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packernet · 5 years

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New Post has been published on https://www.packernet.com/blog/2019/09/19/the-10-biggest-changes-in-100-years-of-the-nfl/

The 10 biggest changes in 100 years of the NFL

When the NFL first started in 1920, it wasn’t the high-flying spectacle it is now. In fact it was just a bunch of small towns. And now, 100 years later the only small town team left is the Green Bay Packers. And oddly enough, the Packers are the owners of the most championship won with 13.

The Packers are an instrumental part of the league’s history, which was clearly evident when they were chosen to open the NFL’s 100th season against the Chicago Bears. That history has created the largest sports enterprise in the world and the behemoth shows no signs of letting up anytime soon. Now that sports betting is legal it could take the league to a whole new level. Betway is a great way to get in on the action and reap the benefits of a sport that seems made for gambling.

But before gambling on the sport became popular, it had a lot of growing to do. Here are the moments that shaped America’s game.

The forward pass

Imagine a more stop-start version of rugby, where a player takes the ball and sprints directly into a scrum before the two teams reset and do it again.

You’ve just imagined an NFL game from the 1920s.

In the early years of the league, quarterbacks could only throw the ball forward from within five yards of the line of scrimmage, so pass plays were rare.

A 1933 rule change, however – inspired by the NFL’s desire to separate itself from the college game – allowed forward passes from anywhere behind the line, a decision that transformed the sport into the high-flying spectacle it is now.

In the 1932 season, no quarterback threw for more than 640 yards or nine touchdowns.

In 2015, Drew Brees threw for 505 yards and seven touchdowns. In one game.

The draft

Parity is everything in the NFL.

That a team can go from bottom dwellers to title winners in just a couple of seasons is a major part of why the league is so exciting.

That volatility is largely thanks to the draft.

Prior to 1936, teams would scramble to sign amateur players in chaotic bidding wars, driving up salaries for unproven college graduates who would hold out for the biggest offer.

So, in a bid to restore competitive balance and take leverage away from the players, the NFL became the first major sports league to hold an annual draft, in which franchises take turns selecting amateur players, with the worst team from the previous season picking first.

Rewarding failure in such a way might seem entirely at odds with what America claims to stand for, but the system caught on.

Every other major sports league followed suit and held their own inaugural draft within the following 30 years.

Racial integration

Segregation wasn’t outlawed in the United States until 1964, so it’s no surprise that the NFL was almost exclusively white for much of its formative years.

While a handful of black players played in the first few NFL seasons, there were none in the league between 1934 and 1946.

Then, Kenny Washington – one of the best collegiate players ever – permanently broke the race barrier by signing for the Los Angeles Rams.

The league very slowly integrated black players from there – helped by a boost from merging with the more tolerant AFL in 1970 – and as of the 2014 season the NFL’s player pool is now approximately 68 percent African American.

The problem is by no means fixed, though.

Despite the NFL introducing the ground-breaking Rooney Rule in 2003 – which requires teams to interview at least one candidate with a minority background for every head-coaching vacancy – just three of the 32 NFL franchises have African-American head coaches as of the start of the 2019 season.

The schedule

The NFL’s early years were chaotic.

With no set schedule, franchises played against anyone they could manage to arrange a game against, including teams from outside of the league.

They effectively made it up as they went along, and the amount of games they played varied wildly as a result.

While some teams played 10 or more, the Muncie Flyers, who finished last, played just one game (which they lost).

There was no championship game back then. The title winners were voted on at a contentious end-of-season meeting of the team owners.

That’s hardly a formula for a successful league, and in 1933 the NFL finally had its inaugural title game, with the Chicago Bears beating the New York Giants.

Three years later, the league reached a point where all nine of its members played 12 games, and since 1978 the regular season has been comprised of 16 games for each team.

The helmets

Looking at NFL helmets from the 1920s is terrifying, and not just because they made some players look like Hannibal Lecter.

No, what’s frightening is imagining helmet-to-helmet hits being dished out with just a layer of soft leather ‘protecting’ the skull.

The NFL gradually moved from leather skull-caps to plastic helmets with face masks in the 1940s, and by the 1950s all players wore the polymer helmets that are universal today.

The move away from leather was intended to improve player safety, but brain injuries – such as CTE – are a stain that the NFL just can’t cover up.

In 2013, around 4,500 former players sued the league for concussion-related injuries.

As a result, the NFL has pushed hard to outlaw helmet-to-helmet collisions, with penalties and fines becoming increasingly penal over the past few years.

The AFL merger

It’s not a great look for a league that likes to call its title winners “world champions” to be competing against an emerging rival with deep pockets, talented players and a more exciting style of play.

That was the case in 1959, though, when a group of wealthy owners formed the AFL and quickly threatened the NFL’s dominance by luring away some of the top college recruits with lucrative contracts.

The NFL initially ignored the younger league but eventually recognised that its talent base and profitability were both at risk and opened talks to merge the two organisations.

In 1966, a deal was agreed and a 24-team league was formed with two conferences – the AFC, featuring the former AFL franchises, and the NFC, featuring the remaining NFL franchises.

At the end of each season, the conference champions would play each other, spawning one of the biggest sporting events in the world…

The Super Bowl

You won’t find many non-basketball fans tuning into the NBA Finals, and only baseball devotees watch the World Series.

The Super Bowl, however, regularly attracts over 100 million viewers worldwide, more than any annual sporting event other than the Champions League final.

That’s impressive, considering American football is a complex game that can be tricky for casual fans to pick up and is almost exclusively played in the US.

The NFL has done a fantastic job of marketing its championship game.

Super Bowl Sunday is now essentially a national holiday, and traditions like Super Bowl parties and prop bets have spread to countries outside of the US.

The halftime show

The Who. Prince. Beyonce.

Some of the biggest musical acts in the world have produced iconic performances at the Super Bowl halftime show.

No other sporting event puts as much focus on its in-game entertainment, and there’s no doubt that part of the Super Bowl’s huge success is down to the popularity of the halftime show.

It wasn’t always the case. Until the early 1990s, the show would typically feature a marching band with a theme like A Salute to the Big Band Era or It’s a Small World.

But Michael Jackson’s iconic 1993 performance changed everything, drawing 91 million viewers and making the halftime show a coveted gig for the world’s biggest artists.

Since then, the halftime show has often been as memorable as the game itself, producing unforgettable moments like Katy Perry’s ‘Left Shark’ dance, Lady Gaga’s leap from the stadium roof and, of course, Nipplegate.

The salary cap

Aside from the draft, the salary cap is the NFL’s greatest leveller.

While sports like baseball and soccer (apologies, football fans) tend to reward the owners with the deepest pockets, the NFL sets a hard limit every year for how much each team can spend.

Following the example set by the NBA a decade earlier, the NFL introduced the cap in 1994, meaning success in the league is now almost entirely dependent on good coaching and talent evaluation.

The NFL doesn’t have a Manchester United or Real Madrid equivalent.

While the New England Patriots have dominated since 2000, their success can largely be attributed to the sustained performance of three-time MVP Tom Brady – the (almost) undisputed quarterback GOAT – and three-time Coach of the Year Bill Belichick, rather than the checkbook of Robert Kraft.

International expansion

The NBA and MLB have both played regular-season games in London in the past year, but it was the NFL that really pioneered international expansion.

Having staged a handful of exhibitions at Wembley in the 1980s and one regular-season game in Mexico in 2005, the league brought the Miami Dolphins and New York Giants over for its first ever meaningful game in the UK in 2007.

The game was truly awful. The Giants slogged to a 13-10 win in the pouring rain (classic London).

Wembley sold out instantly, though, and the huge fan support convinced the league to stage games in London every year.

The Jacksonville Jaguars – owned by Fulham owner Shahid Khan – signed a deal in 2013 to hold a home game in London every year, while the NFL have also agreed to stage at least two fixtures per season at the new Tottenham Hotspur Stadium for the next decade.

Everything is in place, then, for the league to take its most ambitious step yet – moving a team to the UK permanently.

Should the league convince the players, it could only be a matter of time until we’re watching the London Jaguars take the field.

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corpuschristinightlife · 6 years

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Recess: The Best Hole in the Wall Bar in Corpus Christi

If you’ve been in a classic hole in the wall bar, more often than not, your stay might haven’t left a remarkable impression to you. The smallness, dingy and raggedy feature of this kind of a place including the signature non-flushing toilets, ceiling fans, and the limited bartenders, don’t encourage even a slight excitement, leaving you nothing to expect at all. In this type of bar set-up, it is really a challenge to appeal to customers considering the huge competition of this business and almost all establishments are on the same level playing field. Fortunately, few exist that stands out and gain patronage. A great example is the Recess Bar. Aside from being a lively watering hole serving burgers and beer in a relaxed setting with pool and sports on TV, Recess Bar Corpus Christi enjoys the influx of regulars because of two principles, and they make sure to see these through as the core of the whole operation.

Be a Home of Something

The longevity of a bar says a lot about the food and drinks it offers. What makes customers keep coming back must be the specialty of the house. As for Recess Bar & Grill, this place is the home of the best chicken sandwich —the super moist with an awesome bun cheap snack everyone is willing to wait in a long queue just to have a bite of. Recess Bar also champions “bomb” menus —best burgers, hand-cut fries and Jalapeño poppers— which are sure to die for. In addition, this bar wouldn’t be different if without a great selection of mixed drinks and liquor. With happy hours from 4 to 8 throughout the week, you can delight in their affordable cold beers and strong alcohol and shots in half-price of your bill. Consequently, this place is frequented by a younger crowd especially college kids, people of 20’s rockability, bikers and affliction t-shirt wearers; and together with the music, they create a loud atmosphere suitable for a lively nightlife. With this, it might sound an unruly place to go but as the night goes on, Recess Bar Corpus Christi just literally becomes even more appealing and enjoyable.

