Bleacher Report - Articles by Robert Vernon

Chad Johnson, Oakland Raider? Not in This Lifetime

Robert Vernon — Thu, 31 Jan 2008 15:45:31 -0500

I've been reading some articles lately about how apparently a lot of people believe that under some miracle, Chad Johnson will end up in Oakland.

I'm a huge Oakland fan, don't get me wrong—I bleed silver and black—but I'm also a pretty smart guy when it comes to sports. And the last place that Johnson will end up is in Oakland.

Now you might say that Oakland was able to trade and get Randy Moss. Yes, we were, but that was after Moss had his worst season in Minnesota and had all sorts of legal problems. It made more sense to get him out of town then to deal with all of his issues.

You also might bring up how the Patriots were able to get Moss after the '06 season. What they aren't going to say is that in '06 Moss had the worst season in his great career. He recorded only 42 receptions and only 553 yards—both career lows.

Now let's take a look at Chad Johnson's stats this year: 93 receptions and 1,440 yards. These stats are nowhere near either of the seasons that forced Moss to relocate. Chad Johnson is coming off what was probably his best season as a wide-out in the NFL.

Since Johnson had such a great season, the Raiders would have to give up a large amount of talent or draft picks to bring him into Oakland.

Let's face it; Davis isn't going to do this when they have either the third or fourth pick in the draft that they could invest in a great running back or on a decent position receiver.

The Top Ten Players in College Basketball

Robert Vernon — Thu, 31 Jan 2008 12:07:58 -0500

1. Michael Beasley, freshman, Kansas State

Beasley came into the season as one of the two big name freshmen—the other being O.J. Mayo—and has definitely lived up to all the hype.

Beasley is currently averaging 25.3 points a game, fourth overall, first in the Big 12, and the only top five scorer from a major conference (the other scorers are from The Big South, The Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference, the Ohio Valley Conference, and last but not least the Southern Conference).

He is also leading the nation in rebounds with13.9 and is a guarantee as a lottery pick if he decides to go pro.

2. Tyler Hansbrough, junior, North Carolina

Hansbrough has led the Tarheels to a 19-1 record. He is currently leading the ACC in scoring averaging a little over 22 points, and is shooting over 55 percent from the floor and over 82 percent from the line—not bad for a guy who stands over 6'8”.

What I believe to be the biggest stat is the fact that he scored 23 points against UNC Asheville including a highlight of the year dunk over 7'8” center Kenny George.

3. Eric Gordan, freshman, Indiana

Gordan is another talented freshman and many have dubbed him the best point guard in the nation. He is leading the Big 10 in scoring averaging a solid 21.7 points a game to go along with a three assists a game.

Indiana has won 12 out of their last 13 games including a tough loss in their last game to UConn. I have a feeling however as Gordon matures, and the team grows as a whole they will be just fine come tournament time.

4. O.J. Mayo, freshman, USC

O.J. Mayo came into this season, like Beasley, as a big name freshman. While it took him a little longer to step into the spot light, he is now really coming into his own.

Mayo is coming off probably his greatest game at USC as he scored 25 points and sang more three's (five) then he has had in any other game this season and if that wasn’t good enough he also had eight rebounds. He is averaging 20 points a game and five rebounds to go along with a little over three assists.

Mayo will be a lottery pick come draft time if he decides to go pro and he'll probably be able to lead his time to at least a sweet sixteen birth if they get the right match-ups.

5. D.J. Augustin, sophomore, Texas

Augustin is the leader in assits for the Big 12 conference. Which is a pretty big accomplishment seeing how the Big 12 is represented well in top 25(currently with 5 teams.) Augustin is also averaging 20 points a game in conference play. He has propelled his team to a 16-4 overall record including impressive wins over Tennessee and in Califorina against UCLA .

6. Chris Douglas-Roberts, junior, Memphis

Roberts has been a leader over the last two years in Memphis. Averaging a team high 17.5 points per game and 5 rebounds. He has palyed a part is the 20 game winning streak his team is currently on and with Derek Rose(you'll be seeing him on the list a little farther down) on the court with him I believe that the Tigers will win out and without a doubt win the C-USA conference, and most likely a 1 seed come tournament time.

7. Sean Singletary, senior, Virginia

Singletary is probably one of the most underrated point guards in the college basketball, most likely do to the fact that he plays for a less then amazing Virginia team who are 11-8. Singletary leads the ACC in assists and is the only player from a major conference averaging over 6.5 assists and over 15 points a game(18.3.)

Without Singletary at point guard Virginia would without a doubt be under .500 and in the cdellar of the ACC.

8. Derek Rose, freshman, Memphis

Derek is the second leading scorer(14.1 points a game) for the nations number 1 team. While not coming into this season with the amount of hype of Beasley or Mayo, but as the Tigers continue to win and Dominate the polls. I have a feeling this is a name that we will be hearing more and more. Now he is only averaging around 5 assists and rebounds a game. He is playing on the nations top team and surronded by good players he doesnt have to put up Beasley type numbers.

9. Roy Hibbert, senior, Georgetown

Hibbert is a strong player averaging 13 points and 7 rebounds a year for a very good Georgetown team. However if I was making this list a year ago I would be talking about how Hibbert was going to be a lottery pick and how he was a top 5 player in the country. This isnt the case this year he is a strong player but not a top 5 player right now and come draft time, I believe that he will be a late first rounder, but he isn't getting the press that would of sky rocketed him to a lottery pick last season.

