Bleacher Report - Articles by Shay Cronin

Ziggin' and Zaggin': Disappointing Draft For Several Zags

Shay Cronin — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 00:47:49 -0400

At the beginning of the night, four Gonzaga players had hopes of hearing their name called in tonight's NBA Draft. When the Heat selected Memphis F Robert Dozier as the last pick in this year's player selection meeting, only one Zag had an NBA home.

Austin Daye, who in recent days was labeled by many experts as the player in the draft with the most "bust potential," ended up getting drafted exactly where many people had him from the beginning: No. 15 to the Detroit Pistons.

The Pistons will probably limit Daye's minutes over the next few years while they try to build his game up, both physically and mentally. If Daye listens and commits himself to improving his game, he may end up being an important part of the Pistons rebuilding process.

Jeremy Pargo, once considered a potential first round pick, had seen his stock rise somewhat over the last week after he impressed in some last minute workouts. Particularly, the Utah Jazz seemed to show interest in the former Zag. Unfortunately for Pargo, that did not materialize. Don't count out Pargo though, his brother Jannero began his professional career as an undrafted free agent before going on to playing several seasons in the NBA.

Micah Downs was probably never a serious option for many teams tonight. Though Downs was a solid player for the Zags, he lacked the complete game, one great skill, or enormous upside that often merits a draft selection. Downs is good enough to keep playing basketball at the professional level, but his NBA prospects don't seem great right now.

The night was probably most disappointing for Josh Heytvelt. Heytvelt was seen by many as a near-lock to hear his name called at some point tonight. Some even thought he could sneak into the late first round. Team after team passed on Heytvelt, and like Pargo and Downs, Josh will have to pursue his professional career by other means in order to keep his NBA hopes alive.

All in all, tonight's draft was a little disappointing for Zags fans. Pargo and Downs didn't have great draft prospects, but there was still a hope that they could sneak into the mid-to-late second round. The complete absence of Heytvelt from the draftees is surprising.

However, Daye did hear his name called in the first half of the first round, making him the third Zag this decade to be a first round selection. While the night was disappointing for the majority of the Zags with NBA hopes, at least one of them knows that he has an NBA future beginning this fall.

Ziggin' and Zaggin': Where Will Former Zags Fall in NBA Draft?

Shay Cronin — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 01:21:21 -0400

With the NBA Draft just three days away, and this being the last Ziggin' and Zaggin' before Thursday's selections, it is a perfect time to look at where Gonzaga's four pro prospects—Austin Daye, Josh Heytvelt, Micah Downs, and Jeremy Pargo—may hear their names called.

Austin Daye

Daye's decision to remain in the NBA draft has been one of the most scrutinized by college and pro experts alike.

Poor numbers at the combine and an inconsistent Gonzaga career has left Daye with far more question marks than many of the first round prospects, while a solid junior season in Spokane would have likely cemented a lottery pick for Daye.

But, Daye's decision has been made, and come Thursday he will hear his name called by a team.

Where he hears his name called is a whole other matter.

The consensus seems to be that if Daye isn't drafted by Detroit at 14, he could be in for a long wait. And, while the Pistons—who are looking to inject some youth and athleticism—would be a great fit for Austin, it's tough to see him falling too far if he gets past Detroit.

In fact, the four teams drafting after Detroit—Chicago, Philadelphia, Minnesota, and Atlanta—would all likely give him a long hard look.

At the end of the day though, look for the Pistons to take Daye with the 15th pick and stash him away for a few years while they try to develop him into the top flight player he never could reach at Gonzaga.

Josh Heytvelt

Heytvelt's career has come a long way in a just a few years.

After dominating UNC and Tyler Hansbrough in the 2006 Preseason NIT, Heytvelt seemed poised to become one of the top stars in Zags' history.

However, off the court problems and injuries constantly derailed Heytvelt's progress, and it wasn't until this past season that he seemed to put it all back together.

Heytvelt isn't an elite talent; he doesn't dazzle or amaze, but he is a solid player that is more than capable of giving a team a boost of energy and a few big plays every game.

His stock has been quietly on the rise over the past few weeks. Like Hansbrough, Heytvelt has seen a bump due to teams looking for solid players and not huge upside guys.

That in mind, Heytvelt would be a perfect selection for a team in the late first round. Those picks, the 25-30 range, are not coveted by teams as they have to guarantee a contract to a player that doesn't necessarily merit it.

So, for a player like Heytvelt—who doesn't look like a star, but doesn't look like a mega bust either—that is a perfect range for him to fall into.

Look for the Minnesota Timberwolves—with the 28th pick in the draft, and their third in the first round—to take Heytvelt and use him as a 10-15 minutes a game kind of guy, subbing in for Al Jefferson and Kevin Love.

Micah Downs

Downs, like Heytvelt to a lesser extent, had much of his college career defined by off the court decisions. Downs was a top-rated prospect who, after less than a semester at the University of Kansas, decided to transfer back home and attend Gonzaga.

That move was criticized by many, including Downs' father, and made Micah a bigger name in college circles than his play ever indicated.

Downs never grew into the star many had hoped he would be for the Bulldogs, but he found his niche as a solid role player. That label, a role player, is Downs' greatest asset and biggest hindrance as a draft prospect.

Teams that are looking for a second round pick that can contribute will look at Downs, but teams that are looking for a second round gem that can become an all-star won't give him the time of day.

Downs' professional career is likely in the NBDL or Europe, but, if he does get selected, look for it to be at either the 55 or 56 slots. Both of those selections are held by the Portland Trailblazers, a team that has had an up close look at Downs for the past few seasons.

The Blazers have built a solid foundation of young, all-star talent, and are probably looking for the few role players that can push them into Western Conference contention.

A role that Downs could certainly fill.

Jeremy Pargo

Pargo entered last season, his senior year, with a chance to lead one of the nation's top teams and make himself into a mid-first round pick in this year's draft.

Things didn't quite work out that way for Pargo, who struggled during a bad stretch of non-conference games for the Zagas, and subsequently lost many of his minutes and responsibilities to Matt Bouldin.

Pargo's draft status also fell significantly during the season. As mentioned, Jeremy had a chance to hear his name called in the first 30 picks if he had a good senior year, but, after a disappointing season, it could be a long Thursday night for the former Zag.

Unless a team has quietly fallen in love with Pargo during the draft process, and there seems to be no indication of that, Jeremy will likely have to follow his brother Jannero's path to the NBA—that of an undrafted free agent.

But, if Jeremy IS drafted on Thursday the smart money on his suitor would be the Utah Jazz at the No. 50 pick. The Jazz have been working Pargo out and, at the very least, seem to be interested, so that is one possible landing spot for Jeremy.

That's it for the draft prognostications, check back Thursday for a review of where the Zags ended up, and what it means for their pro futures.

Ziggin' and Zaggin': What Austin Daye's Departure Means for the Zags

Shay Cronin — Mon, 15 Jun 2009 23:02:34 -0400

With Austin Daye officially announcing what many have suspected for weeks, his decision to stay in the NBA Draft, it is as good a time as any to examine what his departure will mean for the '09-'10 Zags squad.

Daye's departure means that there will be even more pressure on Matt Bouldin to play well next year. With Daye gone, Bouldin will not only have to run the offense, but also be the star.

Had Austin returned, Bouldin could have run the plays while having a reliable scorer on the wing, but now that Daye has moved on, Bouldin will have to take some games over by himself.

The Zags also find themselves lacking in height now. With the top three returning players (Bouldin, Steven Gray, and Demetri Goodson) all guards, and center Robert Sacre more of a true center, the Zags are suddenly without the type of athletic wingman that has been a staple of the program for years.

Speaking of Sacre, he now had to fill the shoes of both the departing Daye and the graduating Josh Heytvelt. Coming off of a foot injury that cost him the '08-'09 season, the redshirt sophomore will have to come into his own quickly in order to make up for the productivity that the Zags are losing in those two players.

Steven Gray will need to find the deadly outside shooting that made him look like a future star his first year in Spokane. After falling off somewhat during his sophomore season, the Zags will be looking to Gray to stretch out the court now that the athletic Daye will not be around to.

Demetri Goodson should help Gray in stretching the floor. With Daye gone, Goodson is the most explosive player on the court and will likely draw a lot more attention from opposing defenses than he saw last year.

Incoming freshmen Sam Dower from Osseo, MN will likely be a beneficiary of Daye's departure. His 6'9" frame, and athletic play makes him the most likely candidate to pick up some of the slack from Daye.

A high number of minutes will be both a blessing and a burden for the young Dower who will likely go through a trial by fire this upcoming season.

The bottom line is that Austin Daye's decision to leave, while expected, leaves the Zags with a lot more question marks going into next year than they would have had if he returned.

The Zags still have one of the more talented teams in the country next year, and will be heavily favored to win another West Coast Conference title (especially since Saint Mary's guard Patty Mills has decided to stay in the draft), still Mark Few will have his work cut out for him next year.

Ziggin' and Zaggin': Best NBA Destinations For Austin Daye

Shay Cronin — Thu, 11 Jun 2009 23:19:01 -0400

Today's news that Gonzaga sophomore Austin Daye is likely to stay in the NBA Draft is the worst kept secret for Zags fans across the country.

For the past month or so, as Daye's stock has risen and seemingly cemented him as a first-round pick, it has become less and less likely the athletic Daye would be returning to Spokane for his junior year.

Instead of addressing what Daye's loss means to the Zags in 2009-'10—there will be plenty of time for that in the upcoming months—let's take a look at which NBA teams would be the best landing spots for the soon-to-be pro.

Minnesota Timberwolves

The Wolves probably wouldn't reach for him with the No. 6 pick in the draft (especially now that Kevin McHale isn't pulling the trigger), but Daye could make a great addition to Minny with one of their other first round picks.

Minnesota has a good, young inside duo with Al Jefferson and Kevin Love, but the team still lacks an athletic wing man who can stretch out the court and create space inside. Daye is a project, and it will likely take a few years before the team that drafts him reaps the reward, but the Wolves are a few years away from being relevant again, so maybe it is a perfect match.

New York Knicks

By all accounts the Knicks will be targeting Davidson guard Stephen Curry at the No. 8 spot. Still, Daye could be just as good a pickup for the high-intensity, quick Mike D'Antoni offense.

Daye played in a quick, full court offense under Mark Few, and an easy transition into the Knicks' offense might take a few years off of Daye's learning curve. It still would be surprising if the Knicks grabbed Daye so high, or passed over Stephen Curry to take him.

Detroit Pistons

The Pistons struck gold with Tayshaun Prince, a player who, like Daye, most scouts said would have difficulty transitioning to the NBA because of his slender frame. Who's to say they couldn't hit again with a Zag?

The big difference of course is that while Prince is a defensive specialist, Daye is a defensive liability. But with a pick smack-dab in the middle of the draft (15) and a team that could use a young, athletic player to provide a spark, the Pistons could do a lot worse than Daye.

Phoenix Suns

Steve Nash and Shaquille O'Neal are getting old, and Amare could use a decent running mate over the next few years (assuming he stays in Phoenix). Like the Knicks, Daye should have a quicker transition to the up-tempo Suns offense than he would a traditional pro offense.

Nash would definitely welcome anyone capable of running up and down the court. Plus, the Suns would keep Daye on the west coast and closer to home.

Atlanta Hawks

The Hawks are one of the most exciting young teams in the Eastern Conference and have a promising future if they can hang onto their young stars and keep moving forward.

That said, former second overall pick Marvin Williams is a restricted free agent this summer, and even though he has failed to live up to the lofty expectations put on him by his draft position, he remains one of the most intriguing young players in the league.

Any number of teams could take a chance on Williams and offer him a contract the Hawks might not want to match. So if Daye is available for Atlanta at the 19th pick, they would likely take a good hard look at him just in case Marvin splits.

Ziggin' and Zaggin': What Happened to Adam Morrison?

Shay Cronin — Thu, 04 Jun 2009 23:32:46 -0400

Three years ago Adam Morrison was one of the most sought-after players in basketball. If ever you needed an example of the all-too-rapid passage of time, let that be it.

Morrison, one of the greatest Zags in team history, was the third overall selection in the 2006 NBA Draft. Taken by the Charlotte Bobcats, the expectations for Morrison were increased even more by the fact that he was Michael Jordan's first draft choice in his front office role for the Bobcats.

With the seal of approval from MJ, there was no way that Morrison could fail, right?

Well, between then and now, Morrison has gone from one of the most hyped college players in recent memory to one of the greatest busts in NBA draft history.

People compared him to Larry Bird. Now he looks more like Big Bird (that is when the Lakers let him dress, which hasn't been often).

Morrison was supposed to become one of the most prolific scorers in the league. He's averaging just under nine points per game for his career, and that number is inflated by the high number of minutes and shots he got during his rookie season in Charlotte.

Now, the Adam Morrison/JJ Reddick matchup that fans so desperately wanted to see during their senior seasons at Gonzaga and Duke has come to fruition in the NBA Finals. A finals where neither player is likely to see any meaningful playing time, barring the rest of the team getting in a pileup on the 405.

So what happened to Adam?

The short answer would be that he simply isn't good enough to hack it in the NBA, but there are certainly a few other factors that have led the promising Adam Morrison of 2006 to become the Adam Morrison of 2009, who has been relegated off the bench and into the first row with a suit on.

The first explanation for Morrison's fall is that he was simply over-hyped in college.

Morrison and Reddick were a great story for college basketball. Two players from two of the top basketball programs in the country, competing back and forth to win the nation's scoring title, an honor usually reserved for a player you've never heard of, from a school you couldn't identify if you were placed in the student union.

It's easy to see why all the major sports networks and magazines would jump at the story. But looking back, all that did was inflate the publicity and press behind Morrison. Then, once people started comparing him to Larry Legend, Morrison was all but done.

Another reason for Morrison's professional failures is the GU system itself. Gonzaga runs a very high tempo offense and Morrison hasn't been able to adapt himself to the pro offense of the NBA.

I mean, if he couldn't handle what Charlotte was running, what are the chances that he catches on to Phil Jackson's offense?

Morrison also seems to lack the intensity and physicality that it takes to be successful in the NBA. (Perhaps that should be a warning to current Zag Austin Daye, who seems all but a sure thing to stay in this month's draft.)

Morrison has not as of yet been able to consistently get himself open and find decent shots. But he doesn't afford himself the opportunity to improve on the offensive end of the court because his liability as a defender makes him practically unplayable.

Still, Morrison is a young player and now that the expectations for his career have gone from impossibly high to reasonably low, maybe there's something there that can still be salvaged.

Given the right opportunity in the right system, maybe Morrison can find the form that once made him one of the most exciting players in college basketball.

But I'm not holding my breath.

Ziggin' and Zaggin': Five Games The Zags Should Schedule For 09-10

Shay Cronin — Tue, 02 Jun 2009 01:19:09 -0400

Unlike college football, where games and schedules are decided and agreed to years in advance, the college basketball scheduling process is much more fluid. Even though the Zags already have a difficult non-conference test with their participation in the Maui Invitational with Arizona, Cincinnati, Vanderbilt, and Wisconsin among others, the Zags are always in need of finding strong non-conference opponents to boost their RPI before the soft WCC schedule. With that, and some general curiosity in mind, here are the five teams I would most like to see the Zags schedule for 2009-2010.