Have Top-notch Sports Bar Amenities

Being a cheap bar doesn’t mean everything else around should be cheap. People get thrilled when they see rare and luxurious things in a peculiar place. For Recess Bar, shouldering the extra cost of an arcade basketball game and a Golden Tee Golf is inconsiderable as long as it helps bring outstanding service and offers customers extra entertainment. Recess Bar & Grill is also jam-packed with pool tables, darts and occasional live music acts, and on Thursday nights the stage is set for karaoke addicts who really love the sound of their own voice. Furthermore, the prompt and friendly staff make sure you never get an empty glass while seating in their chic and modern bar stools. With these little amenities, Recess Bar Corpus Christi is able to serve well walk-ins, groups, and dainty road trippers.

For an impromptu road trip night out, there's nothing more exciting than going to an unpretentious out-of-the-way bar that serves awesome deals you wouldn’t possibly think of getting from that place. That is to say, a perfect go-to hangout whenever you need to kick back and relax with some of your best buddies. And as a piece of advice, the next time you come across a little watering hole, you had better look something exceptional like as in Recess Bar Corpus Christi.

If you want to go back to the Corpus Christi nightlife article, go right here.

This article was originally posted at https://corpuschristinightlifebymoonscapeh2o.blogspot.com/2019/01/recess-best-hole-in-the-wall-bar-corpus-christi.html

#recess #recess bar & grill #best bars in Corpus Christi #best nightclubs in Corpus Christi #nightlife #best sports bar in Corpus Christi

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227snewfacebookfries · 7 years

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truesportsfan · 5 years

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Bill Raftery on the Big East Tournament and its evolution

Bill Raftery, the longtime college basketball analyst and part of the Final Four broadcast team, was head coach at Seton Hall from 1970-81 and was there at the birth of the Big East Conference. He talks with The Post’s Steve Serby about the upcoming March Madness.

Q: Why do some consider Seton Hall a Final Four threat?

A: A variety of reasons — the size, which a lot of teams don’t have. They are like an NBA team … an old NBA team even. I think the other thing about them too is that they can play differently. They can actually play small with Sandro Mamukelashvili. He’s a 6-10, 6-11 kid and he’s very mobile. … He’s overlooked quite a bit, I think, by the public in general. And they’re excellent defensively, Everyone talks about (Myles) Powell and what he can do, and it’s very impressive. Quincy McKnight is the guy that sorta runs the show, gets ’em in the right spots, a great defender. I think they’re deeper than a lot of teams. they can do a lot of different things that other teams can’t.

Q: Do you think they’re a Final Four threat?

A: Well, having seen the flavor of the month for the whole season, why not? They’re as good as a lot of teams in the country.

Q: You think they’re capable?

A: They’re very capable. Now, as you know, a lot of things have to go their way. Powell’s gotta return to form, he hasn’t been shooting as well as he’s capable of. I think this time off has probably been good for him. And again, I think the biggest thing about them is they can adjust to any way you want to play — large to small, a combination, fast, halfcourt. … Having said that, Villanova’s got just as good a shot as they do. I don’t know if Villanova has the depth, and they’re younger. That’s the other thing about Seton Hall, they’ve got some guys who’ve been around, and I think that’s very important come Tournament time. I think that would be the one thing that might separate them from a lot of teams.

Q: Kevin Willard?

A: He basks in anonymity. He just does his job. Seton Hall’s not the easiest job in the league, it might not have the top-notch facilities. He’s great at developing talent. I didn’t even mention Jared Rhoden, that kid is gonna be a really promising player, he is already. He wasn’t a great threat deep last year, now he makes that. They develop players, or they have eyes for players who can get better.

Q: Powell versus Markus Howard for Big East Player of the Year?

A: Different styles, you know? I always opt for the team that becomes more successful in the conference, or in the country. Myles is more of a scoring guard, although he’s become an excellent passer. … He’s unselfish … he’s got a great team attitude. Markus is sort of more of a combo. He can obviously light it up, I’m sure it’s a tough call for a lot of people, but if everybody felt they were equal, I would then opt for the team that finished higher. (Seton Hall) tied for the lead, you know?

Q: Can St. John’s go on a little run at the Garden this week without Mustapha Heron?

A: A bunch of games in a short time for them might be really difficult. Their lack of depth and experience is what’s hurt them.

Q: Mike Anderson?

A: He’s a winner, and I really expect, and I think a lot of people in the league expect, them to get it going again. To me what’s amazing about the conference, is that Georgetown is trying to get it going, St. John’s is trying to get it going, DePaul is trying to get it going, are there any bigger cities in the country, or more important media centers? So I think that really speaks well for what these other teams have been able to do. Things, unfortunately, are cyclical, although don’t tell Villanova that, obviously.

Q: Which team could surprise?

A: No one’s talked about Providence all year, and they’re really playing really good. I think they’re coming of age in terms of the upper bracket. They’re getting better at the right time of year. When (Alpha) Diallo plays well, this is a whole different team. His ability to make shots, good defense, very versatile.

Q: Villanova?

A: They got the X on their back, they’re the champions.

Q: Butler?

A: They control the tempo of the game. They’ll bite you with a little fast break every once in a while. But basically, they’re very sound defensively. The backcourt is excellent on this team. And inside, (Bryce) Nze is very, very smart, does a lot of little things, he keeps the ball alive, he’s got good footwork around the rim. And the kid (Sean) McDermott can make 3s, you can’t leave him alone. (Jordan) Tucker is one of those guys that can stretch your D, and he went to Duke, so you know he was a high recruit.

Bill RafteryFOX Sports

Q: Who are some of the other players fans can gravitate to in the tournament?

A: Naji Marshall might have a coming-out party, the kid from Xavier. … St. John’s Rasheem (Dunn), see if he can do something. … Providence, Diallo and (David) Duke, (Luwane) Pipkins has had a great run. … Georgetown, (Mac) McClung (foot) is hopefully healthy. (Omer) Yurtseven (ankle), the big kid on that team. … Kamar Baldwin at Butler, everybody in the league fears him, one of the premier backcourt kids. … And Creighton with the 3s, they’re phenomenal those kids the way they shoot the basketball. … And Saddiq Bey at Villanova, he’s got great range, he can handle the basketball, he can guard little guys if he has to, he can create post-ups with his dribble. He’s just one of those very, very tough outs. … DePaul, (Paul) Reed, he’s got great size at 6-foot-9, can rebound, can shoot the basketball. He can drive it left or right, he does things in the open floor that guards do, and he can actually make a 3 on occasion.

Q: Big East or Big Ten?

A: I think they’re all good. It’s like if you live in the Midwest, you say the Big Ten. … They’re pretty solid all the way through … some leagues are top-heavy. You get in the Tournament, you gotta play Oregon, you’re not gonna have an easy time. USC’s another team, they’re very good. The ACC’s not quite what it was, but it’s still pretty damn good.

Q: What is it about the Big East Tournament that gets your juices flowing?

A: Well obviously the Garden comes to mind. I just think they’re all schools that have a total commitment to basketball. That’s their primary spirit, development of the student body, and I think they live and die with it. I just think there’s something about the city, the place, the toughness of the kids, the importance of it. Ever since Dave (Gavitt) started it, nothing had really happened differently. It’s always been about leaving it all out there. And I remember Dave saying, “Everybody’s gonna get a shot.” And the first shot was Rick (Pitino), getting (Providence) to the (1987) Final Four. Then P.J. (Carlesimo) got there (with Seton Hall) in ’89. They were the last two.

Q: What specific Big East memories as an announcer stand out to you?

A: John Thompson winning (the NCAA Championship) in ’84. … That sort of alerted some people. And then, three of us (Georgetown, St. John’s and Villanova) getting to the Finals in ’85. And then selfishly, P.J. getting there in ’89. And I mentioned Rick before.

Q: What about the six-overtime Syracuse-Connecticut classic in 2009?

A: (Sean) McDonough, (Jay) Bilas and I always say that that’s the one game that I’ll never forget.

Q: New York City and Syracuse legend Pearl Washington?

A: He had what (Pete) Maravich had.

Q: How about those old St. John’s-Georgetown games at the Garden?

A: 1 versus 2 was one of the biggest ever. I was fortunate enough to do that one when John [Thompson] donned the sweater with Looie (Carnesecca). I still don’t know how he got the same kind of sweater, it still amazes me. … Patrick (Ewing) blocking a shot, or two, or three, to deliver a message early in the game that “don’t come in here.” The intensity of the games … there’s so many rough-and-tumble things. … Just the excitement of the tournament itself … the value of it.

Q: What is your view of the Big East now compared to when Looie and Rollie (Massimino at Villanova) and John Thompson and Jim Boeheim (at Syracuse) and Jim Calhoun (at UConn) coached?

A: I think the biggest difference, it’s not a first-name league yet. Then it was Chris (Mullin) and Eddie (Pinckney), Patrick (Ewing) and Walter (Berry). The other thing about the league that’s interesting, with exceptions, it’s not a one-and-done league. Villanova’s had its share of guys leaving, but it’s mostly sophomore, junior, senior year. So kids are around a while, and people can rally around their programs a little bit.

Q: Did you have reservations when the league changed the way it did in 2013?

A: I don’t think I had reservations because the foundation was there.

Q: What do you remember about the very first year of the Big East?

A: Back in ’79?

Q: Yes.

A: Well my first reaction is, “What did I do to myself?” We (Seton Hall) were OK playin’ ’em once, but playin’ ’em twice. … I guess you might call it an honor to be asked when we started, having played most of those teams once a year. We were in the ECAC — all of us, St. John’s, ourselves, Fordham. … November, December were always hard — January and February got harder.

Q: What would be your favorite Big East memory as a coach?

A: Wow. … Becoming an announcer (laugh).

Q: Becoming an announcer?

A: I was only there two years, and we weren’t in the Garden before I got there. So it was like in its formative stages. The first one was in Providence; the second one was in Syracuse. We played in those two. And the third one was at UConn. So our kids didn’t get the taste of that.

source https://truesportsfan.com/sport-today/bill-raftery-on-the-big-east-tournament-and-its-evolution/

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junker-town · 5 years

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Big East basketball summer power rankings

The name on top is a familiar one, but the Big East should be anything but predictable in 2019-20.

