College Football Bracketology

Well after about a five month hiatus, I've finally decided to carve out some time for all of you loyal readers out there. Before you get on me, just remember it took me a far shorter time to make my return than Derrick Rose. Today, I'm going to examine the events that have been taking place in the college football universe this season. Those range from the expected: Florida State is undefeated... To the unexpected: Florida and Michigan might only be a loss away from firing their coaches... On second thought, maybe that was expected, too. Anyways, let's try and sort this chaotic mess of a season out by playing a little bit of bracketology to see who deserves a spot in the first ever College Football Playoff. 

1. The Winner of Ole Miss-Mississippi State will make the playoff

Anybody who remotely follows college football knows about the Magnolia Madness sweeping through the country. These two teams rank in the top three, and anybody that says they say this coming is flat out lying to you. I was slow to hop on the bandwagon for both of these times. Mississippi State has been the Dallas Cowboys of college football ever since Dan Mullen was hired. Every year a handful of analysts declare this is the year the Bulldogs are finally going to break through. Then, come January, they're sitting at 8-5 after beating Northwestern or Minnesota in some New Years' Day bowl game and winning only three of four SEC games. How fitting that in the same year, both teams might finally break through and win something meaningful. MSU's quarterback, Dak Prescott, is living up to the Tim Tebow billing, the defense is forcing turnovers, and they've already beaten Texas A&M, Auburn, and LSU soundly. Meanwhile, in Oxford, Ole Miss is winning games in a very Alabama fashion: Dominating defense and a game-managing quarterback with a nice mop of 'Bama Bangs. Hugh Freeze has done a marvelous job of building a program during his short time down in The Grove, and his highly ranked recruiting classes are responsible for the success this season. Back to the defense though. Appropriately nicknamed "The Landsharks", the Rebels' defense leaves opposing offenses more battered come Sunday morning than any case of Landshark Lager ever could, and Kenny Hill might still be having nightmares soundtracked by the theme from Jaws. Ole Miss might have the best front seven in college football, and their secondary attacks the ball ferociously. The last Saturday of November these two schools will meet in the Egg Bowl. There's a chance both teams enter the game undefeated. Even if one of the teams suffers a setback, whoever wins will not only get the delight of playing in the SEC Championship, they will get the arguably sweeter delight of cracking their opponent's dreams. Right now? Give me the team with the better defense and better tailgates getting to Atlanta, beating Georgia, and getting the #1 seed in the inaugural college football playoff. Hotty Toddy!

2. Florida State gets a chance to defend their national title, barring a suspension to Jameis Winston

I could argue that Notre Dame got robbed with the pass interference call in the final seconds of their game against the Seminoles this past Saturday. I could show you they ran the same exact play for their first touchdown, and a penalty didn't get called (Grantland does a great job of that). I could make the case Florida State has been less dominant and played a weaker schedule than Michigan State. This is all pointless though. Given Florida State's remaining schedule, I simply don't see a loss. They SHOULD waltz right into the College Football Playoff. However, I'd like to discuss why Jameis Winston should not still be suiting up for Jimbo Fisher's bunch. A few years ago, Pennsylvania State University was rocked by one of the most horrific scandals ever faced by a university. A lesson learned from the Jerry Sandusky ordeal was one man (Joe Paterno in that case) should not rise above the rest of the football program or the university as a whole. Down in Tallahassee, this is exactly what is happening. Winston has shown on multiple occasions he lacks the maturity to be given the privilege to play college football (Say what you will about Johnny Manziel, the kid possessed enough intelligence to not yell a sexual innuendo in the student union). In addition, not only is he facing possible discipline from a sexual assault case, there are also investigations into items he has autographed possibly having being done for pay. Oh, and evidence tampering has also been thrown around in regards to the investigation of Winston's possible sexual assault. Todd Gurley, also under investigation for receiving money for autographs, was suspended indefinitely by the University of Georgia. The Bulldogs have gone on to dominate and win their next two football games. Both Gurley and the school have stayed quietly out of the media for the most part as the school completes their investigation. Notre Dame kicked Everett Golson out of school last year for academic misconduct. Golson took the punishment in stride, however, and he has returned to lead the Irish once again. I bring these points up for the following reason: Florida State likely would have not beaten Notre Dame without Winston, and they've done nothing but give Winston a slap on the wrist. So now, the school finds itself in the precarious position, should Winston be found guilty, of valuing wins for the football program over the integrity of the university. Jimbo Fisher was seen pleading with Winston to keep his antics down following the win Saturday night. It might turn out Winston is innocent of all charges, and Florida State has just enough talent to win consecutive national championships. However, another misstep by Winston or one of these allegations proven true, and Fisher and Florida State's administration might be pleading for their jobs.

3. Oregon controls their destiny for a playoff spot, but I'm not sure how

Entering the season many analysts were making the argument that the Pac-12 was a stronger conference from top to bottom than the SEC. The basis of this was the superior quarterback play from household names like Brett Hundley, Connor Halliday, Sean Mannion, and Marcus Mariota. However, at this point in the season, it looks like Mariota and the Ducks are the conference's best, and possibly only, shot at getting into the playoff. I'll be the first to admit I don't know much about Oregon this year. Outside of Mariota, I'd have to look up names for playmakers on this team. Part of the reason is I don't think this team is as talented as ones in years past. A more substantial reason seems to be the less flashy program following the departure of Chip Kelly. Oregon's track reminds me a lot of Apple. Kelly (thanks to Phil Knight's deep pockets) was able to become the Steve Jobs' of Oregon. He constructed a household name with a strong brand identity. Everybody knew to expect bright uniforms and lightning tempo on offense when the Ducks took the field. Now, with the respective brainchildren gone, people have been left to fill their shoes, and while both entities are still successful, some of the luster has definitely been lost. Don't get me wrong- Enough Americans have iPhones that Apple could probably sell their multitude of GPS tracking information to a shady, Eastern European businessman for the equivalent of a small nation's GDP. Meanwhile, every college football fan knows Mariota is a Heisman candidate and Oregon is a top ten program. At the same time, the competition is catching up, so both organizations need to establish themselves as the dominant player in their industry. For Apple, I'm not sure how a multibillion dollar tech company goes about accomplishing this task. For Oregon, I'm positively sure the best way to do that is by winning out the rest of the way, claiming a spot in the playoff, and winning a national championship. Considering that's something Kelly was never able to accomplish, the new era of Oregon football could ensure Ducks' fans the team will continue to "Win the Day" for years to come.

4. The final spot? I have no idea... And I've got news for you: No college football guru does either.

For the past few weeks, ESPN's rotating college football talking heads have been offering their insights and opinions on who belongs in the College Football Playoff. In case you didn't know, Kirk Herbstriet, Lou Holtz, and David Pollack won't be one of the twelve people deciding the teams that make the playoff. That's why I find all the speculation so hilarious. Just like music, no person appreciates, enjoys, and critiques contending teams the same way (That's right Danny Kanell, you're not a committee member- Your opinion means just as much as mine!). Plus, there's absolutely ZERO historical precedent for knowing how the committee will ultimately decide to go. Nobody knows if the committee will value a Big 12 title over a team that went 11-1 in the SEC West, but failed to make the conference championship game. Nobody knows if Notre Dame deserves a spot because they're Notre Dame and they had a good season. Nobody knows if the committee will value a team that made significant improvements during the season over one that lost in November. And at the end of the day, that is what is going to make these next few weeks of college football so entertaining. Teams like Baylor, TCU, and even Kansas State are going to have an argument because of the surprisingly strong play of the Big 12. Notre Dame might boast one of the strongest resumes in the country should they get past Arizona State and USC unscathed. Michigan State could be sitting at 12-1 with their only loss coming in Autzen Stadium to the team talked about a section earlier. Gun to my head, what team would I say deserves the spot right now? I'd say Notre Dame. With no computer element this time around, every HUMAN BEING on the committee can relate to the heartbreaking circumstances the Irish endured in their loss this past Saturday. Should they win out, an 11-1 Notre Dame is going to be tough to turn down. Plus, their biggest advantage is they won't be forced to endure the ongoing cannibalization in both the SEC and Big 12 over the coming weeks.

Finally, consider this: The most interesting scenario to play out would be Ohio State winning out and ending up at 12-1. Yes, the loss to Virginia Tech was undoubtedly the worst loss of any team mentioned in the paragraph above. The Buckeyes have improved significantly on both sides of the ball since the September debacle and crushed everything that has gotten in their way. Right now, I don't think they are one of the four best teams and deserve a spot. Talk to me on November 9th, and I might be shouting from the rooftops a completely different story. One guarantee about Ohio State should the Buckeyes win out? J.T. Barrett will be in New York for the Heisman Trophy presentation. With Gurley's suspension, and a lack of public support for Winston's off the field antics, Barrett's production can't and won't be ignored if Ohio State continues to climb up the polls. But who knows: If the dominoes keep falling like they have, Barrett and the Buckeyes might find themselves in a position many would have never dreamed of without Braxton Miller.

J. Nave

College Football Playoff Preview- Can Ohio State Claim a Spot?