Washington

This game has a lot more to do with the Huskies willingness to play it than the Zags. A couple of years ago, Lorenzo Romar and the UW athletic department decided that they would no longer schedule the Zags. This seems like a no-brainer for both teams. Washington currently has three solid basketball programs with the Huskies, Zags, and Washington State, and the first two teams are likely to enter next season as top 20 teams.

Long Beach State

A matchup between the Zags and 49ers would pit Mark Few against his predecessor, Dan Monson, who is now the head coach at LBSU. During Monson's tenure at Minnesota he never scheduled his former team, so it is unlikely that now with a larger gap in talent that he would try and take on GU. Still, a matchup between Few and Monson would draw more than enough interest to make up for the difference in talent.

Xavier

In recent years the Zags have scheduled Memphis ever year, and that game has served as a sort of de facto mid-major championship game. With the Tigers looking to be in a rebuilding phase, the Zags would be smart to schedule the Musketeers who are arguably the best mid-major going into 09-10. Xavier has been one of the most competitive March teams in the nation, having gone to the Elite 8 in 08, the Sweet Sixteen in 09, and coming within seconds of knocking off #1 Ohio State in the second round of the 2007 tournament. A mid-February game between these two teams would not only bring national attention to the teams, but help to get the squads prepared for the big dance.

USC

The Zags have faced off against pretty much every major west coast college basketball program over the last decade, but for whatever reason, the Zags and Trojans have yet to meet. The Trojans lose a lot of players, but Tim Floyd has done a great job of restocking the cabinets and keeping SC talented and competitive. A matchup between these two teams would be fast paced, high scoring, and just overall great tv.

Kentucky

This one might be a bit of a stretch considering that with all the talent UK is bringing in, and the incredible expectations that have been placed on the Wildcats and new coach John Calipari, you'd think just about every team in the country wouldn't mind getting a shot at the Cats. However, as mentioned before, the Zags have played a John Calipari-led Memphis team the last few season, maybe Calipari is willing to continue that trend. Even if the Cats won't travel up to Spokane, an early season visit to Lexington might be just the kind of test the Zags will be looking for to find a team identity.

Ziggin' and Zaggin': Top 5 West Coast Teams in 2009-2010

Shay Cronin — Fri, 29 May 2009 00:44:38 -0400

With a little bit of dead time in the college basketball world right now, I thought it was as good a time as any to give you my top five west coast teams heading into next year.

1) Cal Golden Bears

The Bears struggled somewhat in conference play last year, but with the three teams that finished ahead of them in the standings -- Washington, USC, Arizona State -- all having to overcome the loss of top players, Cal should be the Pac 10 favorite going into next season. With guards Patrick Christopher and Jerome Randle coming back, the Bears have the best backcourt on the west coast, and one of the top ones in the nation.

2) Gonzaga Bulldogs

The Zags have to overcome the loss of some key personnel with Josh Heytvelt, Jeremy Pargo, Micah Downs, and Austin Daye (probably) headed to the next level. However, the Zags return arguably their best player from last year, Matt Bouldin. Along with Steven Gray, Demetri Goodson, the return of injured Robert Sacre, and an exciting recruiting class, the Zags should once again be in the discussion for the best team out west.

3) Washington Huskies

UW is one of the tougher teams in the nation to peg. While they bring in freshmen Abdul Gaddy, arguably the nation's second best incoming point guard behind John Wall, the Huskies have to learn to live without Jon Brockman. Brockman was the heart and soul of the team, and it will be near impossible for Lorenzo Romar's squad to replace all that he did. Still, with Gaddy and Isaiah Thomas, the Huskies have a backcourt that can compete with Cal's. Although, we may never know how good the Huskies are until they get the courage to start scheduling in-state rival Gonzaga again.

4) San Diego State Aztecs

The Aztecs bring in Kawhi Leonard, a prospect who had his choice of schools across the country. Along with Malcolm Thomas, who is still expected to withdraw from the draft and go to SD State. Add to that a number of transfers who should be ready to play from the outset, and the Aztecs shouldn't have to worry about being on the bubble next year.

5) Nevada Wolfpack

New coach David Carter is walking into a pretty good situation. With young stars Luke Babbitt and Armon Johnson on the roster, the Wolfpack enter the season as the likely favorite to win the 09-10 WAC conference title. If Babbitt and Johnson keep progressing, Nevada may be able to look past the WAC title and onto loftier goals next year.

Ziggin' and Zaggin': Matt Bouldin Will Be The 09-10 WCC POY

Shay Cronin — Fri, 22 May 2009 21:45:33 -0400

As the Zags enter the 09-10 season, point guard Matt Bouldin looks to be the top player for GU. Here's five reasons why the senior-to-be will win the West Coast Conference's player of the year award next march.

1) He's The Unrivaled Starting Point Guard

With Jeremy Pargo leaving, Steven Gray firmly positioned as a two-guard, and Demetri Goodson not yet ready to take over the reigns of the offense, Bouldin will enter the season as the unquestioned starting point guard of the Zags. That means from March 28th of this year (the day after the Zags lost to UNC in the Sweet Sixteen) until the season tips off, Bouldin will be running the first team offense every day in practice. That means by November Bouldin should be more than comfortable in his role and be ready to take on the season. Plus, Zags starting pgs have in recent years been privileged to get some private tutoring from Zags and NBA great John Stockton, and I think everyone can agree that some pointers from one of the best to ever play the game can't hurt.

2) The Zags Offense Will Be Even Faster Paced in 09-10

With the loss of inside players Josh Heytvelt and Ira Brown, the Zags have lost a huge portion of what little inside game they had. That means that the offense will likely be even more up tempo, and conducive to huge numbers from the 1 spot. As long as Bouldin gets a firm grasp of the offense, and doesn't buckle under the pressure of being the top guy in the offense, he should have a chance to put up monster numbers next year.

3) Bouldin Has Come Into His Own

After struggling to find consistency in his first two years as a Zag, it all seemed to click last year for Bouldin. While Jeremy Pargo struggled midway through the non-conference slate, Bouldin was getting better each game. Bouldin finished the season with career highs in points, rebounds, assists, and a career low in turnover ratio. If he continues that trend next year, he could be one of the premiere point guards in not only the WCC, but the nation.

4) The WCC Has a Shortage of High Profile Players

Potential NBA stars Austin Daye from GU, and Patty Mills from St. Marys have both declared for the NBA Draft, and while both can still withdraw their names, many speculate they could both be mid-first round picks and thus, are likely to remain in the mix. Last year's POY, John Bryant from Santa Clara, has graduated. As have Zags stars Jeremy Pargo and Josh Heytvelt. That means that the West Coast Conference has lost a lot of top talent and marquee names. Bouldin may enter next year as the best pro prospect in the league, and the face of the conference. That early season publicity will give him a perfect launching pad to start his 09-10 campaign.

5) Bouldin is the Best Player on the WCC's Best Team

The Zags are hands down the best team in the West Coast Conference. That means that the best GU player has an inside track to the conference's post-season awards. With all the aforementioned GU stars leaving, Bouldin is now the top dog in the Kennel, and if the Zags can dominate the conference like they have in the past, and are still more than capable of, Bouldin should take home the trophy next March.

Ziggin' and Zaggin': 2009-2010 Preseason Player Power Rankings

Shay Cronin — Tue, 19 May 2009 00:55:09 -0400

While we are sitting in the lull period between the end of the basketball season and the beginning of summer practices, now is as good a time as any to look at who the Zags top players are going into the 2009-2010 season.

1) Matt Bouldin

Bouldin essentially took over the point guard role from Jeremy Pargo after the latter struggled during a midseason stretch. Bouldin, who was a star high school player in Colorado, seized the opportunity and started to show flashes of becoming one of the great Gonzaga point guards.

Bouldin scored in double digits in eight of the Zags last nine games. Even if Austin Daye comes back, Bouldin will be the guy running the show in Spokane next year. The offense will go through him, and if he plays next season like he finished the last, Bouldin has an excellent chance of becoming yet another Zag to pull down WCC player of the year honors.

2) Austin Daye

This of course is contingent on Daye withdrawing himself from the 2009 NBA Draft and returning to GU. If he does, Daye would have a chance to increase his draft stock and national profile.

While, as noted, Bouldin will be the focal point of the offense, Daye has a chance to be the star. His athletic ability and shooting range make him a perfect fit for the Zags offense, and if he reaches his potential, the sky is the limit for the junior-to-be.

3) Steven Gray

Gray’s 2008-2009 season was a bit of a disappointment, but that was mainly a product of the crazy expectations he created for himself with his performance in the 2008 NCAA first round game against Davidson.

Gray’s semi-sophomore-slump was due in large part to teams focusing on him when he was on the court, and Gray’s inability to make space for himself. With another offseason under his belt, if Gray figures out how to get himself open and create space, he could become one of the most dangerous shooters in the nation.

4) Demetri Goodson

Goodson could very well be this year’s Steven Gray.

His game winning basket in the second round game against Western Kentucky was one of the lasting images of the tournament, and is one of the most memorable moments in Zags basketball history.

Goodson didn’t see a ton of playing time during his freshmen year, but the mere fact that Mark Few had him on the court in the waning seconds of the WKU game shows the trust the coaches have in him.

Goodson may not become a star player next year, but he could very well be the X-factor that pushes the Zags deep into March.

5) Robert Sacre

A foot injury derailed Sacre’s sophomore season. However, the NCAA granted the big man a medical redshirt. As the only legitimate big man on the Zags roster, Sacre has the burden of replacing graduated star Josh Heytvelt, but Sacre’s size and athletic ability give him the potential to become a great weapon for Gonzaga in 2009-2010.

Ziggin' and Zaggin' | Austin Daye's NBA Future

Shay Cronin — Fri, 15 May 2009 01:36:44 -0400

Recently, in this space, I’ve been looking at the pro prospects of the Gonzaga seniors that have a chance of hearing their names called next month in the NBA Draft: Josh Heytvelt, Jeremy Pargo, and Micah Downs. There is one other Zag who may be on an NBA roster next fall though, and in fact, may go higher than any of the aforementioned players. That Zag is Austin Daye.

Daye, who will be a junior in the 2009-2010 season, declared for the NBA Draft a month ago, but did not sign an agent and thus has retained his NCAA eligibility. His decision to enter his name has been met with mixed reaction from Gonzaga fans. While some are happy to see Daye possibly advancing his career and bringing attention to the university, others think that he is leaving too soon.

One of the most heralded recruits to ever go to Spokane, Daye was a top 25 player coming out of high school. His father, Darren Daye, was a star at UCLA before playing five years in the NBA. That prestige also created grand expectations for the younger Daye in Spokane.

While he has put up great games, and good stretches, Daye has yet to turn into the star that many have been hoping/expecting he would be. Thus, his entry into this year’s draft came as a bit of a surprise. With a strong '09-10 campaign Daye could have easily worked his way into the first round, and possibly the lottery of the 2010 draft, but with the '09 class being “touted” as one of the weakest ever, Daye seems to have decided to strike while the iron is hot.

Assuming he stays in the draft, Daye will certainly turn heads during the remainder of the process. Standing at 6'10" with a prehistoric wingspan, Daye is exactly the type of athlete that teams fall in love with. The up-tempo style of Gonzaga’s offense has also developed Daye into a dangerous weapon in full court game.

His length also allows him an array of jumpers and hooks that are difficult to defend against. And, for a player his size, Daye, like many Zags, is an excellent shooter. With his feet set, he has the ability to hit from anywhere on the court, though his mechanics will need some work to gain consistency.

The biggest knock against Daye will be his frame. Though he is tall and long, Daye looks like he could blow away in a stiff wind. Unless he can put on quite a bit of weight, he will not be an effective inside player in the NBA. Even in the college game, Daye’s shot selection and drives into the lane were often altered and knocked off balance because he cannot absorb the contact.

Still, Daye will measure out as one of the most impressive prospects in the draft, and it is entirely possible that by the end of the process, if he chooses to stay in the draft, Daye could end up as a first round selection, and will go no later than the early-to-middle second round.

However, if Daye returned to the Zags next season and became the star of the team like many believe he could, he could find himself as a lottery selection in the 2010 NBA Draft. Either way, Daye will be on an NBA roster before too long.

How long is up to Daye now.

Ziggin' and Zaggin' | Micah Downs's NBA Future

Shay Cronin — Mon, 11 May 2009 18:08:08 -0400

Now that we are a month removed from the college basketball season, it is time to start focusing on the NBA Draft. In the next few entries I will examine the draft prospects of the three Gonzaga players who have a chance to hear their names called in June: Josh Heytvelt, Jeremy Pargo, and Micah Downs.

Today, we look at Micah Downs.

Downs arrived in Spokane after a much-publicized transfer from Kansas. At the start of the 2005-2006 season Downs was a true freshmen, the #28-ranked recruit in the country, and part of an elite class for KU (and one that would go on to anchor the national championship team of 2008). However, Downs was very unhappy with the situation. After having a few solid outputs early on in the season, Downs slipped away as quickly as he came on.

That January, Downs announced that he had decided to transfer back to his home state of Washington and join the Zags program. There was much speculation about the reason behind not only that move, but the initial commitment to Kansas. Most believe that Downs originally went to KU because of pressure from his father, and that he transferred to GU to be closer to his girlfriend. The decision to transfer was publicly questioned by Jayhawks coach Bill Self, as well as Downs own father.

The attention behind Downs transfer made the expectations of his performance at GU even greater. Though he was expected to become a star of the team, Downs struggled to be anything more than a role player for the Zags.

Downs never broke the 10.0 ppg mark during his time in Spokane, with his best season being his senior year, the 08-09 season, when he averaged 9.1.

His inconsistent on-court play is worrisome enough, but Downs is also plagued by a lack of confidence or fortitude, which usually manifests itself on the court with poor body language and the occasional outburst.

One factor that could be enough to push Downs onto a lot of teams' draft boards is his ability to shoot from outside. Downs finished his college career shooting 39% from beyond the arc. That may be enough for teams to overlook some of the holes in his game.

Downs is also an exceptional defender. While his offensive game never developed into what many thought it would be, Downs made his mark on the GU program with his defense. Quick, athletic, and intuitive, Downs could make an NBA roster as a defensive specialist.

Downs may hear his name called in June by a team that is in need of an athletic defender who can occasionally contribute from beyond the arc. But it is more likely that Downs professional career will begin in the NBDL or overseas.

Ziggin' and Zaggin' | Jeremy Pargo's NBA Future

Shay Cronin — Fri, 08 May 2009 01:09:13 -0400

Today, we look at Zags point guard Jeremy Pargo.

Pargo's college career will likely be remembered more for what he did not do as a senior than for what he did do in his first three seasons.

As a freshmen, Pargo saw the court often for Gonzaga, but was not a huge contributor. However, starting his sophomore year Pargo began to become the leader of the offense, and as a result saw a huge jump in his production. In his second and third years Pargo averaged more than 12 points per game, when you combine that with his 6 assists per game he had his junior year, it seemed Pargo was poised to make a big leap onto the national scene during his last year in Spokane. In fact, Pargo's name began to show up at the tail end of first round projections for the upcoming NBA draft.