Due largely to the lofty standards the league had set for itself in recent seasons, 2018-19 felt like a small, but noticeable step back for the Big East. It never felt like the league had a true national title contender, the middle of the conference was softer than usual, and when the dust settled on the 2019 NCAA tournament, the league had produced a record of 1-4.

If the conference fails to send at least one team to the tournament’s second weekend — or fails to produce fewer than two total victories — in 2020, it will be nothing short of stunning. While the top of the league might not be quite as strong as it was three or four years ago, you still have multiple teams that appear fully capable of seeing their seasons end in Atlanta next spring. You also have two players destined to be on everyone’s preseason All-American team, and a handful of exciting young talent that should make league clashes appointment viewing throughout the winter.

The real step forward for the league should be in the belly of the conference, where the quality of teams 3-7 should be significantly better than it was a year ago. The question then becomes how do you organize that middle group of teams, which on paper appear to be extremely similar?

Let’s give it a shot.

10. DEPAUL BLUE DEMONS

2018-19 Record: (19-17, 7-11)

2018-19 Big East Finish: T-8th

DePaul has finished last or tied for the last in the final Big East standings in each of the last three years and nine of the last 11. With that in mind, placing them anywhere but the bottom would have felt too much like a classic summer hot take.

The loss of do-everything leading scorer Max Strus (20.1 ppg) looms large, but Dave Leitao does return a double figure scorer in Paul Reed (12.3). Reed also led the Demons in rebounding last season at 8.5 per game. The real intrigue with DePaul lies in a solid freshman class headlined by four-star forward Romeo Weems. Transfers Darious Hall (Arkansas) and Carte’Are Gordon (Saint Louis) should also help in the effort to replace Strus’ production.

9. ST. JOHN’S RED STORM

2018-19 Record: (21-13, 8-10)

2018-19 Big East Finish: 7th

The Red Storm snuck into the NCAA tournament last season, falling to Arizona State in a First Four game. Then all hell broke loose.

Chris Mullin stepped down as head coach, Shamorie Ponds and Big East Defensive Player of the Year Justin Simon both bolted for the NBA, and then an embarrassing coaching search came to a merciful end with the hiring of ex-Arkansas head coach Mike Anderson. Having Mustapha Heron (14.6 ppg) and LJ Figueroa (14.4 ppg) back is nice, but this feels like a classic transitional year for the Red Storm.

8. BUTLER BULLDOGS

2018-19 Record: (16-17, 7-11)

2018-19 Big East Finish: T-8th

This is the spot where, on paper at least, the league sees its first significant drop-off.

Butler was the only team in the conference last season to finish with an overall record below .500, just the program’s second losing season since 2005. Kamar Baldwin is fantastic, but the question is whether or not the Bulldogs will have better pieces around him than they did a year ago. If that question is answered in the affirmative, it will likely be due in large part to the help of Valpo grad transfer Derrik Smits (the son of former NBA player Rik Smits) or top 100 recruit Khalif Battle.

7. PROVIDENCE FRIARS

2018-19 Record: (18-16, 7-11)

2018-19 Big East Finish: T-8th

The No. 7 spot feels too low for a team that is as complete on paper as this Friar squad appears to be, but hey, someone has to go here.

Head coach Ed Cooley flirted with the Michigan job for a short stretch in May before announcing that he would be returning to Providence for a ninth season. Eight days after Cooley’s announcement, Alpha Diallo — the team’s leading scorer last season and arguably the best defensive player in the Big East — announced that he would be back for his senior season. The return of Diallo plus the addition of high-scoring UMass transfer Luwane Pipkins could have the Friars back in the NCAA tournament after a one-year hiatus.

6. GEORGETOWN HOYAS

2018-19 Record: (19-14, 9-9)

2018-19 Big East Finish: T-3rd

Year three for Georgetown under Patrick Ewing has the potential to be the most exciting yet. The Hoyas lose leading scorer Jessie Govan, but return an exciting nucleus of young talent. James Akinjo, Josh LeBlanc and Mac McClung all made the Big East’s All-Freshman team last season, with Akinjo and McClung both averaging double figures in points.

Ewing hopes that the answer for Govan’s departure lies in the massive form of NC State transfer Omer Yurtseven. The 7-footer was inconsistent at times during his two seasons in Raleigh, but at his best, he was one of the premiere frontcourt players in the ACC.

5. CREIGHTON BLUEJAYS

2018-19 Record: (20-15, 9-9)

2018-19 Big East Finish: T-3rd

Creighton was arguably the Big East’s greatest overachiever last season, winning 20 games and finishing tied for third in the league standings despite being picked to finish ninth at the start of the year. That wasn’t enough to get the Bluejays into the NCAA tournament, but it was enough to significantly raise expectations for 2019-20.

Greg McDermott returns the bulk of his offensive production from a season ago. At the top of that group is leading scorer Ty-Shon Alexander (15.7 ppg), who will be asked to produce even more as a junior now that Martin Krampelj (13.5 ppg, 6.9 rpg) has moved on. Mitch Ballock (11.1 ppg) and floor general Marcus Zegarowski (11.1 ppg, 3.2 apg) are also back after rock solid 2018-19 campaigns.

4. XAVIER MUSKETEERS

2018-19 Record: (19-16, 9-9)

2018-19 Big East Finish: T-3rd

Xavier was a quiet force down the stretch last season, winning seven of its final nine regular season games under first-year head coach Travis Steele. That run wasn’t enough to compensate for a 3-8 start in Big East play, but it was enough to get the team into the NIT and raise expectations significantly for 2019-20.

Four Musketeer starters explored their professional options during the offseason, and all four chose to return to school. Headlining that group is Second Team All-Big East selection Naji Marshall, who led Xavier in scoring (14.7 ppg) and rebounding (7.2 rpg) and was second in assists (3.4 apg) last season as a sophomore. Steele also brings in a five player top 25 recruiting class, and a pair of potential impact grad transfers in Jason Carter (Ohio) and Bryce Moore (Western Michigan).

3. MARQUETTE GOLDEN EAGLES

2018-19 Record: (24-10, 12-6)

2018-19 Big East Finish: 2nd

Marquette was receiving significant national top 10 love in the moments immediately following Markus Howard’s announcement that he would be returning to school for one more year. Then, shortly thereafter, the Hauser brothers announced their intentions to transfer. Now, there are some projecting that the Golden Eagles won’t even be a top five team in their own conference.

The way that people are talking about Howard and Marquette this summer reminds me a lot of the way people talked about Carsen Edwards and Purdue a year ago. I’m not guaranteeing that the Golden Eagles are going to be an Elite Eight team that comes within a shot of knocking off the eventual national champions, but I do believe there’s still enough around Howard — perhaps the most explosive scorer in college basketball — for this to be a legitimate top 25 team.

For starters, people should realize early on this winter just how good Koby McEwen is. The Utah State transfer averaged right around 15 points, five rebounds and three assists per game in his two seasons with the Aggies, and his game should serve as the perfect backcourt counterpart to Howard. Experienced forwards Sacar Anim and Theo John are both back in the fold and have the ability to flourish in expanded roles.

2. SETON HALL PIRATES

2018-19 Record: (20-14, 9-9)

2018-19 Big East Finish: T-3rd

First, Kevin Willard said “thanks but no thanks” to the Virginia Tech job. Then, All-American Myles Powell turned down the NBA in favor of returning to South Orange for his senior season. Those two decisions have Seton Hall in a position to make a run to the NCAA tournament’s second weekend for the first time since 2000.

Powell isn’t the only returning talent Willard will have at his disposal in 2019-20. Eight of the team’s top nine scorers from last season’s NCAA tournament squad are back (shoutout to Michael Nzei on making the quick transition from high-level hoops to high-level finance). If that weren’t enough, 7-foot big man Ike Obiagu is eligible and ready to shore up the inside after sitting out last season following his transfer in from Florida State.

1. VILLANOVA WILDCATS

2018-19 Record: (26-10, 13-5)

2018-19 Big East Finish: 1st

Leading scorers Phil Booth and Eric Paschall are gone, but there’s still reason to believe Villanova will be better in 2019-20 than they were this past season, a year which ended with the Wildcats claiming their fifth Big East regular season title in six seasons.

Returnees Collin Gillespie, Sadiq Bey, Jermaine Samuels and Dhamir Cosby-Rountree all played significant roles last season and should be expected to take steps forward. The biggest cause for optimism should reside with the top five recruiting class Jay Wright has brought in. That class is headlined by two five-star players — Jeremiah Robinson-Earl and Bryan Antoine — who should be good enough to start from day one.

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smallcollegebasketball · 1 year

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The teams, matchups and game times have been announced for the 2023 Small College Basketball Champions Classic. All games will take place at Wachs Arena on the campus of Northern State University. Click on the link above to read the press release and see the matchups. Come on out to Aberdeen, SD, for this national showcase for college basketball.

#Northern State University

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rickhorrow · 6 years

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15 TO WATCH/5 SPORTS TECH/POWER OF SPORTS 5: RICK HORROW’S TOP SPORTS/BIZ/TECH/PHILANTHROPY ISSUES FOR THE WEEK OF AUGUST 13

with Jamie Swimmer & Jesse Leeds Grant

Golf and tech engines are revving for the second annual Indy Women in Tech Championship Powered by Group1001. Boasting a $2 million purse, dozens of the world’s best female golfers, and a classic location – the Brickyard Crossing Golf Course, designed by Pete Dye – the Indy Women in Tech Championship also shows off a unique week of tech and STEM focused events for women and girls. Indy Women in Tech makes an annual commitment to support local initiatives financially and through marketing platforms surrounding the LPGA event with a particular focus on expanding the reach of robotic programs in schools; expanding STEM days; helping to create programs that enable professional, full-time athletes to gain the network, confidence, support, and skills to enter the full-time workforce; and creating initiatives aimed at women who have been away from the workforce and equipping them with the skills needed to use tech as a vehicle back to the workforce. Leadership at all levels is also an important component of this event. While the ability to lead and influence is apparent on the PGA Tour – as we saw during Sunday’s PGA Championship final round, as winner and likely Player of the Year Brooks Koepka battled timeless Tiger Woods – the LPGA has been missing a true icon for some years. Here’s hoping one comes into sharper focus this week in Indy.