In one of the most recognizable songs of all time, Phil Collins croons in the chorus, "I can feel it coming in the air tonight, oh Lord." While everybody understands why the sound is so memorable, there is much debate on what Collins is actually singing about. Is it about his impeding divorce with his wife? The urban legend belief regarding a death he witnessed? The famous drum solo about three quarters of the way through? I'm not sure. But if I had to take a guess, I'd say he wrote it in mid August to acknowledge the upcoming arrival and anticipation of football season. We're less than two weeks away now, folks, and this season, especially at the college level, could be wackier and wilder than ever. Last year, the Auburn Tigers alone were responsible for two of the craziest endings I've ever witnessed, not only in football, but in sports in general. Now, with a four team playoff awaiting us at the end of the season, college football fans will be treated to more drama, more madness, and more Lee Corso. Can you ask for anything more in life? I'd say the answer is no.

In honor of the playoff, over the next couple weeks I'm going to explain the four teams I think are going to wind up having a chance to claim the first national title in this system. While I may not necessarily believe the teams I talk about are the best four teams in the country, I do believe they will have the best shot of having the chance to go undefeated or have enough success to gain one of the four coveted spots. Today, because it will appeal to most of my readers and I think they have the second best shot of any team to reach the playoff, I'm going to start with the Ohio State Buckeyes.

Last year on November 30th, things could not have been going much better for the Buckeyes. They had won 24 games in a row. They had just beaten Michigan, again. They were getting ready to play in the Big Ten Championship for a spot in the National Championship. Aaron Craft was still on the unbeaten Buckeye basketball team. But, oh how quickly things can change. By January 5th, Ohio State had failed to show up against Michigan State, had their secondary shredded by Clemson (Oh look! Sammy Watkins just caught another screen pass for 12 yards!), and had lost two straight games. Now more than ever, the national media has had more proof and reason to question the Buckeyes' strength of schedule. As a result, this year could be put up or shut up time for Urban Meyer and the Buckeyes. Ohio State hasn't won a conference championship since 2009. They haven't won a bowl game since 2010 (I know these have been impacted by NCAA punishment, but still. For a program and fan base so accustomed to winning, it's been a while since they've actually won anything). Fear not though, Buckeye fans. This could be a very special year. 

The Buckeyes' biggest advantage will be its schedule. Due to the addition of Rutgers and Maryland, Ohio State won't play a "true" Big Ten team until October 25th when they travel to State College to face Penn State. They open the season against Navy, Virginia Tech, Cincinnati, Kent State, Maryland, and Rutgers. While there are some recognizable names on that schedule, Ohio State's non-conference stretch reminds me of Maroon 5 songs- A lot of them end up being complete garbage (I'm talking about anything related these past couple years, especially Maps, Adam Levine), some are going to be decent, and one could have the chance become great and memorable (Maroon Five's first album is stellar). No matter what though, they all offer intrigue (Which for the sake of the continuity of this metaphor transferring over to the music world means they are commercially successful). Navy offers the triple option, Virginia Tech can make things close with Beamerball, and Cincinnati would love to play spoiler. At the end of the season, The Team Up North awaits like always. However, with Brady Hoke possibly coaching for his job, that could be just as interesting as last year. One game is going to stick out above all the rest: Michigan State in East Lansing in primetime. That game is circled on every calender in Meyer's office. Every game will be used as a measuring stick to see if the Buckeyes will be ready for that test. Every Buckeye who played in Indianapolis is going to have revenge on their mind come that cold, November night. And should the Buckeyes be able to walk out for a victory, a trip to the Big Ten Championship seems all but guaranteed. Wisconsin would seem the most likely team waiting. But unless Wisconsin can develop a quarterback to attack Ohio State's biggest weakness, the Buckeyes would seem to be a comfortable favorite in that match-up.

The Buckeyes second biggest advantage will be Sir Urban Meyer. Urban Meyer and DJ Khaled have something in common- All they do is win. Considering he lost his last two games in 2013 and DJ Khaled hasn't won on the charts since that song came out, look for Meyer to light a fire under this team early and keep it burning, so he will never have to be reference with DJ Khaled again (A far more endearing comparison would be the one that follows). One of my favorite Robin Williams (Felt compelled to work some reference in here regarding the late Mr. Williams. Consider me one believer that words and ideas can change the world) characters will always be John Keating in Dead Poets Society. Keating knew how to connect with his students and pass his passion along to them. Meyer knows how to do the same thing. It shouldn't be hard to rally your troops when they have such a sour taste in their mouths, but if there is one man who is able to handle this task better than any other, it would have to be Meyer. 

Finally, for Ohio State to make it into the College Football Playoff, they are going to need to be able to find somebody, or employ multiple somebodies, to replace Carlos Hyde. The prime candidate for this looks to be Ezekiel Elliott. Bad news for Ohio State fans? It's going to be hard to find such a dependable bruiser as Hyde, and Elliott just recently underwent a wrist surgery that could become problematic later in the season. Good news for Ohio State fans? Elliott wears #15. Urban Meyer has a good track record with players who wear #15. Am I saying Elliott is going to win a Heisman, lead his team to a national title, become a first round draft pick, preach about his religion and start debates on how important Christianity should be in society, be worshiped by ESPN, lead an NFL team to an unprecedented playoff appearance and subsequent win, and then be out of the league and working as a studio analyst all within the next five years? No, but it wouldn't be bad if a couple of those first few happened. If Elliott can simply become a workhorse and dependable back, the Buckeyes are going to have an even better chance to do something special this year. Even if Elliott doesn't pan out, the Buckeyes have more weapons available in their arsenal than a 14 year old does with his sixth prestige profile in Call of Duty. Pair that with Braxton Miller, and it doesn't matter how bad your secondary is. You're going to win a lot of football games. Now if the Buckeyes can finally win the important ones? That's the million dollar question.

Projected Record: 13-0. College Football Playoff Seed: 3.

J. Nave

P.S. Recently, I was challenged to complete the #ALSIceBucketChallenge. Instead of sharing a video with all of you readers today, I would like to inform you I have made a donation to Compassionate Care ALS. Watching these videos spread awareness for the cause has been incredible, but since I don't have a helicopter and couldn't think of any new and creative way, I have decided to go this route. 

NFL Mock Draft

If you have watched SportsCenter any time over this past month, you are probably sick and tired of watching Mel Kiper and Todd McShay predict the NFL draft for 12 hours a day. You are probably sick and tired of hearing Herm Edwards analyze if Johnny Manziel's skill set will translate over to the NFL. You are probably sick and tired of hearing about Jadeveon Clowney's work ethic, or rather, lack thereof. Well, since the NFL draft is only two days away, the pain and suffering is almost over. Kiper's bad haircut will go back into hiding for the next ten months, and Todd McShay will go do whatever Todd McShay does. Luckily for you, I can tell you exactly how each of the first ten picks will go in the first round of this year's draft. So tune out Kiper and say saynora to McShay, and read what's actually going to happen during the first ten picks of the NFL draft.

1. Houston Texans- Jadeveon Clowney, DE, South Carolina
Since everybody has already talked about his physical prowess and questionable work ethic, I'm going to analyze Clowney in a different way, and one way that I hope every NFL GM has put into place when looking at Clowney's tape. First off, I had the pleasure of watching Clowney play eight times this past season. When my Gamecocks were on defense, my eyes were on #7 (if he was on the field...). On nearly every play, I would watch Clowney be double or triple teamed. I would watch teams, like North Carolina and Clemson, run screen passes to the other side of the field. I would watch team, like Georgia and Florida, use three lineman and a lead back to run outside of Clowney . The point is, it's very easy for a team to gameplan around a defensive end, especially at the collegiate level. This past year, although Clowney's numbers were down, a fellow Gamecock, Kelcy Quarles, earned first team All-American honors because of 9.5 sacks. Imagine a defensive line with JJ Watt and Jadeveon Clowney in the mix. Throw Brian Cushing in the mix, and the Texans could have one of the best defensive pass rushes in the league. If all of those players pin their ears back and rush the quarterback, only God can help that young man. I know they need a quarterback, and I know Texans fan are salivating over Manziel's skills as much as they would over a 44 oz. steak, but you can't pass on a specimen like Mr. Clowney.

2. St. Louis Rams- Greg Robinson, OT, Auburn
Every mock draft I have seen as had this pick I believe. Therefore, I'm not gonna waste time, nor act like I know enough football to analyze an offensive tackle's skill set.

3. Jacksonville Jaguars- Sammy Watkins, WR, Clemson
"Look! Sammy Watkins just caught another screen pass and ran for 12 more yards against the Ohio State defense..."
-Me, this past January
When Roger Goodell calls Watkins name with this pick, he should personally thank each and every one of Ohio State's defensive backs for making him a top five pick. Watching Watkins the game before get shut down by the South Carolina secondary, I saw him turn into the offspring of the Flash and Terrell Ownes against Ohio State. He is without a doubt the best receiver in this draft. However, he is also a Clemson Tiger, and he smokes mids. I'd never draft him, but the Jaguars will.

4. Cleveland Browns- Johnny Manziel, QB, Texas A&M
Everyone knows about Manziel's playmaking ability. So instead, I'm going to look deep into the crystal ball and predict exactly how this pick goes down:
The Browns pick is in. Wait, Roger Goodell isn't walking to the podium, though. It's Drake, surrounded by his crew! The 'Draft Day' instrumental starts in the background. The audience sits in stunned silence. Drake starts free-styling on his own beat, and announces with the fourth pick in the NFL draft, the Cleveland Browns select Johnny Football. Manziel walks on to the stage flanked by three swimsuit models. Drake presents Manziel with a Browns jersey and hat. But wait! They're not brown and orange. It's black and gold! Drake announces he has bought the franchise and rebranded them the Cleveland #BrOVOwns. Drake and Manziel bring beats, babes, booze, and winning football to Cleveland, and the Browns win Super Bowl XLIX. 

