stirring postgame speech, click here. The promise starts at 2:14.

2. Game-winning field goal by Iowa hands first loss to surprise Penn State

Penn State entered the 3:30 p.m. EST primetime game on ABC unbeaten in the 2008 regular season. Perhaps the result of a hangover from playing Ohio State the week before, the Nittany Lions lost to Iowa on the road on a last-second field goal.

Penn State was ranked No. 3 at the time with an outstanding shot at playing for the national title. The Nittany Lion offense fizzled somewhat in the game, and it allowed Iowa to rally from a 23-14 deficit at the beginning of the fourth quarter. As consolation, Penn State earned a trip to the Rose Bowl, which far exceeded expectations of the team anyways.

1. Harrell-to-Crabtree touchdown connection in final seconds hands Texas first loss

What a game. What a finish. In the “Game of the Year” to date, the No. 1 Texas Longhorns found themselves trailing 22-6 at halftime and 29-19 entering the fourth quarter. Then, with 1:29 left in the game, Texas finally took the lead, 33-32.

The problem was that Texas left too much time on the clock. Texas Tech used a six-play, 64-yard drive to produce the game-winning touchdown.

On 2nd-and-10 with :08 left, quarterback Graham Harrell flung a tremendous pass from the Texas 36-yard line to the six. There, receiver Michael Crabtree caught the ball, broke the tackle of cornerback Curtis Brown near potential help from the safety, tiptoed the sideline, and scored with :01 left.

Following the touchdown, Texas Tech fans stormed the field twice, once immediately after the score, and twice when the review confirmed the touchdown. The fan interference caused a 15-yard unsportsmanlike penalty, but Texas was unable to post a touchdown on the kick return even with the aid of the penalty.

No. 7 Texas Tech won the game, 39-33, and moved to 9-0 and first place in the Big 12 North. Texas, meanwhile, suffered its first loss and moved to a tie for second place in the Big 12 North, diminishing their chance to play in the national championship.

Click here to see the touchdown and chaos that ensued.

NOTE: To nominate your own moment or image, leave a comment below. If your moment or image is worthy and your argument to support it is sufficient, I will edit the article to include others from college football in 2008.