Bleacher Report - Articles by Andrew Perkins

Why Saturday's BYU-TCU Scrap is a No-Win Situation for the Cougars

Andrew Perkins — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 04:21:38 -0400

September 19, 2009—The day that Christian Ponder could do no wrong.

Unfortunate enough for the BYU Cougars, that day also happened to be the day they saw any hope of playing in a major bowl game circle down the long and twisted BCS drain.

It was a rough day at Lavell Edwards Stadium. Trust me. I was there. Too many turnovers. Too many third down conversions. Too many rushing yards. Too much...

I digress.

Going into Saturday's game, both TCU and BYU boast a top 20 ranking and gaudy win-loss records, with TCU undefeated at 6-0 (2-0) and BYU at 6-1 (3-0). Needless to say, this battle has monstrous implications.

For TCU, a BCS bowl bid is at stake. With Boise State living on easy street (or playing in the WAC. I say tomato you say tomahto), an undefeated Horned Frogs team could very well foster the favor of the pollsters and do the old Florida hop skip and jump right over Boise for that coveted non-automatic qualifier bid.

Fresh off Utah's big win in the Sugar Bowl last year, the Mountain West Conference would love nothing more than to crash the BCS for the third time.

Believe that.

How could the big boys continue to ignore everyone outside of the Big 6 considering the MWC's run of BCS success?

And this, my friends, is where the picture turns foggy.

BYU is playing for a Mountain West Championship and a trip to the Vegas Bowl (aw, mom! Not again!?).

Of course, the Cougars will be geeked up to avenge last year's 32-7 debacle in Fort Worth. Of course, the Cougars want to surge to an 11-1 campaign and a bowl win. Of course, the Cougars want to win the game.

But have you ever stopped to think what happens if they do?

If the Cougars win, TCU can kiss the BCS goodbye. That also means, with Utah, TCU and BYU all having losses on the resume, that the Mountain West as a conference can kiss the BCS goodbye.

And it also means that all the kids get to go to the Vegas Bowl, the Pointsettia Bowl and the New Mexico Bowl.

Can you smell that excitement?

Or the sarcasm?

If the Mountain West wants the love from the BSers...I mean BCSers...then they need to crash it. Multiple times.

Keeping all that in mind, it is quite simple.

A BYU win sets the conference back a step.

And for a system that was supposed to save the integrity of college football and promote a true national champion, the BCS sure seems to have done the opposite.

Because there is no reason that I should EVER want my team to lose. But the BCS is sure giving me one.

And THAT, my friends, just ain't right.

Utah Utes: Controversy In My Mind

Andrew Perkins — Tue, 17 Feb 2009 16:57:28 -0500

It's that time of the year again.

Everyone and their mother's tax analyst is putting together some sort of NCAA Tournament bracket by whatever logic they insist on using.

And the word "bracketology" will soon become one of the most overused and misused words in the history of the English language.

For the record, I hate that word. With the passion of a thousand fiery suns.

But I digress.

'Tis the season of speculation and argument. Does the SEC deserve to get more than a couple teams in? How many teams will get in from the hotly-contested Mountain West? Will the whole Big East get in?

Too many questions. Not enough time.

But, being in Mountain West territory, one team with a whole lot of contradictions stands out in my mind.

The Utah Utes, currently sitting atop the Mountain West standings, have lost to a Division II team in Southwest Baptist, and they also have tanked against the Idaho State Bengals, who tip the scales with an RPI of 205.

The same Utah Utes that are sitting pretty at 11 in the RPI and, as of right now, hold destiny and a conference championship in their sweaty palms.

However, the Utes' best road win thus far is at Wyoming, who is a tepid 12-10.

Nonetheless, those same Utes have taken out Gonzaga, LSU, BYU, New Mexico and San Diego State. Those are solid teams, regardless of where you play them.

In addition, center Luke Nevill is one of the most underrated big men in college basketball. He's a presence on both ends of the floor, registering 17.1 ppg, 8.1 rpg, and 2.6 bpg.

He opens the floor for wingmen Lawrence Borha and Shaun Green to do serious damage.

There are no doubts in my mind this team is solid. I've seen them play, and they are legit.

But, in the back of my mind, I cannot forget what has gone down.

I can't forget SW Baptist. I can't forget Idaho State. I can't accept road wins against UC-Irvine and Air Force.

I can't raise up the Utah Utes and call them the 11th best team in the country. I can't do it.

And so I will wait.

A week of reckoning awaits the Utes. A three game stretch that starts against UNLV and ends on the road at BYU and New Mexico will make up my mind.

And then I'll have peace of mind.

Wake Forest Basketball Not Getting Its Just Due

Andrew Perkins — Mon, 12 Jan 2009 17:21:48 -0500

I'm not a Wake Forest fan. I don't expect them to win a national title. In fact, I don't even expect them to win the ACC championship. I wouldn't be surprised if parity bites them in the butt once or twice this season.

But I do know one thing—The Wake Forest Demon Deacons deserve MAD respect.

The January 11th win against UNC is only one slice of the pie. Granted, it's quite a large one, but the mountains that the Demon Deacons have climbed loom much larger.

Think back a year and a half ago...A solid program built by coach Skip Prosser was set to welcome an equally solid recruiting class. Unfortunately, the basketball world was dealt a horrific blow as Coach Prosser passed on, 56 years young.

I, personally, cannot imagine what effect that would have upon a university as well as a basketball team, but I can imagine that such a loss must have seemed devastating. Not only was Prosser a great coach, he was a great mentor. He was and will still be missed.

Had the Demon Deacons sulked through the 2007-2008 season with a heavy heart, I surely wouldn't have blamed them. But sulk they did not.

In a classy move, the administration tabbed assistant Dino Gaudio as the next head coach of Wake Forest basketball. Led by freshmen James Johnson and Jeff Teague, the Demon Deacons then fought to a respectable 17-13 mark.

They fought through hardship and came out on the winning end.

And this year has been an extension of the progression of Gaudio and his stable of talented young players.

What have they done?

