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(05/06/15 8:35pm)
In this week’s championship edition of Around the Dorm, the “Ref,” Matt Bowker, asks our panel of experts three questions: What NFL team got the biggest steal at the draft, who had the worst pick of the draft, and what remaining NHL playoff team will win the Stanley Cup?
1. What team got the biggest steal of the NFL draft?
Josh: I hate to go with the obvious answer, but the biggest steal of this year’s draft was Leonard Williams going to the Jets. He should never have been available at the sixth pick. The obvious landing spot for Williams was the Redskins, who ranked in the bottom half of the league last year in sacks. Williams was also arguably the best player in the draft, and could have justifiably gone to any team in the top five spots. The Jets didn’t necessarily need Williams but he was by far the best player available. The Jets defense will undoubtedly get their offense on the field, but it is yet to be seen if their offense will be able to do anything.
Kevin: I think the steal of the draft was Randy Gregory. He was once discussed as a top- five talent and he fell all the way to pick 60. Although his multitude of off-the-field issues have been on full display, I think the Cowboys are the perfect fit for him on and off the field. On the field, Dallas is in dire need of pass rushing help. With the suspension of Greg Hardy and the overall problems this defense has had getting to the quarterback, Gregory will have a golden opportunity to make an immediate impact on the field. Off the field is where Dallas gives Gregory a tremendous opportunity to succeed. Dallas has a history of dealing with “problem players” during the Jerry Jones era — from Michael Irvin to Dez Bryant and even Rolando McClain. Although there is still tremendous risk associated with this pick, Dallas gives Gregory the best chance to get his head on straight and reach his full potential as a football player.
Michael: The biggest steal would have to be wide receiver Devin Funchess, from the University of Michigan, going to the Carolina Panthers. The 41st pick in the draft, Funchess was named a Big Ten honorable mention in his freshman year and was the Big Ten’s Tight End of the year during his sophomore year. His junior year season had decreased stats, but more of that can be placed on the entire Michigan team which had one of its worst offensive seasons in the past few years. He is strong and big, which are two things that will help him break through defenses and give Cam Newton more options. For a team that made, and won a game in the playoffs last year, this is a great pick for the Panthers.
Josh gets 3 points for mentioning the Skins failures. Michael gets 2 points for crediting Michigan’s poor offense, and Kevin gets 1 point because Dallas promotes criminal activity.
Which team had the worst draft?
Josh: The team that had the worst draft was the Buffalo Bills. They were without a first round pick this year because of the trade that got them Sammy Watkins last year. Their picks did not necessarily fill their most important needs and many of their picks have been widely considered reaches. In my opinion, the trade to move up for Watkins did more harm than good. They gave up this year’s first round pick when they didn’t really need to. Notable wide receivers still on the board when Buffalo could have picked were standouts Odell Beckham Jr. and Kelvin Benjamin. The Bills could have had either of those players and retained their first round pick for 2015.
Kevin: It truly pains me to say this, but the St. Louis Rams had the worst draft. The Rams had just as many starting caliber running backs as starting caliber offensive linemen, following the first two days of the draft. The Rams had a few big issues, that if properly addressed, could lead to them being a playoff contender. The Rams had holes across their offensive line and in the secondary and could’ve used a No. 1 receiver for new quarterback Nick Foles. There were no offensive linemen worth taking at the 10th pick but they could’ve taken Devante Parker or Trae Waynes to address their other issues. Instead, they drafted a running back who’s coming off a torn ACL. The rest of their draft was equally mediocre. Three of their next four picks were right tackles who were all drafted way before they should’ve been taken. I hope I’m wrong about this, but drafts like this are why the Rams have been garbage the past decade.
Michael: The worst pick I saw during the draft has to be from the Oakland Raiders, who took defensive end Mario Edwards Jr. from Florida State. The 35th pick in the draft was such a wasted opportunity to find a better defensive player then Edwards. He has a grand total of eight sacks in his three years at Florida State, compared to someone like Mississippi State’s Preston Smith, who was still on the board at this point, who had a total of nine last year alone. He doesn’t have a lot of arm power, and even if he did, scouts have noted he doesn’t seem to have a lot of desire, he’s more content where he is rather than wanting to improve. The Raiders had a chance to make things better but they didn’t go with the best option.