However, Pargo never seemed to be able to get his senior season going. The Zags lost four out of five games in a nasty non-conference stretch, a large result of poor point guard play from Pargo. After that, the Zags gradually turned more of the responsibilities for the one spot over to Matt Bouldin. Bouldin's strong play combined with Pargo's inconsistent outputs made Pargo's senior season a fairly disappointing one.

Pargo brings decent size (6-2, 215) and an NBA pedigree (his brother Jannero played for 6 season in the NBA before moving to Europe). However, his next level potential is likely diminished by his ineffective shooting.

Pargo hovered right around 70% from the free throw line and only 25% from three during his tenure as a Zag, certainly not the kind of numbers that are likely to make NBA scouts sit up and take notice. Also, despite dropping his turnovers per game in his senior year, Pargo is prone to have bouts of unreliable passing.

Pargo's athleticism however may be what gets his foot in the door to the NBA. One of the most explosive players in the college game, Pargo attacked the rim ruthlessly and had a knack for rising above defenders to complete explosive jams. A quick first step also makes him a difficult defensive matchup, but unless Pargo's jump shooting gets better, defenses won't be too concerned with giving him a step.

While Pargo's ability to get to the rim may intrigue some teams, it is unlikely that a team will use a draft choice on a point guard that is not a reliable passer or shooter. Because of that Pargo's professional future, at least in the short term, will likely be with his brother, in Europe.

Ziggin' and Zaggin' | Josh Heytvelt's NBA Future

Shay Cronin — Tue, 05 May 2009 00:04:36 -0400

Now that we are a month removed from the college basketball season, it is time to start focusing toward the NBA Draft. In the next few entries I will examine the draft prospects of the three Gonzaga players who have a chance to hear their names called in June: Josh Heytvelt, Jeremy Pargo, and Micah Downs.

Today we start with Heytvelt.

Heytvelt's Zag career was marred by ups and downs. His redshirt freshmen season was derailed early by a broken ankle that kept him out of 18 games. However, that injury was nothing compared to the adversity he faced in his sophomore year.

After getting off to a strong start, including a dominating performance over Tyler Hansbrough and North Carolina in the pre-season NIT, Heytvelt seemed poise to take over the void left by Adam Morrison.

That February though, Heytvelt and teammate Theo Davis were arrested on drug possession charges. That incident ended Heytvelt's season and effectively sent the Zags spiraling toward a first round loss against Indiana in the NCAA tournament.

Heytvelt's return was met with a lukewarm reaction by the team, with many reporting that he was effectively shunned from all team activities. Heytvelt pressed forward, stayed out of trouble, and won back the respect of his teammates. On the court, Heytvelt's 2007-2008 season was solid, though not spectacular.

In his senior year, Heytvelt was able to return to the form that earned him so much attention in his sophomore year. He became the leader of the team, and his presence was one of the key factors behind the Zags' trip to the Sweet 16.

As a potential pro prospect Heytvelt brings great athletic ability for his size; he is a quick and long defender who is able to challenge shots in the paint. However, Heytvelt does not have the body to bruise with some of the NBA's best big men, and is unlikely to ever be a strong inside presence on offense.

His lack of an inside game is somewhat compensated for his shooting range. Like most big men at Gonzaga, Heytvelt has exceptional range for his ability, and is able to consistently hit mid-range jumpers.

He is also a solid three point shooter, shooting over 40 percent from beyond the arc twice in his days in Spokane. Obviously, he will not be called upon to be a team's outside threat, but that ability should make him an even more attractive prospect.

Overall, Heytvelt is a decent pro prospect and has a chance.

Ziggin' and Zaggin' | Zags Projected 2009-2010 Roster

Shay Cronin — Thu, 16 Apr 2009 15:56:12 -0400

The 2008-2009 season was one of the most anticipated in Gonzaga basketball history. Unfortunately for Zags fans, it ended with a Sweet 16 thumping at the hands of North Carolina.

The Zags now say goodbye to perhaps the best senior class in school history: Josh Heytvelt, Jeremy Pargo, Micah Downs. All three of whom have a decent chance at hearing their name called at some point in June's NBA Draft.

Still, with all that talent walking out the door, the cupboard is anything but bare for Mark Few's squad. The Zags will enter the season with a talented team that should once again be the overwhelming favorite in the West Coast Conference, and should challenge to make a return trip to the Sweet 16.

With more than half of the year left until the first tip-off, let's take a look at the Zags projected lineup for next season.

G - Matt Bouldin

Bouldin had the breakout year that Gonzaga fans had been waiting for since his arrival in Spokane. Taking over for the slumping Jeremy Pargo, Bouldin started to show the decision-making and court vision that had eluded him for his first two seasons. After arguably being the best player on the Zags team last season, 09-10 will be Bouldin's opportunity to turn himself into one of greats in Gonzaga history.

G - Steven Gray

Gray went through the sophomore slump in 08-09, seeing his field goal, free throw, and three point percentages all go down. Still, Gray is by far the best shooter on the Zags roster and a promotion to the everyday starting five may just be the thing Gray needs to up his confidence and up those shooting percentages.

G - Demetri Goodson

Best known now as the hero of the second round game against Western Kentucky, Goodson had been a spark for the Zags all of last season. Goodson doesn't appear to be on track to become a great scorer, but he is perhaps the most dynamic player on the Zags roster. Goodson is an explosive player who has a knack for finding space in the lane, and is also a exceptional passer. Goodson is almost certainly being groomed to takeover the point guard spot after Bouldin graduates. The only catch may be if the Zags don't want to run a three-guard offense, in which case Osseo, MN F/C recruit Sam Dower would likely find his way into the starting five. But going into the season this spot would seem to be Goodson's to lose.

F - Austin Daye

Daye, who is perhaps the most heralded recruit in Gonzaga history, has yet to reach the lofty feats expected of him since his arrival on the GU campus. Though averaging nearly 13 points and 7 rebounds last year, Daye has never been able to take over a game like his physical attributes and ability would indicate. With the aforementioned senior class leaving, Daye could very well find himself as the focal point of the offense, making 09-10 a make-or-break year for the California native who some view as a future lottery pick.

C - Robert Sacre

For the Zags the biggest hole to fill will be that of Josh Heytvelt. Without Heytvelt the Zags are left without a strong inside presence. As mentioned before, Minnesota recruit Sam Dower may be able to fill that hole, but Dower is "only" 6-9 and that may not cut it for a center, even in the fast-paced Zags offense. That means the center responsibility likely falls to Sacre, who missed all but five games due to a broken foot. That injury though did allow for the NCAA to grant Sacre a medical redshirt meaning he'll enter 09-10 as he did 08-09, a sophomore. That extra year, combined with increased practice time and lifting, could make Sacre the inside force that Mark Few will desperately need with the loss of Heytvelt.

Ziggin' and Zaggin' | Is Mark Few Still the Right Man for Gonzaga Basketball?

Shay Cronin — Mon, 13 Apr 2009 16:14:32 -0400

It has been 10 years since the Gonzaga Bulldogs' magical run to the Elite Eight in the 1999 NCAA Tournament, and that means it's also been about 10 years since Mark Few took over for Dan Monson after he departed for Minnesota following that tourney run.

In the time since, Few has done what nobody thought he could. Not only has he turned the Zags into a fixture in the NCAA Tournament, but he has also raised the team to a level of national prominence no one could have imagined.

However, since taking over the reins, each of Few's teams have been labeled as tourney underacheivers. Though Few-led Gonzaga teams have made four Sweet 16s in his tenure, he has yet to match the trip to the Elite Eight that Monson orchestrated in his last year in Spokane.

Every year, just after the Zags' season comes to a close, the rumors begin. Few's name shows up with almost every major coaching vacancy, and the question of whether or not it is time for him to move on begins to float about.

But perhaps a more appropriate question would be whether or not it is time for Gonzaga to move on from Mark Few.

Gonzaga has achieved unprecedented success under Few's watch. As already noted, the team has made the NCAA tournament in each of Few's nine seasons, but for all that success, there seems to be a ceiling on this team.

The Zags have received top -our seeds in the NCAA Tournament four times in the last six tournaments and still have not moved past the third round.

The team often has great success in early-season matchups against top opponents, but when March rolls around, they cannot seem to capture that same form.

Just how much of this is Mark Few's doing?

There are, of course, other factors that weigh into every season. The Zags can hardly seem to go through a pre-conference slate without suffering a big-time injury, and try as they might, the WCC schedule hinders their ability to adequately prepare for March.

Still, my query is one that Gonzaga administration should ask themselves the next time a big-time college job opens up and Few is a name on the list. As difficult as it would be for the team to bid farewell to the man that brought them to national prominence, perhaps it would not be the worst thing in the world.

Ziggin' and Zaggin' | 2008-2009 Gonzaga Basketball Recap

Shay Cronin — Thu, 09 Apr 2009 09:40:47 -0400

The 2008-2009 season began as hopeful as any season in recent memory for the Gonzaga men's basketball team. The Zags entered the season with arguably their best team in school history, as the roster carried a slew of potential NBA draft picks.

However, after a successful start which saw the Zags win the Old Spice Classic over three tourney teams—Maryland, Oklahoma State, and Tennessee—Mark Few's squad lost four of their next five.

Gonzaga rediscovered their early-season form once they entered conference play, as they went undefeated and eventually won the West Coast Conference tournament.

The season came to a bittersweet end when the Zags suffered a 21-point loss to North Carolina—a loss that doesn't seem so crushing after the Heels dismissed their remaining opponents with the same vigor and precision.

Before the 2008-09 season passes too far from memory, let's take a look back at some of the highlights (and lowlights) of this past season.

Best Moment

Coming off a shaky performance against Akron in the first round of the NCAA tournament, the Zags were out to show the college basketball world that they were a better team than the one that faced the Zips.

Simultaneously, Gonzaga hoped to do away with the underachieving reputation the team had gotten due to their early-round exits in recent years.

Gonzaga looked poised to do those things when they took a seven-point lead over the Hilltoppers with just a little over two minutes left in their second-round matchup.

The Zags however, had no answer for WKU guard Oscar Mendez-Valdez who led a late Western Kentucky charge to make it a two-point game with less than 15 seconds go.

Any relief for Zags fans that came when A.J. Slaughter missed a go-ahead three pointer was erased when Steffphon Pettigrew tapped in the rebound to tie the game, seemingly sending the Zags back home with another March heartbreak.

However, Mark Few decided not to call a timeout, and amidst some of the best players in Zags history, the ball ended up in the hands of freshmen guard Demetri Goodson.

All Goodson did was charge down the court and through the Hilltoppers defense before banking home the game winning shot, sending the Portland crowd into a frenzy, and carving out one of the lasting images of the 2009 NCAA tournament.

Worst Moment

For a sports fan, there is seldom a worse moment to a season than that second when you realize that your team has been eliminated from championship contention.

Sometimes it comes on a last-second loss, and sometimes it comes with a preseason injury. For the 2008-09 Zags, it came with 11:51 to go in the second half of their Sweet 16 match up against North Carolina.

Despite playing fairly well the first half, the Zags could not match up with the hot Heels' shooting. Gonzaga found themselves down 21 at one point in the second half.

However, a quick rally midway through the second half pulled the Zags within 11 of UNC, and forced the Heels into a timeout.

Coming out of that timeout, North Carolina's Bobby Frasor came down the court and responded with a three-pointer, and after the Zags' Steven Gray missed his own triple at the other end, Frasor hit a second three-pointer with 30 seconds left to effectively eliminate Gonzaga from the tournament.

Best Game

Heading into the NCAA tournament, the Zags had only lost one game in 2009, but that loss was an 18-point demolition at the hands of Memphis.

So, in the West Coast Conference tournament final, facing a Saint Mary's team that had returned star Patty Mills and was in need of a win to insure an NCAA bid, the Zags had an opportunity to cement their spot as a top-four seed on Selection Sunday.

The Zags jumped out to an 8-0 lead and never relented. Gonzaga had six players score in double digits against the Gaels, and shot 55 percent from the field, including nine three-pointers.

By game's end, the Zags had completed an 83-58 whipping of their conference rival, and assured themselves a short trip for the first two rounds of the tourney.

Worst Game

When Memphis showed up in Spokane for their Feb. 7 game with the Zags, they weren't alone—ESPN's College Gameday crew had set up their pre-game operations on the court of The Kennel.

Billed as a midseason matchup of mid-major powers, Gonzaga had an opportunity to erase the bad memories of their poor stretch a few months earlier, and propel their team into the season's last stretch.

Too bad Memphis had the same idea.

The Tigers got out to an early lead, and when they took a 17-point lead into halftime, John Calipari's boys had effectively taken the raucous Zags crowd out of the game and deflated the energy from the building.

The Zags weren't able to make any headway in the second half, and left The Kennel that night with lingering doubts about their team's NCAA potential hanging overhead.

Team MVP

Though a heralded high school player through two years in Spokane, Matt Bouldin had never been able to capture the same consistency and flash that had made him a two-time Mr. Colorado in basketball.

However, after back-court mate Jerermy Pargo struggled midway through the non-conference schedule, Bouldin started to capture that form, and busted out with a 26-point performance in the Zags' early January win at Tennessee.

That game began a stretch that would see Bouldin score 10-plus points in 18 of the Zags' final 22 games. Bouldin finished the season as the Zags' leader in minutes, steals, and he finished second on the team in points and assists.

For Zags fans, though, the most important state regarding Bouldin is his class. Bouldin is a junior and, barring some highly unforeseen circumstance, will return to lead Gonzaga in 2009-2010 as the presumptive leader of a team that should still be nationally relevant.

Most Disappointing Player

Much of the optimism behind the Zags heading into the season was based on the predicted progression of senior Jeremy Pargo.

Pargo never seemed to be able to get going completely, and though he was able to work through early season games, he struggled during the Zags' stretch of four losses in five games.

In those losses, the Zags point guard averaged 4.5 turnovers a game.

Overall, when compared to Pargo's numbers as a junior, the senior point guard put up fewer points, assists, and rebounds.

More than that, Pargo went from a fringe first/second round NBA draft prospect to a mid-second rounder at best.

Creature vs. Creature: Gonzaga and North Carolina

Shay Cronin — Fri, 27 Mar 2009 00:52:09 -0400

Many experts predicted that Gonzaga and North Carolina would meet in the South region semifinal, and though both teams struggled in their second-round games, the Heels and the Zags will meet Friday night in one of the tourney’s most anticipated games.

Bleacher Report writers Shay Cronin and Nathan Bitner offer their views on the Friday’s matchup.

Who has the advantage playing in Memphis?

Shay: At first glance, one would assume that the Heels have an overwhelming advantage, because they have a larger fan base, plus Chapel Hill is a lot closer to Memphis than Spokane. However, the Zags have two things working in their favor.

First, while the diehard Zags fans will certainly be outnumbered by diehard Heels fans, don’t underestimate just how passionate a group Gonzaga fans are. Ask any team that has ever had to play in front of the Kennel Club.

Second, the Zags will win the “neutrals”. Anyone who has ever been to an NCAA tournament game knows that the fans who have no rooting interest end up cheering for the underdog.

The Zags aren’t the “cinderfella” they were a decade ago when they went to the Elite Eight, but they are still up against the Goliath of college basketball and the tighter the game gets, the more fans will jump on the Zags' bandwagon.