--Racked up a 14-0 record

--Beaten pre-season hottie UNC

--Snapped BYU's home-court win-streak

Lest we forget, major conference teams like Michigan State and Oklahoma State have avoided Provo, Utah like the plague. They preferred to schedule a neutral-and-neutral instead of a home-and-home with BYU.

The Cougars rumbled to a win streak of over 50 games after their loss on November 18, 2005. Some of that has to do with the fact that the big boys were scared. Some of that has to do with the fact that the Marriott Center gets loud. Some of that has to do with the fact that BYU is a good team.

Props to the Wake Forest administration for manning up and coming to Utah Valley.

The crowd was raucous, the atmosphere was intense and the game was mind-blowing. Trust me, I was there.

Conditions aside, these kids escaped with a win. They didn't battle 40 minutes and lose to a great home team. They battled 40 minutes, came back from an eight-point deficit, and pulled out a win.

Sophomore phenom Jeff Teague single-handedly destroyed BYU's man to man defense, forcing the Cougars to switch to zone after only four minutes of carnage. James Johnson, Al-Farouq Aminu and Chas McFarland contributed to fouling out both of BYU's credible big men, leaving the Cougars with a void in the middle of the lane in the late minutes of the game.

Hats off to those guys. Once again they battled and came out on top.

And now they've taken it to the most hyped and certainly one of the most talented teams in the country.

They battled and came out on top.

Once again, I'm not a Wake Forest fan. I wasn't happy they snuck out of the Marriott Center with a win. I know UNC would be a better defensive team with Marcus Ginyard healthy. I definitely think Wake Forest will lose a game relatively soon.

But I have to respect those that have earned my respect. And the Wake Forest Demon Deacons men's basketball team has earned my respect.

One Down, More To Go: Tracking the BCS Busters with Questions and Answers

Andrew Perkins — Fri, 17 Oct 2008 10:48:20 -0400

With BYU coughing up virtually any chance to rumble with the big boys in January, the field of non-BCS teams hoping to make waves continues to dwindle.

College football pundits everywhere are scrambling for another sexy "BCS Buster" pick. And Utah lovers everywhere are rejoicing.

As for all the potential BCS busters, lots of questions remain. Here's a look at the non-BCS schools fighting for a chance to wrestle away a spot in a BCS game.

UTAH 7-0 (3-0)

How long will the Utah fans be able to rejoice?

After looking at their schedule and assessing their talent, the Utes may just be rejoicing well into the month of...November...or maybe January...who knows!

The next two weeks will serve as a proving ground as the Utes gear up for the two teams that could knock them off: TCU and BYU. Fortunately enough, those two games occur at Rice-Eccles Stadium.

The potential trip-up point will be the short week between Nov. 1 and Nov. 6 as Utah plays at New Mexico and against TCU.

A rested Horned Frogs defense against a sore Utes offense could spell doom for any BCS hopes. BYU didn't have a playmaker that could give the Horned Frogs fits.

Does Utah? Running backs Matt Asiata and Darrell Mack are great, but they haven't broken one for longer than 38 yards.

Pressure will be on quarterback Brian Johnson to deliver. When he is on, the Utes are unstoppable. When he's not, the Utes are average. He needs to be on for this team to win out.

Lucky for the Utes' fans, I would bet on Johnson delivering against TCU. Against BYU? That's always a toss up. But, as of right now, BYU hasn't shown as much as Utah has.

The win in the Big House is null and void after what happened against Toledo, but Oregon State will most definitely be bowling at season's end.

Chance to get in: Good to Great

TULSA 6-0 (3-0)

Where's the love for Tulsa?

Plain and simple: Conference USA just isn't that good. Whereas the Mountain West has some talented top tier teams, C-USA has one team that has a winning record: Tulsa.

They'll get some love in the polls because they keep winning, but if they stop winning by big margins, their poll ceiling will probably be between 20 and 25.

A come-from-behind win last weekend against a bad SMU team definitely did not endear the Golden Hurricane to any pollster.

What do they have going for them? The Hawaii effect. They can light up the scoreboard against the weaklings upon which they feast week in and week out.

Sure, they may have squeaked by against lowly SMU, but UTEP will sure be feeling the hurt when Tulsa busts out again next week.

The Golden Hurricane has yet to score less than 37 points in a game. They've scored 56 or more points four times this season.

Quarterback David Johnson has yet to throw for fewer than three touchdowns in a game. Running back Tarrion Adams averages around 90 yards a game and runs for 5.6 yards per carry. This offense is serious.

Too bad their defense is reminiscent of a finely-aged Swiss cheese.

A visit to Arkansas will most likely provide the stiffest test of the season for Tulsa.

Chance to get in: Poor

BALL STATE 7-0 (3-0)

Will the Cardinals keep the winning alive without Dante Love?

It's not up for debate. Dante Love is a beastman. All the love and prayers in the world go out to him and his family. May he have a speedy recovery.

Lest we forget, Ball State was only up by one point at the time Love left the game against Indiana. They then finished the game on a 28-7 run.

And they've won all three games since then.

With that said, Indiana, Toledo, Kent State, and Western Kentucky have a combined record of seven wins and 19 losses.

The Cardinals should have an easy time getting to 10-0 on the year, but Central and Western Michigan are both waiting at the bottom of the schedule.

As of today the win against Navy stands out as the bright spot on Ball State's calendar. The games against Central Michigan and Western Michigan could vault the Cardinals into BCS contention.

With Dante Love out, the playmaker of the offense is running back MiQuale Lewis. He has yet to run for fewer than 95 yards in a game and he has already claimed 13 rushing touchdowns.

Given the fact that quarterback Nate Davis hits on 68 percent of his passes, Lewis should have ample opportunity to keep running as defenses protect against the pass.

The Cardinals should win out and give themselves the possibility of breaking into the BCS, but they'll have to win in impressive fashion.

Unfortunately, with their star on the sideline they may not get the hype nor the needed scoring to win over the humans. And with the MAC being the MAC, they might not have the schedule to win over the computers.