In all seriousness, I hope this doesn't happen. Would much rather see my Browns take Khalil Mack, Jake Matthews, or trade back with the Falcons to draft Mike Evans. However, if the Browns take the biggest draft risk of this decade, can the events please happen like this?

5. Oakland Raiders- Teddy Bridgewater, QB, Louisville
This team had Terrelle Pryor last year, and they signed Matt Schaub this off season. Considering these signings, it's obvious to me the Raiders' front office knows as much as Jon Snow when it comes to the quarterback position. However, they could surprise me and draft Bridgewater, who eight months ago was going to be the consensus top pick in the draft. No matter who they pick, Oakland will probably still suck next year.

6. Atlanta Falcons- Khalil Mack, LB, Buffalo
Atlanta has Matt Ryan, so they have a huge advantage over every other team drafting this early. That being said, their pass rushers are about as intimidating as myself. By taking Mack, the Falcons could fill a huge hole here. Don't be surprised if the Falcons try and trade up a spot or two for insurance purposes to get the pass rusher they need.

7. Tampa Bay Buccaneers- Mike Evans, WR, Texas A&M
The Bucs take the second Aggie and draft the behemoth Evans. Playing with Johnny Football, Evans was able to rack up some huge numbers and can bring instant offense as a big play threat in the NFL. If the Buccaneers find a semi-competent quarterback, Evans will become a star. I think even Brandon Weeden might be able to complete some passes to a wide receiver "like Mike."

8. Minnesota Vikings- Blake Bortles, QB, Central Florida
Blake Bortles is the most prototypical NFL quarterback in this draft. He could easily be the next Ben Roethlisberger and lead a franchise to a few Super Bowl titles. At the same time, some questions about his mechanics could make him a bust. Either way, he is dating Lindsey Duke, so Vikings fan are winners no matter how many wins Bortles delivers. When you consider Duke and Christian Ponder's wife, Samantha Steele, I think the Vikings would have a dominant advantage in the NFL Power Rankings for Hottest Girlfriends/Wives. And we're only talking about one position! Here I was thinking Adrian Peterson was the only thing the Vikings had going for them!

9. Buffalo Bills- Jake Matthews, OT, Texas A&M
Another offensive lineman that will provide much needed protection for EJ Manuel, meaning this will be the best security a Seminole quarterback has experienced since the intricate and advanced camera system at Publix...

10. Detroit Lions- Justin Gilbert, CB, Oklahoma St.
The Lions have one of the most dynamic offenses in the NFL. Taking Gilbert will be a necessary step to improve their defense.

Every other pick- Absolutely no clue...
People who fill out seven rounds of mock drafts need to do something productive for the world. People like that give bloggers a bad name.

J. Nave

#ClevelandBrOVOwns, Get it trending...

Why Kentucky Will Win the National Championship and Why I Hate The Wildcats

If you haven't realized it by now, the Kentucky Wildcats have divine intervention on their side. For the last three games, Kentucky has written the same exact script game in, game out. They play tremendous basketball for a few minutes, then they play "lose to South Carolina basketball" for a few minutes. John Calipari calls a timeout and they repeat the process. Then, just when all hope seems lost and all members of Big Blue Nation are ready to jump off a bridge, Aaron Harrison bails them out with a three pointer. How else could one explain three straight games with the SAME EXACT story? To me, there is no explanation but that God wants Kentucky to win. Why does God want Kentucky to win? I'm not exactly sure why (but I'll get to that in a little bit). First, let's look at why Kentucky will beat UConn on Monday night to win the national championship.

As much as this run for the Wildcats surprises people, at the same time it makes complete sense. Go back and look at the stats. During the regular season, nearly every Kentucky loss came by less than five points. They played in close game after close game, and their superior talent just couldn't quite mesh (And yes, every game Kentucky has played they have had more talent, except for perhaps Florida. The NBA draft in a couple months will validate that statement, and especially at this point in the tournament, I don't think anybody could argue it). Now, after playing together for months and months, it's all finally clicked. Kentucky was able to beat Wichita State, Louisville, Michigan, and now Wisconsin. In everyone of those games, Kentucky may have been the lower seed, but in each one they controlled the game because of their superior size and talent. The Harrison twins tower over most backcourt tandems in the country. James Young has the worst hair in the game today, but one of the smoothest shots in the game today. Julius Randle is a bulky Joel Embiid who also has actual talent talent. Marcus Lee has hops that only can be rivaled by Sam Thompson. Dakari Johnson will be an All-American forward next year. The media has acted like this has been a run on par with Butler, VCU, and George Mason. If any of those teams had the talent of this Kentucky team, they would've easily cut down the nets. On Monday night, that's exactly what I expect Kentucky to do. Of course, knowing this team, it probably won't be easy at all. They'll probably need another late game buzzer beater. The only chance UConn has is if they have blistering shooting from beyond the arc and they can survive the Randle, Johnson, Lee wrecking company in the paint. I don't see either of those things happening, though. Kentucky will have another gigantic rebounding advantage, and the succeed and proceed Wildcats will win national championship number nine.

Okay, now after laying out the basketball logic and showing that I'm sane enough to realize that John Calipari has recruited a great team and that I can respect their talent, I'm going to get to the main point of this blog post- Why I hate Kentucky. The reasons are numerous. First, I'll start with the shallow ones:

-The Brandon Knight shot against Ohio State which ruined one of the best Buckeye teams chances of winning a title. 

-The annoying Go Big Blue chant.

-The idea that Kentucky fans believe they belong in the SEC... Your football team sucks. Your basketball team is really good. Kentucky is not in the southern or eastern parts of the country.  

Now, for the more serious reasons. First, I am not a fan of John Calipari. To be quite honest, I'm not sure why anybody can support him. The day he got thrown out of the game at South Carolina was the happiest I've ever been in person at a sporting event. The man has had wins revoked at two different schools for two different types of NCAA violations. Ask Kentucky fans about this, and they brush the allegations aside. I love the "those were at other schools" and "a school like Kentucky would never let that happen" responses. To the former response, the third time's the charm like Aaron Harrison's shots have illustrated, right? As for the latter, I really don't have a response for people who are that naive about major college athletics. Then, and by far most irritable about the man, is the general pompous and self-righteous personality he displays in every single interview. I'd attach clips to this article, but I'm too lazy to do that. I've never seen an interview with Coach Cal that makes me say, "You know what. I'd love to play for that man. He really will make me a better person and basketball player." Give me Coach K. Give me Roy Williams. Give me Bill Self. Give me Shaka Smart. Give me Billy Donovan. Give me Kevin Ollie. Give me a dad coaching his son's fourth grade rec team. He himself has admitted things like "this isn't my team" and "I don't coach them" on multiple occasions in interviews. The smugness in answers like that is a sign the man has a serious ego problem. However, every member of the Big Blue Nation would sign up to donate a kidney to the messiah would he need one. He's a great recruiter, but is he actually a great coach? How many players have gotten significantly better in their time under Calipari? To me, it seems like that on most occasions he recruits NBA caliber talent and plays the slot machines until he gets a good combination. Yes, on some occasions, he'll make an impact, but when the man himself admits he's there just to babysit, why should people not believe him? This "tweak" people have been foaming at the mouth about for the last couple weeks? Nonexistent. He just calls timeouts a little quicker and is looser with his players. Only the most self-righteous person would publicly announce such a simple change and make it seem like he turned water into wine. Acknowledge you have good talent, keep your "secrets" to yourself, and don't act like you're presence on Earth is such a blessing. It's unbecoming.

Finally, Kentucky basketball is changing the culture of college basketball. Don't get me wrong, it's 100% leading to success, but like the Obama administration, it's proving that change isn't necessarily a good thing. The "one and dones", or as Messiah Calipari prefers, "succeed and proceeders", have led to fantastic tournament success. However, with each tournament win, I'm starting to wonder how many more one and dones were going to have and how many fewer great senior stories were going to have. Call me old fashioned, but I love watching players come into a program, learn under the senior class, be honored on senior day, and get their diplomas (Watching Ohio State walk-on Mark Titus' senior day where nearly every member of the Buckeye student section donned a Club Trillion shirt and brought Titus to tears is one of my most favorite college basketball memories. This is what college basketball is all about, Charlie Brown... Fast forward to 4:15). I don't love players who come into college for one year, play a semi-major role, get drafted in the mid-late first round, and fade into the oblivion I call the NBA. Shabazz Napier is a prime example of the second type of player. Napier learned under Kemba Walker, stayed around to lead Kevin Ollie's new program through a year of NCAA sanctions, promised his mom he would get his degree, and now he's being heralded after willing his team to the national title. James Young, meanwhile, is a prime example of the first. He has started I believe every game for Kentucky, done a lot of good in some and played poorly in others, and will dash right to the NBA and a paycheck after this season. This narrativewas established long before the season. If anything, Young's draft stock and reputation is now worse off than it was six months ago. The same could be said about countless other players. Think about it. A vast majority of the top picks in the NBA Draft this year are going to be a college freshman. Why are these players restricted from going right into the league? How does a program or fan base benefit from having massive turnover? 