In the wake of this past year’s FBI scandal that took college basketball by storm, the NCAA has unveiled a series of rules changes aimed at cleaning up and reforming the game. According to USA Today, the NCAA is broadly promoting stricter enforcement of the rule book, tougher penalties for violations of such rules, and adding independent investigators for “complex” cases. In such instances, NCAA investigators will now be allowed to “accept information established by another administrative body, including a court of law, government agency, accrediting body or a commission authorized by a school.” One of the biggest issues going forward now is how USA Basketball, the NCAA, and NBA work together on implementing these changes. Under the new rules, elite high school basketball recruits and college players will be eligible to be represented by agents who are certified by the NCAA; the NCAA has tasked USA Basketball with selecting which players will be allowed to sign with agents, but it wants “no part” in bearing such responsibility. The changes are being hailed as “enormously significant” by those in college basketball, though they likely will not be implemented until 2022 at the earliest and still need to be ironed out.

Los Angeles Rams Owner and American billionaire Stan Kroenke has agreed to pay $777 million to buy out Alisher Usmanov’s stake in Arsenal to become the club’s sole owner. According to the London Times, Kroenke’s business, Kroenke Sports & Entertainment, reported that Usmanov accepted the offer, which values the London-based Premier League club at $2.3 billion. The two billionaires have been battling each other for control of the club ever since they initially invested back in 2007; “Kroenke has been Arsenal’s majority shareholder since 2011 and is planning to make offers to the club’s number of remaining small shareholders to take complete control.” The capital needed to fund the takeover will likely come from a mix of Kroenke’s personal money and from raising capital – $58.2 million of his own money will be used and the remaining $721 million will be borrowed, “which he says will not be borrowed against the club.” This marks the latest move by Kroenke to expand his sports business empire, but Gunner fans are not happy with the move, citing Kroenke’s concern for the bottom line over trophies won.

With the recent release of the upcoming season’s NBA schedule, the league is betting on LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers to attract a crowd everywhere they go. According to the Los Angeles Times, the Lakers have lost a significant amount of public intrigue since Kobe Bryant’s retirement a few years ago, but they are “officially back square in the public eye.” Christmas Day, always known to feature marquee matchups, will pit the Philadelphia 76ers against the Boston Celtics in a heated East Coast battle, followed by the Oklahoma City Thunder against the Houston Rockets, and capped off with a matchup between LeBron’s Lakers and the reigning NBA Champion Golden State Warriors. Some have questioned the league’s scheduling decisions though, specifically why the Lakers open the season on the road instead of at Staples Center and why the Warriors-Rockets, Lakers-Celtics matchups are not being featured on Christmas Day. In a league that is so driven by fan engagement and television ratings, the NBA had to make some tough scheduling decisions – some to the chagrin of loyal fans.

Mississippi has become the fourth state to legalize sports betting in the wake of the Supreme Court’s recent decision. According to JohnWallStreet, Mississippi now follows Nevada, New Jersey, and Delaware and has opened sportsbooks at Beau Rivage Casino in Biloxi and Gold Strike Casino in Tunica – both properties owned by MGM Resorts International. State laws will require anyone wanting to make in-game bets to “visit their local casino as mobile betting will be restricted to those on the casino’s physical premises.” Currently no other states in the South offer legalized sports betting, though neighboring Alabama has more illegal college football bets per capita than any other state in the country. While MGM has the first-mover advantage in Mississippi, William Hill has gone to greater lengths to establish itself; the company has already announced partnerships with 11 casinos around the state. Mississippi’s advantage as the only Southern state with legalized sports betting is expected to last for at least one year, but could be longer.

Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers is calling for more consistency when it comes to the ongoing national anthem dilemma in pro football. According to The Ringer, Rodgers agrees with San Francisco 49ers CEO Jed York’s comments about halting concessions during the playing of the anthem before games. “Everybody in the stadium stands and does the exact same thing,” said Rodgers. “You have people in the concession, people in the bathroom; you’ve got cameramen on their knee watching. You can’t have it one way or another.” Rodgers went on to underline the looming misconception about why players protest the anthem – not to protest the song itself or the troops serving our country, but to protest social inequality and racial injustice. NFL Hall of Famer Jim Brown chimed in, noting that he personally would never take a knee during the playing of the anthem. “I am not going to denigrate my flag and I’m going to stand for the national anthem,” said Brown. “I’m fighting with all of my strength to make it a better country, but I don’t think that’s the issue.” With the NFL’s regular season kicking off in mere weeks, the league is running out of time to hammer down a solid anthem plan.

In honor of the new Premier League season kicking off across the pond, let’s take a look to look at some of the financials behind the world’s most lucrative soccer league. According to the London Telegraph, since its humble origins back in 1992, the Premier League has grown to nearly unrecognizable heights. Heading into this year’s campaign, the total value of shirt sponsorship was worth more than $388 million, reflecting the league’s increasing global appeal. That number is not only representative of the league’s popularity, but of the ever-evolving and changing business climate in which its teams operate. The Premier League’s founding “coincided with the electronics booms,” by the fact that by 2002-2003 six telecoms and media companies had their names on team’s shirts, but has since grown well beyond that. Nowadays it is easy to see the geopolitical influence and the “rise of the Middle East” being reflected by the Gulf’s two biggest airlines – Emirates supporting Arsenal and Etihad sponsoring Manchester City. The new big trend in the Premier League is gambling entities. With their continued rise in popularity and the recent Supreme Court decision in the U.S., expect sports betting sponsorship to grow in the UK as well.

The Atlanta Braves have two things to be happy with these days – their on-field performance and their bottom line. The Braves are currently battling it out with the Philadelphia Phillies for control of the NL East while also reporting significantly improved financials from last year. According to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, over the first three months of the season the team “showed a modest increase in revenue and a surge in profit.” The team’s revenue from Q2 was up $6 million compared to last year’s number – $182 million this year versus $176 million last year. The really impressive number is the club’s profits; last year the Braves reported a loss of $1 million, and this year they are reporting a quarterly profit of $37 million after depreciation and amortization. Braves owner Liberty Media said the increased profits were “primarily driven by higher revenue and reduced operating expenses from lower player salaries due to the acceleration of player salary expense in previous quarters as a result of released and injured players.” Business continues to boom around SunTrust Park, with a new 140-room hotel coming to The Battery. If the team keeps winning expect the money to keep coming.

Adidas is expected to meet year-end financial targets after reporting stronger-than-anticipated Q2 profits. According to CNBC.com, the sportswear company was expected to register $448.7 million in net profit this past quarter, but that number came in at $484.6 million, up 20% from what analysts predicted. Sales were up 10% to $6.14 billion, beating the expected 8% rise. Adidas said that it was “taking a medium triple-digit million euro impairment regarding its Reebok brand after the German Financial Reporting Enforcement Panel disagreed with how the firm calculated historical book value.” The move is not expected to have an impact on the year’s final financial numbers. Adidas, the official sponsor of this summer’s 2018 FIFA World Cup, saw its marketing spend and jersey sales increase thanks to the tournament. Despite Nike coming out as the real winner from Russia with three of the four semi-finalists and both finalists donning the swoosh over the three stripes, Adidas sold more than eight million jerseys during the World Cup and appears to be in good financial standing.

ESPN continues to add exclusive content to its new OTT platform, ESPN+. According to JohnWallStreet, the sports network has announced a new multi-year deal with Italy’s top soccer league, Serie A, to broadcast matches in the United States, with most airing on ESPN+ and a Match of the Week broadcast on either ESPN or ESPN2; the matches will also be available in Spanish on ESPN Deportes. The deal was struck before Serie A’s first match and will kick off with Ronaldo’s Juventus debut on August 18. Additionally, ESPN inked a new seven-year deal with Top Rank Boxing, replacing the four-year agreement that the two sides agreed to last summer. The “new pact calls for ESPN to bring fight fans 54 cards per year, 36 of which (includes 24 international cards) will be exclusive to ESPN+ subscribers.” Though still in its infancy, ESPN’s OTT platform is one of the few bright spots for the network. In fiscal Q3, ESPN’s advertisement revenue decreased, programming costs increased, and its television base shrunk, but ESPN+’s affiliated fees helped the company post mid-single digital revenue growth, rising to $15.23 billion.

The Washington Redskins, a club that once prided itself on having a season ticket waiting list that included as many as 200,000 names, are scrambling to not only attract new fans, but to hold on to current ones. According to the Washington Post, the Redskins have recently begun advertising single-game general admission tickets for the upcoming season instead of “continuing their long-running claim of a season ticket waiting list and a resulting lack of inventory.” Just two months ago, the club admitted that its “mythical” waiting list no longer existed, trying to push to reengage with fans as opposed to keeping them at a distance. Along with ending its waitlist claims, the Redskins are offering season ticket holders discounts ranging from 20-50% on all food at FedEx Field when they scan their mobile or paper tickets after placing an order at a concession stand. This approach of intimately catering to its fan base comes as a drastic change in strategy from previous years. Without a playoff win in over 10 years, the Redskins are looking for alternative ways of getting people in seats on game days.

With the 2022 Beijing Olympics only four years away, NHL legend Wayne Gretzky is being tasked with helping to grow the game in China. According to ChinaDaily.com, Gretzky has been appointed as a global ambassador for the KHL Chinese Kunlun Red Star. In his role, Gretzky will help develop a comprehensive youth development program in China, visiting the country in mid-September to make promotional stops in Beijing, Shenzhen, and Shanghai. China “is seeking to boost hockey in a country where winter sports participation remains in its infancy.” While this is certainly going to be a challenge for Gretzky, the NHL has already begun trying to tap into the market from a grassroots level. For the second year, the league is holding promotional games in China, when the Boston Bruins square off against the Calgary Flames in Shenzhen, coinciding with Gretzky’s mid-September visit. With a population of nearly 1.4 billion, China presents a massive opportunity to spread the game of hockey. While it certainly won’t be easy to do, it seems fitting that Wayne Gretzky is the one tasked with this.