Chances to get in: Fair to Good

BOISE STATE 5-0 (1-0)

Can they run the table in the WAC?

The Broncos have a very balanced team on offense, although the running backs need to scratch for more than four yards a carry.

The rush defense still needs to improve, but the pass defense has been on point. The defense has been solid against inferior competition, limiting everyone minus Oregon to seven points or fewer.

Although the speedy trio of Ian Johnson, Jeremy Avery, and D.J. Harper have not owned teams like one might expect, redshirt freshman quarterback Kellen Moore has played exceptionally well. He hits on 71 percent of his passes and has amassed 10 touchdowns and only three picks.

Johnson still has the ability to break one every once in a while, and receiver Jeremy Childs can also make plays when called upon.

Combine the balanced offense with a consistent defense and the Broncos may be climbing their way quietly into BCS contention.

A win at Autzen Stadium is looking good right now.

Fresno State will come play on the smurf turf the last game of the season in what may prove to be Boise State's toughest test. Then again, is there really a tough test on the smurf turf?

Between now and then the Broncos should take care of business. Hawaii, San Jose State, Nevada and New Mexico State could come out of the woodwork to ruin an otherwise magical season, but none of these teams are anything special.

The Broncos have two best friends: BYU and TCU.

Chances to get in: Very Good to Very Great

OTHERS

BYU: Their hopes may very well have gone up in flames against TCU, but they could win out and get some help to get back in the door. Style points matter.

TCU:- A decisive win against BYU looks good. Win out in impressive fashion and, with help, they could sneak in the back door. A loss against OU is nothing too shocking or demeaning, but a loss is a loss. Style points matter.

Chances to get in: Poor to Very Poor

This Week is Make-or-Break Time for the BYU Cougars

Andrew Perkins — Tue, 14 Oct 2008 09:45:19 -0400

Two weeks off, two weeks on...that's how it has seemed to go for the Cougars this football season.

Two average games to start the season, two mind-blowing shutouts after that, and two head-scratching snoozefests after that.

But with games remaining at TCU, at Air Force, and at Utah, BYU can ill-afford to continue to play inconsistent football.

The fun all starts two days from now against TCU in Fort Worth.

One can only guess how bloodthirsty the nation's best defense will be when the ninth-ranked team in the nation comes calling.

Other than a 35-10 loss to Oklahoma, the Horned Frogs have given up 45 points in six games. My trusty calculator tells me that's 7.5 points per game. My trusty football brain tells me that's pretty good, no matter who you've played.

This much is sure, however—TCU will need to balance out its offense to win. Current starting quarterback Marcus Jackson can do some wonderful things with his feet, but his arm is average at best. Previous starter Andy Dalton, who has missed the last two games with an injury, is in the same mold as Jackson—good runner, OK passer. Both have done enough through the air to put wins on the board, but they'll need just a little more to keep the underrated Cougars' defense off balance and on the field.

Who will win? That's anybody's guess. TCU definitely has the defensive talent to give BYU quarterback Max Hall fits. Then again, Hall and his trio of wide receiver Michael Reed, tight end Dennis Pitta, and wideout Austin Collie may follow the example of the Sooners and rack up some frequent flyer miles at the expense of the Horned Frogs' defense.

You know what you'll get from TCU—great defense and a relentless running attack.

But the problem is you don't know what you'll get from BYU. Will it be the team that got penalized for 123 yards against Utah State? Will it be the team that put the ball on the floor four times against Northern Iowa? Or will it be the team that hung 521 yards on UCLA and came away plus-six in the turnover battle against Wyoming?

If the Cougars have any hope of remaining in the top 10, or even top 15, they need a win. If they have any hope of climbing higher in the polls, they need a decisive win.

The only question is: What BYU team will show up?

Tim Donaghy's Dark Legacy Looms as NBA Playoffs Continue

Andrew Perkins — Sat, 17 May 2008 06:18:26 -0400

After the lock out, it was tough to get into basketball.

Jordan was on the decline and smack dab in the middle of retiring and un-retiring. Magic and Larry were history. And guys like Reggie Miller, Karl Malone, Hakeem Olajuwon, and David Robinson were aging, and just couldn't carry the sport.

Shaq and Kobe may have been the saving grace of the NBA.

Scores were down. Mike Fratello had just finished running the Cavs into the hole that LeBron James found them in a few years later.

Big Poppa Kemp looked like he stashed a couple dozen apple fritters under his jersey.

The All-NBA Rookie Second Team included such tantalizing names as Michael Doleac and Michael Olowokandi.

But now...

Now it's different.

Kobe's playing his best basketball ever. Steve Nash is playing out of his mind. LeBron is amazing. Dwight Howard is a freak of nature (in an awesomely good way). And if you haven't watched CP3, you're missing out.

There is no shortage of star power. There is no shortage of excitement. There is no shortage of scoring (besides the Cavs/Celtics series).

By my account, the NBA is back and badder than ever.

With that in mind, I have watched more playoff basketball this year than I ever have before. And, although the road teams have been Hoovering it up, it's been quite enjoyable.

If the final minute of the Lakers-Jazz game Friday night didn't get your ticker going, I will pray for your basketball soul.

But, amidst all the excitement, I had a disturbing thought the other day.

I was pondering the fact that road teams had won, to that point, just one game in the second round. And then, do you know who popped into my head?

Tim Donaghy.

I was listening to the radio and the guys were talking about more foul shots being shot by the home team.

Tim Donaghy.

Why? For the love of George Mikan, why?

I had loads of exciting games in front of me and all I could think about was how much money some referee was going to make when a home team finally dropped one they were supposed to win.

Tim Donaghy.

Way to go, Timmy. I can, with confidence, say that you've tainted your profession.

Lucky for you, I love basketball. About five minutes after I had those abhorrent thoughts, I shoved them to the side and didn't let them out until now.

Go Cavs.

Go NBA.

NFLPA: Opposition to Pacman Jones' Deal Oozing With Hypocrisy

Andrew Perkins — Sat, 26 Apr 2008 18:17:44 -0400

It's quite simple.