As a Buckeye fan, I've seen Greg Oden and Mike Conley be prime examples of this. Granted, they helped Ohio State have a lot of success in their one season, but I have only one tournament run and limited memories because of them. Then, there are a lot of players like Kosta Koufos, BJ Mullens, and Daequan Cook who had no business leaving for the NBA. Those players had varying success (from a title game to a NIT run) for a single year, but I have absolutely zero memories from those teams. In fact, it's hard for me to even acknowledge that they were Buckeyes. Under Calipari, players like this have frequented Kentucky roster. Marquis Teague, anybody? I would take a team of Aaron Crafts and second round losses in the NCAA tournament any day. When I tweeted about what Aaron Craft meant to me, the tweet got over 200 retweets and 200 favorites. Find me a Kentucky player that has been such a fan favorite during Calipari's years at the school. Hint, it won't be done. I'll remember watching Craft play basketball for the rest of my life If you want a team full of players that are just going to win championships for their own personal benefits, start watching professional sports. Give me a team of players who leave their names in their university's record books. Give me a team of players who are validated as being winners on and off the court. Give me a team of players who will long be forgotten by their fans. That's what college athletics are supposed to be about. UConn fans won't forget Napier for years to come. Florida fans will remember this senior class in a similar light as the one who won two national championships (Okay, maybe a slight stretch). Kentucky fans will just replace this entire starting roster with a new freshman class next year. I could never bring myself to root for a team like that. 

If college basketball is going to develop into a glorified D-League where players who win titles just are here for one year of "coaching and training", why not start paying them? These succeed and proceederes only care about the names on the back of the jersey. They want to see Wiggins, Randle, Gordon, etc. on the back of a Milwaukee Bucks of Philadelphia 76ers jersey and a huge number in their bank account. I know the term "student athlete" has been becoming an absolute joke the last several years, but think about this for a second: There's almost a 100% chance not a single starter on this Kentucky team earns their college diploma in the next four years. Randle, Young, and the Harrisons will likely leave after this season. Johnson might join them, but even if he doesn't, he'll be named a preseason All-American next year and be gone after his sophomore year. To me, this could be the biggest double standard in NCAA history. In a time where the NCAA is under major criticism, football players are threatening to unionize, and their administration look inept, perhaps it's time for an action that will make collegiate athletics collegiate athletics once more. 

I want a return to the days where the name on the front of the jersey meant more. The only way I see that happening is abolishing the one and done rule. If these players think they have the talent and skill to go straight to the league (And in some occasions, I believe they do), let them. If they think they need to develop more, require them to stay in school for three years like football does. If that doesn't appeal to them, they can go overseas and play a year professionally. If a player like Julius Randle or Andrew Wiggins truly cared about making an impact on their program, they would turn down the paycheck, and commit to spending three years in school. Yes, in some instances financial obligations lead to an early declaration, but if that's the case, these players who need the money will be paid a lucrative sum for one year abroad and the financial problems would be resolved. Then, they can return to the United States to more money than they could ever imagine. Give me the players that truly care about Big Blue Nation or Rock Chalk Jayhawk. Not players that view these schools and their traditions as a pitstop.

If serious change doesn't occur, then I hope you enjoyed Doug McDermott scoring 3,000 points this season. Players of that caliber aren't going to stay in school for four years very often. I hope you enjoyed Gordon Hayward's shot just rimming out against Duke in the national championship. Cinderella runs for mid-major programs to that extreme are going to become even rarer and rarer (Yes, I realize Dayton was able to make a run to the Elite Eight. However, that was an extremely fortunate draw for the Flyers as they played two teams who were trending down and couldn't score and then were able to beat Stanford). Most importantly, I hope you're ready to pick which side of the aisle to be on because if (or I truly think it's going to be when) Kentucky cuts down the nets on Monday night, two of three national titles for the succeed and proceeders are going to set the precedent for how to recruit in the future. If your school isn't able to do this, don't expect many national championship banners in the future. 

The succeed and the proceeders might bring success to the elite programs like Kentucky, but if that comes at the price of ruining the long established integrity of a sport I love... Let's just say I will be rooting for the UConn Huskies and be more emotional invested in this game than I've been for any college basketball game in a long time. 

J. Nave

SECOND ANNUAL MEGA MARCH MADNESS PREVIEW

WITHOUT ANY CREATIVE INTRODUCTION, WEIRD CONNECTION TO A POP CULTURE EVENT, RANDOM RAMBLING ABOUT SOMETHING IN MY LIFE, OR BIZARRE TANGENT THAT MAKES YOU QUESTION MY SANITY, I PRESENT THE ATHLETIC ACUMEN'S SECOND ANNUAL MEGA MARCH MADNESS PREVIEW:

1) South Region: Why the Florida Gators Get to the Final Four
Florida will win the South region and basically be untested. Maybe it's because they didn't lose a game in the SEC and haven't lost a game since the year 2013. Maybe it's because I watched Michael Frazier II score 37 points in a dominating performance over my Gamecocks. Maybe it's because I trust very few coaches in the country more than Billy Donovan. Maybe it's because they have a core senior group that isn't seen in college basketball this day and age. Or maybe it's because that since the SEC didn't win the national championship in football, they HAVE to win it in basketball. No matter the reasoning, I see nothing but Florida having a very, off night stopping them from reaching Dallas. In fact, I think the Gators biggest test could come in the Round of 32 against Pittsburgh (should they get past Colorado). The Panthers looked very impressive in the ACC tournament, they can defend Florida's guards, and if Lamar Patterson plays like he's capable of, it could spell trouble for the Gators. Kansas would pose a threat to any other one seed, but without Joel Embiid in the first two rounds, it's no guarantee that the Jayhawks even make it to Memphis. Plus, even if they do get a match-up with the Gators, I'll take Scottie Wilbekin over Nadir Thorpe any day of the week, and I think Florida's stout enough on defense to neutralize Andrew Wiggins just enough. The other teams in the region include Syracuse (A team that can't score and hasn't looked like a three seed since the Super Bowl), UCLA (Who has a coach that NEVER wins in the NCAA tournament), VCU (Who won't catch anybody sleeping with Havoc anymore), and Ohio State (A team who can't score but has proven a double digit nothing doesn't mean they're out of a game). Speaking off the Buckeyes, I like their chances of getting to Memphis. Something tells me Aaron Craft isn't going to let his fumble against Michigan be his last impression on the Buckeye Nation. A win over Syracuse and a chance to get revenge for the 2012 defeat to Kansas would ensure that would not be the case.

2) East Region: Why the Michigan State Spartans get to the Final Four
Let me begin by saying how much I HATE this pick. Every expert, basketball fan, and soccer mom seems to have Michigan State in their Final Four. Yes, the Spartans are finally healthy. Their starting five is arguably the best in basketball, and this past week proved that. When you have the trio of Keith Appling, Gary Harris, and Adreian Payne, it doesn't take a lot to tell your team is going to be good. Yes, the Spartans have Tom Izzo, a coach that makes Final Fours happen no matter the situation in ways that would make Frank Underwood proud. It's been a few years since Izzo has made it, so the basketball gods would say he is due to make his return appearance. Those reasons made me pencil Sparty into a spot in North Texas, but this pick is by far the one I have the least confidence in. Last year, I picked the Spartans to win it all, and they fell flat against Duke in the Sweet Sixteen. A threat of getting Sean Kilpatricked and knocked out by Cincinnati in the Round of 32 is a legitimate possibility with these two physical teams. The same threat exists with Virginia, a team that has played Izzo basketball all season, rather than just one week, and a team that has players like Joe Harris and London Perrantes who want to be noticed on the big stage. Finally, in the bottom half of the bracket is the Iowa State Cyclones. Back in November, this is what I wrote about Iowa State:

The Team Who's Ranked Way Too Low: Iowa State
Last time most people remember seeing the Cyclones, they were one shot away from upsetting Ohio State and advancing to the Sweet Sixteen. Well, Sunday night the Cyclones got their revenge against a Big Ten foe and upset Michigan. Basketball in Ames has undergone a renaissance over the past couple years thanks Frank Hoiberg and look for Iowa State to take the next step this winter. Iowa State may suffer from Texas A&M syndrome and that could be their biggest obstacle in challenging Kansas for the Big XII title (They're going to put up ridiculous offensive numbers game after game. It's just a matter of whether they can hold it together enough on the defensive side). Keep an eye on Melvin Ejim this winter, too. The man is off to a great start after returning from injury, and he could be a household name once March rolls around.

Now, it's March 18th. Iowa State won the Big XII tournament. Melvin Ejim won Big XII player of the year. Iowa State is one of the best offensive teams in the country (You can go back and look in the Athletic Acumen's archives to prove that I'm not lying to my readers in a desperate attempt to prove my credibility. I'd like to think I actually have a clue or two of what I'm talking about). Picking against the Cyclones just seems downright criminal, especially when you predict their good fortunes month in advance. Going against the Hilton Magic and Fred Hoiberg was tough, but ultimately Iowa State doesn't seem to have the defense to win four games and make it to the Final Four (If they do, though, I'm taking credit for being one of the first on the Cyclones' bandwagon). That's why I'm going with ol' reliable, the Michigan State Spartans, to represent the B1G in Dallas. 