Nathan: UNC has the obvious regional advantage playing in Memphis and will be able to send more of their fans to the tournament than those left-coasters. Though Gonzaga will have the "fans of the underdog," "the fans of the little guy," "the fans of the mid-majors," and "the fans of the English Bulldog" probably in their corner, it won't be enough to offset the huge popularity of North Carolina's basketball program nor their Carolina-blue clad fans, who will surely fill the FedEx Forum.

Worse yet, in terms of morale, Gonzaga will be forced to play on the home court of the last team to hand them a defeat, a 68-50 drubbing handed to them by none other than the Memphis Tigers.

What are the keys to victory for your team?

Shay: As it is for any team playing Carolina, Gonzaga first has to find a way to contain Tyler Hansbrough. A couple years ago when these teams played in the Preseason NIT, Josh Heytvelt held to “Psycho T” to just nine points, and the Zags went on to an 82-74 win. A similar performance from Heytvelt is essential to the Bulldogs winning this game.

Next, the Gonzaga guards have to keep performing as well as they have been. Though UNC has a great pair of guards in Ty Lawson and Wayne Ellington, Gonzaga has a pretty impressive group with Matt Bouldin, Jeremy Pargo, Steven Gray, Micah Downs, and second-round hero Demetri Goodson.

The Zags struggled early in the season when Pargo wasn’t at his best, but Bouldin has picked up the slack. Combine that with the perimeter shooting of Downs and Gray, alongside Goodson’s quickness, and the Tar Heels will have their hands full.

Lastly, the Zags need a big game out of Austin Daye. These teams will have battles from their post and outside players, but nobody on Carolina matches up with the tall, athletic Daye.

In games this season where Daye has scored 15 or more points, the Zags are 9-1. If they can get Daye going early, the Heels will find themselves in a hole that they won’t be able to escape.

Nathan: UNC, as always, must play from the inside-out, but not in the same manner that they did two years ago when Gonzaga ousted them from an early-season game at Madison Square Garden.

In that game, Josh Heytvelt thoroughly outplayed Tyler Hansbrough and the guard combination of Matt Bouldin and Jeremy Pargo outplayed the Tar Heels backcourt. That was the "preseason."

This is for keeps, and the Tar Heels will be ready, all 50 toes included.

UNC must find a way to get to the foul line rather than becoming frustrated and settling for perimeter shots. Pargo is playing some of his best ball of the season after a disappointing start, and his matchup with Ty "the Toe" Lawson is probably the most important in the game.

Lawson will be operating on six days' rest, plenty of time to be at full strength, and Gonzaga has a difficult choice to make. Run 'n gun with the Heels or try to slow them down?

No one can run with Carolina and if Lawson can keep his turnover-to-assist ratio at its usual impressive level, he can keep the Heels and their No. 1 offensive efficiency tuned to its peak if Gonzaga goes away from their strength and slows down the game.

Finally, UNC knows who to go to in crunch time. Force it to Hansbrough inside for a short field goal or two foul shots (he is efficient at both). Let Lawson slice and dice the Bulldogs like an infomercial knife set.

Kick it out to Wayne Ellington for the killer jump shot. Who is the Gonzaga's go-to guy? They don't really have one, and it showed in the final five minutes against Western Kentucky.

What does this game mean to you and your fellow fans?

Shay: Even though a number of “experts” are saying that all the pressure is now off the Zags because they made it this far and anything more is surpassing expectation, there is no Gonzaga fan that is content with just making the Sweet 16.

Mark Few's team has been a staple in the tournament for a decade now, but they still don’t get the respect that the “elite” programs in college basketball do. A win against UNC would push them into that category.

Basically, a win for the Zags means that it’s time to seat them at the big boys table, like it or not.

Nathan: Simply put, anything less than a national championship will be disappointing to most Tar Heel fans, but nothing would be worse than looking past a talented Gonzaga squad, especially with all-around guard play that may be the best UNC has faced outside of Durham all year.

There can be no distractions, no looking ahead. Take nothing for granted. The goal is the national championship, and the only way to make it is one step at a time.

There is little history between the two schools (they have never faced off on each other's court or in NCAA Tournament play), and the celebration will be muted on Franklin Street even if the Heels pull out the victory.

There are greater goals in Chapel Hill, and both the team and fans will be ready to go to work on Sunday.

What is your team's worst tourney moment?

Shay: Without question, the Sweet 16 loss against UCLA three years ago. The Zags had one of the nation’s best players in Adam Morrison and dominated that game for 37 minutes.

Then after a few bad turnovers, some poor defense, and a Gus Johnson eruption, Morrison and the rest of the team were left lying on the court in Oakland while the Bruins danced to the Elite 8.

I don't want to talk about it anymore.

Nathan: Texas shattered a backboard and the Tar Heels' dreams in a disappointing second-round loss in 1996. The Heels were underdogs, but no one expected the humiliating 92-73 loss.

Boston College upended a No. 1-seeded UNC team in 1994, one year after Dean Williams had won yet another championship for the school.

But right now, nothing hurts more than the devastating drilling that Kansas delivered in the Final Four last year. This year, perhaps Coach K or some other victim can wear a Tar Heels' sticker in the stands at the championship game.

What is your team's best tourney moment?

Shay: A week ago this question would have had a much different answer.

Until last Saturday the best Zags memory had to be their incredible run to the Elite 8 in 1999, but now the best tourney moment for Gonzaga is Demetri Goodson going the length of the court and turning a potential meltdown against Western Kentucky into the most exciting moment in Zags tourney history.

Nathan: The 1993 championship that kept the trophy in an eight-mile radius for the third consecutive year.

The 2005 championship in which Roy Williams made a permanent mark on UNC history.

The 1982 championship that pushed Michael Jordan onto the national stage for good.

Perhaps the biggest celebration I ever saw on Franklin Street was a balmy evening in which Duke's loss sent them home and UNC's victory (immediately following) sent them on to the Elite Eight.

That might give you an indication of where the priorities lie on Tobacco Road.

Prediction?

Shay: This should be one of the best games of the entire tournament.

It’ll be a tough fight, but in the end Heytvelt will be able to contain Hansbrough (again), the Gonzaga guards will go toe-to-toe (no pun intended) with Lawson and Ellington, and the Heels won’t have an answer on defense for the athletic Daye.

Zags win 87-83, and brackets are busted all across the country.

Nathan: Tyler Hansbrough the senior is not about to let Josh Heytvelt push him around in the same way that Tyler Hansbrough the sophomore did. He is two years stronger and two years smarter, which is saying a lot for last year's National Player of the Year.

More importantly, Roy Williams' cautious approach with Lawson's jammed toe means that the best point guard in the nation appears to be at full strength, and Pargo is simply not fast enough on defense to stop him.

These Bullies are headed back to the doghouse...in Washington.

UNC takes a bite out of Gonzaga, 97-87, and Chapel Hill steels itself for the next challenge in a season of destiny.

Is Colt McCoy The Greatest Quarterback in Longhorns History?

Shay Cronin — Tue, 24 Mar 2009 15:51:49 -0400

A great college quarterback has a mythical quality to them. Their exploits are retold as larger than life stories rife with superhuman feats and heroic achievement. There is perhaps no fan base that holds its players more dear than Texas Longhorns fans. To be a superior player in the most football-crazy state in the nation is to be something beyond definition.

However, stats alone cannot attain such a lofty position. If they did then Chris Simms would be one of the most well-thought QBs to ever play for the Longhorns, but his propensity to underwhelm in big games has left him out of the discussion.

And while beating Oklahoma would seem to be the one sure-fire way to the top, Peter Gardere, who is still the only Horns signal-caller to beat the Sooners four times, is not amongst the first names thought of by Texas fans.

So where does current quarterback Colt McCoy fall in this discussion?

That McCoy is one of the greatest quarterbacks in the long history of Texas football is indisputable, but can he be THE greatest quarterback to ever sport the burnt orange? Certainly there are more than a few players worthy of that mantle. Foremost among them is the man that preceded him, Vince Young.

Young was a football player of lore long before he ever stepped onto the field at DKR. The Houston product is considered one of the most high profile recruits in college football history, his high school career and subsequent school choice made for high drama in the Lone Star state.

After redshirting his freshman year, Young split time with Chance Mock his first year before becoming the full time starter his sophomore year. Young made the most of his opportunity leading the Horns to an 11-1 record and a victory in the 2005 Rose Bowl.

A year later Young championed what is considered by many to be the Longhorns greatest season ever: a 13-0 record and victory over previously undefeated USC in the 2006 Rose Bowl/National Championship game.

Though Young put up impressive stats, his greatest quality was never his arm or even his unparalleled running ability, instead Vince carved out his legacy by his clutch performances. The two Rose Bowl victories are amongst the most impressive individual performances in college football history and certainly the most high profile. Young also had a high profile win over Ohio State at the Horseshoe in 2005.

Young had consecutive comebacks against Oklahoma state in 2004 and 2005. In the 2004 game, the Horns were down 35-7 in the second quarter before rattling off 49 unanswered points to win 56-35, and in 2005 the Cowboys looked poised to ruin the Horns dream season when they led 28-12 at half, but Young's 80 yard TD run to kick off the second half sparked the Horns to a 47-28 victory.

Last but not least is Young's comeback win over Kansas in 2004 which prompted a infamous rant from rotund KU coach Mark Mangino.

Before Young though, there was James Street. Street was never the most imposing player on the field, standing at 5-11, but his will to win was unrivaled. Street left Austin with an incredible 20-0 record as a starting quarterback including wins in the "Game of the Century" matchup with Arkansas in 1969, and a fourth quarter comeback over Notre Dame in the 1970 Cotton Bowl to cement the national championship.

Street holds a special spot in the hearts of many hardcore Horns fans for his never-say-die attitude and his remarkable success.

Bobby Layne never won a national championship, but that didn't prevent him from making four consecutive All-Southwest Conference teams. Layne had marquee wins over Missouri in the 1946 Cotton Bowl and Alabama in the 1948 Sugar Bowl. In the former, Layne accounted for each of UT's 47 points.

Though Layne was not the most athletic player on the field, and infact was as well known for his partying as his football play, any list that talks about great Longhorns QBs has to have Layne amongst them.

A player in the mold of Bobby Layne in terms of leadership overcoming a lack of elite athletic ability is Major Applewhite. Applewhite was caught in the middle of the Chris Simms era, and thus was often forced to the bench in favor of the elite recruit and son of former NFL great Phil Simms.

However, when given the opportunity, Applewhite excelled. The defining moments of Applewhite's career came at the tail end of it. After Simms became injured in a game where he turned the ball over four times to Colorado in the 2001 Big 12 championship game, Applewhite led a Texas comeback though would ultimately fall short by two points.

That performance was enough to earn him the starting job in his final college appearance, against Washington in the 2001 Holiday Bowl. The Horns overcame a 16 point fourth quarter deficit and won the game 47-43.

Applewhite's legacy in Austin has been furthered by his decision to turn down more high profile coaching positions to return to UT and join the Longhorns coaching staff.

So where does McCoy fall in this discussion. He has already set almost every major passing record in Texas history, and has more career wins than Vince Young.

He was one Michael Crabtree reception away from a Heisman trophy win and BCS Championship appearance. Not to mention that he is perhaps the most accurate quarterback in college football history, having broken the single season completion percentage record in 2008.

McCoy has big time wins, most notably comeback wins over Oklahoma and Ohio State last season. His small town upbringing makes him one of the more unlikely stars in Texas history. Plus, his determination and knack for winning along with his "aw shucks" attitude has made him one of the most well-liked players to ever play for UT.

However, his career will likely be decided by what he and the Horns do in the 2009 season. McCoy, along with Florida's Tim Tebow and Oklahoma's Sam Bradford, makeup perhaps the best returning group of quarterbacks in college history, and the Horns road the national championship certainly goes through Bradford and likely ends with a Pasadena clash with Tim Tebow.

While last year's Texas team was able to fly below the radar for the first part of the season, this year's team will not be afforded such a luxury. The Horns are likely to start the season as the nation's number-two ranked team, and that Red River Rivalry game between McCoy and Bradford is already anticipated as one of the fiercest in an incredibly fierce rivalry.

However, while Colt McCoy may not now be considered the best in Longhorns history, a national chamionship win next year would likely cement that legacy for McCoy, and many Horns fans would be more than happy to bestow that title in return for the championship.

Zags Last Second Win Breaks String of March Heartbreaks

Shay Cronin — Sun, 22 Mar 2009 21:04:08 -0400

It all seemed so familiar. Gonzaga, a high seed, blows a double digit lead in the final minutes of an NCAA tournament game, and leaves its fans and players laid out in disbelief.

The Zags, who once carved out their tourney identity with a dramatic last-second runner over Florida in the 1999 Sweet Sixteen, has struggled to regain those late heroics in the Big Dance. Instead, Zags fans have had to struggle through a string of heartbreaking losses in March.

In the 2003 tournament, the eighth seeded Zags squared off against the top overall seed in the tournament, Arizona. Gonzaga gave the Wildcats all that they could handle, forcing overtime when a Tony Skinner putback received a fortuitous bounce. From there the Zags missed several opportunities to put Arizona away. The Zags led by two points with 14 seconds left, but conceded a tying basket to send the game to a second overtime. In the second overtime, Gonzaga had two shots to win the game in the closing seconds, but a Skinner three pointer was off the mark, while a wide open Blake Stepp missed the put back off the backboard, sealing the 'Zona win.

The Zags entered the 2004 tournament as a two-seed, carrying a record that had only two losses, coming against the top two teams in the country: Saint Joe's and Stanford. After a predictable beating of Valparaiso in the first round, Mark Few's squad found themselves down early to Nevada and were never able to get back into the game, losing by 19.

Two years later the Zags were a three seed, and found themselves matched up with legendary coach Bob Knight and the Texas Tech Red Raiders in the second round of the 2005 tournament. The Zags led by as many as 13 in the second half, but that lead slowly eroded, and after a Ronald Ross three-pointer gave Tech a 68-67 lead the Red Raiders held on to win the game.

However, none of those defeats were as crushing and miserable as the regional semi-final loss to UCLA in the 2006 tournament. The Zags came into the tournament as a three seed, and were led by one of the nation's top players Adam Morrison. The Sweet Sixteen matchup between the Bruins and Bulldogs was billed by many as a game that would establish the best college basketball team on the west coast.

The Zags seemed poised to take that mantle when they dominated the Bruins in the first half, going up by as many as 17. UCLA battled back in the second half, but Gonzaga still seemed in control with as little as three minutes left, when they still maintained a 9 point lead. From that point on Gonzaga would not score another bucket, and UCLA netted the last 11 points of the game to knock off the Zags on their way to a national championship game appearance.

The lasting memory of that game has also been the lasting memory of the program for several years: all-american Adam Morrison lying on the Oakland court dejected and in tears. Many Zags fans can still recall the heartbreaking screams of Gus Johnson, who has found his way into the middle of the majority of the memorable Zags games this decade.

That loss has seemed to linger for the program. The 2006-2007 season got off to a promising start, which included an early season win over the Zags upcoming opponent North Carolina, a game in which Gonzaga big man Josh Heytvelt dominated Tyler Hansbrough. However, that season was later derailed by the suspension of Heytvelt, a loss that sent the Bulldogs reeling. In fact, had it not been for a late season run, and a West Coast Conference tournament title, the Zags likely would not have made the 2007 dance. Though they did get in as a 10 seed, Gonzaga was listless in a first round loss to Indiana.