LionTree has become a minority investor in Ripken Holdings LCC, the parent company of Ripken Baseball. According to SportsBusiness Journal, LionTree, a global investment and merchant bank, has strategically decided to invest in Ripken Holdings in an attempt to help “jumpstart an expansion of Ripken’s youth baseball operations.” The amount invested by LionTree has not been disclosed, but the capital will be put toward developing more youth baseball complexes around the country; Ripken Baseball currently operates such facilities in Aberdeen, MD; Myrtle Beach, SC; and Pigeon Forge, TN. “Adding a minority partner gives us an infusion of capital where we can now really expand the model,” said Ripken Holdings CEO and MLB Hall of Famer Cal Ripken Jr. “And with LionTree, this is also a firm that has a lot of digital expertise and allow us to grow that part of that online content and teaching business, too.” Ripken Baseball has long been a pioneer in trying to grow baseball at the youth level, helping MLB overcome one of its biggest hurdles – youth engagement.

ATP/WTA BNP Paribas Open tournament Owner Larry Ellison has become an investor in the reform project for the Davis Cup. And according to the Desert Sun, this means there may be an "even greater possibility" of bringing the event to the California desert as early as 2021. Ellison, the "wealthiest man in tennis," and among the world’s wealthiest people, became an investor in the 25-year, $3 billion partnership between the ITF and investment group Kosmos that is "expected to reform Davis Cup into a one-week event." Ellison purchased the BNP Paribas Open and Indian Wells Tennis Garden in 2010, and has since "invested substantially into making the March event into a marvel within the sport." The Kosmos/ITF Davis Cup reform project "will create a season finale with 18 tennis nations and their individual tennis stars playing at world class venues." On August 16 in Orlando, it "could become more clear whether this could eventually bring more world class tennis to Indian Wells when the ITF votes on whether to accept the project proposal.” The event, as envisioned by the reform project and Ellison, could generate significant revenues for tennis development worldwide.

PHIT America released its Inactivity Pandemic’ Report 2018 last week, and the results are grim. The organization reports that 7% of American children are physically active to CDC standards, while the number of U.S. children who are active three times a week has dropped to 23.9%, a decrease of 15% in the last five years; core participation in team sports in the U.S. is also down for the fifth straight year. Said PHIT America Founder Jim Baugh. “Do we really think Americans are going to put down their smart phones and tablets? Will schools suddenly start putting daily P.E. back in our schools? Hell no! The competition is going to get stronger. And the sports and fitness industry must respond.” On brand campaigns to get more children playing sports, Baugh questioned, “Are they really just PR programs for their brand? What is their cost per participant? I bet it isn’t close to the PHIT America formula, which is less than $10 to get a kid physically moving while at school. If PHIT America had access to those brand funds, their ROI would be much better. And, perhaps, more kids would be fitter.

Tech Top 5

DraftKings launches first sports betting in New Jersey. Online fantasy sports provider DraftKings has announced the launch of DraftKings Sportsbook, making it the first company to offer legal online and mobile sports betting in New Jersey. The move comes two months after DraftKings officially applied for a sports betting license in the state after laws restricting wagering on sporting events were relaxed in the country. DraftKings says that it has used insight into the habits of American sports fans to tailor its sportsbook app and online platform to their preferences. The service will give users the ability to place multiple types of bets, including live in-game bets, on both major and niche sports taking place locally and internationally. In addition, the app and website will allow consumers to toggle between the company’s fantasy sports and sportsbook platforms, enabling them to place a bet and then draft a fantasy line-up with one click. While its sportsbook is currently only available in New Jersey, DraftKings is prepared to act in response to the legalization of sports betting in other states across the U.S.

European Championships launch VR app. The European Broadcasting Union (EBU) has launched a virtual reality app to accompany the ongoing multi-sport European Championships. The European Championships Lounge has been released and made available to EBU member broadcasters, offering viewers an innovative way to take in the sporting action, which is taking place in Berlin and Glasgow. Individual broadcasters have been given the opportunity to personalize the VR experience to meet the nations’ requirements, using it as a supplementary tool to attract a new audience. More than 50 hours of content from the track and field events at Germany’s Olympic Stadium have been made available on the app, as well as other competitions’ live feeds, leaderboards, and statistics. The VR platform can be purchased in Google, Apple, and Oculus stores. Stefan Kürten, director of EBU Sport said, “This approach will drive new audiences to the coverage, creating a massive footprint across all screens, supporting and helping our member broadcasters and partners to the fullest.”

Eleven Sports makes Facebook UK free-to-air partner. Eleven Sports has confirmed a partnership with Facebook that sees the social media platform become the broadcaster’s free-to-air (FTA) partner in the UK and Ireland. As part of the agreement, at least one match per week from both La Liga and Serie A will be shown live and free of charge on Eleven’s UK Facebook page, with a selection of games from the rest of the company’s top-flight soccer portfolio to be made available on Facebook across the season. Cristiano Ronaldo's anticipated Serie A debut is one of the opening games selected for live streaming on Facebook, with Juventus’ trip to Chievo being shown on August 18. In addition to the live matches, in-game highlights and clips, weekly review shows, and socially-led content will be published on Eleven’s Facebook page to help drive interaction and engagement. The deal comes after Eleven announced it would show the first two rounds of the 2018 PGA Championship on its Facebook channel.

Sportradar is valued at $2.4 billion. Private equity firm EQT has sold a minority share of sports data and integrity company Sportradar to Canada Pension Investment Board (CPPIB) and Silicon Valley-based growth equity firm TCV. The investment sees CPPIB and TCV become strategic partners of Sportradar in a deal which values the company at $2.4 billion. Under the terms of the deal, Sportradar founder and chief executive Carsten Koerl will retain his entire ownership position and continue to drive its future development and growth. EQT will also reinvest a portion of its sale proceeds into Sportradar. “CPPIB and TCV are both known for extensive global tech experience and a track record for working alongside innovative management teams to help achieve their long-term vision,” said Koerl. “Having two new investors with a strong North American footprint is ideal given our increasing focus and expanding operations in the U.S.” Sportradar has a number of high-profile partnerships within sport, including agreements with the NBA, NFL, and FIFA.

Seattle Seahawks and Sounders implement screening technology. Seattle’s two remaining men’s major league sports teams have partnered with screening company Clear to bolster fan security at their shared CenturyLink Field home. The NFL Seattle Seahawks and MLS Seattle Sounders have followed the lead of the MLB Seattle Mariners to introduce Clear’s fingerprint recognition technology at the venue’s security entry checkpoints. The deal is designed to allow fans to enter CenturyLink Field more easily while also using the system to purchase concessions and make payments. The Seahawks are the first NFL team to implement the platform, which was used for the first time at the team’s preseason game against the Indianapolis Colts. The Sounders are the fourth MLS team to install the technology. In order to enroll and use the system, kiosks will be situated around the stadium, where fans will have to answer questions and create a biometric account by scanning their fingerprints. Clear Sports membership is free.

Power of Sports 5

Aaron Rodgers talks Wounded Warrior Project in new video. Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers is one of four professional athletes featured in Sharpie’s Uncap the Possibilities campaign, which looks at how each athlete is inspiring positive change through their chosen charity. In the video series, releases in partnership with The Players’ Tribune, Rodgers talked about how his grandfather served in the Air Force and was active duty during World War II. He came home with a Purple Heart and a Silver Star. His service was “one of the greatest achievements of his life,” Rodgers said. The Wounded Warrior Project works to help veterans live life on their own terms by providing free programs and services in mental health, career counseling, and long term rehabilitative care. In a statement Sharpie said, “It’s this natural talent that has enabled the quarterback to orchestrate countless thrilling come-from-behind wins in the closing minutes of the game. And Aaron’s chosen charity, Wounded Warrior Project®, is all about the strong comeback that the wounded veterans it serves can experience.”

Shane Victorino visits Boys and Girls Club. Shane Victorino hasn't been a Phillie since 2012, but with his retirement set, he was back in town to visit the place that, after a nearly $1 million donation to help with renovations in 2011, now bears his name. Victorino toured the facilities and checked in on summer programs. He discussed some of the younger kids' artwork with the artists themselves. Other than a 2008 World Series championship, Victorino said, being able to give that to the Nicetown community is what he's most proud of when he looks back at his time in Philadelphia. "To be able to give back and embrace a community, especially here in Nicetown, it meant a lot," Victorino said. "This is it for the rest of my life and hopefully many years beyond that. When I renovated this building, it was 100-plus years old. So, hopefully for the next 100 years, this thing can provide a safe haven and somewhere for these kids to come and enjoy themselves.” While the Shane Victorino Nicetown Boys & Girls Club renovations have been his signature project, Victorino has also been involved with clinics and projects in his home state, Hawaii.

NHL All-Stars golf for mental health. Toronto Maple Leafs center Nazem Kadri will be joined by a number of NHL all-stars for the 6th Annual Nazem Kadri Charity Golf Classic at the Sunningdale Golf and Country Club. “I think we’re really trying to focus on that stigma and I still feel like there’s more awareness to be raised,” said Kadri. “We’re really trying to focus on that this year.” The Nazem Kadri Foundation is a proud support of local Canadian charities and strives to give back to the community by raising awareness and funding to aid important causes.