All Adam "Pacman" Jones wants to do is play football.

And, much like every other football player on the planet, Jones wants to win a Super Bowl.

Two things. That's all. Football and a championship.

With that in mind, does it not make sense that Pacman would agree to give back a cool million to the Titans in order to suit up for the Cowboys?

He wants to play football with a contender. He made an agreement with the Titans to part with his bonus money. Simple, right?

Well, in comes the NFLPA...

An organization that loves to "come to the aid" of its members now wants to hang one to dry in order to save a couple million dollars for the rest.

Apparently it's about the "precedent" that the Jones deal would set.

Oh no! Owners could point to Pacman's situation and manipulate players into giving up their bonuses!

Honestly?

It'll be a bargaining chip for players, too. Give up a little cash to get traded to a better team? I'm sure a lot of guys wouldn't mind doing that.

I'm not even quite sure what precedent the Jones' deal would set.

All I know is that an organization that appealed to the NFL to get Pacman back on the field is now the one that apparently wants to dictate how he gets back on it.

What ever happened to freedom of choice? Doesn't the NFLPA dislike the personal conduct policy for that reason?

Confusing? Yes. Hypocritical? Possibly. Nonsensical? Definitely.

_________________________________________________________________

Looking into the conversation between the NFLPA and Pacman Jones...

"But wait, guys, you were the ones that wanted to get my suspension reduced? Don't you want me on the field?"

"I know, Pacman. Just not like that."

"Huh? I'm confused. Excuse me while I clear my head by making it rain across the street."

NBA Draft: Can't Wait For June 16!

Andrew Perkins — Thu, 24 Apr 2008 08:39:01 -0400

The 2008 version of the NBA Draft will take place on June 26.

I know.

But I'm looking forward to June 16.

Why? That's the deadline for early entry players to withdraw their names from the Draft.

Every day the ESPN ticker carries someone's name across the bottom of my TV screen—D.J. Augustin? OK. Brook Lopez? Fine. Beasley, Gordon, Rose, Love...duh.

But for all of those names that seem logical, two or three seem to pack a head-scratching punch.

The Trent Plaisteds, Robert Vadens, and A.J. Abrams of the world have come out in full force the past couple weeks.

Quite frankly, I'm tired of it. I just sit idly by on my couch, watching one of my team's better players declare for a Draft that might not appreciate them like I do.

Think about it, Memphis fans. Will NBA teams appreciate Antonio Anderson and Robert Dozier like you do? Gonzaga fans—can NBA execs really love Jeremy Pargo like you have?

To this I say NO!

So, Trent, Robert, A.J., Antonio, Robert, and all the rest of you who have stuck your toe to check the temp of the Draft pool, choose wisely. I know you want to follow your dreams. Do what you have to do. Find out your draft stock. I know that's why you guys haven't hired an agent yet.

But just remember the thousands of screaming fans who would love to cheer you to lottery greatness in a year's time.

This one's for all the college basketball fans who have been left behind by an above average player who gets pulled into the mesmerizing allure of the NBA Draft...

I can't wait for June 16.

Reviewing The October Prediction: Michigan State—2008 NCAA Champions

Andrew Perkins — Thu, 27 Mar 2008 13:52:01 -0400

Sometimes you just have to look back on things past and just laugh.

You know, like the time my voice cracked while reading The Diary of Anne Frank in my eigth grade Language Arts class.

Times like that.

So when I look back at what I blogged on October 30 of last year, I do have to chuckle a little bit. The prediction was made -- Michigan State would win the 2008 NCAA basketball championship. Granted, Michigan State did not tank it a la NC State. In fact, the Spartans still have a chance to win it all. But the preseason analysis looks nothing like the current situation that drives the Spartans. Shoot, I didn't even mention the fact that Tom Izzo is a great coach and a solid NCAA tournament coach.

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Michigan State -- 2008 NCAA Champions

In basketball, of course.

All those of you who thought I was talking about the MSU football team — you may want to lay off the good stuff.

The basketball team is the real title contender in Spartan land.

Is there anybody you would rather have leading your team than senior guard Drew Neitzel? Granted, there are some solid point guards around the nation. But Neitzel almost single handedly carried the Spartans through the Big 10 and into the national tournament last year. And with most of the team returning and a couple fresh faces expected to contribute, you have to believe things will open up for Neitzel to cause even more headaches for opposing defenses.

Idong Ibok, Goran Suton, Marquise Gray, and Drew Naymick all return along the front line. Add in redshirt freshman 7 footer Tom Herzog (think Shawn Bradley in college), and the frontline should be a typical rough and tumble Spartan frontline. Forward Raymar Morgan, listed on the pre-season Naismith watch list alongside Neitzel, should prove to be a handful for opposing defenses. Freshmen guards Durrell Summers and Chris Allen are expected to produce. And we know Tom Izzo is not afraid of getting freshmen in the mix.

A few good fresh faces added among a roster full of experienced players? That’s a recipe for success.

And that’s why Michigan State should battle their way through the Big 10, feast upon an average non-conference schedule, and make a run to glory in the tournament.

Link

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I'm not even sure Tom Herzog exists any more. ESPN says he's played 68 minutes this year. I'll believe them.

Idong Ibok has been about as non-existant as Herzog.

Marquise Gray has seen decreased minutes as the year has progressed.

And the fabulous freshman this year hasn't been Summers. It hasn't been Allen, either. It's been Kalin Lucas.

Fortunately, Goran Suton has been very solid in the middle with averages of 8.7 points and 8.2 rebounds.

I do admit that the analysis has proved itself to be somewhat shaky.

But the Spartans are still in the mix!

Rick Majerus' Offensive Comments Overshadowed by March Madness

Andrew Perkins — Thu, 20 Mar 2008 10:11:17 -0400

Last year, Don Imus made inappropriate, and racially driven remarks towards the Rutgers Women’s Basketball team. After a long, drawn-out battle, Imus was released by his employers and rightfully so.

You are certainly entitled to your own remarks, just as your employer is entitled to fire you for misrepresenting them, and their company.