Last year's Zags team reminded many of the teams that made three consecutive sweet sixteen appearances between 1999 and 2001. Though never the top 25 team they had been in recent years, the '07 Zags resembled those dangerous underdog teams that always managed to pull a few upsets and bust a few brackets. However, the Zags got extremely unlucky when they drew 10th seeded Davidson in Raleigh, just miles from the Wildcats home court. The Bulldogs put up a valiant fight behind the shooting of Steven Gray, but in the end couldn't contain Davidson and Stephen Curry, who would go on to knockoff Georgetown and Wisconsin on their way to an improbable elite eight appearance.

All of this, combined with a less than inspiring opening round win over Akron, was enough to make even the most confident Gonzaga fan nervous when Western Kentucky started to chip away at a seven point Zags lead in the last two minutes. The Hilltoppers, who had shot so well from beyond the arc all day, were poised to win the game in the waning seconds when A.J. Slaughter pulled up for the three and though they couldn't take the lead, Steffphon Pettigrew's tip-in with 7.9 seconds did the next worst thing, tie the game. A game that the Zags had in hand just moments before seemed destined to become an overtime loss, and another chapter in the Zags recent tourney heartbreak.

But then a funny thing happened.

With four of their five best players on the court - Micah Downs, Jeremy Pargo, Matt Boulding, Austin Daye - the Zags fate lay in the hands of freshmen Demetri Goodson. Goodson, unknown to the college basketball world before last night, had performed well all season and established himself as the successor to the graduating Pargo, but had never been in such a high pressure situation.

In a shot reminiscent of the 2003 Blake Stepp potential game-winner that bounced off the backboard and then the rim, sealing the Zags fate against Arizona, Goodson banked home the game-winner, sending the Zags onto the sweet sixteen.

The Zags may very well be blown out by the tourney's odds-on favorite North Carolina this Friday night in Memphis, but for the first time since the iconic "runner" in the 1999 tournament that beat Florida and led to Gus Johnson's famous call that "the slipper still fits", Zags fans have memorable tournament moment that does not end in heartbreak.

NFL Mock Draft: v1.0

Shay Cronin — Sun, 18 Jan 2009 04:28:27 -0500

Now that we know who will be and won't be entering the 2009 NFL Draft, we can start to piece together the puzzle of who fits in where and at what spot. Here's my first projection of what April's draft will look like.

1) Detroit Lions - Matthew Stafford, QB, Georgia

The Lions obviously have a lot of needs, 0-16 doesn't just happen, and this choice will likely come down to Stafford, Andre Smith, and Mark Sanchez. In the end, I think the Lions lean toward the flashy choice and draft the big-armed passer out of Georgia.

Stafford needs to work on not forcing passes, but his arm and his proficiency in a pro style offense give him the edge over Sanchez in this spot.

2) St. Louis Rams - Andre Smith, OT, Alabama

With the Lions passing on him, the Rams would be more than happy to take Smith in the No. 2 spot. Smith is a monster at 6'4" and over 325 lbs., and the Outland Trophy winner could sure up the offensive line for the upcoming decade like Orlando Pace did for the last 10 years.

3) Kansas City Chiefs - Brian Orakpo, DE, Texas

The Chiefs will be tempted to take Sanchez here, but Tyler Thigpen's impressive play at the end of last year likely bought him the starting job for 2009. The Chiefs need to add playmakers on the defensive side of the ball and Orakpo (nicknamed O-sack-po) could certainly be that.

His size (6'4", 250) is even more impressive when you consider his speed. He should wow at the Combine, and will probably play some outside backer as well as D-line next year.

4) Seattle Seahawks - Michael Crabtree, WR, Texas Tech

The Seahawks were cursed at WR last year, it seemed that no matter who was plugged in, that player was quickly befallen by nothing short of the plague. Crabtree is the best receiver in the draft and would provide an instant spark to a Seahawk offense that was often stuck in neutral last season.

5) Cleveland Browns - Malcom Jenkins, CB, Ohio State

The Browns may feel pressure to take Jenkins' Buckeye teammate Chris Wells here, but the Browns are unlikely to invest such a high pick in such a injury prone back. Jenkins lacks elite speed, but he makes up for it in his size and ball skills.

Combined with Eric Wright, Cleveland could have one of the better corner combos in the AFC.

6) Cincinnatti Bengals - Aaron Curry, LB, Wake Forest

The Bengals will also feel a pull to draft in-state RB Wells, but strange as it may sound, they might feel comfortable entering the season with Cedric Benson, who performed well in the last half of the year.

Cincy has nobody right now that is a reliable defensive player, and Curry could be that from day one. The Butkus Award winner is an explosive and strong-hitting linebacker that will improve the Bengals defense from the moment he steps on the field.

7) Oakland Raiders - Aaron Maybin, DE, Penn State

The Raiders need a pass rusher and they would be happy to take Maybin in this spot. Leaving as a redshirt sophomore and All-American, Maybin is one of the hottest prospects in this year's draft.

He has good size (6'4", 230lbs) and is one of the fastest players off the ball in the country. He would be a welcome addition to a Raiders defense that already contains some talented players.

8) Jacksonville Jaguars - Jason Smith, OT, Baylor

Smith isn't as powerful as fellow OT Andre Smith, but he makes up for it with great feet and athletic ability. The Baylor prospect has been one of the steadiest movers up draft boards recently, and a few good workouts could propel him into the top five.

The Jags would be excited to take him here and start to sure up an offensive line that had a lot of problems last year.

9) Green Bay Packers - Everette Brown, DE, Florida State

The Packers have one star DE in Aaron Kampman, but they lacked a presence at the other end of the line, and it showed late in the season. Brown can be streaky, but when he is on, he can be a force.

Brown recorded 12.5 sacks for the 'noles last season, and he would provide the Pack with a dangerous two-pronged pass rush.

10) San Francisco 49ers - Mark Sanchez, QB, Southern Cal

Four years ago, the 'Niners missed their chance at a Trojans quarterback when Matt Leinart decided to stay in LA for his senior year; they won't pass up the opportunity to land Sanchez here.

Sanchez is considered by some to be the top signal caller in this year's class and he could very well find himself at the top of the draft board when all is said and through.

Sanchez only started one full season under center for USC, but he was very impressive at times, most notably the Rose Bowl. With the 'Niners needing a QB, they'll pull the trigger on the in-state prospect.

11) Buffalo Bills - Brandon Pettigrew, TE, Oklahoma State

The Bills got off to a hot start in 2008, but weren't able to maintain the momentum. Still, Trent Edwards looks to be the franchise quarterback and the front office would help him greatly by selecting the best tight end on the board.

Pettigrew is huge, and an excellent pass catcher. He would bump the Bills' offense up to the next level.

12) Denver Broncos - Ray Maualuga, LB, Southern Cal

The Broncos need someone to anchor their defense, and get it going back in the right direction. Maualuga would be a steal for them in this spot. Maybe the hardest hitter in college football (if not his teammate Taylor Mays) Maualuga is a terror for opposing offenses when he is roaming the middle.

He is not the most athletic linebacker in this year's class, but he makes up for it with his nose for the ball and ability to lay people out.

13) Washington Redskins - Eugene Monroe, OT, Virginia

The 'Skins already have a great OT in Chris Samuels, but Monroe would be a terrific insurance policy if Samuels gets injured. Plus, Monroe has experience at the guard position as he played next to Branden Albert, who was a first-round pick last year for the Chiefs.

Monroe has ideal size (6'6", 315lbs) and his durability would immediately improve Washington's offensive line.

14) New Orleans Saints - Vontae Davis, CB, Illinois

The Saints seem to always be in need of a corner, and getting Davis here would lock in at least one side of the field for some time. Davis (younger brother of 49ers TE Vernon) is the second best corner in the draft behind Malcom Jenkins, and though he isn't an interception monster, he does have good ball skills and top level speed.

15) Houston Texans - William Moore, S, Missouri

The Texans could use some help at the safety position, and Moore is the best one in the draft. His stock feel somewhat due to a disappointing 2008, but Moore is a very physical safety entering a league that places a premium on very physical safeties.

His selection here would keep a very good, very young Texans defense moving in the right direction.

16) San Diego Chargers - Jeremy Maclin, WR, Missouri

It wouldn't be a shock to see the Chargers go after one of the RBs here as a replacement for LaDainian Tomlinson and a complement to Darren Sproles, but Maclin would be too good to pass up here.

With an aging Chris Chambers on the roster, the Bolts could use an infusion of youth and speed to help Philip Rivers, and there aren't many players as explosive or quick as Maclin.

17) New York Jets - Knowshon Moreno, RB, Georgia

Thomas Jones isn't getting any younger, and I doubt the Jets are willing to bet the farm on Leon Washington as a premiere back. Moreno doesn't have burner speed, but he is one of the most agile and elusive backs in the nation. He also has a great motor, and will work for every yard.

Despite having a ridiculously young offensive line at UGA last year, he still managed to rack up big numbers against the vaunted SEC defenses.

18) Chicago Bears - Patrick Chung, S, Oregon

The Bears already have a solid defense but there is a question mark at safety, especially with one of the spots held by the oft-injured Mike Brown. Chung entered the season neck-and-neck with William Moore for the best senior safety in the country, and put together a solid season. He would only improve an already impressive Bears D.

19) Tampa Bay Buccaneers - Chris Wells, RB, Ohio State

Beanie may be one of the top prospects in the draft, but there are going to be durability concerns. The same kind of concerns that allowed Adrian Peterson to slip to seventh in the draft. When Wells is healthy he is one of the best backs out there, but he is injured a lot.

Still, with him still on the board, it would be hard for the Bucs to pass him up, especially when they've got a razor thin depth chart at RB.

20) Detroit Lions (f/Dal)- Michael Oher, OT, Ole Miss

If Oher started to slip like this it would be likely that a team would jump up and grab him, but the Lions would be doing flips to grab him here and pair him up with the already drafted Matt Stafford.

Oher has been in the spotlight for a long time now, and for the most part has lived up to the hype. He might suffer from some over-analyzing, and it could cost him in the draft, but he's certainly up there with the OTs at the top of this draft.

21) Arizona Cardinals - LeSean McCoy, RB, Pittsburgh

The Cards have enjoyed a resurgence by Edge James in the playoffs, but his age and his previously expressed desire to get out of AZ can't be ignored. Also not to be ignored are TD vulture Tim Hightower's putrid yards-per-carry numbers.

McCoy, who left in a somewhat surprising move, would give the Cards a solid, every down back, and still allow Hightower to do what he does best.

22) Minnesota Vikings - Alex Mack, C, Cal

The Vikes might lean toward grabbing one of the other QBs here, like Ball State's Nate Davis, or Josh Freeman out of Kansas State, but Brad Childress has hitched his wagon to Tarvaris Jackson and hasn't shown any indication of changing his mind.

With Matt Birk likely out the door, the Vikes would be happy to grab what many consider to be the best center prospect out there. Centers aren't a terribly popular pick in the first round of the NFL Draft, but it would be a good selection here for the Vikings.

23) New England Patriots - Brian Cushing, LB, Southern Cal

The Pats would love for one of the top three running backs to fall to them here, but with all three off the board they will address their age at linebacker. With Rookie of the Year Jerod Mayo manning the middle, the Pats could greatly improve their outside backing corps that has been crippled by age and injury.

Cushing is second best outside backer behind Aaron Curry, and he would be an absolute steal in this spot.

24) Miami Dolphins - Michael Johnson, DE, Georgia Tech

The Dolphins had a dream season before running into the Ravens in the playoffs. With their offense pretty much set, they'll look to replace the hole left by Jason Taylor last year.

Johnson is one of the more freakish players in the draft, standing above six-six and possessing incredible athleticism. He's a project and will need polishing, but if he finds his stride the sky is the ceiling for this kid.

25) Atlanta Falcons - Peria Jerry, DT, Ole Miss

Like the 'Fins, the Falcons enjoyed a dream season under new coach Mike Smith and rookie QB Matt Ryan. The Falcons could use some help solidifying their offensive line, something that became obvious in their opening round loss to the Cardinals in the playoffs.

Jerry resembles last year's high pick Glenn Dorsey, and while he will need to put on some muscle and get coached up a little, he is a great athlete, and could contribute from day one.

26) Baltimore Ravens - Darrius Heyward-Bey, WR, Maryland

The Ravens have a revelation at quarterback in rookie Joe Flacco, and would like to surround him with as much talent as possible. While Florida WR Percy Harvin would be a popular pick here, the Ravens stay in state and draft Terps pass catcher Heyward-Bey.

He doesn't have the speed that Harvin does (though he's close), but he makes up for it with size and presence. He's better suited for the Ravens tough-nosed mentality than the speedy Harvin.

27) Indianapolis Colts - B.J. Raji, DT, Boston College

The Colts could use a strong force inside to free up all-everything DE Dwight Freeney. Raji, who many have as the best DT in the draft, doesn't have great size (6'1", 320lbs) but he has great strength and is an absolute monster off the snap.

He'll have to draw focus to the middle and off the outside, opening up Freeney, and improving the Colts defense.

28) Philadelphia Eagles (f/Car) - Tyson Jackson, DE, Louisiana State

Jackson has fallen off ever since his impressive sophomore season, and there are some questions about his drive and consistency. However, he is still one of the most athletically-gifted players in the draft, and his selection would add another dimension to Philly's blitz-happy defense.

29) New York Giants - James Laurinaitis, LB, Ohio State

This would be a huge fall for Laurinaitis who was once considered one of the elite prospects in the 2009 draft, but there are some questions about how he will translate to the NFL game.

Laurinaitis is great sideline-to-sideline and an good tackler, but he has difficulty shaking blocks and taking guys on, something he'll have to do at the next level. He'll be a good NFL player, whether he can be a great player remains to be seen.

The Giants, though, would be very pleased to be able to snatch him up here.

30) Tennessee Titans - Percy Harvin, WR, Florida

Harvin is another player that enters the NFL with questions as to how he translates. He is one of the quickest players in the Draft and was impressive in the Gators national title win over Oklahoma, but he seems to be cut from the Ted Ginn mold, and while Ginn has proved himself to be a good NFL player he certainly hasn't earned the lofty pick where he was taken.

Harvin would be a godsend for a Titans team that has zero playmakers at receiver and is in need of someone to pull attention off their formidable running attack.

31) Philadelphia Eagles - Donald Brown, RB, Connecticut

With the Eagles addressing defense earlier this round, they can look to finding a solid backup/future replacement for the aging and oft-injured Brian Westbrook and Corell Buckhalter.

Brown finished his college career on a high note with a very impressive bowl performance, and looks ready to make an impact on Sundays. If nothing else, he can provide spot-breaks for Westbrook and extend his career.

32) Pittsburgh Steelers - Sen'Derrick Marks, DT, Auburn

The Steelers defense is one of the NFL's elite, but with no top level offensive talent left at this point, they'll add another player to their already impressive D.

Marks might not be able to make a huge mark early on this defense given the talent they already have, but he could definitely see some playing time as a sub, and would welcome the opportunity to contribute to such a good defense.

USC QB Battle One Of the Best Storylines Going into 2009

Shay Cronin — Thu, 15 Jan 2009 17:46:47 -0500

The departure of Mark Sanchez means that USC will be breaking in a new starter next season. Luckily, the Trojans are probably the most talent-laden team in college football, and will have three top level talents competing for the spot.