3) West Region: Why Creighton gets to the Final Four

DOUG MCDERMOTT... That's really all I would have to say to justify this pick that's based purely out of my rooting interest in what happens over the next couple of weeks. However, I'll go into some more detail about why I think this can actually happen. First off, the West is by far the weakest region out there and plagued by teams that don't have success in the tournament normally (Wisconsin, San Diego State, Oklahoma). I must admit this is a different kind of Wisconsin, and they have had their own type of Matthew McConaughey renaissance over this season. What do I mean by that? Well, both the Badgers and McConaughey have long suffered from certain reputations. The Badgers play slow basketball, play a lot of white guys with buzz cuts, and don't win in the tournament. McConaughey used to be a sleazy actor in horrible films and most famous for his opening moniker "all right, all right, all right." Now, McConaughey is proving himself to be a world class actor, he has an Oscar, and I take him seriously. Wisconsin basketball is trying to do the same. The Badgers have had a tremendous season, and Bo Ryan could get his team back to the Final Four. Sam Dekker, Ben Brust, Frank Kaminsky, and Traevon Jackson had a great season, but unfortunately, they won't get any farther than the Sweet Sixteen because of Mr. Douglas Richard McDermott. After dispatching of UL-Lafayette, the Cornhuskers in the Nebraskan Civil War, and the Badgers, the Blue Jays will defeat Arizona to reach the Final Four. If that logic isn't enough, let's look at wacky intangibles for why Creighton making the Final Four would be one of the most American stories of all time:

-As much as defense wins championships, nothing makes Americans feel better than watching some explosive offensive fireworks, or just explosions and fireworks!

-While many father/son duos are seen in high school, McDermott gets to play for his father in COLLEGE. People, we are a few song and dance numbers, a girlfriend who competes in academic competitions, and McDermott being discovered singing beautifully in the shower from watching Creighton University Musical!

-Creighton is still an underdog, and what's more American than rooting for the underdog from middle America!

Finally, Warren Buffett, the man who has made every American interested in March Madness with his promise to give a billion dollars out to an individual if he/she fills out a perfect bracket backs Creighton. Look at this beautiful picture!

Look at that picture. Take it all in. Then, go get your eraser because you have seen the light and realized that Arizona, Wisconsin, or San Diego State not only won't make the Final Four, they don't belong in the Final Four. You love Creighton. You love Dougie McBuckets. And if that's not true, you most certainly love money! Let's go Blue Jays!!!

4) Midwest Region: Why the Louisville Cardinals get to the Final Four

Last week, Louisville won a game by 61 points. SIXTY ONE POINTS. First off, I don't care who you're playing that says a lot about how well you're playing right now. Secondly, that was against Rutgers. Now Jim Delany, I now you are all about the money, but for the love of God, please don't let the Scarlet Knights into your conference next year. They are atrocious at every sport, and the Scarlet Knight is just a horrible nickname. This team will bring absolutely nothing but a few more dollars. Poach Kentucky, or Cincinnati, or UConn, or West Indiana Tech. Anybody but Rutgers. Please. Please... Anyways, the Midwest region will undoubtedly provided the best basketball. Wichita State vs. Kentucky, Duke vs. Michigan, Kentucky vs. Louisville, Wichita State vs. Louisville, Wichita State vs. Duke, and Kentucky vs. Duke could all be potential match-ups. Once again, I have some regrets about picking Louisville because of the sheer number of people making this trendy selection, but the Cards are for real. Last year, I criticized the play of Russ Smith. Won't see that happening this year. Not only can he still score like few other players in the country, he has now developed into a leader to fill Peyton Siva's shoes. Montrezl Harrell is going to be the key for Louisville to make a return trip to the Final Four. The man has had one of the most impressive season of anyone not named McDermott, and he's going to have to play well for the Cards to survive and advance in the region of death. As much as I'd love to see a Wichita State vs. Creighton Final Four match-up, I couldn't bring myself to pick the Shockers. I love Fred Van Vleet. Gregg Marshall is a superb coach. I hope Ron Baker (the Troy Bolton look alike) and Doug McDermott (the hopefully future Troy Bolton) go head to head in Dallas. Ultimately, the Shockers will not do as well in the position of the hunted. Look for Duke to make the Elite Eight behind Jabari "First Overall Pick" Parker and Marshall "I Don't Have Nearly As Much Talent As My Brothers" Plumlee, which will set up a game of the ages between the Cardinals and the Blue Devils. At the end of the day, Louisville's RUSSdiculous press will let them cut down the nets in Indianapolis, and Duke will be wishing they had a legitimate frontcourt presence.

Last night, I had a dream that Louisville lost to Manhattan 74-72 in the Round of 64 on a shot from around the free throw line with about four seconds left. Yes, I'm so pathetically consumed by this basketball tournament I dream about it, and yes, I'm fairly confident this won't happen, but I'm including this just on the off chance it happens, so I can get That's So Jacob or a spinoff to Psych in the works ASAP...

Who Wins it All? My full bracket is pictured below... If you don't like pictures **SPOILER ALERT** I take the Gators over the Cardinals. And yes, Michigan is scUM... Happy Basketball, and may the 9.2 quintillion odds be forever in you favor!

J. Nave 

Sixteen Teams Who Could Win the National Championship (Part 1)

After one of the most brutal winters in recent memory, spring is finally showing signs of life and peaking it's head around the corner. While your English professor might tell you spring is the time of rebirth and new life, I'm here to tell you that spring brings much better things than some Shakespearean metaphor. Spring means baseball. Spring means warmer weather. Spring means #SpringBreak2K14, or the Spring Break where every 18-22 year old on the planet tries to make one week of their life put The Wolf of Wall Street's plot to shame only to realize that it is an impossible task. Spring means school is almost out. Spring means a new season of Game of Thrones (36 days! Not like I'm counting down or anything). Most importantly, spring means March Madness. Nothing, I repeat nothing, is better than sitting on your couch watching basketball from noon to after midnight AND it being 100% socially acceptable. In order to give the loyal readers of the Athletic Acumen some help in filling out their brackets, I'm going to break down every team I think has a legitimate chance of cutting down the nets in Jerry World come early April. One, it will provide some thorough analysis on about the legitimate contenders come March Madness. Some teams may seem like long shots. Some teams may have more glaring weaknesses than others. But if this year has taught us anything in college sports, it's expect the unexpected. Secondly, this will give me sixteen chances to peg a National Champion. Some of you might call that a cop out, but I'd like to look at it as a safe investment. And if none of these 16 teams win the National Championship? Well then that's just embarrassing and equally as bad as my bowl game picks... Without further ado, let's look at the first five teams who could be crowned the new national champions on April 7th:

1) Florida- The Current Number One
Why the Gators Will Win it All: Florida has made it through SEC play unscathed all year. While the SEC might be as good at basketball as the Sun Belt is at football, it's still an accomplishment to go through a major conference undefeated heading into March. Florida's biggest asset is their experience. Seniors dominate their starting lineup, and in the one and done phase of college basketball, this is a huge advantage. Look no further than their win at Kentucky two weeks ago. When the game was on the line, Florida stayed as cool as the other side of the pillow. It starts with guard Scottie Wilbekin, (who has had a bit of a tumultuous career during his time with the Gators), but who has fully blossomed into a leader that can take over games when they're on the line. With leading scorer Casey Prather and dominant forward Patric Young on the inside, the Gators are establishing themselves as front runners entering the tournament.

Why the Gators Won't Win it All: Let's be honest: The SEC is deplorable at basketball. This is a conference with GEORGIA in third place. Georgia went 6-6 in nonconference play. They're 10-5 in the SEC. South Carolina lost to a branch campus in nonconference play. Ole Miss hasn't been nearly as good and Marshall Henderson hasn't been nearly as entertaining. Teams like LSU and Arkansas have talent, but they can't string two quality games together. Plus, the Florida narrative has held true for the past few tournaments: The Gators always have a solid team, but they always lose in the Elite Eight. Thanks to GEICO, you're now more than familiar with the concept Hump Day, but I would like to start referring to the Elite Eight as Hump Round for the Florida basketball team. The Gators have all the makings of a national championship winning team, it's just a matter of whether they can get past Hump Round and avoid beating themselves.

2) Kentucky- The Unpredictable (and Probably Lawbreaking) Wildcard
Why the Wildcats Will Win it All: This section is going to be brief, especially after Kentucky's lackluster performances the past two games against LSU and Arkansas. They do have the nation's number one recruiting class, a couple future lottery picks, and a coach who wouldn't hesitate in committing felonies to get his team a key win, though, so the Wildcats can never be counted out (Speaking of felonies, a porn star offered to have sex with every player of the Cleveland Cavaliers if they make the playoffs this season. If there's a program and coach to have this offer in place at the collegiate level, it is undoubtedly the Kentucky Wildcats. I'm sure this will be discovered during an investigation in the next few years- or sooner if Calipari flees to the New York Knicks or NBA this summer).