Fast forward to now. Once legendary head coach Rick Majerus was on the syndicated Dan Patrick Show, giving his picks for the first round matchups in the upcoming NCAA Tournament.

When asked about the game between BYU and Texas A&M, Mr. Majerus said, “I don’t like BYU from my Utah days. You know, Mitt and magic underwear and all those guys.” Patrick moved on. He was most likely trying to save his tail. Majerus later made another comment saying something to the effect of their magic underwear won’t save BYU.

The magic underwear that Majerus was referring to is the Mormon belief in what is referred to as the holy garment. Not much is known in the mainstream world about the garment because it is a sacred belief, too sacred to be paraded around, and definitely too sacred to be referred to as 'magic underwear.'

Majerus coached in Utah. No doubt he was familiar with the heavy Latter-Day Saint (Mormon) population. That certainly does not make him an expert in Mormonism, but it does not give him justification for making those comments.

Whether or not he has any love towards Mormons is not the issue. The issue is that Majerus said something that is discriminatory and disrespectful to a specific group of people. Nobody would like it if Majerus said something of that nature about those who are, for example, Jewish.

We wouldn't put up with it if he had said something discriminatory against a specific race.

So why no outcry?

Maybe March Madness casts too big a shadow on all other college basketball happenings. Maybe the offensive reference to Mormonism was not very recognizable to the mainstream world or maybe it's just a double standard.

No matter the reason, his words remain inexcusable and insensitive.

If we would have a negative reaction towards something said against other groups and minorities, it would make sense to react to this.

Think for a moment.

What would you do if someone, like Majerus, made a comment about your race or your religion? I’m guessing you would have that same reaction. You may even call for the termination of that person.

Saint Louis University, nobody can blame you for Majerus’ comments. You probably don’t like his remarks either.

If you recall, not too long ago, his stance on pro-choice versus pro-life called him into question.

Granted, his personal beliefs are his beliefs. He was honest. But he has to realize that he was a proclaimed Catholic on a national stage. At all times he has a responsibility to not only represent himself but also the organizations he belongs to.

He has misrepresented the Catholic Church on at least one occasion. And now he has mocked an very sacred belief of the Latter-day Saints.

In both of those situations, by association, he has shed bad light upon SLU.

Saint Louis, you need to do the right thing and let him go. If not, he will just continue drag you down with his penchant for negative public appearances.

We live in a time when such bigotry and prejudice should not exist.

Saint Louis University needs to take action. If not, they will do their institution a disservice by idly allowing his public insensitivity to continue.

*A thanks for content goes to Taylor Summers from www.collegesportspro.com*

NCAA Tournament Thoughts: Selection Sunday Fallout

Andrew Perkins — Sun, 16 Mar 2008 19:25:25 -0400

Is everybody done bowing at the feet of Psycho T for hitting a midrange jumper against Virginia Tech? He wasn't even the real hero on that play. And he celebrates very awkwardly, too...

At any rate, Danny Green is the man that the world should be congratulating. If he had not gone up against two defenders and tipped the ball away, Hansbrough would have never picked up the loose ball.

But I guess that's how it is these days: Hitting the offensive glass just isn't as sexy as hitting the game winning shot.

Georgia? Are you serious? When is the last time a big-time conference tournament winner has been seeded in the double digits? Speaking of a conference...

The SEC gets six teams in and the ACC gets four? Does the whole Georgia thing not wave a red flag in your face?

I wonder if BYU gets shafted when it comes to seeding because they don't play on Sundays. Does it become a "fit them in a spot that is convenient yet good enough for government work" situation?

Many could argue that the Cougars deserved at least a No. 7 seed.

According to VaTech coach Seth Greenberg, "...If you don't think this team is one of the top 65 teams in the country, you're certifiably insane..."

There you have it! The NCAA Tournament Selection Committee is certifiably insane!

I'm not going to lie. I'm intrigued by the NIT. First and foremost, it's got my Buckeyes, my Zips, and my Vikings. The NIT also has a lot of teams that have done some damage this season, but have been known to flop.

Hopefully they will all play well.

Plus, if I can see 7'7" Kenny George lumber down the floor just one more time, I'll be able to die a happy man.

I hereby contend that South Alabama wouldn't have even smelled the Big Dance without the win against Mississippi State.

There are a lot of teams that lack a quality win away from home. Vandy is one of them. Kentucky is another one.

The first round matchup between USC and Kansas State should be a show to behold. I'd go if I could. But I don't have that cash.

De La Hoya vs. Mayweather.

Liddell vs. Ortiz.

Beasley vs. Mayo.

The 7-10 match ups look wonderful. All four could go any which way.

I'm standing behind Michigan State as the darkhorse contender. Tom Izzo is a genius. Drew Neitzel is dangerous.

I'd take St. Mary's at a nine and drop Oregon to a 10. In fact, I'm not too impressed with the Ducks' resume. But that's something I just noticed—a story for another day.

I'm out like a Kelvin Sampson phone that can only get one bar in the middle of Indiana.

Conference Tournaments Present the Home Court Advantage

Andrew Perkins — Mon, 10 Mar 2008 20:47:50 -0400

Is it any wonder that the San Diego Toreros punched their ticket to the Big Dance? Will college basketball fans be shocked if the UNLV Rebels win the Mountain West tournament again? If the New Mexico State Aggies run the table this week, will anyone be surprised?

No.

Was it a shocker that South Alabama flopped against Middle Tennessee?

Yes.

Why?

Because all these teams had or will have the opportunity to play on their home court for the most important games of the season.

It's all a set up that just doesn't make sense. If a trip to the best thing March has ever seen rides on these games, why give an advantage to a certain team?

A lot of conferences run a tournament with home games being played at the higher seed's house. Makes sense.

A lot of conferences run a tournament on a neutral floor. Makes sense.

A couple conferences use a combination of the two. That's fine.

The Big South had one round in Asheville with the other two rounds determined by the higher seed. That's fine, too.