Semper Fi 5k charity race becomes RaceThread partner race. RaceThread, the most comprehensive searchable directory of races from every sport, partners with Washington D.C charity race Semper Fi 5K Run/Walk, an annual 5K race that benefits the Semper Fi Fund, a non-profit organization that provides financial assistance and support to wounded, critically ill, and injured members of the military. The partnership with the race directory and the local charity race provides a premium access account free of charge as well as gives the run/walk participants a way to provide feedback on the race. With more than 55,000 races, RaceThread allows athletes of all abilities to search and find the next race that’s perfect for them based on the race’s profile and reviews. From the most scenic run to worst post-race food to the best finish line medal, RaceThread provides logistics and previous participants’ thoughts all on one page. To keep the directory up to date for users and allow race directors complete control of the race information, RaceThread partners with race directors who can claim their race profile and in doing so, update the information, attract new athletes, and create an online hub for participants.

Chris Paul donates $2.5 million to Wake Forest Basketball. Former Wake Forest University superstar and hometown hero Chris Paul is donating $2.5 million to support Wake Forest Basketball. The Houston Rockets point guard’s latest donation to his alma mater – the largest ever by a former basketball student-athlete or any alumnus under the age of 35 – will ensure that future generations of Demon Deacons can succeed on and off the court. Paul’s leadership gift demonstrates significant progress in fundraising efforts to transform the men’s and women’s basketball clubhouses with expanded and enhanced locker rooms, nutrition resources, and treatment areas. The new Chris Paul Locker Room for the men’s team will be named in his honor. “Giving back has always been important to my family and me, and Wake Forest is part of my family,” Paul said. The recent investments towards improving Wake Forest Athletics are amazing, and now is the time to give back in a meaningful way.”

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theconservativebrief · 6 years

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No Eagles players knelt in protest during the 2017 season. Torrey Smith, a former Eagles player, tweeted, “The President continues to spread the false narrative that players are anti-military…”

Philadelphia Eagles (screen shot: NFL/Youtube)

(Noah Bierman, Tribune Washington Bureau) WASHINGTON — It was classic Donald Trump: The president, angry and embarrassed that most Philadelphia Eagles players planned to boycott the traditional White House victory celebration for Super Bowl champs, dramatically lashed back with his own punishing spin.

Not only did Trump disinvite the entire team late Monday, but he also transformed the tribute Tuesday to dramatically inflame the culture war he ignited two years ago — casting the mostly African-American players as unpatriotic and ignoring their protests both of police brutality and of Trump’s perceived divisiveness.

The president, in an early morning tweet, said the White House would hold an alternate celebration of patriotism for the fans, “where we will proudly be playing the National Anthem and other wonderful music.”

“NFL, no escaping to the Locker Rooms!” Trump added, referring to the league owners’ new policy of requiring players to stand for the pregame playing of the national anthem or stay off the field. While that policy is largely a response to the president’s pressure, Trump made plain that he was not satisfied; he’s called in the past for owners to force players to stand, or fire them.

Later, at the fete on the South Lawn with military bands at the ready, Trump briefly opened the program before an audience that seemed to have fewer than the promised 1,000 Eagles fans, bolstered by a number of administration aides.

** MORE PHILADELPHIA EAGLES COVERAGE at Liberty Headlines **

“I want to use this opportunity to explain why young Americans stand for the national anthem,” Trump said. “Maybe it’s about time that we understand. We stand to honor our military, and to honor our country and to remember the fallen heroes who never made it back home.”

The president’s reaction this week was more dramatic than his response to a similar snub last year by the 2017 National Basketball Association champion Golden State Warriors. That reflects not only his long-running fight with professional football players about the flag and the anthem, but also renewed tensions between Trump and the National Football League that date to the 1980s. Trump failed then both in acquiring an NFL team and in challenging the NFL commercially as a prominent owner in a new, rival sports league, the USFL, which subsequently folded.

Since the campaign, Trump has often used the NFL player protests to rally his supporters and distract from other controversies. Polls show a plurality of Americans, and large majorities of whites and Republicans, do not support the player protests.

As Trump was attacking the Eagles, a variety of other controversies swirled around him and vied for attention.

Former campaign chairman Paul Manafort was accused by federal prosecutors of witness tampering in his tax and money laundering case. Trump’s press secretary and lawyer were under fire for falsely saying Trump did not dictate the misleading statement last year about a meeting that Trump’s son, son-in-law and Manafort had with a Russian lawyer promising “dirt” during the 2016 campaign.

Trump himself faced new questions after his tweet on Monday that he had the “absolute right to PARDON myself.” And he was being assailed for ignoring a new study estimating that about 4,600 Americans died from the hurricanes last year in Puerto Rico, not 16 or 17 as he’d said in the past.

The Eagles’ snub presented yet another controversy, but one Trump sought to turn to advantage.

“These cultural issues that stir controversy, they’re winners for the president,” said one Trump ally who speaks with the president and his top aides regularly.

No Eagles players knelt in protest during the 2017 season. Torrey Smith, a former Eagles player, tweeted, “The President continues to spread the false narrative that players are anti-military.”

Many professional athletes on championship teams, especially African-Americans, have been conflicted about White House visits during the Trump presidency, or simply stayed away. The Warriors had their invitation for a visit with Trump rescinded after publicly equivocating about attending.

LeBron James of the NBA’s Cleveland Cavaliers, arguably the league’s most influential player, told reporters on Tuesday that “no matter who wins” the NBA championship series now underway between the Cavs and the Warriors, “no one wants to go anyway” to the White House. Warriors’ star guard Stephen Curry agreed.

Trump, on Twitter, noted that he’d hosted celebrations at the White House for other professional and college teams and sports, including NASCAR, the Chicago Cubs, Houston Astros, Pittsburgh Penguins, New England Patriots, the University of Alabama and Clemson University.

Trump decided late Monday, less than 24 hours before the planned Super Bowl tribute to instead make it “a celebration of the American flag,” as press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders called it in a statement on Tuesday. Fewer than 10 players out of a group of more than 70 who were eligible had been expected to attend, according to the Philadelphia Inquirer.

Sanders blamed the Eagles for botching the visit. She said that 81 people from the team — including employees, coaches, managers and players — had accepted invitations to come, along with 1,000 fans. With only a small number of players expected, the team tried on Friday to reschedule the event, Sanders said, to a time when Trump planned to be overseas.

The White House said that, “despite sensing a lack of good faith” on the Eagles’ part, it tried to work with the team “to change the event format that could accommodate a smaller group of players.”

“Unfortunately, the Eagles offered to send only a tiny handful of representatives, while making clear that the great majority of players would not attend the event, despite planning to be in D.C. today,” she said. “In other words, the vast majority of the Eagles team decided to abandon their fans.”

In a statement, the NFL Players Association said it was “disappointed” with Trump’s decision to disinvite the team, adding that it led to the cancellation of several “player-led community service events for young people in the Washington, D.C., area.”

“The NFL players love their country, support our troops, give back to their communities and strive to make America a better place,” the union said.

The Eagles ownership released a statement Monday night that did not mention Trump or the canceled visit, calling it “an inspiration” to watch “the entire Eagles community come together.”

Individual players showed more frustration. The team’s star tight end, Zach Ertz, tweeted angrily after Fox News, Trump’s media ally, used file footage of Eagles players kneeling in prayer to falsely suggest they were kneeling in protest during the anthem.

“This can’t be serious,” Ertz wrote. “Praying before games with my teammates, well before the anthem, is being used for your propaganda?! Just sad, I feel like you guys should have to be better than this.”

Fox News issued a rare correction on Twitter.

Some of Pennsylvania’s Democratic lawmakers also weighed in. Sen. Bob Casey wrote on Twitter, “I’m skipping this political stunt at the White House and just invited the Eagles to Congress.”

(Special correspondent Eli Stokols and staff writer Eliza Fawcett contributed to this report.)

Original Source -> Trump Turns Annual Super Bowl Celebration into Culture War Battle

via The Conservative Brief

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amtushinfosolutionspage · 6 years

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Grant Hill Q&A: ‘I Wouldn’t be Shocked if Loyola Cuts Down the Nets’

To put it mildly, the last day of March is a big day for Grant Hill.

The two-time NCAA champion will be calling his fourth consecutive Final Four for Turner Sports with Jim Nantz, Bill Raftery, and Tracy Wolfson, his second biggest accomplishment of the evening. By the time the first game tips-off at 6 PM on TBS (friendly reminder to those stuck on tourneys long past, that’s TBS not CBS), Hill will (officially) be a proud member of the Naismith Memorial Hall of Fame. The actual announcement won’t come until Saturday afternoon, but Adrian Wojnarowski’s sources already have Hill in Springfield, Mass. alongside no-brainers Steve Nash and Jason Kidd and Sixers champion point guard Maurice Cheeks.

Given his notorious injury history, Hill’s NBA career is often viewed through a What If? lens, but it’s been a Hall-worthy career that far exceeds his medical records. He’s a seven-time All-Star, made an All-NBA team five times, and of course, there are his incredible years in Durham and 1996 Olympic gold. And not for nothing, but he’s regarded as one of the nicest guys around hoops, which is why he won the NBA Sportsmanship Award three times.

Hill took time out of preparing to call the Final Four—starting with No. 3 Michigan Short Shorts vs. No. 11 Loyola Chicago Fighting Sister Jeans and followed by the No. 1 heavyweight showdown between Villanova and Kansas—to speak to VICE Sports. He talks about the highs and lows of his long basketball life, Duke hatred, hammering on ShaqIlvaine, and trying to keep up with Bill Raftery, in broadcasting and barflying.

First things first, let’s go back to the flat-top days, when Grant Hill yanked a ball out of the sky and his long winding road to the Hall of Fame began…

This interview took place before Hill learned he was inducted into the Hall of Fame. It has been edited for clarity.

VICE Sports: Before we get to the NCAA Tourney, I want to ask how you’re feeling about the Hall-of-Fame announcement, a mere 48-hours away…

Grant Hill: My fingers are definitely crossed. There are some amazing finalists—Jason Kidd, Steve Nash, Ray Allen to start—so it’s a tough class. Prepping for the Final Four this weekend while knowing the announcement is coming is exciting and nerve-wracking all at once.

I think you’re going to get in Saturday because Springfield looks at a player’s entire career, not just the professional years, but that being said, I looked at your NBA stats and had forgotten how many great seasons you had. Do you think your stellar NBA resume gets overshadowed by seasons lost to injury?