Why the Wildcats Won't Win it All: When Kentucky played Florida, they looked like a bunch of panicked freshman walking into high school on the first day. Julius Randle may have peed his pants in the final minutes of that game. Nobody could make a shot. Coach Calipari couldn't get an Escalade into Rupp Arena to bribe a player to step his game up. Not good signs for a team this late in the season. Plus, this is the same program that lost to Robert Morris in the NIT last year. Don't be surprised if the Cats are one of the five seeds to a lose to a twelve seed in this tournament (Ohio State appears to be a lock for this designation as well, if they're able to even get up to the five line).

3) Arizona- The West Coast's Best Hope
Why the Wildcats Will Win it All: A few months ago, Arizona was one of the undisputed best teams in the country. Players each had established roles. They went on the road and beat quality opponents. The Wildcats seemed to have it all figured it out.

Why the Wildcats Won't Win it All: However, ever since the loss of Brandon Ashley, the Wildcats have struggled to figure things out (In every single article written about Arizona of late, the loss of Ashley has been mentioned. I kid you not. Find one that doesn't have his name included. You would think Ashley was the LeBron James of the Wildcats). They've struggled against decent or mediocre teams and needed overtime to win some of their last several games.

Why the Wildcats Will Win it All: However, the last couple games, this looks like a new and improved Arizona team. Possibly even better than the one from early on in the season. First, they went on the road and embarrassed Colorado and scored 87 points. Then, they played Cal, a team that had beaten them, and scored 86 points against them. The Arizona offense is firing on all cylinders right now. TJ McConnell is becoming one of the most underrated point guards in the country, Nick Johnson is looking like a bonafide scorer, and Aaron Gordon is even playing like a legitimate member of the most talented recruiting class of all time (As am I! Dropped 24 in an intramural basketball game the other night. Why Frank Martin hasn't offered me a scholarship to help turn the Gamecock program around? I'm not sure. But a few more performances like that, and I think I can at least earn preferred walk on status)!

Why the Wildcats Won't Win it All: They don't have Ashley. And that's like having a Nicholas Cage movie without insanity and yelling, according to every basketball expert. If this is actually true, they don't stand a chance. If Ashley is unimportant, though, there may be a chance for the Wildcats to find the invisible map on the back of the Declaration of Independence and win it all.

4) Virginia- The Dark Horse
Why the Cavaliers Will Win it All: Quick quiz! Who's in first place in the ACC? No, it's not Duke. No, it's not Syracuse. No, it's not North Carolina. It's Virginia (as anybody with a brain should have figured out by the heading of this section)! The Cavaliers have quietly won 12 straight games, and they play better defense than almost any team in the country. Actually, they allow the fewest points of any team in the country. Watching a Virginia game might be as exciting as watching pickup basketball at a retirement home, but the Cavaliers are the masters of their brand of basketball. Their offense used to only run around guard Joe Harris, but now they are developing additional weapons to make their offense more potent. Plus, the thing that makes Virginia most dangerous is nobody is giving them much credit. And as Katy Perry and Juicy J have proven the past few months, the Dark Horse can be deceptively catchy.

Why the Cavaliers Won't Win it All: The last time Virginia was known for their basketball team was 1981 when they had a player by the name of Ralph Sampson lead them to the Final Four. Since then, all the school has been known for is its preppy reputation (so many bow ties), ridiculous out of state tuition (Maybe I had interest in looking into UVA before I saw the price tag?), and Jeffersonian architecture. Not sure how much I trust a school like that to win six straight basketball games. Plus, if they run into a team like Wisconsin when they're draining threes, I'm not sure if the Cavs will be able to score enough.

5) Wichita State- The Most Overrated and Most Underrated
Why the Shockers Will Win it All: No team has had to endure more scrutiny and analysis than Wichita State the last few months. First off, let me say this. If you win 31 straight games (I'm assuming they will hold on to beat Missouri State), that is an impressive feat. That means you don't slip up against a team like Boston College (looking at you Syracuse). That means you rise to the occasion to beat more difficult opponents like Saint Louis (Even though the Billikens play is falling off a cliff of late). That means you find a way to win even when you're not playing your best basketball. For four months now, the Shockers have done that. No other team in the country can make that claim. Last year, Wichita State was 10 minutes from playing for the national championship. This team is probably even better than that one. Nobody seems to be giving them much of a chance, and that is absolutely absurd in my opinion Fred Van Vleet, Ron Baker, and Cleanthony Early and the Shockers are going to be a number one seed. And that is deserved.

Why the Shockers Won't Win it All: Fred Van Vleet, Ron Baker, and Cleanthony Early and the Shockers are going to be a number one seed. However, just because they went undefeated doesn't mean they're one of the best four teams in the country. As bad as the SEC is, the Missouri Valley is a first grade church league comparison. Indiana State? They haven't been relevant since Larry Bird went to school their last millennium. Bradley? That's a name, not a university. Drake? It might be fun to play Drake and the OVO clique in basketball, but they're not worthy of being a D1 program. The biggest disadvantage to the Shockers, though, will be the fact that they will be the hunted rather than the hunter this time around. Having that bullseye on their back is going to prevent Wichita State from flying under the radar, like they did last time around. I wouldn't be the least bit surprised if the Shockers make an exit in the first weekend courtesy of an 8 or 9 seed. Most terrifying thing to me about the Shockers? Wichita State coach, Gregg Marshall, looks frighteningly identical to Indiana coach, Tom Crean. And Tom Crean's decision making is close games is puzzling to say the least. Not sure if I can trust a Crean Clone in a single elimination basketball tournament.

J. Nave

Winter Olympics/College Basketball Analogies

Last time out, I picked the Denver Broncos to win the Super Bowl. As you all know, that prediction went as well as Denver's offense did. When deciding what to write about this week, I struggled to decide on a final topic. It's been a momentous week and a half in the sports world. First, we had Marcus Smart channel his inner Ron Artest and push an old man. Then, we had Michael Sam announce his sexual orientation and cement his status as an NFL trailblazer. The news continued when Flappy Bird was taken off the App Store market (Not necessarily a sport, but still legitimate news!). If that wasn't enough, the Winter Olympics got under way in Sochi, Russia, which of course only meant one thing: Feverishly searching the internet to see which country has the hottest athletes, so I know who to support besides the United States. To pay homage to one of the greatest events in the world and to honor the blog's commitment to make you have a winning bracket come March, I'm going to explain how certain college basketball teams resemble different Olympic events. Sounds crazy, right? Well, I'm all about crazy and the unorthodox. Let's see how this goes:

1. Ohio State Buckeyes--- Curling

This first one doesn't take much explaining at all. Curling is a fan favorite for many people during the Winter Olympics. However, not a single fan, at least in the United States, actually understands the game. It may seem like shuffleboard on ice or frozen bocce, but the game is way more confusing than that. Back in middle school I wrote a research paper about curling, and I can't remember a single intricacy of the game. The sport makes absolutely zero sense, but that's what makes it so great to watch. Also, what better inspiration to clean your house than watching someone vigorously sweep ice as if his or her life depended on it! It should go without saying then that watching the Buckeyes this year gives me many of the same emotions I feel when watching curling. First, I'll watch Amir Williams dominate on the interior one possession only to commit a stupid foul, fail to box out, and/or turn the ball over on the next. Then, I'll watch Lenzelle Smith make a shot only to watch him miss seven more. Finally, I"ll watch Shannon Scott look like a great point guard one trip down the court only to make a horrible pass the next. I'm never quite sure what to get out of the Buckeyes. However, when you have Aaron Craft and play in the Big Ten, it'll definitely provide entertainment, no matter how unexpected and confusing it might be.

2. Florida Gators--- Alpine Skiing

I've been skiing a handful times in my life and absolutely love it. Am I any good at it? Not at all. That's exactly why watching people fly down a mountain at over 70 miles per hour while twisting, turning, and jumping absolutely marvels me. It's fast and agile, yet requires great mental precision and strength at the same time. It's my favorite event because of the various complexities and excitement. The Gators this year have many of the same qualities as this great event. They have a senior laden lineup that knows how to play together as a unit (Mental Precision). They have guards who can run the floor and attack opposing defenses (Speed) and players like Patric Young who can get crucial points in the paint (Strength). They have a new freshman in the mix in Chris Walker who is going to provide even more spark to this lineup (Agile, for the sake of my argument). They are also undefeated in SEC play heading into a big test at Kentucky this Saturday. No matter what happens Saturday, remember in March that the Gators know how to play their brand of basketball and will provide must watch television. 

3. Kentucky Wildcats--- Snowboard Slopestyle

One of the new events to Sochi, slopestyle, has been in existence thanks to the Winter X-Games, but received the call up to the big leagues this winter. The sport can be incredible to watch when a rider makes a clean, crisp run down the mountain. However, at the same time, if one thing goes wrong, an ugly crash is bound to occur. That's exactly why it offers the perfect metaphor for the Kentucky Wildcats. Kentucky has the most members of my very talented recruiting class making them one of the youngest teams in the country. When the team is on a roll, I see very few teams in the country being able to beat them, as they conjure up memories of the 2012 NCAA champions. However, when something goes wrong, especially when they face adversity on the road, this team conjures up memories of what happened against Robert Morris. While the Wildcats will definitely get in the tournament this year, it will be interesting to see how deep of a run they can actually make.