But a whole tournament on the home floor of a second or third place team is a recipe for tournament disaster. Do you really want to risk giving an automatic bid to somebody with a mediocre resume that strings a couple wins together on their home court?

What might teams like Syracuse or Baylor, who play in two brutal conferences, say if they get bumped out of the field?

Yes, I am bitter that my BYU Cougars will have to play at the Thomas and Mack Center, no matter how many screaming fans will show up in blue and white. Yes, I am bitter that San Diego will occupy a spot in the field of 65 that would be better occupied by a team that could actually get out of the first round. I'm a fan, I'm allowed to be bitter.

There are three options. Make it a fair fight by setting up shop at a neutral site. Make it a fair fight by shifting locations. Or make it fair and play the games at the higher seed.

Until then, just let me be bitter.

NCAA Bubble Confusion: This Week's Winners and Losers

Andrew Perkins — Sun, 09 Mar 2008 17:37:12 -0400

We thought we had it all figured out. Syracuse and Ohio State were destined to go to the NIT. VCU was supposed to make an easy run to the CAA tournament final. And UConn was well on its way to a very high seed.

Somewhere along the way Syracuse beat Marquette, Ohio State beat Purdue and Michigan State, VCU lost to Willam and Mary, and UConn decided Providence would be a good team to lose to.

So it's back to the drawing board...

Let's take a look at how things stand around the nation.

Virginia Commonwealth won the CAA by three games with a 15-3 conference record. Sometimes, though, it's not how many you lose, but who you lose to.

In this case, the Rams may be on the outside looking in on Selection Sunday. With Sunday's loss to William and Mary, VCU has four losses against opponents with an RPI ranking higher than 132. One of those losses came against number 221 James Madison. Had the Rams beaten Miami or Arkansas early in the season, we may be singing a different tune right now. But their quality wins include Akron, Maryland, and Houston. None of those teams are higher than a 67 RPI ranking.

So, VCU sits right now with their 151st ranked schedule, a CAA regular season title and a number 57 RPI. But speaking of Maryland...

Do those guys WANT to play in the NIT? All they had to do one week ago was hold on to a big lead against Clemson at home. That didn't happen. This week they needed to beat one of the teams at the bottom of the ACC. That didn't happen either.

They are really lucky that neither Miami nor Virginia Tech won their respective games this weekend. Otherwise you could kiss any and all at-large hopes goodbye. The Terps still need a couple wins in the ACC tournament to have a chance. The win against UNC looks great, but there's not much else to Maryland's resume.

The resume builder of the week award goes to Ohio State. The same team that laid an egg in the barn against Minnesota went toe-to-toe with Purdue and Michigan State. In both games the Buckeyes trailed late in the game, but they pulled out two wins and a renewed sense of hope.

Heading into the Big Ten tournament they have 19 wins and a 10-8 conference record. Being number 47 in the RPI isn't bad, but Ohio State will definitely need a win or two this week to feel good about any at-large hopes. The demise of Maryland, Virginia Tech, and VCU definitely helps out every other team who is on the bubble. Who would have thought that the ACC could be a three-bid league while the Big Ten could get in five?

Davidson cannot be denied. They may have started out rough in non-conference play, but the Wildcats are now winners of 21 straight going into Monday night's championship game against Elon. Of all 25 wins, Davidson has won only four of those by single digits. They have no wins against teams in the top 100 of the RPI, but you can't ignore the way the Wildcats have dominated the SoCon.

Other winners...

Kent State beat Miami (OH) and Akron to lock up first place in the MAC. They'll most likely be dancing.

Oklahoma beat rival Oklahoma State in Stillwater without Blake Griffin. With Griffin back in the line up, the Sooners took care of Missouri to all but lock up a ticket to the Big Dance.

BYU moved into lock status this week with two wins and an outright Mountain West title.

Other losers...

UConn was in a virtual tie for first place in the Big East two weeks ago. After a loss to Providence on Saturday the Huskies ended the season in fourth place.

Stanford and Cal both got hosed over on controversial calls against UCLA. Stanford could have used a quality win. Cal could have used a win, period.

College Basketball Notes: Tournament Hopes, Conference Races

Andrew Perkins — Sun, 02 Mar 2008 06:17:51 -0500

Congratulations are in order for Ivy League champion Cornell, the first team to punch its ticket to the Big Dance. With the long-time dominance of Penn and Princeton it must have felt good for the Big Red to bust through and grab the crown. It must feel even better to be 12-0 in Ivy League play.

Anybody notice UNC Asheville lately? They'll play Tuesday for first place in the Big South. What's more important is that big man Kenny George is back and badder than ever.

During the five game stretch in which George played a total of 11 minutes, the Bulldogs went 1-4 and dropped behind Winthrop in the standings. He's averaged 19 minutes, 14 points and five rebounds in three games since then. And we all know that the attention his 7'7" frame commands is just about as important as the stats he puts up.

Ho hum... Davidson went 20-0 in conference play... and they won 16 of those games by double digit margins... why is this team still on the bubble?

Which school would you rather visit for an away match-up this time of year—St. Mary's or Bowling Green? Apparently, Kent State prefers St. Mary's. How the Golden Flashes managed to follow up last week's Bracket Buster surprise with a loss to a mediocre MAC team, I do not know.

Kentucky is up 44-43 against Tennessee as I type this sentence. If they keep it close or win it and you've got to love the Wildcats' tournament hopes. Could the committee put in Vandy or Florida or Arkansas over Kentucky? Of course, the Wildcats need to take care of business against South Carolina and Florida to make this a relevant argument. It might help to win some in the SEC tournament, too.

Drake lost their three conference games by an average of less than three points. People might just see the number of losses getting higher and start to pass judgment, but I've got a feeling that those three games were good for the Bulldogs.

Is it just me or does Bruce Pearl have the face of a WWE superstar?

The guys on ABC mentioned this yesterday: UNC may be a better team because of Ty Lawson's ankle injury. I would tend to agree with that. Guard Quentin Thomas was thrust into a sea of minutes and he's turned into somewhat of an assist machine. Now, Roy Williams doesn't have to worry so much about hurrying Lawson back into the line up. On top of that, the Tar Heels will have a back-up PG with significant minutes under his belt come tournament time. That means no rest for opposing defenses.