It’s interesting, people I talk to across the country tend to put my basketball career into one of three buckets: The Detroit Piston era, a general respect for overcoming all the injuries, or the main one, Duke. Naturally during March Madness, it’s all Duke all the time, but no matter what time of year, it’s what I’m connected to first. The Kansas dunk and the pass to Laettner will live forever. The NBA injuries are a part of my story, but I wouldn’t say it overshadowed the rest of my pro career. It’s more about certain memories stick with fans and mine are generally from college. Even knowing all we accomplished on those amazing Blue Devil teams, I never thought people would still ask me about it a quarter-century later.

One last Hall-of-Fame question, you started out in the iso-ball era, and then spent five-years at the end running with the Phoenix Suns. Nobody in the NBA is playing Michael Jordan/Kobe Bryant clear-out hoops anymore, but everybody owes a debt to the Suns. Are Mike D’Antoni and impending inductee Steve Nash getting enough credit for changing the game?

You can’t overlook the Kings of the early 2000s, the free-flowing way they played, or even what Don Nelson was doing on the Mavericks with Steve Nash, but I think D’Antoni has perfected it. The league has transitioned because D’Antoni’s system coincided with rule changes offering more freedom of movement and less physicality. It’s funny because playing against those Suns teams in 2004-05, I looked around and it’s like ‘what the hell is going on out here?’ It was total chaos with their different sets and styles, but then playing with them, it all made sense. Now it’s the entire league and I don’t think D’Antoni and Nash are recognized enough for revolutionizing the NBA. The curious thing is, will it ever swing back?

Let’s switch to college. You may or may not be aware of this, but there are more than a few people out there who don’t care for Duke, placing them on the Yankees-Patriots spectrum of teams fans love to loathe. Are most people good-natured about it, or do you get tired or defensive about the Duke hate?

No, not at all. It’s great. Love or hate ‘em, it speaks to the passion of college basketball. There are themes as to why Duke is reviled, the whole I Hate Christian Laettner idea, but it’s really rooted in the success of the program. You can’t deny the historical domination of the Patriots or the Yankees, and hate Duke all you want, but the same is true for what Mike Krzyzewski has accomplished. It’s about excellence and playing the right way. It’s an honor to have played a small role in his legacy. Duke evokes emotion. Good, bad, or indifferent.

As for fans talking trash? It’s almost always joking and in good fun. But don’t forget, I played in the NBA for nineteen seasons, I can talk trash. I can take it and I give it out too.

Last Sunday’s Duke-Kansas game was an absolute classic—and I know it’s your job as a broadcaster—but inside, is it hard to keep your emotions or loyalties in check when Grayson Allen’s floater somehow misses twice?

I’ve done a number of Duke games, all of them when they won in 2015 [ Ed note: Hill laughed adding ‘‘or when we won it if that’s how you want to put it’], but the responsibility as a broadcaster is to be an analyst and provide insight. When it’s a classic, you get lost in the game, and anything outside of what’s happening on the court vanishes. It’s the exact same thing as when I was playing in close NCAA tournament games. During Duke-Kansas, I was completely captivated and reacting to the action unfolding. Coach K used to prepare us for each NCAA weekend by saying we were playing in a “four-team tournament.” Looking at the 64-team bracket can be overwhelming, so lock in and focus on the four-team tournament, and replicate it three times. I take the same approach to television. As a player or broadcaster, getting lost in the game is the reason for doing it.

After a game like Duke-Kansas, I might wish it went the other way, but as a broadcaster, I get to know coaches and kids from both sides. I love Bill Self. I had a great time hanging out on Saturday with Devonte’ Graham and Malik Newman, and know the heartbreak of losing in the regional finals two years in a row. It’s such a privilege to get to know these kids—Carolina! We called back-to-back Tar Heel Finals with Joel Berry and Theo Pinson, who dapped me up before the tip-off! It’s suppose to be sacreligious as a Dookie, but getting to know kids, and experience their stories like UMBD or Loyola, is the best part of the job.

This is your fourth Final Four, is it akin to your senior year where you know what you need to do down cold?

I actually feel like it’s the fourth game of my freshmen season. Here I am at center court in a huge arena, with the best seats in the house, next to two legendary broadcasters in Jim Nantz and Bill Raftery, so I still get pre-game jitters. Once the game starts, I feel more comfortable for sure, but I’ll never catch up to Nantz or Raft in terms of experience. I’m just trying to get better.

Every year, the bigger part of the NCAA tournament experience, however, is how much fun we have. I look forward to the whirlwind month when Nantz, Raftery, Tracy Wolfson, and myself are joined at the hip. It’s an odd little family, but we generally like each other. The off-screen camaraderie is even more important than the on-screen chemistry.

Question pertaining to my interests: Your freshman year slam against Kansas in the Finals is the most famous, but as a Marquette alumni, I want to ask about another dunk that came two years later in the Sweet Sixteen—

Three years later. You’re talking about the Jim McIlvaine dunk, my senior season.

Ah, so clearly you remember it.

I knew about Jim McIlvaine because he won the 93-94 Defensive Player of the Year, which I won the previous season. Mac was a great shot blocker, no doubt, but I had it in my mind before the game to get him. In the first half I was facilitating, setting guys up, waiting until the right time to step in, and not doing a lot of scoring. But I remember the guy Marquette had on me was just yapping, wouldn’t stopped talking trash. I think he was a small forward—

Roney Eford

Eford, right. First half I was like Okay, Alright… I’d been playing off the ball, so at halftime, I told Jeff Capel let me take the point and go to work. I think I caught an alley-oop, and then later, I just blew by Eford and dunked on Mac. I got him. It was a nice little moment.

What should fans look for at the Final Four? Who’s dancing at the end?

Professional obligations mean I don’t make predictions, but I honestly believe all the Final Four teams have a shot regardless of seeding. They all have guys who excel at shooting from the perimeter, so it’s which team is going to bury 15-18 threes. Playing in a dome can have an adverse effect, it is different. So Villanova has the experience factor, but each team has good spacing and multiple shooters who can get hot.

Do you really think America’s sweethearts, the Loyola Ramblers, can win twice?

To be honest, I thought they would lose their first game, and certainly not get out of opening weekend, but no fluke team makes the Final Four. It’s earned over four games, and Loyola has been fairly dominant with the three-pointer opening up the floor. I’m not a betting man, not Jimmy the Greek, but I wouldn’t be shocked if Loyola cuts down the nets.

Last question. I, like most of America, want to have beers with Bill Raftery. What’s a night out drinking with him like?

For starters, know that Raft doesn’t do beer. Also know his stamina is amazing. Unbelievable. We’ll be at dinner with wine, maybe a nightcap, then the next morning you’re struggling and he’s going like he just bagged twelve hours of sleep. I never know quite how to prepare for a night out with Raft. Do you build up endurance? Or limit participation?

We joke about it on air, but the main thing is, it’s a great time for fellowship. We have a blast.

Grant Hill Q&A: ‘I Wouldn’t be Shocked if Loyola Cuts Down the Nets’ syndicated from https://australiahoverboards.wordpress.com

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buddyrabrahams · 7 years

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Five biggest takeaways from Sunday’s Elite Eight games

Next weekend treats us to the biggest stage of college basketball: the Final Four. We now have four teams and two games set in stone, ripe for analysis all week long. There are a pile of storylines to break down. Three of the coaches are among the nation’s elite. Two National Player of the Year candidates will square off. One team is the ultimate Cinderella, ready to dance with the big boys.

Before we can wade too deeply into next weekend’s action, it’s key to look back at the events of Sunday. The Elite Eight games in the Midwest and East regions were full of drama and can help shed light on what we’ll see the rest of the tournament. Here are the five biggest takeaways from those games:

1. Villanova holds off Texas Tech

Villanova’s offense is one of the best in the nation, able to overcome most issues. Texas Tech’s intense defense can cause plenty of problems, as the Wildcats saw on Sunday. Villanova shot just 4 of 24 from outside the arc, yet still cracked the Red Raiders enough to survive and win.

Instead of their usual jump shooting success, Villanova lived at the free throw line. The Wildcats sank 29 of 25 from the free throw line.

Texas Tech’s first trip to the Elite Eight ended with a loss, as the Red Raiders fought to close a second half gap but failed to score enough to reach striking distance. After the game, star senior guard revealed he has been hobbled by a broken toe for over a month, a tough break for a team with high hopes.

2. Villanova is now a blue blood program

In the twenty years between 1988 and 2008, Villanova reached the Sweet Sixteen just three times. In the ten most recent NCAA Tournaments, Villanova has reach the Final Four three times.

Jay Wright has turned a small school that usually rested in the middle of the giant Big East into a machine. The Wildcats have won the Big East regular season four of the past five years and the Big East tournament three of the past four years.

This run has now extended beyond one group of players or one recruiting class. Ryan Arcidiacono, Josh Hart, and others have gone, but the Wildcats continue to win. It’s a safe bet to assume Villanova’s success won’t stop any time soon.

3. Kansas tops Duke in an all-time classic game

In the Midwest Regional Final in Omaha, college basketball fans were treated to a highly competitive game between two of the sport’s most storied programs. Kansas needed an overtime session to survive a barnburner. Duke was inches from a victory in regulation, as Grayson Allen’s attempted buzzer-beater barley fell off the rim.

Kansas has been driven all year by the 3-point shot, yet when the Jayhawks’ shots were not falling against the Duke zone, they still found ways to score. Kansas benefitted from a series of extra possessions, thanks to dominating the Blue Devils on the glass.

For a program that has been one of the country’s best, Kansas has had relatively floundered in the NCAA Tournament in recent years. Despite being a one or two seed in the last five tournaments, this is the Jayhawks’ first Final Four since 2012.

4. Malik Newman is a revelation

Early in the season, when Kansas had issues, it was largely due to an overreliance on the jump shooting of Devonte’ Graham and Svi Mykhialiuk. In recent weeks, the aggressive attacking of Malik Newman have opened up new opportunities for Kansas.