10. Bill Walker, freshman, Kansas State

Now some of you might see this and think the only reason that Walker is on this list, However that is completey wrong. Walker hasn't gotten any press this season seeing how he is playing next to Beasley. Walker was getting all the hype a year ago until he went out with a season ending injury. Walker is averaging an impressive 16 points a game and 7 rebounds a game. Walker had come up big in big games putting up an impressive average of 20 points against rated Big 12 teams(AandM and Kansas.)

That’s what I think feel—free to tell me what you think.

Kansas State-Kansas: Wildcats Snap Jayhawks' Streak 84-75

Robert Vernon — Wed, 30 Jan 2008 15:52:50 -0500

Well, basketball fans, after tonight there's only one undefeated team left in college basketball and that's the Memphis Tigers.

The previously undefeated KU Jayhawks fell for the first time this season—and the first time in 24 games—to the K-State Wildcats in Manhattan 84-75.

Freshmen sensation Michael Beasley posted 25 points and six rebounds in 38 minutes while his buddy Billy Walker posted 22 points and five rebounds in 25 minutes.

However, the surprise of the game was K-State's Jacob Pullen who put up 20 points including a perfect 10 for 10 from the charity stripe along with four assists and only one turnover.

This victory will definitely show up on K-State's resume come tournament time. Also, for the first time in Big 12 play, the Wildcats are 5-0 and leading the conference.

Now I know what you're thinking—5-0? Wow, big whoop.

But when you think about the fact that the Wildcats' previous best start was 1-0 in Big 12 play—that's a big deal. And when you add in the fact that their next six games are against Mizzou, Nebraska, Oklahoma State, and Texas Tech, and there is a good possibly that when the Wildcats roll into Texas to face Baylor on Feburary 23rd they will be 11-0 in Big 12 play and 21-4 overall.

NCAA Men's Basketball Bracket Busters: Volume One

Robert Vernon — Wed, 30 Jan 2008 15:01:20 -0500

All right sports fans, I'm going to start a weekly series labeled "Bracket Busters," in which I will evaluate a team on the rise in college basketball.

- The Kansas State Wildcats (15-4 overall). If they continue to play the way that they have been playing lately they will be a tough team to beat come march.

There is no arguing the fact that this is one of the youngest teams in college basketball with four of its five starters being freshmen and the other a a great senior leader; this team is like a good wine, it only gets better with time.

Currently riding a six-game winning streak which includes tonights win over the Kansas Jayhawks, a team which should have been ranked as the No. 1 team in the nation. The Wildcats now lead the Big 12 standings with a flawless 5-0 record. This team is going to grow as the season continues and come March you should be worried if your team meets up with the Wildcats.

Missouri Basketball: Tigers Headed to The Bottom of the Standings

Robert Vernon — Wed, 30 Jan 2008 02:44:09 -0500

Missouri basketball recently suffered a huge setback with the loss of senior PG Stefan Hannah, following a bar fight that resulted with him breaking his jaw.

With that loss bad enough for the team, it got worse late Tuesday night when coach Mike Anderson said at a news conference that Marshall Brown, Darryl Butterfield, Jason Horton and Leo Lyons also wouldn't be starting Wednesday night because they, too, violated team rules by being out too late at the same bar in which Hannah broke his jaw.

That leaves Mizzou with 6 Scholarship players and 2 walk-ons to face Nebraska in Mizzou Arena. This recent issue just adds to the trouble that Anderson has faced in his second year at the reins of the Tiger.

The Tigers started Big 12 play with an Upset win against the Texas Longhorns, only to lose the next week to Iowa State. Missouri (12-8) have a tough matchup ahead of them against a beatable Nebraska team. With the loss of 4 starters, however, it's going to be hard for them to come out on top.

It doesn't get any easier anytime soon, as the Tigers have to take on possibly the hottest team in the Big 12, the Kansas State Wildcats next. Anderson might be wishing he stayed at UAB now, and hopefully this situation doesn't cost a good coach his job.

Kansas and Kansas State Duke it Out in the Little Apple

Robert Vernon — Tue, 29 Jan 2008 08:08:35 -0500

Well Round one of the in-state rivalry between Ku and K-State is going to be taking place tomorrow night (Jan. 30) in the Little Apple.

KU comes in as one of the only two undefeated teams in the nation, and in my opinion is probably the best of those two teams (Memphis plays in C-USA, which is probably the easiest conference in all of college basketball...I mean check out the standings, the team behind Memphis isn't even above .500) to play the best team to ever walk onto the floor at Bramledge area.

Now I know what you're thinking: shut down Beasley, and KU wins in a blow out—right?

Wrong.

K-State has come together to play some great team ball in the last couple of weeks. A 4-0 start in Big-12 play is a huge feat for a team that had previously never even started 2-0.

Beasley will be a big part of the game, but we can't forget about Bill Walker, who is looking more and more like the Walker of last year every day. The play of a fellow by the name of Blake Young has been superb—I believe Young is probably one of the best players coming off the bench on any team.

Now he's not putting up 20 points a game or ten rebounds, but what he is putting up is the best hussle I have seen in my ten years of watching college basketball. He lives on the court, with a never-say-quit attitude. Many times this year, K-State has turned over the ball only to have Young get it right back with his hussle.

Now here it comes...prediction time. I believe if K-State plays as well as they have recently, they will win 75-72.

It's going to be a battle—but as they say, nothing in life comes easy...