The early favorite has to be former Arkansas QB Mitch Mustain. Mustain was the top recruit in 2006 when he signed on with the Razorbacks.

Following, ironically, a opening weekend drubbing to USC, Mustain supplanted then-starter Robert Johnson for the Hogs. Mustain proceeded to lead Arkansas to seven straight wins before Houston Nutt controversially replaced Mustain with Casey Dick.

Mustain, in a much publicized move, decided to transfer from Arkansas to USC following the 2006 season. In 2007, Mustain redshirted under NCAA transfer rules, but still quarterbacked the Trojans scout team.

This past season Mustain saw limited action in relief of Mark Sanchez, attempting only 16 passes with two touchdowns and two interceptions.

Coach Pete Carroll would be most likely to give Mustain the nod because of his experience—Mustain will be entering his fourth year in college football—and because he has already shown a propensity for success at the collegiate level.

Mustain's biggest competition is likely to come in the form of true freshmen Matt Barkley. Barkley played for Mater Dai high school in California, the same school that produced players like Colt Brennan and Matt Leinart.

Most scouting services had Barkley as the top prospect in the country entering the 2008 season. However, a disappointing senior year bumped him from the top of many lists, though he has seen a resurgence due to an impressive performance in the Under Armour All American Game.

Barkley has to be considered the favorite to take over the starting role at some point down the road, whether that will be next season remains to be seen, but he is graduating early which means that he'll be on campus for spring workouts giving him a great bump toward that starting job.

The wild card in all of this will be Aaron Corp. Corp, while not as celebrated in the recruiting services as Barkley or Mustain, is the most athletic of the three quarterbacks, and having already spent two season in LA, the soon-to-be redshirt sophomore is no stranger to Carroll's system.

No matter who wins the role, that player is certain to be one of the most talked about, discussed, and criticized players in college football next year. That player will also face trial by fire early in the season when the Trojans make a September 12th visit to the Horseshoe and a rematch with the Ohio State Buckeyes.

While Sanchez's decision may be ill-received by many on the USC campus, for college football fans it has created one of the most interesting off-season storylines as we head into 2009.

Why It's Time To Change the NFL Blackout Rule

Shay Cronin — Fri, 09 Jan 2009 20:58:24 -0500

As the NFL prepares to enter its second round of playoff games, there is one story from the wild card round that seems important to bring up again—the NFL's "blackout rule".

Under current NFL contracts, any home game that is not sold out by 72 hours before kickoff is subsequently unavailable on television within a 75 mile area of the home city. The rule applies to both local and cable channels, and even subscribers to the NFL's gluttonous Sunday Ticket package on DirecTV are effected.

Last week two teams, the Minnesota Vikings and Arizona Cardinals, required extensions from the NFL in order to sell out all their tickets and avoid having their home playoff games blacked out to the Twin Cities and Phoenix areas respectively.

I for one think it's time that the NFL at the very least suspend their policy on blackouts.

Last week, as the Vikings struggled to sell the remaining tickets to the wild card game against the Eagles, star DE Jared Allen made a plea to Vikes fans to gobble up the remaining tickets and ensure that the game would be broadcast.

With all due respect to Allen, one of my favorite players and by all accounts a very decent guy, it feels a little strange to watch a man that is paid in the eight-figures to ask struggling workers to spend money on tickets, when the face value doesn't account for incidentals like travel, food, and parking (and anyone that has been to the Metrodome will tell you parking isn't cheap).

The NFL has to accept the fact that it brought this rash of non-sell outs upon itself.

The greatest thing the NFL did was to make itself the most watchable game from home in sports. With fantasy football, Sunday Ticket, and the wave of high def televisions, the NFL is becoming a communal event. People can have friends and family over on Sundays and share some food and drinks and watch their favorite team. No other sport lends itself to this once-a-week type of event.

Still, with a struggling economy and hundreds of thousands of people losing their jobs, the NFL expects, nay demands, that it sell out every game or the fans are punished.

For some people the three hours they get to spend watching their favorite team may be the only respite from what is becoming one of the most tumultuous times in American history.

I know people that spend every free moment talking about their teams, they know the history back and front, every player, every play, they own a closet full of jerseys, but for whatever reason they just aren't that interested in actually going to the stadium. Maybe they like sleeping in on Sundays, maybe they hate traffic, whatever, it's their business. And yet the NFL has made it their business as well.

To the credit of the Vikings and Cardinals fans, they did buy the tickets, and the games did air. But what happens if the recession continues? Sure teams like the Packers, Cowboys, Broncos, etc. will sell out every game, but what about the rest of the league?

There are going to be a lot of people struggling just to get by in the next few years, struggling to feed their kids, pay the rent, put gas in the car. It doesn't seem too much that they ask for their favorite team to be on three hours a week.

The NFL is a juggernaut in world sports right now. The league, even in a down economy, is still the most solvent, financially stable entity in professional sports. It has maybe the most rabid, informed, passionate fan base; not to mention it still brings in the casual viewer better than any professional league.

Yet, the NFL remains stubborn in their blackout rule, as well as any number of other rules that don't make sense for a league that is as popular as any in the history of American sports (ex. churches and other social gatherings not able to hold official Super Bowl parties).

I realize that the NFL is a business, and it is going to operate the way that maximizes profit, but at what cost?

With all the bad news in the sports economy, and the economy in general, what better move could the NFL make than to say—for the next year or two the blackout rule is rescinded. We trust our fan base to remain passionate and active, even if attending games is not a possibility financially.

This argument is probably more heartfelt than headstrong, thus making it poor business. But as an NFL fan I think the league has a unique opportunity to bring in a wave of good publicity, grab some new fans, and remind old fans why they love the league in the first place even as the headlines are grabbed by stories about drug abuse, arms possession, dog fighting, physical assault, etc.

The NFL has made itself into a weekly family event, why not embrace that instead of fighting it?

Detroit Lions Likely in Market For a 'Ford

Shay Cronin — Fri, 09 Jan 2009 16:43:42 -0500

With the 2008 college football season now over, a lot of attention will start to turn toward the NFL Draft in April.

The Detroit Lions emphatically cemented their position atop the draft board with their unprecedented 0-16 campaign in the 2008 NFL season.

The Lions seem to be set at one of the wideout positions with superstar Calvin Johnson, who managed to finish among league leaders in receptions, receiving yards.

Johnson's stats are even more impressive when you consider he was seemingly the only Detroit player capable of producing anything positive on offense. But that is likely to change as all signs point toward the Lions selecting someone to throw Johnson the ball in the April draft.

The draft process is long, and it is entirely possible that the hapless Lions will decide to solidify their offensive line with LT Andre Smith come April, but at this point it looks like Detroit has to be leaning toward a franchise signal caller that can revitalize a team and fan base that has reached new lows in futility.

The question is which of the top two quarterbacks -- Matt Stafford and Sam Bradford -- should the Lions be leaning towards.

The strong-armed Stafford out of Georgia has had some NFL scouts drooling for the last year. He has probably the best arm in the draft since Jay Cutler in 2006, and while it seems crazy, one of the biggest scouting advantages he has is that he "can take snaps under center", which speaks well of Staffords potential to translate easily into an NFL offense.

Still, Stafford faces some serious questions throughout the draft process. Teams will wonder, if he was so head-and-shoulders above the rest of college football in terms of talent, why did that never fully translate on the field?

The biggest knock against Stafford is the same knock against similarly strong-armed quarterbacks over the past 20 years, and that is the tendency to try and make throws that they shouldn't. Brett Favre is the leading authority in this field, Jay Cutler is working toward his Master's, and Stafford is certainly setting down that same path.

Stafford has had impressive numbers this year—3,500 yards passing, 25 TDs—but not the eye-popping figures one would expect from such a great talent. Are his relatively modest stats a result of the conservative pro-style offense of Georgia, or the top-caliber defenses of the SEC?

Oklahoma's Bradford is fresh off one of the best statistical years in college football history. His Sooners averaged over 50 points per game, and had a remarkable stretch of five straight games with 60+ points.

Bradford, if he comes out, would be the most accurate passer on the board, though questions will be raised about how much of Bradford's success was him, and how much was the talent around him.

Oklahoma ran a spread offense and was blessed with a wealth of talent at the skill positions including pro prospects at wideout in Manny Johnson and Juaquin Iglesias, and tight end in Jermaine Gresham. Tailback DeMarco Murray also proved to be an effective pass catcher as the season wore on.

The biggest question about Bradford will be whether he can handle the pass rush of NFL defenses. The Oklahoma quarterback was notoriously untouched in the backfield last season, with opposing defenses laying a hand on him about seven percent of the time.

Any quarterback playing for Detroit next year would be lucky to not be hit only seven percent of the time.

The wild card in the process may be USC quarterback Mark Sanchez who came on strong late in the season, capping it with his impressive performance against Penn State in the Rose Bowl.

Sanchez was considered a possible mid-first round pick before the Rose Bowl, and that game may be enough to bump him onto the Lions radar as they head towards April.

Whoever the Lions call out first in April's draft is walking into a huge rebuilding job.

The Lions, their fans, and the city of Detroit are all in disrepair right now, and the player they choose will be pegged as the savior of a franchise, and the hope of a city.

For the sake of the Lions and their eventual selection, lets hope they choose wisely.

College Football's Way Too Early Top 25 For 2009

Shay Cronin — Fri, 09 Jan 2009 06:13:54 -0500

The 2008 college football offseason is only a few heartbeats old, which means it is the perfect time to look forward to who will be sitting in the Top 25 come next fall.

1) Florida Gators— if Tim Tebow returns

If, and that's a big if, Tim Tebow returns, then this team is likely the most complete returning champion since USC in 2005.

The only significant loss on offense is likely to be Percy Harvin, but with Jeff Demps, Brandon James, Riley Nelson, and Aaron Hernandez, this team should not miss a beat on offense. It should help, of course, that the Gators are likely to return all their starters on the o-line.

The offense could be impacted by the potential loss of Chris Rainey, who went down with what looked to be a serious knee injury against Oklahoma.

The defense is likely to return almost everyone aside from Brandon Spikes, who may enter the NFL Draft. A dangerous thought about a defense that contained one of the most prolific offenses in college football history.

The schedule also works out in UF's favor, with almost all its biggest games at The Swamp. The annual battle against Georgia isn't likely to be as heated a contest, with the Dawgs losing their top two offensive talents. The schedule may come down to an early October visit to Baton Rouge.

2) Texas Longhorns

The 'Horns thought they deserved to be playing the Gators in this year's BCS Championship Game, but they may get their wish next year in Pasadena.

Colt McCoy leads the offense which will likely return all of the offensive line, and most of the top receivers, including McCoy's favorite target (and most cited roommate in the nation), Jordan Shipley.

The defensive line will lose playmakers like Brian Orakpo and Roy Miller. However, the return of nearly the entire linebacking corps and the maturation of this year's inexperienced defensive backfield should help the loss.

The most important return on the defensive side of the ball for UT is coordinator Will Muschamp. One of the most sought-after coaches in the nation accepted a new deal that will see Muschamp become the head coach when Mack Brown retires, and be paid a hefty sum until that day.

The 'Horns are seeking to add a marquee non-conference game, but the season likely comes down to showdowns with two Oklahoma teams. The Red River Shootout on Oct. 17 may be the most hyped game of the year, especially considering the controversy surrounding the Sooners jump over Texas in the BCS in 2008, and a trip to Stillwater two weeks later to play Oklahoma State, which may be an equally diifficult task.

3) Alabama Crimson Tide

This rank may be just as much about the coaching ability of Nick Saban as it is about the talent on the 'Bama team.

The offense loses star LT Andre Smith, who moves on to the riches and glory of the NFL, while John Parker Wilson likely moves on to the riches and glory of being former Alabama quarterback John Parker Wilson.

Replacing Wilson will be a heated contest in the spring between Greg McElroy and Star Jackson, a highly touted recruit from last year's class. Jackson's talent and potential is likely to win out in the end, but the passing game will still come down to the progress of superstar freshmen WR Julio Jones.

The defense will probably lose a few players to the NFL, most notably NT Terrance Cody. However, Saban, in his short tenure, has already influxed a solid amount of talent on the defensive side of the ball and has shown he is more than able to coach that talent.

The opening weekend game against Virginia Tech will likely be the most important game on the schedule. While nothing in the SEC is ever easy, if 'Bama can get past the Hokies in early September, that should be a pretty good indicator that another SEC West title could be in the works.

4) Oklahoma Sooners—if Sam Bradford returns

This ranking is based solely on Heisman Trophy winner Bradford returning. If Bradford takes his game to Sundays, it would be tough to see this team maintaining its ranking in the Top 10.

Bradford's return would ease the loss of senior wide receivers Manny Johnson and Juaqin Iglesias, and the likely loss of junior tight end Jermaine Gresham. OU also loses the entire left side of its offensive line, with massive tackle Phil Loadholt and guard Duke Robinson.

The defense should not suffer the same kind of losses, with high first-round prospect DT Gerald McCoy being the only potentially significant loss.

The Sooners will begin the season with a pair of intriguing non-conference games. First against BYU on opening weekend at the new Cowboys Stadium, and then a week later at Miami. Either one of those teams has the chance to surprise the college football nation if the Sooners aren't up to the task at the start of next year.

5) Virginia Tech Hokies

With one of the youngest team in Frank Beamer's tenure, the Hokies still managed to win the ACC Championship and the Orange Bowl, albeit over an overmatched Cincinnati team.

While redshirting Tyrod Taylor seemed like a good idea three months ago, it clearly didn't work out that way. Taylor evolved in the position since his one-week stint as a redshirt, and proved in the Orange Bowl that he has the makings of one of the most menacing dual-threat QBs in the nation. The emergence of Darren Evans should only help what could be an already dangerous offense.

The defense will certainly miss the presence of corner Macho Harris both on and off the field, but that could be eased with the return of Stephen Virgil, who matched Harris' total of six interceptions last season.

The Hokies are looking at two big non-conference games, with the opening week battle against Alabama at the Georgia Dome and hosting the resurgent Nebraska Cornhuskers a few weeks later. However, if the ACC is anywhere near as competitive in 2009 as it was in 2008, then Virginia Tech's biggest games may lie in conference.

6) Ohio State Buckeyes

The world may cringe, but the Buckeyes look headed toward another berth in a BCS bowl game.

Freshmen quarterback Terrelle Pryor was inconsistent but flashed the talent that made him perhaps the most sought after recruit in college football history. An offseason of tutelege from Jim Tressell could push him closer to reach the impossibly high expectations of Buckeye Nation.

The defense returns almost everyone, but the two notable exceptions are all-everything players Malcom Jenkins and James Laurinaitis. While filling those two holes seems a difficult task now, knowing Ohio State, they have a few players stashed away to fill the void.

The nation will find out just how good this Buckeye team can be when the USC Trojans come to The Horseshoe on Sept. 12. A revenge victory against the Men of Troy could be what the Buckeyes need to shake their "can't win the big game" image and propel them towards one of four slots in Pasadena next January.

7) Oklahoma State Cowboys

One of the biggest surprises in college football last year won't be afforded the same luxury in 2009, but with the returning players on the Cowboys roster, they won't need to rely on the element of surprise to wrangle wins.

