The NCAA at a glance: Ranks 1-5

Posted on 01/27/2012 by admin

Research Compiled by Matthew Grosbard
Article Written by Austin Seidel

Image courtesy of NBC Sports

1: Kentucky- The John Calipari lead Kentucky Wildcats are once again atop the NCAA standings, a pedestal they had been removed from shortly before Christmas with a narrow loss to the Indiana Hoosiers. The Hoosiers winning, of course, by a last second prayer shot that landed to give the Hoosiers a final score of 77-76 against the young Wildcats team. This team is one that is led by returning players Terrence Jones and Darius Miller, the guard-forward combination that powered the Wildcats’ offense efficiently last year. Last year does, however; leave a bitter taste in the mouth of Kentucky players, having been dealt another loss in the final four of the NCAA tournament bracket. Calipari has made his team a juggernaut once again through the recruiting of yet another elite freshman class. Often taking heat for his players’ tendencies to go “one and done” in the NCAA, Calipari remains to be seen as one of the strongest recruiting coaches in all of college basketball. The Kentucky Wildcats are led by Miller and Jones, but often appearing as the number one, (and current number one), scorer is Sophomore guard Doron Lamb. Lamb’s 6’4” 210 Lbs frame has powered him to the top of the scoring list, averaging 13.7 points per game. Yet, single player scoring is often not the focus of a Calipari run offense. The Wildcats, in-fact, have a roster which sports six players averaging double digit scoring. Above all of this, the shining star of the Kentucky ensemble appears to be Freshman Center Anthony Davis. Davis has shown some surprising numbers, averaging a double-double per game in scoring and rebounding as well as setting the schools record for blocks in a single season with quite a few games remaining until tournament time arrives. Many pick Davis to be the number one overall selection in the upcoming NBA draft should he join the ranks of draft-ready players. All of these factors come to together to justify Kentucky for a run at this year’s NCAA tournament title and a bold prediction would put Kentucky as such. However Kentucky has not been strong in the final portions of the NCAA bracket, so the consensus around the water cooler is a final four loss yet again for the Wildcats.

Image Courtesy of Sports Illustrated

2. Missouri- Missouri’s fast-paced and high scoring offense has led to a phenomenal upset over Baylor and an 18-2 record. With their most recent loss, Mizzou could see themselves dropping out of the top 5 in AP rankings, but it is unlikely. The Tigers offense has been astonishing this season, holding ranks of 4th in the league in scoring and 3rd in field goal percentage. With a strong press in the backcourt coming from Senior guard Marcus Denmon, and the excellent support play of the Pressey brothers, the Tigers look vicious. Looking back to their loss against Kansas State, however; one finds a glaring weakness: A lack of ability to play when the game is slowed down. Mizzou definitely has speed and shooting to go toe-to-toe with any of the offenses in the NCAA, but their lack of size and presence in the front-court, particularly rebounding, has been a massive gap in the Tiger game-plan. The Tigers currently rank 216th in rebounding and no that is not a typo. Without the ability to slow down and hold possession off of the glass, Missouri may see their bracket hopes dashed early. A bold prediction for the Wildcats?: Upset in the sweet 16.

Image Courtesy of ESPN

3. Syracuse- Former number one, Syracuse, has shown exactly what Fab Melo really means to the team. After playing on the road without Melo’s services, Syracuse saw incredible performance from Dion Waiters and the rest of the Orangeman squad. Coming off of a loss to Notre Dame, which many consider a fluke, Syracuse rebounded to defeat Cincy 60-53. Syracuse faces the Mountaineers and leading player of year candidate for the Big East: Kevin Jones. The Orangeman look to make quick work of the Mountaineers as they advance on through their schedule looking to justify the chip on their shoulder that they received from a dead-accurate Notre Dame squad. Guard play is indisputably the key factor in winning the National title, and if this is the case, Syracuse looks very secure to pick as the favorite to win the Tournament. This team looks unstoppable and has shown no signs of slowing down or allowing a Notre Dame-like performance again. Look for the Orangemen to charge the NCAA tourney at full steam and make a run at the Title.

Image Courtesy of Sports Illustrated

4. Ohio State- Much like last year with Kemba Walker, many say that Ohio State’s Aaron Craft is the best ball-mover in college basketball right now. His passing ability is simply incredible. Combine this with the amazing defensive abilities of William Buford and Craft’s own defensive prowess, and you get a team which can win quite a few games. But wait, I am forgetting someone, someone who Duke Coach Mike Krzyziewski believes in the “best player in college basketball”. Jared Sullinger, the phenom Center has had a relatively quiet season in terms of media attention and has silently managed nearly 17.5 points per game, leading the Buckeyes. Finally, the most surprising piece of the Buckeyes squad: Sam Thompson. Thompson has come out of nowhere to become an impressive, well rounded player. With this combination of excellent defense, strong front-court presence, and an apparent amount of guard play, the Ohio State Buckeyes will most likely be competing for a title. However, the Buckeyes may not be able to compete with the Wildcats depth, and for this they will lose in the title match.