4. Cincinnati Bearcats--- Cross Country Skiing

Cross country skiing, or I like to call it, 14th century winter transportation racing, is one of the most brutal events to watch. It bores you. It puts you to sleep. It makes you question why anybody would want to do this. You can find some of these same traits in the Bearcats, as they will defend you like very few teams in the country but struggle to score, which ultimately results in a boring game of basketball. However, Mick Cronin's team has a guy in Sean Kilpatrick (Remember this name. Etch it in your brain. He will make a difference one way or another over the next month and a half) who can lead this team to win their game of basketball. Last week, I was ready to channel my inner Troy Bolton and go singing and dancing around a golf course to let people know they should bet on the Bearcats come March. Now, I'm not quite as confident in that because they just got blown out on the road by SMU. This experienced group will continue to play their brand of basketball and continue to win games by a score of 48-44, but I have doubts about their brand of basketball equaling long tern NCAA tournament success. 

5/6. Wichita State Shockers and San Diego State Aztecs--- Bobsled

You think I picked bobsled because of to make an analogy to the underdog Jamaican bobsled team portrayed in the film Cool Runnings (I know nothing about bobsled other than it's not the luge or skeleton. What's the difference between the three of those? I'm still trying to understand. The only thing I know is a different Scandinavian country will probably take gold in all three of them)? Well, you're absolutely right. It seems like both of these teams do not deserve such lofty ratings in the polls. Wichita State hasn't played an actual basketball team in over a month and will continue to show up to clobber local Midwestern YMCA rec teams until the tournament rolls around. Even San Diego State has played in a weaker Mountain West conference this winter, which should hurt them considering they never do anything in the tournament anyways. Both of these teams will be interesting cases to watch come March, but to predict if they win a gold medal and make it to the Final Four or pull a Bode Miller and get upset in the first round is too hard right now.

7. Duke Blue Devils--- Figure Skating

As much as I dislike the actual competition of figure skating, I have to respect the sport's history and pageantry. Obviously, I would be much more entertained if a male duo came out and performed an Iron Lotus to an Aerosmith song to capture gold for the Stars and Stripes, but for now, I guess I'll have to keep watching a teenage Russian girl doing triple axel after triple axel while simultaneously auditioning to be on Dancing With the Stars be the best the sport can offer. We can't always win and life isn't fair... As much as I dislike Duke University, I have to respect the team's history and pageantry. Jabari Parker has been playing out of his mind, Rodney Hood has been doing the same, and even the most under appreciated of the Plumlee brothers is coming out of his shell right now. This is one of Coach K's better teams, and the scary thing is, they only seem to be getting better and better. Obviously, I would be thrilled to see them lose to a 15 seed (a la Lehigh) again, but for now, I guess I"ll have to keep watching the Blue Devils develop into a team that could make a Final Four run.

8. Syracuse Orange--- Hockey

Hockey is THE Winter Olympic Sport. Have you head of this thing called the Miracle on Ice? Did you watch the Gold Medal game between the US and Canada in Vancouver in 2010? If you said no to either of those things, quit reading, and never come back (Actually, please do come back. Just after you watch those fantastic games). This year, with the Russians hosting, you know it's "win gold medals or off to Siberia for exile you go" for Ovechkin and Co., which will only make it that much sweeter to taste an American victory this Saturday. Anyways, just as hockey is the crown jewel in the Winter Olympics, Syracuse seems to be the king of the college basketball universe. They're still undefeated. They're still doing everything I mentioned when I gushed about them last month. They beat Duke in a fantastic game to show they're worthy of being the number one team in the country. Now, after writing about them a second time, it's almost a guarantee the Orange will lose a game here soon. Even if they suffer a setback or two, they're the clear cut favorites in my opinion to cut down the nets right now. 

Fun Fact of the Week: Who do I actually think is the hottest female competitor in the Winter Olympics? I'd have to go with Silje Norendal. Don't believe me? Just look at how perfect, beautiful and flawless she looks in this picture FOLLOWING one of her runs. To reiterate she just snowboarded down a difficult course to keep her Olympic medal hopes alive and she still looks like this... If you need me, I'll be planning my study abroad trip to Norway for next semester!

J. Nave

Super Bowl Preview (By Previewing Absolutely Nothing Related to Football)

This Sunday, the biggest annual sporting event in the world, the Super Bowl, will match the Denver Broncos against the Seattle Seahawks in New York City. Of course, unless you've been in a comatose state for the past week and a half, you already know that. ESPN has provided thorough and extensive coverage from every angle possible for the past ten days. Everybody who has access to the internet has seen Richard Sherman scream loud noises at Erin Andrews and can't wait to see what he does next. Anybody who has ever watched a game of football knows who Peyton Manning is. If you've turned on the radio in the past five years, you've probably heard a Bruno Mars song or two. Even if all of those fail to describe you, then you can at least point out New York City on a map, and realize it's probably going to be very cold on February 2nd. This Super Bowl truly has something for everyone! Considering every facet of the actual game has already been analyzed by every news source, sports site, former (and current) jock, and casual soccer mom on the planet, I'm going to pick a Super Bowl winner based on everything unrelated to the game itself.

1) The Super Bowl happens to match up the two NFL teams from the two states that have legalized the recreational use of marijuana. Coincidence? I think not! Michael Phelps got caught smoking, and now he's the most decorated Olympian of all time. Is that one example enough to prove that weed makes you become better at sports? Yes, so let's move on... Anyways, if marijuana was still illegal, neither team would have made it to the Super Bowl. Don't believe me? Peyton Manning would have never been able to recover from another neck surgery and play the greatest season at the quarterback position of all time if it wasn't for a little film session ganja. Richard Sherman is already a lunatic on the football field. Can you imagine if he didn't have his pregame hits to calm him down? Everybody knows Marshawn Lynch eats Skittles when he scores, but do you know why? He needs his sugary munchies of course! To end the importance of marijuana in the Super Bowl before every one of my readers is convinced I'm a stoner, we will end with a corny marijuana joke:

Every pothead in Washington and Colorado to his friends this Sunday: That might be THE Super Bowl, but this right here is sure a super bowl (Cue maniacal laughing for five minutes)

Advantage: Seahawks... Lynch and Sherman need the weed more than Manning (Disclaimer- No idea if any of them smoke weed, but just for fun, we're going to act like my assumptions are right).

2) Super Bowl commercials make the game for those not interested in the battle on the gridiron. Well, I've got news for you. Budweiser has already claimed the best ad thanks to their Puppy Love, or Best Buds, commercial (Watch The Video Here). Please tell me how you top that? One, Budweiser uses its iconic Clydesdales once again, a Super Bowl tradition on the same level as hot wings and nachos. Then, there's that adorable puppy playing with said Clydesdales; The cuteness is unreal! When you add Passenger's "Let Her Go" in the background it just becomes perfection. Seriously, nobody markets better than Budweiser, and they hit it out of the park again. There will be funny commercials, stupid commercials, bizarre commercials, and heartfelt commercials, but I don't see this one being beat. Taco Bell commercials might make a killing in Washington and Colorado to suffice that late night/fourth meal craving (Couldn't resist another weed joke), but best commercial goes to Budweiser hands down.

Advantage: Broncos... Colorado is famous for Coors Light, a beer company, which Budweiser is. I know that logic makes no sense since the two are rivals, but it's my blog, and what I say goes. Plus, the Seattle brewery scene probably consists of only hipster microbreweries because what sounds more Seattle than a hipster microbrewery... Oh never mind, a hipster coffee shop definitely sounds more Seattle.

3) "Peyton Manning struggles in the cold. Health issues, age, and declining arm strength make him play his worst when the temperature is below freezing", or a variation of that phrase, has been, and will continue to be, uttered thousands of times this week. It's no secret that New York, New York isn't the place to go to escape winter, but for some reason, the NFL thought it would be a good idea to play a Super Bowl outdoors in a cold weather climate. This idea makes absolutely zero sense. First off, the players should be awarded with top notch playing conditions if they're going to sacrifice their bodies day in, day out for more than half of the year. They will not be getting that in MetLife Stadium. Fans should not pay thousands of dollars to watch this game and then be forced to sit outside in horrible weather. Most importantly, Bruno Mars should not have to risk a bad hair day performing in these conditions. It's inhumane, Roger Goodell!

Advantage: Seahawks... Seattle has worse weather than Denver. They'll be slightly more acclimated to the conditions

4) As mentioned a few times already, Bruno Mars will be performing during the halftime show this year. He threw a "Grenade" into the mix when he announced the Red Hot Chili Peppers would be performing with him. That combination? Not really sure what to think. I don't personally think the combination is going to equal "Treasure". Honestly, I hope Bruno opts for his more upbeat songs, so he doesn't seem like he's just "Talking to the Moon." Bruno, I like you "Just the Way You Are", but singing a bunch of ballads isn't appropriate for a sporting event like the Super Bowl. It's okay if you ask Erin Andrews to "Marry You" before, during, or after one of your numbers, but don't sing too many sad songs, or football and music fans will want you "Locked Out of Heaven". Oh, and sing "The Lazy Song". I like that one.

Advantage: Broncos... If Macklemore and Ryan Lewis would have been performing, Seattle would already be holding the Lombardi Trophy. They've already won four Grammys and performed at 30+ weddings this week. What have you done with your life? Seattle has launched a lot of great bands, but since none of them were ultimately selected, I have to give the advantage to Denver. Don't know of nearly as many bands out of Denver, but John Denver wrote some catchy tunes.