There may be no better QB-RB-WR trio in the country than Zac Robinson, Kendall Hunter, and Dez Bryant. All three return next year, creating the potential for a very dangerous offense in a conference of very dangerous offenses.

While the offense will impress, OK State's fate will fall in the hands of its defense. Scoring a ton of points is nice, but it doesn't ensure victory—see the Bedlam game last November.

The 2009 season kicks off with a bang when the Georgia Bulldogs come to Stillwater to return the favor for the Cowboys '07 trip to Athens. Survive that and the Cowboys can look forward to a schedule that sees most of its toughest opponents (Missouri, Texas, Texas Tech) visiting Stillwater, with the notable exception of a late-season visit to Norman and the Oklahoma Sooners.

8) Ole Miss Rebels

Their victory against the newly crowned Florida Gators aside, it's hard not to be impressed with the way Reverend Nutt's team finished off 2008—rattling off six straight victories, including an impressive win over Texas Tech in the Cotton Bowl.

Jevan Snead was a revelation for a Rebels team that has been desperate for a decent quarterback since Eli Manning left Oxford. Snead has an NFL caliber arm, and has already exhibited an excellent understanding of Nutt's offense.

One negative is the huge loss of LT Michael Oher. Though RS freshmen Bradley Sowell has been mentioned as a good, if not equal, substitute for the position.

The Rebels avoid Georgia and Florida on next year's schedule and could position themselves as the most complete challenger to Alabama's SEC West crown. Unless...

9) LSU Tigers

The Bayou Bengals season looked to be a complete wash before their dismantling of Georgia Tech in the Chick-fil-A Bowl. Suddenly all is not lost for Les Miles' team.

The quarterback position doesn't seem likely to be any clearer going into 2009 than it was going into 2008. However, Jordan Jefferson may have pushed himself into the leading position with his late-season performance. Jefferson won't be able to do enough to keep elite incoming recruit Russell Shepherd off the field, though.

While some question whether the Houston athlete can make it as a quarterback at college, there's no denying his playmaking ability, and he will get touches next year.

The defense is likely to see the typical turnover that LSU has gotten used to over the last few years, but if history is any indicator, the team should be able to survive the changes.

The Tigers' biggest game going into '09 would almost certainly have to be the October visit from the Florida Gators, but trips to Ole Miss and Alabama will dictate whether this team finds itself in Atlanta in early December.

10) Oregon Ducks

The Ducks came on strong late and capped the season with an impressive victory over Oklahoma State in the Holiday Bowl.

The offense will be powered Jeremiah Masoli, who gave Ducks fans flashbacks to Dennis Dixon late in the season. If Masoli carries that momentum into the offseason, the diminutive quarterback could prove to be a terror for Pac 10 defenses next fall.

LaGarrette Blount will lead the rushing attack after breaking the 1000 barrier last year with over 7 yards per carry and double digit touchdowns.

While the defense will need to replace a few starters, the Ducks and offensive coordinator Chip Kelly have one of the explosive offenses going into next year and pose the biggest threat to USC's dynastic Pac 10 run since the Aaron Rodgers-led Cal Bears of 2004.

11) USC Trojans —if Mark Sanchez enters the draft

Speaking of the Trojans...it feels weird placing them outside the Top 10, but if Sanchez decides to leave early, it is hard to place them higher than this, considering the loss of talent.

Sanchez, who was inconsistent most of the year, broke through at the perfect time—before a national television audience in the Rose Bowl. His performance was more than enough to solidify his spot as a first-round talent, and could eventually move him into the conversation with Bradford and Matt Stafford after the combine in February.

His return would bump this ranking back to the top five, as his presence figures to be the catalyst for an uber-talented USC offense.

If Sanchez leaves, the offense likely goes over to former Arkansas quarterback Mitch Mustain. Mustain, who saw very limited action this year, has a history of winning as a starting quarterback, but is still raw and two years removed from big-time play.

Mustain could be challenged by fellow backup Aaron Corp, who was actually ahead on the depth chart at the start of the season, or by elite recruit Matt Barkley, who is already seen as the next star USC quarterback.

The defense will suffer too many losses too count, just name a player and odds are their 2009 games are going to be on Sundays. And while USC "reloads, not rebuilds," it is difficult to see how so much talent can be replaced so easily.

The schedule is brutal, with road trips to Ohio State, Notre Dame, Cal, Oregon, and Arizona State (though mercifully avoiding Corvallis). That, combined with the loss of talent, makes it hard to see how 2009 could see the same win total as 2008.

Still, I'm sure Pete Carroll will have many people eating their words come next January.

12) Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets

The questions of whether or not Paul Johnson's triple option offense could work in a BCS conference have been silenced, if only for one year.

The most important thing for the offense's continued success is the return of the team's three top rushers—QB Josh Nesbitt and RBs Jonathan Dwyer and Roddy Jones.

Dwyer was a beast last year, posting huge numbers for a team that needed to find a premiere running back, while Nesbitt ran Johnson's offense smoothly enough to get Tech within a tiebreaker of the ACC Championship Game.

The defense will have its work cut out replacing a number of players, including DE Michael Johnson, who figures to hear his name called sooner rather than later in April's draft.

Still, the ACC looks to be another open race next year, and the triple option has been successful thus far.

13) Pittsburgh Panthers —if Shady McCoy returns

This ranking seemed safe just a day or two ago, but recent rumors that star RB LeSean McCoy has been skipping team meetings since their Sun Bowl loss to Oregon State fuels speculation that he may be taking his game to the next level. That loss would certainly bump Pitt further down these rankings, if not out of them altogether.

For the time being, though, Pitt looks like a solid team next year. There is, however, a lingering question at quarterback. While Bill Stull took hold of the job last year, his performance (9 touchdowns against 10 interceptions) did not impress, and his job is anything but assured heading into the spring.

However, that point is a lot less important if McCoy returns, which emphasizes his importance to this team. If the near 1,500-yard, 20-plus TD rusher returns, this team may be the favorite to win the Big East. If not, it could be a long and potentially final season for Dave Wannastedt at Pitt.

14) TCU Horned Frogs

Somebody has to play the role of BCS buster and who better than the Frogs, who seem to consistently flirt with the role while never actually reaching it. The bowl victory over previously unbeaten Boise State should motivate Gary Patterson's team heading into the offseason.

The Frogs lose players on defense, but star DE Jerry Hughes returns. And on the offensive side of the ball, QB Andy Dalton heads up a squad that returns leading rusher Joseph Turner and leading receiver Jimmy Young.

With Utah losing a number of players, most notably QB Brian Johnson, TCU figures to be the strongest team in the Mountain West, which seems to be becoming the seventh BCS conference.

15) South Florida Bulls

Things seem to have been going consistently downhill for Jim Leavitt's team since it unexpectedly rose to the No. 2 position in the country in October 2007.

The offense returns a number of players, but most notably QB Matt Grothe. Grothe struggled down the stretch last year and seems to have difficulty finding the flare that made him one of the up-and-coming signal callers in college football just a few years ago. With his last season at stake, Grothe will retake his place as one of the prominent dual-threat quarterbacks in the country.

The defense will once again be anchored by DE George Selvie who, like Grothe and, come to think of it, the entire USF team, struggled in 2008. Selvie, once projected as a high first-round pick, fell back to earth this year as he faced double and triple teams off the line every game.

The Bulls' defensive coaches are likely to find a way to ease up on the number of blockers Selvie faces, and that should allow his pure talent to shine through.

The Bulls, who have wrestled their way into the discussion as one of Florida's best college football teams, will have a chance to prove it this year with games against Florida State and Miami. The Bulls will make the trip to Tallahassee in late September, and then host the Baby Canes late in the season.

16) North Carolina Tar Heels

The Heels figure to be one of the sexier picks going into the 2009 ACC season. Butch Davis has brought the team back to the level of popularity and success it enjoyed under former coach Mack Brown.

On offense, the team will have to decide on a quarterback between Cam Sexton and T.J. Yates, both of whom saw significant playing time in '08. Complicating the matter could be former top recruit Mike Paulus, who saw limited playing time last season (though managed to throw two picks on only 13 attempts).

The offense loses star WR Hakeem Nicks, but retains running backs Shaun Draughn and goal line beast Ryan Houston, creating one of the more effective running attacks in the ACC.

The defense will be headed by potential all-everything DT Marvin Austin. The junior-to-be's play has been as impressive as his choice of the No. 9 jersey is strange.

The biggest hurdle between UNC and the ACC Championship Game is likely the team's schedule. Road trips to Boston College, Virginia Tech, and Georgia Tech mean that the Heels will probably need to rely on a little help in order to make it to Tampa next December.

17) Miami Hurricanes

While 'Canes fans still pine for a return to their prominence of the late 90's and early 2000s, Miami fans would surely be happy to see their team return to the Top 25 polls on a consistent basis, which is a goal that seems within Randy Shannon's reach next year.

On offense, the team found its quarterback late in the season with Jacory Harris. The Miami native seems to already have the respect of his teammates—a feat that has been in no small measure helped by the fact nearly a dozen Canes were Harris' teammates at Northwestern high school in Miami.

In fact, Harris looked good enough to prompt the transfer of once highly touted gunslinger Robert Marve.

The skill positions should see almost everybody returning, including top rushers Graig Cooper and Javarris James, along with talented young wide outs like Aldarius Johnson and Travis Benjamin.

The defense needs to take steps forward, but for a team that was dotted with starting freshmen, it doesn't seem a stretch that under the tutelage of a good coaching staff that will happen.

The Canes will have big non-conference matchups against Oklahoma and South Florida to go along with the competitive ACC schedule. But the biggest question has to be at what point will this team stop being referred to as the Baby Canes? How about the Toddler Canes?

18) Cal Golden Bears

Now on to the team that beat Miami in the Emerald Bowl.

The offense may have a case of addition by subtraction with the graduation of much maligned QB Nate Longshore. His replacement is likely to be a battle between one-time starter Kevin Riley and former star recruit Brock Mansion.

The Golden Bear's offense, however, will rely on the play of their Heisman candidate tailback, Jahvid Best. Best came on late, breaking the century mark in his last four games, including a 300-yard game against Washington. Along with equally explosive back Shane Vereen, this figures to be one of the best running combos in the game next year.

The Bears schedule sees them taking a difficult trip to Eugene to face the Ducks in late September, along with an intriguing matchup at Minnesota in the new Gophers Stadium.

A solid season from Best could be enough to have Cal seeing roses late in the season.

19) Florida State Seminoles

A thorough beatdown of the Wisconsin Badgers in the Champs Sports Bowl has 'Noles fans hoping that Miami isn't the only resurgent powerhouse in the Sunshine state.

Christian Ponder played well enough at quarterback to ease fears going into 2009, but erratically enough to further rumblings about whether last year's star recruit EJ Manuel will be taking the reigns at some point in the near future.

Jermaine Thomas will likely have to pick up the slack for the departure of star RB Antone Smith. Thomas flashed brilliance in 2008, averaging seven yards per carry, but whether he will be able to handle the load by himself is another matter.

The defense will be in need of some patchwork with the loss of DE Everette Brown, LB Derek Nicholson, and hard-hitting nerd Myron Rolle.

Still, Florida State feels like a squad that is starting to get its swagger back, and you can't help but feel that Bobby Bowden has at least one great stretch left in his career.

20) Georgia Bulldogs

A "disappointing" 10-3 season was compounded by the loss of star players Matt Stafford and Knowshon Moreno. Still, Mark Richt returns a number of players and should keep the team above water while they replace those two.

On offense, the big question will be who replaces Stafford. While veteran Joe Cox has the lead going into the spring, look for star recruit Aaron Murray to push him for playing time...if he can hold off fellow recruit Zach Mettenberger.

Moreno's replacement is much easier, with Caleb King ready to take over the carries and hand off his change-of-pace role to Richard Samuel.

What the defense loses on the line it makes up for in the return of linebackers Akeem Dent, Rennie Curran, and Darryl Gamble.

An opening week faceoff with Oklahoma State in Stillwater will provide UGA instant feedback on how its process to replace Stafford is going.

While the Dawgs lose a lot of star power to the draft, they still remain one of the most talent-laden rosters in college football and should be competing for second billing in the SEC East, behind Florida.

21) Penn State Nittany Lions

A team that many pegged to give USC a battle in the Rose Bowl ended up providing another example for Big Ten bashers across the nation, though a few scoring drives in the second half kept the game from getting too out of hand and saved some face for Joe Pa's boys in Pasadena.

The offense loses WRs Derrick Williams, Deon Butler, and Jordan Norwood, but returns star QB Daryll Clark and RB Evan Royster. Clark's presence means that while the Spread HD offense may not be as defined as it was in 2008, it won't fall to the realm of Spread Standard Definition anytime soon.

A fairly uneventful non-conference schedule leads the Penn State into another open competition in the Big Ten, and while Pasadena is probably out of reach in 2009, another strong showing by the ageless Paterno is quite possible.

22) BYU Cougars

The Cougars started the season strong before eventually suffering losses to fellow mid-major heavyweights Utah and TCU, and suffering a hard-fought loss to Arizona in the Las Vegas Bowl.

The offense will lose WR Austin Collie to the draft, but it returns QB Max Hall, along with RB Harvey Unga. Hall tossed 35 touchdowns and nearly 4,000 yards in 2008, and Unga broke 1,100 yards rushing and amassed double digits in rushing touchdowns.

The two returning means that BYU should maintain one of the more balanced offenses in the nation in 2009.

The defense will have to patch up a unit that became prone to giving up points late in the season, and it will have to be at the top of its game opening weekend when they travel to new Cowboys Stadium to face the BCS title runner-up, the Oklahoma Sooners.

23) Texas Tech Red Raiders

Tech was flying high in mid-November, coming off a victory against then-top ranked Texas. Then the Red Raiders looked to ride that momentum into Norman and a victory against Oklahoma. Obviously, that wasn't how things went. A loss to OU was followed by a near-disaster loss against Baylor and a humbling loss to Ole Miss in the Cotton Bowl.

Offensively, the team will lose its top two players in Graham Harrell and Michael Crabtree. Harrell graduates, while Crabtree, though undeclared for the draft at this point, is almost certainly taking his game to sundays. Still, Tech returns a number of receivers, including Edward Britton and Detron Lewis, and QB Taylor Potts figures to be the next stat monger under mad scientist Mike Leach.

The defense returns a high number of players, and while the unit was far from perfect last season, it did show flashes of brilliance that had not been seen to that point in Leach's tenure at Tech.

While Crabtree and Harrell represent a huge loss both on the field and in terms of the teams marketability, the Tech machine is likely to plug in a new round of players to keep the team moving.

24) Minnesota Golden Gophers

If before the season you had said the once 1-11 Gophs would push their way to 7-5 and a bowl bid, it would have seemed like a pretty successful season. However, the way it happened left a bad taste in the mouths of maroon and gold fans.

The once 7-1 Gophs lost their last four regular season games, including a 55-0 embarrassment to Iowa in the last home game at the Metrodome, before losing to Kansas in the Insight.com Bowl.

Still, hope lies ahead for the Gophers in the form of a beautiful, new, on-campus stadium that opens this upcoming fall. TCF Bank Stadium figures to provide the type of atmosphere befitting of the sport, and vacant from Gopher football since their actual "golden" period.