Newman was a 13.5 point per game scorer this season, but has stepped his game up in the postseason. In three Big XII Tournament games and four NCAA Tournament games, Newman is averaging 22.7 points per game. On Sunday, he exploded for 32 points and crucially shot 11 off 12 from the free throw line. His teammates only attempted three free throws of their own.

Had Newman not played as well as he did in the Elite Eight, it’s hard to imagine Kansas advancing.

5. Two very different semifinal games

Next weekend will feature a Final Four made up of two largely different semifinal games. The later game features two number one seeds and two of the best five programs in the last five years. The first game features a Cinderella and a team on the rise late in the season.

There are many who will rush to call Villanova’s match-up with Kansas the more important of the two games. With those two giants of the game squaring off, some will hasten to crown the winner of that game as champion before they take the floor on Monday.

That would be unwise, given what we’ve seen from Michigan and Loyola. The Wolverines are sound on both sides of the ball, with one of college basketball’s best coaches. Loyola plays a style of basketball that will keep the Ramblers in any game they play.

Shane McNichol covers college basketball and the NBA for Larry Brown Sports. He also blogs about basketball at Palestra Back and has contributed to Rush The Court, ESPN.com, and USA Today Sports Weekly. Follow him on Twitter @OnTheShaneTrain.

from Larry Brown Sports https://ift.tt/2ug9zTQ

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zeroviraluniverse-blog · 7 years

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Looking at the list of teams that can really win the national championship

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Looking at the list of teams that can really win the national championship

The NCAA tournament welcomes a diverse pool of teams, all chasing a spot in the Final Four and a chance to win the national championship.

College basketball’s parity and its system of crowning a champion create a unique opportunity for the game’s underdogs. There is no George Mason in college football’s playoff or the NBA Finals. College basketball, however, sends invitations to dozens of teams like that.

That’s where the silly talk begins. But getting into the tournament — even winning a game or two — is a different task compared with winning six games and standing on the last dais in San Antonio this year. Three 11-seeds have reached the Final Four, and a No. 8 Villanova team won the whole thing in 1985, the lowest seed of all time to secure a crown. But that’s rare. Since the inception of the NCAA tournament in 1939, UCLA, Kentucky, North Carolina, Duke, Indiana, Connecticut, Kansas and Louisville have claimed a combined 45 national titles. The other 343 Division I programs? Just 34.

The NCAA tournament belongs to the blue bloods.

So, let’s get real about who has a serious shot at the crown this season.

Legitimate national title contenders

Villanova Wildcats On the road against a Xavier team projected by the selection committee to snag a 1-seed, Villanova connected on 11 of 19 3-pointers in the first half, most of them contested. But when the nation’s most efficient offense grew cold Saturday, the Wildcats still made the hustle plays — Eric Paschall‘s late steal, Mikal Bridges‘ jump shots, Collin Gillespie‘s fearless drives — to win, despite the absence of injured standout Phil Booth. When the Wildcats play their best basketball, no team in America can touch them.

Virginia Cavaliers Doesn’t matter if you think Virginia basketball is sexy or if you doubt the postseason effectiveness of the Cavs’ efficient brand of basketball. Tony Bennett’s program has held eight top-50 opponents on KenPom.com under 60 points this season. A Virginia team that has manufactured one of the greatest defensive efforts in modern college basketball history could win the school’s first national title.

Kansas Jayhawks Remember when Kansas was set to end its streak of conference titles and miss history? Me either. No, this is not an invincible force in Lawrence, but Bill Self’s four-guard lineup — with Devonte’ Graham and Svi Mykhailiuk connecting on more than 41 percent of their 3-point attempts and Udoka Azubuike leading the nation with a 77 percent clip inside the arc — is a nightmare matchup for the field.

Duke Blue Devils Stop with the nonsense. Duke needs a healthy Marvin Bagley III, who has missed three consecutive games, to fulfill its potential in the NCAA tournament. But its adjustments and three-game win streak without the lottery pick have showcased the talent behind him. Remember, this is the same Duke squad that beat Michigan State in the Champions Classic with Bagley on the court for just 10 minutes. Also, the last time a Duke team made a late-season switch to zone, Jahlil Okafor & Co. ended the year with a national title.

Michigan State Spartans That Northwestern come-from-behind win produced the best and worst of a Michigan State team that sometimes needs to be reminded it’s in a meaningful game. But these Spartans punk opponents on the offensive glass, play elite, top-10 defense, shoot the 3-ball better than any team in America, boast the services of a Wooden Award contender named Miles Bridges and use Jaren Jackson Jr., the field’s most imposing threat as a 6-foot-11 lottery pick who has made 47 percent of his 3-pointers in league play.

Purdue Boilermakers The Boilermakers have connected on just 25 of 76 attempts from beyond the arc in their past four games, a tepid 1-3 stretch for a team that once won 19 consecutive games. They’ve been off in recent weeks, and now Vincent Edwards could miss the rest of the regular season with an ankle injury. But Matt Painter has a pair of 7-footers who stuff the paint and a collection of shooters who’ve made nearly 42 percent of their 3-point attempts, a wonderful formula for a title run.

North Carolina Tar Heels Yes, the Tar Heels lost one of the top frontcourts in college basketball, a unit that anchored last season’s run to the third national title in the Roy Williams era. But they’re still securing nearly 40 percent of their missed shots. Luke Maye is an All-American. Cam Johnson, who has compiled seven consecutive double-digit performances, looks healthy and comfortable. And Joel Berry II has 18 assists and six turnovers during his team’s five-game win streak. Seems like the Tar Heels have shifted into championship mode this month.

Gonzaga Bulldogs Mark Few’s best teams have created matchup problems with their bigs. Przemek Karnowski was a 7-footer who could pass out of the post and neutralize double-teams, and Kelly Olynyk could spread the floor with his midrange game. With Johnathan Williams, Few has an agile, veteran big man who can defend multiple positions and Killian Tillie, a 6-10 forward from France, who has made 45 percent of his 3-point attempts in conference play. Rui Hachimura is a 6-8 mystery with an explosive style. Don’t sleep on this Gonzaga squad.

Arizona Wildcats Yeah, I have questions, too. The Deandre Ayton and Dusan Ristic lineups might not work against the small-ball threats Arizona must push away to reach Sean Miller’s first Final Four and win the program’s first national title since 1997. A run will also demand a consistent effort from Rawle Alkins, not a guarantee since his return from a foot injury, and a thorough defensive effort. But, Miller has Ayton, the most dominant talent in America. With Allonzo Trier and a fleet of good athletes around him, Ayton could go 2011-12 Anthony Davis on the field and carry these Wildcats to the crown, too.

Texas Tech Red Raiders Please read the following disclaimer: All of this going forward depends on the status of Keenan Evans (18.2 PPG, 84 percent from the free throw line), who missed a chunk of Saturday’s loss to Baylor with a toe injury. If he’s not 100 percent, throw all of this in the trash. But Chris Beard has America’s toughest team, a squad ranked third in adjusted defensive efficiency on KenPom.com. This is the Big 12’s Virginia, and if Evans is healthy, the Red Raiders can run through the field and win a championship in nearby San Antonio.

Wichita State Shockers On the road against a team slotted as the fifth seed overall in the selection committee’s official projected seed announcement, Wichita State put together its most impactful performance of the season. The Shockers also showcased their depth against a strong Cincinnati squad that had won 39 consecutive home games. Eight players scored five or more points in the win. And Landry Shamet (19 points, 3-for-6 from the 3-point line) looked like a first-round pick. The defense is a concern, but the Shockers are capable of competing with the best teams in America.

Xavier Musketeers Chris Mack doesn’t want to see Villanova again this season. His Musketeers played great perimeter defense against the Wildcats on Saturday, but Jay Wright’s program still made 16 3-pointers, a record for a Xavier opponent. But they’ve scored 90 or more points in 10 games this season. And they’ve made 54.5 percent of their shots inside the arc. Trevon Bluiett is capable of 30-plus against any opponent. No, Xavier won’t lock teams up come March, but few teams will beat the Musketeers in a shootout.

You’re probably wondering about …

Kentucky Wildcats The Wildcats have the length and athleticism of past units, but they’ve failed to wade through the adverse situations the NCAA tournament will present. So you can’t bet on this group, which has the Kentucky name but not the fervor of past crews.

Auburn Tigers An undersized Auburn team with a strength of schedule in the 60s just lost 6-7 forward Anfernee McLemore (7.4 PPG, 5.3 RPG, 2.7 BPG, 39 percent from the 3-point line) for the year to a gruesome leg injury suffered in Saturday’s loss to South Carolina. Plus, Bryce Brown has dealt with multiple injuries in recent weeks. Fair to question whether Bruce Pearl’s team has the size and now depth to make a run.

West Virginia Mountaineers The Bob Huggins brand works well when the Mountaineers force turnovers and convert those opportunities into offense. But they’re 8-6 in league play because they’ve struggled to do that in the Big 12. They’re not the same force without swarming opponents.

Tennessee Volunteers A team that registered 0.93 points per possession at Georgia on Saturday and made just 37 percent of its 2-pointers showcased the inconsistent offense that could end its postseason dreams early in the NCAA tournament.

Oklahoma Sooners It’s easy to criticize Trae Young‘s recent stumbles. But opponents know that creating defensive schemes to stop him dramatically increases the chances of a win over a team ranked 95th in adjusted defensive efficiency.

Cincinnati Bearcats The Wichita State loss exposed Cincinnati’s lack of offensive creators.

Texas A&M Aggies Too many times this season, Tyler Davis has been the only player on the roster fighting for a win. Hard to expect much from a group that couldn’t top 60 points against Missouri and surrendered 94 points to Arkansas on Saturday.

Ohio State Buckeyes The Buckeyes just crumbled in a lopsided loss to Penn State. But before that, they had lost the bulk of their challenges against the elite teams they’ll have to defeat in the tournament to win a national tile.

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