5) American education is lagging behind our foreign competitors, so any time I can watch football and simultaneously get more intelligent, I'm impressed. Why is that relevant in the Super Bowl? Geography, of course! Omaha, Nebraska might be a simple city in middle America, but thanks to Peyton Manning (Oh, and Doug McDermott, since this is supposed to be a college basketball blog after all), everybody is paying attention to these Nebraskans nowadays. A city best known for Warren Buffett and the College World Series, Peyton Manning has turned "Omaha! Omaha!" into America's favorite little city. I don't see Russell Wilson making Des Moines, Iowa into a famous town or drinking game.

Advantage: Broncos. Not only is Peyton Manning putting on a clinic for how to play the quarterback position, he has taught millions of Americans the importance of the American heartland- And he deserves kudos for that.

6) Uniforms are always a good way to logically pick a game, right? Let's look into these two teams. Seattle's color scheme is navy blue and neon green. Denver's color scheme is navy blue and orange. Seattle has one of my personal favorite helmets in the league and did the smart thing by letting Nike actually make some monumental changes to the uniforms a couple years back. Denver has sharp uniforms, too, but they're not as good. The orange is just too much, and teams that wear orange don't win important football games where I live (Unless they're playing Ohio State, another team that can't win a big game). 

Advantage: Seahawks. In the City that Never Sleeps, you've got to have a flashy, yet crisp, style to stand out. Seattle's uniforms do that. Denver's do not.

7) We're all tied up, so we're gonna have to go to the intangibles to see who ultimately wins Super Bowl XLIII. Chipotle is headquartered in Denver, Colorado. Starbucks is headquartered in Seattle, Washington. Denver has no famous landmarks that come to mind. Seattle has the Space Needle. Denver plays in Sports Authority Field at Mile High Stadium. Seattle plays in CenturyLink Field in front of the 12th man, one of the best home field advantages in sports. A Bronco is a cool horse. A Seahawk seems like a cool bird. Denver's coach checked himself into the hospital this season as Johnny Drama. Seattle's coach liked inviting Will Ferrell to practices when he coached at the other USC. Denver is a state capitol. Seattle isn't a state capital (Olympia is the capital of Washington for those of you aspiring to be Jeopardy! contestants one day). Denver has other professional sports teams in all the major sports. Seattle only has a baseball team left. Denver has no famous market or spot that comes to mind when I recall dates on The Bachelor. Seattle has a market where you can catch and throw fish that's been feature on The Bachelor.  

Advantage: Broncos. As a connoisseur of fans and athletic venues, I love Seattle's 12th man. However, I'm not a basic white girl, so the Starbucks has no sway on me. The Space Needle is a cool building, and even though Carroll knows some A-listers, I really don't like him at all. Ultimately, Denver takes the nod and is my pick to win the Super Bowl because the city started Chipotle and John Fox checked himself into the hospital as Johnny Drama (Mark Wahlberg owes Fox big time. I can't think of a better way to generate more hype for the Entourage movie than this publicity stunt). That's why it will be VICTORY for Peyton Manning and Co. this Sunday.

Broncos-21                  Seahawks-20

J. Nave

How to Fix The Ohio State Buckeyes

On January 7th, the Ohio State Buckeyes were 15-0 and a consensus top five team. Now, on January 26th, the Bucks find themselves at 16-4. Losses to Michigan State, Iowa, Minnesota, and Nebraska followed by an unimpressive win against Illinois have them falling way behind the pace in the Big Ten race, and many experts are now throwing around the dreaded "overrated" word when mentioning them. The question is with six weeks left to play in the season can the Buckeyes regroup to get back into the Big Ten race, regain some momentum, and make a run in the NCAA tournament? I think they can. So basketball fans, members of the Buckeye Nut House and Buckeye Nation everywhere, and any other person who might have accidentally stumbled upon this blog, let's look at how Ohio State can climb back to the top of the college basketball polls.

During their four game losing streak, Ohio State couldn't score. They haven't been able to score all year, but during those four losses the Buckeyes couldn't buy a basket, even if they'd just won the lottery and Walmart was offering Black Friday deals. If they were playing darts, they couldn't have hit a bulls eye the size of Kim Kardashian's thigh-fat infused ass. If they fell out of a boat, they would have not only been unable to hit water, they would've found a way to land in a mound of desert sand. I hope you all get the point at just how bad it was... Ohio State doesn't have the heralded "go to scorer" when they need a basket to end a run or get some momentum. In fact, Ohio State's offense becomes a DIRECTV commercial when things start to go bad. What do I mean? When LaQuinton Ross can't score, Ohio State struggles to find an easy basket. When Ohio State can't find an easy basket, Lenzelle Smith starts to force shots. When Lenzelle Smith starts to force shots, the Bucks try and get Amir Williams going in the paint. When the Bucks try and get Amir Williams going in the paint, everybody remembers he's the worst forward in college basketball. When everybody remembers he's the worst forward in college basketball, Aaron Craft gets frustrated and turns the ball over. When Aaron Craft gets frustrated and turns the ball over, Ohio State stops defending. And when Ohio State stops defending, they have no chance of winning a basketball game. That recipe basically sums up Ohio State's play over the last four weeks. The consistently poor offense and a disappearance of the dominating defense that has been essential to Ohio State during the Thad Matta era has led to the Buckeyes finding themselves with four Big Ten losses before February. Luckily, the Big Ten schedule is an absolute gauntlet, so Michigan, Michigan State, Wisconsin, Iowa, Indiana, Minnesota, and just about every other team (outside of maybe Penn State and Northwestern) will beat each other up. This gives Ohio State a slim chance to lay claim to at least a share of the Big Ten title by season's end. Of course, they'll have to win some tough games of their own along the way. How do they get back to playing Buckeye basketball? Easy.

1) Get Aaron Craft More Involved on Offense
It's no secret that Aaron Craft's jumper is not a masterpiece, so he's not going to create that many shots for himself on the perimeter. It's also no secret that Craft has some of the quickest feet in college basketball, so he can stay with anybody in college basketball. That's why I don't get why Matta doesn't create more opportunities for Craft to drive to the rim. Run screens for him. Run pick-and-rolls with Williams. If Craft starts scoring more, he'll attract more attention, thus creating more opportunities for the shooters around him. This will give the Buckeyes easier looks for their perimeter shooters, which is exactly what they need right now. How do they get Craft more opportunities to create for himself?

2) Go Small
The Buckeyes do not have a great front court as all. You never know what you're going to get out of Amir Williams (And most nights, it's very bad basketball), and Trey McDonald might be one of the most worthless forwards in the country. Instead of keeping one of these guys in the game, the Bucks should try a smaller lineup. LaQuinton Ross is just as tall as McDonald, and he can do a lot more on the floor. A lineup of Craft, Smith or Shannon Scott, Sam Thompson, Ross, and Marc Loving (who we will get to later) would give this team much better opportunities to score. It might make them vulnerable to teams with dominating front courts on the defensive end, but right now, trying this lineup would be worth a shot. And if this doesn't work?

3) Get the Ball to the Italian
Cue Will Ferrell a la Kicking and Screaming for step number three to fix the Buckeyes. A staple of almost every great team in college basketball is a shooter off the bench who can hit a three to end a drought and swing the momentum (Luke Hancock for Louisville last year is a great example). Ohio State has a great player (with an even greater name!) in Amedeo Della Valle to fill this void.The man might look like a mix of a poorly designed animated character and Anderson Varejao, but he has proven he can provide instant offense off the bench occasionally. If Della Valle is unable to do this, what are some other options?

4) Utilize your Member of the Best Recruiting Class of All Time
Ohio State may have not gotten me, but they still landed a player out of the best recruiting class of all time in Marc Loving. Every time I watch the Buckeyes play, I see William Buford 2.0 in Loving. He has a smooth jump shot and some raw athleticism. He has made his share of freshman mistakes this season, and while that was reduced some of my faith in him, I don't understand why Matta hasn't given him more opportunities. The most important thing for the Ohio State Buckeyes to do, though?

5) Get Back to Your Bread and Butter and Play Defense
The saying "If it ain't broke, don't fix it" comes to mind with step five. Outside of VCU and Syracuse, Ohio State has made their reputation on the defensive end. They might not have a catchy name like 'Havoc' or play the 2-3 zone like Syracuse, but they have always played consistently good man-to-man defense under Matta. Jonah Hill might have been able to move on to play more serious roles in films, Brett Favre might have been able to move on to play for the Vikings and Jets, and Justin Bieber might have been able to develop into a felon, but unlike these three men, the Buckeyes need to hang their hats on the strength that has made them a perennial threat come March. 

Only time will tell if the Bucks can mesh back together into a cohesive and capable basketball unit. Only time will tell if Ohio State will find a bona fide scorer. Only time will tell if Thad Matta stumbles across the blog post to discover the cure for bad basketball. Here;s hoping Ohio State figures it out solely for Aaron Craft's purpose, and his Buckeye career can end with the way it should: A Big Ten regular season/tournament title and a deep NCAA tournament run.

Fun Fact of the Week: Back in November, I picked Creighton's Doug McDermott to win National Player of the Year. That looks to be a great prediction, if any readers made a bet on that. However, I also picked Syracuse as the most overrated team in the country. That was a horrible prediction, and I might reimburse any readers who made a bet on that. 

J. Nave