Image Courtesy of Bleacherreport.com

5. Kansas- The Jayhawks are yet again in the top five in AP ratings and look to prove they can win games without the talents of the Morris twins as they have posted a respectable 17-3 record thus far to become the number one team in the Big 12 above the Missouri Tigers. Kansas star, Tyshawn Taylor has emerged once again as a force to be reckoned with on the court, commanding an impressive 16.6 points per game average and adding in a nice .457 average from the three point line. Taylor does not hold the points lead for the team however: Thomas Robinson commands it with a whopping 17.8 points per game average. Robinson does not stop at scoring, pulling down an amazing 12.0 rebound per game and managing over 50% from the field as a big man. Many say that Robinson is the best big man in the nation, changing the way that the game is played down low and bringing a strong level of physicality to his style. A great comparison to Robinson can be found in the playing styles of Elton Brand and J.J. Hickson, yet he shows that he can emerge as a greater talent than either have become in the NBA. Robinson has set the example down low, working like a tractor on the court, pulling in the ball at every opportunity and replacing his teammates’ missed opportunities with second chance points that prove essential to the Jayhawk offense. Though Kansas has an excellent combination of front-court and back-court strength, they lack depth and do not appear able to show up in major games. Look for the Kansas squad to lose in the elite 8.

Twitt
Posted in College Basketball, Indiana Hoosiers, Kansas Jayhawks, Kentucky Wildcats, Kevin Jones, Mizzou, Mountaintop News Team, NBA draft, NCAA Tournament, Ohio State Buckeyes, Syracuse Basketball, The Here and Now, WVU Basketball | Leave a comment

Numbers do not define

Posted on 01/27/2012 by admin

Image Courtesy of Yahoo Sports

Article Submitted by David Baker

Numbers are one thing I do pride myself on. I am not a sports guy. I love sitting around and watching a good game on an occasional Sunday with the guys, but the obsession some people have with it just bewilders me. A recent game did pique my interest, though; The Giants and 49ers in the NFC Championship game. Now normally a writer does not give away his biases but I’ll admit, I was pulling for a Niners’ victory. Lo and behold, life sways a different way every day, and it was not in the forecast. However, we will look at one important thing though, a good focal point for this article: back-up punt and kick returner Kyle Williams. You see, Kyle was a bit infamous for his miscues in this NFC Championship game. Two fumbles can do that to a man. People will always remember him as the guy who single-handed ruined the 49ers’ chances of reaching the Super Bowl.

Stepping back for a second, let’s take a look at his regular season stats. Williams certainly had what analysts could agree on as a positive stat sheet up to this point, especially being that he served as a fourth and fifth string Wide-out. Throughout the young receiver’s first NFL season he lost zero fumbles. In addition to this, Williams averaged 12 yards a reception on 20 receptions. This man seems like a solid guy to depend on to not screw up. Yet on this day in NFL history, Williams held the spotlight due to a pair of fumbles, either of which, when avoided, had game winning potential. Wait, what kind of game did he screw up in? Post season? Well, that’s certainly far more stressful than any regular season game could be.

Math folk always love to plug and chug for what is the most efficient set up, and this case is no different. When playoffs reared their ugly head, Williams cracked. He had only 12 yards against the Saints, and a whopping ZERO against New York. It’s possible to draw that it may have just been an off day. Just as likely, and with more of my support, is the idea that numbers don’t determine value to the team on any given day. You can run numbers all day, but there are some select variables you can’t even begin to fathom. Team rivalries, post season stress, family issues, all factors that no one can measure.

Again, let me reiterate I’m no sports aficionado. The subject is usually foreign to me. You don’t need to be a fan to know what kind of stress a single elimination format can put on competitors though. This is amplified by the intensity of being the most popular sport of the time. That pressure alone is enough to crack the toughest shell, to make the greatest wall of a player fall like the Iron Curtain. At the risk of sounding like an after school special, numbers and stats can’t tell you everything about a player. You can only know when they hit the field. If numbers were all that mattered, the 2007-08 season would have been historic because the Pats would have been destined to be 19-0. Numbers say a Wild Card team could never touch that team, but we all know where the numbers were that day.