I'm still waiting for Vandy's signature road win...

I would implore everyone not to sleep on Michigan State. Tom Izzo is too good of a coach to let Drew Neitzel and the crew stay in this late season funk.

Ohio State is done. A decisive loss to Minnesota in Minneapolis sealed the Buckeyes' at-large hopes. Do they have the firepower to make a Big 10 tournament run? Nah, probably not. Unless, of course, Jon Diebler decides to play like the big-time freshman he was supposed to be.

Wow. I was hoping for an OT, but Tennessee escaped with the win today. I still like Kentucky's tournament chances. They're still third place in the conference.

I'm out like Michael Beasley in June.

Calm Down, Commodores: Vanderbilt's Upset Isn't Worth the Hype

Andrew Perkins — Wed, 27 Feb 2008 06:49:34 -0500

The Vanderbilt Commodores ruled the world for a night. May we all give propers where propers are due. They deserve a pat on the back, a very complimentary article churned out by a local AP journalist and a good jump in the RPI.

But do they really deserve the "Wow! They're a force to be reckoned with!" treatment?

With a 17-0 home court record going into the game, was anyone surprised that the Commodores won?

Not me.

Here is the problem: Is last night's Vanderbilt team a different team than the one that lost to Florida and Mississippi by an average of 19 points? Does a seven game winning streak with a cherry-on-top win over Tennessee warrant an uproar? It's all up for debate.

Let's break it down...

Vandy played true road games twice in non-conference play. They beat DePaul by six in overtime and Toledo by seven. Impressed?

They've also played six conference road games. In those games, they have a record of 2-4. The four losses have come by an average of 16 points. The two wins? An eight-pointer at Georgia and a one-point surviving at South Carolina. Impressed?

The Commodores' schedule also lacks an away date against Mississippi State and a home date with Arkansas. Although, judging by the way Vandy plays at home, the Razorbacks probably wouldn't win. Let's be honest though: They'd give Vandy a tougher game than Memorial Gym victims LSU and Georgia.

But would the Commodores beat the Bulldogs in Starkville? If you can't answer that question, then you might not want to get too excited about Vandy's win against Tennessee.

When it comes down to games away from Nashville, Vandy hasn't shown they can throw down with good teams. They may be able to win one or two in the SEC tournament. They may be able to win one or two in the Big Dance. They are a good team. They've got a great 1-2 punch with Shan Foster and A.J. Ogilvy. But are they ready for and deserving of a spot in the national spotlight?

My jury is still out until Saturday, when Vandy heads to Fayeteville. If they capture their first road win against a team with a record on the positive side of .500, then we'll take this conversation from there.

Jockeying for Mountain West Tournament Position Starts Tonight

Andrew Perkins — Tue, 26 Feb 2008 09:52:25 -0500

Two weeks remain until the start of the Mountain West Conference Tournament in Las Vegas and the race for favorable position is on.

BYU currently sits in the driver's seat with a 10-2 conference record, but UNLV, New Mexico, San Diego State, Utah, Air Force and TCU are all lined up like third graders in a drinking fountain line. And, much like those lines, everyone's looking to elbow and push their way to the front.

Need a visual?

BYU 10-2

UNLV 9-3

New Mexico 9-4

SDSU 8-5

Utah 6-6

Air Force 6-7

TCU 5-7

Wyoming 3-10

Colorado State 0-12

Tonight starts the rumble for seeding in the conference tournament as BYU takes on New Mexico in the Pit and San Diego State faces off against UNLV. Tomorrow, Utah takes on TCU. On Saturday everyone except for New Mexico throws down.

If I were a betting man, I'd say that the current standings won't remain the same for long.

New Mexico has the most favorable schedule of the bunch. With three games to play, they host BYU tonight and have a week to rest before they host UNLV. They then conclude the season away from home against a bumbling Colorado State squad.

Utah's rough conference season will come to an end with three of four games on the road. If there is any squad that deserves some wins down the stretch, it's the Utes. After a difficult season last year and a coaching change, the Runnin Utes have played surprisingly well. Even though they only stand at 15-10 right now, they've lost two games in OT and five games by five points or fewer.

The one team that should feel comfortable no matter what is UNLV. They haven't lost a conference game in Las Vegas since February 16, 2006. That's two years, including last year's MWC tournament. Of course, an at-large bid is nice to fall back on if you can't get it done in the conference tournament, but the Rebels will have a talented team and a homecourt advantage when March 11 rolls around. That definitely worked in their favor last year.

The one team that would LOVE to host the conference tournament is BYU. But I guess that wouldn't be fair to have a host with a 45 game home-winning streak. The Cougars' toughest test left is tonight's tilt at the Pit. Wins at home against Air Force and Wyoming will most likely happen and a visit to TCU is a very manageable quest.

It's a good time to be a Mountain West fan, my friends. Let the carnage begin!

The Verizon Guy and Kelvin Sampson: Long Lost Twins

Andrew Perkins — Mon, 25 Feb 2008 06:48:15 -0500

You've probably seen a nice picture of Kelvin Sampson floating around the internet—so far I've seen it on thermocaster.com and sportsyenta.blogspot.com, and it's from boilersports.com.

If you take a look at the picture, he looks like a slightly heavier version of the Verizon guy, doesn't it?

Close enough for me.

And the whole cell phone thing makes the long lost twins argument all the more believable.

Oh no I didn't. Oh yes I did.

While we're at it... I've noticed some other long lost twins that need to be reunited...

Katie Couric and Steve Nash

Similar hair styles. Couric made the wrong career move from NBC to CBS and Nash made the wrong one from Dallas to Phoenix.

Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson and Barack Obama

Even their voices sound eerily similar. Wouldn't it be great to hear a big, loud "If you can smeeeeeeeeeell... what the Barack... is cookin!"

Or maybe a "Hillary, what do you think about the economy? It doesn't matter what you think!"