The offense returns almost every player of note, most notably QB Adam Weber and WR Eric Decker. The two were one of the most dangerous pairs in the country until Decker was plagued by injuries late in the year. Weber has the ability, and the system, to play himself into a race as a darkhorse candidate for the Heisman next year.

The defense was better in '08 than it was in '07, but since the Gophs were the worst ranked team two years ago, there was hardly anywhere to go but up. Still, the defense contains a lot of raw talent, and one of the more interesting stories going into 2009 in former star recruit LB Sam Maresh, who has been medically cleared to return to the game after open heart surgery last fall.

Tim Brewster has recruited talent to the Twin Cities the likes of which hasn't been seen for decades. Now, with a new stadium and Brewster entering his third year as head coach, the expectations will be set out for him to start moving this team toward their ultimate goal: Pasadena.

25) Nebraska Cornhuskers

For a team that had so publicly failed in recent years, the Huskers had a surprisingly quiet and successful 2008 campaign. Bo Pelini's first year saw his team go 9-4, winning its last four games, including a 26-21 victory over Clemson in the Gator Bowl on New Year's Day.

On offense, the team will have to find someone to replace QB Joe Ganz. The favorite going into the spring will probably be Patrick Witt, who attempted only eight passes this season.

The heart of the Nebraska team has always been, and will always be, its defense. Pelini was brought in with the specific goal to return the Huskers' D to brilliance, and they seem to be on their way. If nothing else, the team received a huge boost in confidence and morale when Pelini returned the famed blackshirts that the team had lost over a year ago.

Nebraska's quiet success in 2008 is unlikely to lead to quiet expectation in 2009. Success for Nebraska football is followed by the expectation for more success, and with Bo Pelini at the helm and the Big 12 North wide open, there's no reason to think that Nebraska won't be the team representing the division next December in Dallas.

US Men's Soccer: Five Things to Watch for in 2009

Shay Cronin — Thu, 08 Jan 2009 19:12:11 -0500

With the final stage of CONCACAF qualifying for the 2010 World Cup just around the corner, the United States is looking forward to a busy, difficult, and important 2009. Here are a few of the top stories and events going into the new year.

1. Chance to Win at Estadio Azteca (Aug. 12)

The United States has never beaten hated rival Mexico at Aztec Stadium, and with good reason; the venue is one of the most daunting in all of international football. Over 100,000 screaming fans is enough to unravel even the most composed of squads.

So why can this year be any different for the Stars and Stripes? Simply put, Mexico isn't as good as they used to be.

Sven-Goran Eriksson's team has struggled mightily in WC qualifying so far. El Tri lost two of its last three matches in the third qualifying round, and drew the other.

Further, Mexico had to rely on goal differential against Jamaica in order to make it to the final round of qualifying, and there are more than a few soccer pundits that are pegging them as a surprise non-qualifier in 2010.

While the thought of Mexico not qualifying seems unfathomable, and will probably be considered ridiculous in 10 months, if the U.S. were ever to take a game in Mexico City, this year appears to be the best chance.

2. Jozy and Freddy

It's difficult to remember two players whose progress has been more intimately intertwined with the national team than these two youngsters.

Freddy Adu has been a household name since before he hit puberty, and while he has yet to reach the lofty expectations laid out by some, there is no doubt that he has become one of the U.S. team's most dangerous players.

While he is not the finisher the team so desperately needs, he is the best player this side of Landon Donovan for creating space and opportunities for other players.

For a team whose offensive strategy is often mired in poor shot-taking and lifeless crosses, there may be no remedy like a player who can spark creative football with a single touch.

For Jozy Altidore, the goal is simple: become the best US striker since Brian McBride, if not ever. Jozy is barely 19, yet every U.S. soccer fan knows his name, and wonders aloud where he is when coach Bob Bradley doesn't have him on the pitch.

Though his appearances have been sparse (just six caps so far) he gives the Americans their best scoring threat going into South Africa and beyond.

While skeptics will point to other U.S. scoring prodigies like Eddie Johnson, there seems to be something special about this kid as long as he keeps his head on straight and keeps plugging forward.

3. Landon's Last Run?

While it is almost certain that we will see Landon sport the red, white, and blue after the World Cup, there has to be a question as to whether he will be the star player again.

Landon, like him or not, is without question one of the best players in American soccer history, if not the best.

However, this will be his third World Cup go-round and time catches up even to the best of us.

A move back to Germany with Bayern Munich will hopefully ramp up his level of play, and prepare him for one last run as the face of U.S. soccer.

4. Confederations Cup (June 14-28, South Africa)

One of the biggest reasons pointed to for the United States' disappointing 2006 World Cup run was the lack of top-level competition in the year leading up to the tournament. No such complaint is likely to be heard this time.

The Confederations Cup, held primarily as a warm-up for the following year's World Cup, will be held in South Africa and pits the United States against the six continent winners, the host South Africa, and defending World Cup champion Italy.

The Americans have already had a stroke of bad luck by drawing the same group with powerhouses Italy and Brazil, along with one of the world's most underrated teams, Egypt.

A strong showing this summer in South Africa could be just the thing the U.S. needs to carry it into a return trip in 2010, while a dismal showing could send the team into a panic and lead to USSF replacing Bob Bradley.

By qualifying for the CC with their 2007 Gold Cup victory, the U.S. ensured that they will if nothing else, know exactly how far along they are with a year left.

5. World Cup Draw (December)

Without jinxing it, barring an epic and embarrassing collapse, the United States should be on its way to a sixth straight World Cup. Though like in 2006, how far they go will likely be in large part dictated by who is in their group.

Already suffering some bad luck draw-wise in the Confederations Cup as noted above, the Americans can ill afford to have the same kind of bad luck for 2010.

In 2006, the draw of Italy, Czech Republic, and Ghana for Germany put the U.S. behind the eight-ball before the tournament even started.

While some will point toward the team's stunning opening-round victory over Portugal in 2002 as evidence that draw is not important, the simple fact is that it is.

The U.S. is always facing an uphill battle when it comes to major international competitions, and it needs every advantage it can get...even if that advantage comes out of a hat.

Gonzaga-Tennessee: Zags Get Needed Win Over No. 25 Volunteers

Shay Cronin — Wed, 07 Jan 2009 16:20:36 -0500

It took an extra five minutes of basketball, but the stumbling Gonzaga Bulldogs were able to hang on to beat the No. 25 Tennessee Volunteers 89-79, beating the Vols for the second time this year and ending their 37-game home winning streak.

This was possibly the most important win of the year for Mark Few's team, which has lost four out of their last five games, including an embarrassing home loss to Portland State in late December.

Gonzaga's Matt Bouldin led all scorers with 26 points, a new career high for the junior guard. Austin Daye netted 20, including a 3 for 4 night from beyond the arc for the talented sophomore.

Tennessee's Tyler Smith scored with an inside floater late in the second half to make it 73-73 and force overtime. Gonzaga took advantage of the Volunteers' sloppy play in the extra session and converted on 9 of 10 shots from the free throw line.

The Zags' first victory over Tennessee came in the final of the Old Spice Classic on Nov. 30, when the then 10th-ranked team beat the Vols 83-74 in Orlando.

This was an important game for Gonzaga, having fallen from a top five ranking to out of the most recent top 25 poll. With only three more "legitimate" games on their schedule due to the relative weakness of the West Coast Conference outside of St. Mary's, the Zags could ill afford to waste an opportunity to impress on national television.

For Tennessee, it was another loss for a team that has been somewhat disappointing midway through the season. The loss likely insures that Bruce Pearl's team will fall from the ranks of the top 25, a distinction shared by no other SEC team this week, though likely to change with the Arkansas Razorbacks' victory over Texas on Tuesday night.

Both teams will begin conference play on Saturday: The Zags will host the Portland Pilots, while the Vols will travel to Athens to play last year's SEC tournament champions, the Georgia Bulldogs.

Stafford's Departure Leaves UGA with Big Question Under Center

Shay Cronin — Wed, 07 Jan 2009 12:27:11 -0500

Today's announcement that Georgia quarterback Matthew Stafford and running back Knowshon Moreno would be leaving school early to enter the NFL Draft was expected by most, but the loss of two star offensive players leave UGA with big questions going into 2009.

Georgia is more prepared to handle the loss of Moreno, who's departure means that stud redshirt freshmen Caleb King will likely take over the majority of carries next year. King, the highly touted back out of the Atlanta area, was solid when given opportunities this year, averaging four yards per carry.

The Bulldogs also have Richard Samuel, a big, explosive back who was impressive in a limited role last year.

However, the loss of Stafford should have a much more profound impact on the team. The departure of the record-setting passer leaves UGA without a proven starter at the quarterback position and creates one of the most interesting position battles in the country going into next season.

Joe Cox has the advantage of being the only senior among next year's quarterbacks, but that advantage is likely outweighed by Cox's relative inexperience—he's only attempted 58 passes in his career. Still, his status as the elder-statesman likely gives him a leg up going into spring practice.

Dual threat quarterback Logan Gray, who will be a redshirt sophomore next year, is likely to see significant playing time, but probably in a "Wild Dawg" formation. His athletic ability gives UGA its best running threat at the position since D.J. Shockley, and Mark Richt is likely to take advantage of that, especially with the loss or Moreno in the running game.

The two wild cards in the competition will be incoming freshmen Aaron Murray and Zach Mettenberger. Both players are graduating high school early, and will be enrolled in Athens come spring.

Of the two players, Murray is the most likely to get a serious look at grabbing the starting job. The accurate passer out of Tampa has been one of the most talked about recruits in the nation over the last year, and is the odds-on favorite to take over the starting job down the road.

Mettenberger, while not as heralded as Murray, makes up for it in size and arm strength. The 6'5", 230-pound signal caller out of Watkinsville, Ga. has perhaps the biggest arm in this year's recruiting class, and has been compared by many to the now-departing Stafford.

The 2009 season for the Georgia Bulldogs is likely to be a step back from the success of this year's team, but how far this team drops back will likely be decided by the new starting quarterback for the Dawgs—whoever it may be.

Texas Longhorns 2009 Postion-by-Positon Outlook Shows Much of Team Returning

Shay Cronin — Wed, 07 Jan 2009 00:35:04 -0500

For the Texas Longhorns, the conclusion of the 2008 season was certainly bittersweet. Though the Longhorns beat Ohio State in a thrilling, 24-21, last-second victory at the Fiesta Bowl, Texas still believes it deserved to play for the BCS Championship in Miami.

But while 2008 did not end as many had hoped, what is lost is that this was supposed to be a "down" year for the young Texas team, and it is possible that 2009 will bring the honors and accolades that the Horns missed out on in '08.

Here is a preview, position by position, at what Texas will look like in 2009.

QUARTERBACKS

As long as Colt McCoy doesn't have a sudden change of heart, he will enter the season not only as the Longhorns undisputed starter and team leader, but also as one of the favorites to win the Heisman Trophy in 2009.

Behind him the picture is less clear, though. The Texas coaches will likely try to redshirt star recruit Garrett Gilbert, but his talent and reputation may make that an impossibility.

The biggest question at the position going into the off-season is whether John Chiles or Sherrod Harris will transfer. Harris reportedly flirted with the idea last year before ultimately staying in Austin, and Chiles' talent is likely to get lost behind McCoy and Gilbert unless he switches positions.

RUNNING BACKS

This is likely to be the Longhorns' biggest question going into the '09 season. McCoy led the team in rushing in 2008, and while a repeat of that would be good for his Heisman campaign, the Texas staff would prefer to limit the number of hits their star QB takes next year.

Fozzy Whittaker, Vondrell McGee, and Cody Johnson all got carries this year, but none of them wowed as an all-purpose back worthy of carrying the load. True freshman Jeremy Hills also had flashes, but certainly not enough to earn the starting role. Recruit Chris Whaley could see significant playing time early if nobody is able to step up in the spring and set themselves apart from the pack.

WIDE RECEIVERS

The best news for Longhorns fans outside of McCoy's pledge to stay for his senior year was the NCAA decision to award Jordan Shipley a sixth year of eligibility. Having McCoy's favorite target back will ease the loss of graduating senior Quan Cosby, who was one of the most underrated players in the nation the last few years.

The Horns have one of the better young WR groups in the nation with Brandon Collins, Malcom Williams, and James Kirkendoll, all of whom saw significant time this year. Last year's star WR recruit Dan Buckner received limited time this year but shined when given the opportunity, most notably his long touchdown catch from John Chiles in the blowout over Missouri. So while Quan Cosby will be missed, it is possible, if not likely, that this group will improve in 2009.

OFFENSIVE LINE

Maybe the most inconsistent unit on the Longhorns team in 2008, the young offensive line showed the potential to be a dominant force, but was also prone to mistakes of youth.

However, unless junior OT Adam Ulatoski unexpectedly declares for the NFL Draft the entire unit will be back next year. Young players like Michael Huey, Kyle Hix, and David Snow could dictate the progress of this group, while a strong recruiting class including star prospects Mason Walters and Garrett Porter insure the future of the Longhorns' line.

DEFENSIVE LINE

The Longhorns' defensive line will be the hardest hit by graduation by far. Superstar DE Brian Orakpo is likely on his way to a top 10 selection in the draft with all the riches and attention that goes with it.

Also leaving will be solid players Roy Miller and Henry Melton. Ben Alexander will be expected to step up and assume a larger role in the defense, and youngsters Michael Wilcoxon and Kheeston Randall will need to continue to impress the coaches like they have this year.

With Jstar recruit JaMarkus McFarland choosing (albeit controversially) Oklahoma over the Horns, it is unlikely that Texas will bring in someone who can make an immediate impact unless fellow star recruit Devon Kennard decides to go to Austin.

Overall, this unit should drop off somewhat next year, but there's enough talent to keep it from seriously effecting the team.

LINEBACKERS

With Colt staying, the only other serious underclassmen prospect on the Longhorns is Sergio Kindle. Kindle has a good relationship with defensive coordinator Will Muschamp, and seems to be leaning towards returning for his senior year.

If Kindle comes back, then this will be a very fast and athletic group in 2009. The only loss will be Rashad Bobino, and that loss should be softened by the insertment of Jared Norton to the spot.

With Roddrick Muckelroy coming back and the rise of Keenan Robinson combined with the return of Kindle, this could end up being one of the Longhorns best linebacking corps in recent memory.

DEFENSIVE BACKS

This season was baptism by fire for freshmen safeties Blake Gideon and Earl Thomas. Both played extremely well, though Gideon's season may be remembered more for the play agaisnt Texas Tech that he didn't make than the many that he did this year.

Thomas was somewhat of a revelation at a spot that was completely open for competition at the start of camp. Fellow freshmen safety Christian Scott played well when given the opportunity, and redshirt Nolan Brewster is likely to get playing time next year regardless.

The loss of Ryan Palmer at corner will be eased by the return of Deon Beasley and Chykie Brown, with Aaron Williams likely to see action next fall.

If the Horns can land Dre Kirkpatrick, the nation's top cornerback recruit, then this could become a unit with the potential to be one of the nation's best in the next few years.

With a large number of returning starters, including Colt McCoy and nearly all of 2008's prolific offense, the Longhorns have to be considered one of the favorites to win the national championship in 2009, and should enter the season ranked No. 1 or No. 2 in the preseason polls next fall.