Twitt
Posted in 49ers, Giants, Kyle Williams, NFC, NFL, The Here and Now | Leave a comment

More Than A Legend: A Look back on Joe Paterno

Posted on 01/24/2012 by admin

Article written by Holly Semanchick

             There are no words to effectively describe Joseph Vincent Paterno that haven’t already been repeated.  Generous, kindhearted, humbly talented, enthusiastic, inspirational:  all just adjectives spoken in an attempt to define the true impact JoePa made on college football, Penn State University, and the community at large.
Paterno was a major face of Penn State in its athletics and often times in the media, and any student would say that they are proud to have the 85-year-old’s image associated with the blue and white.  Even as a freshman, I immediately noticed the fiercely close-knit and protective feelings most of the campus held for Paterno.  He was a living legend, and any personal sighting of him on campus was a story automatically met with awe.
While accurate, “remarkable” doesn’t begin to cover the legacy Paterno will leave.  He spent 61 years total at PSU, and gave more than just football strategies.  Countless instances have been relayed of how much he has given back to individuals at the school, all of which ranging from simply remembering the name of a student he happened to have met once, to personally inviting players who were struggling academically over to his house for a home-cooked meal and tutoring.  To Paterno, it was more important to live a life of kindness and charity, rather than riches.
He kept a relatively modest salary for his career, and still donated millions to the university.  A surprise to some, the Paterno family gave much money to THON, liberal arts, and overall academic concerns for everyone.  Kids studying in the Paterno Library or part of the Sue Paterno Catholic Center are proof that Joe Paterno was not “just football.”  He was a man of principles that couldn’t be swayed, such as PSU’s firm stance to remain one of just a handful of collegiate athletics programs to play with no names on their jerseys.   Joe always saw a bigger picture than any one individual, himself included.
Paterno’s skills on the field are an obvious shining point of his influence as well.  Under his direction, the school he loved so much earned a duo of national titles, numerous winning seasons, dozens of bowl appearances, and a prestigious reputation.  409 is the number Paterno will forever remain associated with, standing strong among the record books as the winningest coach in college football history.
Offers for other coaching positions came and went, never once entertained.  Paterno built a life in Happy Valley that he would not have traded for anything.  Of course he loved his wife, he loved his family, but he passionately loved Penn State.  Now, the idea of one coach being at a school for well over half a century is nonexistent.   They don’t make men like Paterno very often, and his dedication never went unnoticed by fans.
One did not have to personally know Paterno to respect him.  He was an adopted grandfather to literally thousands who have ever heard him speak on campus, television, or any who walked through Beaver Stadium.  Just a simple sound-bite or quote from JoePa could send a crowd into a frenzy of cheers.  It did not take a bowl win or shutout game for fans to admire Paterno.  I’ve never heard a story about a negative interaction with Joe Paterno; his congeniality was always a bigger part.  Penn State fans always believed in Joe, stood behind him, shared a strong mutual love for the school and the game of football.  I refuse to focus on any negatives that may have come to create an opinion of Paterno in the last few months.  He was nothing less than a truly phenomenal man; a coach by trade, but a humanitarian at heart.
Joe Paterno passed away this Sunday, officially from complications due to a battle with lung cancer.  Thousands of tears were shed at the thought of Joe Paterno’s demise, after such an illustrious and devoted career.  His bronze statue outside the PSU stadium became a collecting ground for everyone looking to pay respects.  Candles were lit, presents brought, the alma mater hummed by a nearly constant crowd.  And Sunday night, Beaver Stadium remained lit until morning, the lights to guide home the greatest coach in college football: Joseph Vincent Paterno.

*Holly is a student at Penn State University: Main Campus. She is a freshman under the Advertising and Public Relations degrees. She also serves as an Ad Sale Representative for ComRadio, an on campus station, and has recently been added to the Onward State Writing Staff.

Mountaintop Sports thanks Miss Semanchick for her submission

Twitt
Posted in College Football, Joe Paterno, Penn State, The Good Ole' Days, The Here and Now | Leave a comment

WVU Basketball on the rise

Posted on 01/22/2012 by admin

Article Written by Austin Seidel

With West Virginia University fast approaching the meat of their Big East Schedule, they look to face strong teams in Syracuse, Marquette, Notre Dame, and even a rising Pitt Panthers squad. The Mountaineers have had a respectable showing this season, sporting a 15-5 record with major wins against a strong Georgetown squad and an early season upset over a ranked Kansas St. squad. On the same flip of that coin, The ‘Neers have also been dealt some weak losses to teams such as Kent State in an early season match-up and a more recent loss to Seton Hall in which the WVU squad lost 67-48 and showed little hope of competing for the Big East title.