For all the pictures go to http://www.collegesportspro.com/blog/?p=902

Mid-Major Power Rankings 2/24

Andrew Perkins — Sun, 24 Feb 2008 21:58:41 -0500

Mid-Major Power Rankings presented by collegesportspro.com

*In this case, mid-majors are classified as teams from a conference that traditionally sends no more than two teams to the NCAA tournament. Gonzaga, Butler and Memphis have been excluded due to their repeated tournament success.*

#1 Xavier 12-1 (24-4) — Atlantic 10

Player to Watch G Drew Lavender, 11.3 ppg 4.5 apg

The Musketeers are separating themselves from the A 10 pack and asserting themselves on a national stage with every passing day. Keep this up for a couple more years, and they’ll be elevated to Memphis, Gonzaga and Butler status. They’re a well oiled machine that will make waves in March.

#2 Davidson 18-0 (21-6) — Southern Conference

Player to Watch G Stephen Curry 25.3 ppg, 4.8 rpg, 2.9 apg

The Wildcats had a very tough non-conference schedule that worked against them in the form of a 4-6 record. Losses against Charlotte and Western Michigan will probably be held against them on Selection Sunday. But going undefeated in any conference says volumes about a team. The experience of competing with UCLA, Duke and UNC has served them well and will help if they stay strong and make the tournament. It’s amazing that a team who could go undefeated in conference play is being discussed as a bubble team. If only they had beat the Broncos and 49ers.

#3 Drake 14-2 (24-3) — Missouri Valley

Player to Watch G Josh Young 16.5 ppg

Beating Butler in Indianapolis is just what the doctor ordered for the Bulldogs. They now have a very large win away from home to go along with an impressive resume. They also quickly stopped the bleeding caused by a home loss against Bradley earlier in the week. With two games to play, Drake has the MVC regular season locked up and an at-large bid on ice. Interesting note: the Bulldogs have not won a game by more than 10 points since January 12. It will be very interesting to see how the strangers to the national spotlight stack up come tournament time.

#4 Kent State 11-2 (23-5) — MAC

Player to Watch G Al Fisher 14.4 ppg, 4.3 apg, 3.8 rpg

The Golden Flashes jump into the 4 spot after a big win at St. Mary’s on Saturday — a place no other team has won this year. Al Fisher has become a solid scorer for the Flashes as the year has progressed, raising his average from 11 ppg to 14.4 ppg in the last 12 games. They go 9 or 10 deep, which is a must for a team with less star power looking to make some national waves.

#5 (tie) BYU 10-2 (21-6) — Mountain West

Player to Watch G/F Lee Cummard 16.2 ppg, 6.4 rpg, 3.2 apg

The Cougars were riding a 9 game winning streak heading into the weekend but got knocked back to earth by San Diego State. Big man Trent Plaisted had a rough game in which he failed to get to the line for the first time in his career. The Cougars face another tough test at New Mexico on Tuesday. The continued development of BYU’s young bench will be key in the stretch run. Freshmen Jimmer Fredette, Chris Collinsworth and Mike Loyd, Jr. and Sophomore Chris Miles have all shown signs of promise. They just need to consistently produce at a high level when guys like Cummard and Plaisted are on the bench or having an off night.

#5 (tie) St. Mary’s 10-1 (23-4) — West Coast

Player to Watch G Patrick Mills 14.8 ppg, 3.5 apg

To the Gaels’ credit, C Omar Samhan was limited to 8 minutes in Saturday’s match up with Kent State. Unfortunately, a loss is still a loss and the Gaels will need to regroup quickly as they take on San Diego on Monday night. The loss of Samhan means F Diamon Simpson has to shoulder a wider load down low. Patrick Mills has to shake off a bad outing against the Flashes and reassert himself as the scorer and creator that he is. This week will be huge for the Gaels as they have a chance to knock off both San Diego and Gonzaga on their way to a WCC title. Will that happen? I give them at least 1-1. The loss of Samhan hurts, but they’ve still got a load of talent that can step up and win ball games.

Teams on Watch
UAB
South Alabama
VCU
Houston

Kentucky's Demise Greatly Exaggerated After Vanderbilt Loss

Andrew Perkins — Sun, 24 Feb 2008 15:31:49 -0500

By a show of hands, who had the Kentucky Wildcats left for dead after their 41-point beating at the hands of Vandy?

Shame on you.

It’s interesting how a team that had won five straight games, which included a win over Tennessee and two road rumbles, had been hated so much after one horrible game against an extremely dominant home-court team in Vandy.

I wanted to make a point of that right after the game, but I couldn’t. The waves of hateration were too strong, too intimidating. I couldn’t step out and, as an unbiased third-party observer with no interest in Wildcat well being whatsoever, let the world know they shouldn’t give up on Gillispie and Co.

Now, as of this moment, Kentucky has won eight of its last nine. After a dismal 7-9 start, the ’Cats have a 15-10 overall record and sit in second place in the SEC East behind No. 1 Tennessee. Let it be known they have not lost a conference game in Rupp Arena.

While we all want to vilify them because of losses at home to Gardner Webb and San Diego, should we not also praise them for wins against Tennessee, Vanderbilt, and Arkansas?

Right now, the Wildcats are 65th in RPI with a 14th-ranked SOS. The selection committee loves hot teams, and who’s to say that Kentucky won’t win three of its last four? Combine that with a win or two in the SEC Tournament and they would be a very tempting option.

That would put them somewhere around 19 or 20-12 with probably higher than a 50 RPI and a great SOS. And, they’d have won 12 of 15 or 13 of 16 to end the year.

Add this into account: The big three of Patterson, Bradley, and Crawford have missed one game apiece. Role players Perry Stevenson and Mark Coury are the only two guys who have played in all 25 games. After them, the most games played by a single player are 21, followed by 19, 16, 14, and 11.

Add that to the whole Alex Legion mess, and the fact that Kentucky is still in discussion seems very logical now.

I understand the Vandy smackdown was bad, but let’s not count the Wildcats out just yet.