West Virginia star, Kevin Jones is averaging 20.7 points per game as well as 11.5 rebounds per game making him the man to beat for Big East Player of the year. Jones is accompanied by Darryl “Truck” Bryant atop the teams scoring list, averaging 17.5 PPG and holding a solid 32% from the 3 point line. The team shows depth with the talents of Aaron Brown and Gary Browne who are both shooting nearly 50% from the field and provide the Mountaineers with solid shooting from beyond the arc. Deniz Kilicli has shown inconsistency within the line-up, showing signs that the ankle injury he received earlier in the season is having a greater effect than many have anticipated. Even with this however, Kilicli has still managed to produce a respectable 11.1 PPG to help lift the team to its current 4th place tie with Cincinnati in the Big East Standings.

With several key Big East games upcoming on the Mountaineer schedule, concerns are developing over West Virginia’s weakness at the guard position in comparison to teams such as Syracuse, with Scoop Jardine, and Marquette, with Darius Johnson-Odom. Next on the WVU schedule is Saint John’s who should not prove to be a challenge to the young Mountaineer squad, but are still a respectable team in the NCAA basketball circuit. Beyond Saint John’s, WVU faces three ranked opponents within the last 11 matches, including an elite match-up against #1 Syracuse. Syracuse may prove to be a major challenge for the weak WVU defensive and may prove to be too much to handle as the powerful front-court of the Orange have shown no mercy against opponents with Fab Melo, C.J. Fair, and Kris Joseph pushing the ‘Cuse offense forward, averaging a combined 29.3 PPG and shutting out the glass with a combined 15.4 RPG as well. Many say WVU has not shown the initiative or consistency to be capable of an upset over #1 Syracuse, but the Mountaineers have shown that they can defeat a strong, ranked team within the confines of the Coliseum, however, West Virginia has not had a major win outside the safety of their home arena and, in fact, have not defeated a single AP ranked opponent on the road, holding a 1-3 overall record against them.

Hopes are high for the Mountaineer squad and fans alike, but the toughness of their schedule and the gaps in their recent play, may prove to be the bane of their success. Regardless of all of the downsides and doubt, the Bob Huggins led West Virginia squad will look to finish the season with a berth in the NCAA tournament bracket and a significant run in the Big East Conference tournament.

*WVU faces Saint John’s at Madison Square Garden and will be televised by ESPN U on Wednesday the 25th at 7 PM.

Twitt
Posted in College Basketball, Kevin Jones, Marquette Basketball, Mountaintop News Team, Syracuse Basketball, The Here and Now, WVU Basketball | Leave a comment

Major Splash In MLB Free Agency

Posted on 01/20/2012 by admin

Credit for image goes to www.bleachernation.com

According to a reliable source within the Washington Nationals’ organization, there is an “80/20” possibility that free agent first baseman Prince Fielder will sign with Washington. The source claims to have the same agent as Fielder. As of the release of this article, contact has yet to be established with Scott Boras, Fielder’s agent, in order to confirm or deny the report.

            If this report proves true, not only does all of baseball’s attention (at least for now) turn toward Nationals Park, the NL East as a whole will have itself well established as the most competitive division in baseball. The Phillies have a near ironclad pitching staff. When a rotation contains the likes of Roy Halladay, Cliff Lee, Cole Hamels, and a young Vance Worley, it can do nothing but good. Adding Jonathan Papelbon does not hurt matters either. The Braves are not too shabby in pitching themselves, finishing fourth in the league last year in ERA, and good luck to any pitcher getting through the meat of their lineup (Freeman, Heyward, McCann, and Uggla). With offseason acquisitions such as Jose Reyes, Mark Buehrle, and Carlos Zambrano, and not to mention a full-scale overhaul of the organization, the MIAMI Marlins look to improve on last year’s 72-90 record. With addition of another wild card spot, the Marlins could look to become a playoff contender once again.

            What purpose does the above paragraph serve other than taking up space and name dropping? Basically, it is saying the NL East is tough, real tough; if the Nats manage to land Fielder, his impact could shake the entire division down to its foundation. Think of the monster numbers put up by Michael Morse last year. By moving him to left field, a move Morse is more than capable of, and adding Fielder at first base, those monster numbers can theoretically duplicate themselves. Add a little sprinkle of Jayson Werth and a pinch of a healthy Stephen Strasberg, it seems like a real tough baseball team could be brewing in Washington.

Story brought to you by Mountaintop Lead Writer: Timmy Gwinn

Twitt
Posted in 2012 Baseball, Free Agency, Miami Marlins, Milwaukee Brewers, MLB, Philadelphia Phillies, Prince Fielder, The Here and Now, Washington Nationals | 1 Comment