Josh gets 3 points for going a different route with his choice. Kevin and Michael get 2 points each for picking on bad teams and their picks.
3. After the first round of the NHL playoffs, which remaining team is your favorite to win the Stanley Cup?
Josh: My favorite to win the Stanley Cup is the New York Rangers. Against the Penguins, the Rangers were lights-out defensively and kept Malkin and Crosby from making the kind of difference that they are capable of making. Through the first round and what has been played of the second round, the Rangers have the lowest goals-against per game with 1.71. Backstopping that defensive effort is Henrik Lundqvist, who currently has the second-best goals against average in the playoffs. The Rangers’ defensive corps, with the help of the King, has the depth and ability to carry their team to the Promised Land.
Kevin: I’ll say my favorite to win the cup is the Chicago Blackhawks. I just think their offensive firepower is outstanding with Patrick Kane coming back from injury and players like Patrick Sharp and Marian Hossa scoring better than they did in the regular season. They’re also solid in the back, led by Duncan Keith. However, the thing that sets the Blackhawks apart is their championship experience. They’re the only team still alive in the playoffs that have won the cup since 2008 — another reason I like the Blackhawks in this. Also, Corey Crawford and Scott Darling have both been shaky in goal so far this postseason, but this was a question mark last time the Hawks won the cup and Crawford was just good enough.
Michael: The 2015 Stanley Cup Champion will be the New York Rangers, and the simple reason is I love their defense. Every game the team has played this postseason has been decided by one goal, and yes while one of those games was a 4 - 3 loss to Pittsburgh, it still deserves mentioning that the defense kept them in the game. Henrik Lundqvist has been playing impressive in goal, and players like team captain Ryan McDonagh and Dan Boyle are helping to keep the puck away from him in the first place. When it comes down to it, their defense can wear down a team enough to a point where an opening emerges. The Rangers have enough parts moving together to capture Lord Stanley’s cup and return it to Madison Square Garden.
Kevin gets 3 points for not picking the Rangers. Josh and Michael gets 2 points each for making the same argument.
Josh wins Around the Dorm 8-6-6.
(04/23/15 4:27am)
In this week’s Around the Dorm, the “Ref,” Matt Bowker, asks our panel of experts three questions: Who is the favorite to win the Stanley Cup, what has been the biggest surprise of the MLB season so far and should the Redskins give up on RGIII and draft a quarterback?
1. Who is your pick to win the Stanley Cup?
Chris: My pick to win the Stanley Cup is the New York Rangers. The key to winning any hockey game, especially the Stanley Cup, is whether or not you have had Wayne Gretzky play for your team or not. Well guess what, friends? Wayne Gretzky used to play for the New York Rangers. He played with the squad for three years, scored 57 goals and had a sweet head of lettuce in The Big Apple. Partner all of that up with a New York Rangers team that had the best record in the National Hockey League, and you have yourself a recipe for success. The lean, mean, swedish goaltending machine Henrik Lundqvist will lead the blue shirts to a title.
Josh: My pick to win the Stanley Cup is the New York Rangers. The Rangers have one of the deepest rosters of any team in the playoffs, and they play in front of one of the best goalies in the world, Henrik Lundqvist. During the regular season, the Rangers were the only team in the League to be top-three in both goals-for (most) and goals-against (fewest). After making it to the Finals last post-season, the Rangers made some major improvements to the team. Defenseman Keith Yandle is one of the best puck-moving defensemen in the league, and Kevin Hayes has shown himself to be very effective in his rookie season. Hayes had four goals and 13 points in the last 13 games of the season. This team is built to go deep and possibly bring a parade back to the Big Apple.
Otto: I think the Stanley Cup this year is about stopping the Rangers. I believe that the Tampa Bay Lightning have the ability to beat them in the Eastern conference championship. They are coming into the playoffs really hot and, more importantly, have a very strong offense, having guys like Steven Stamkos, Jonathan Drouin and Nikita Kucherov who can score at any time. They have had some success even with some players out due to injury, something that hurt them significantly last year. Once those guys get back to health, they will be even more formidable. The Lightning are also a lock to win at home, having posted the best home record in the entire league.
Josh gets 3 points for mentioning the team’s upgrades. Chris gets 2 points for his analysis of Gretsky’s flow, and Otto also gets 2 points for not picking the Rangers.
2. Which team or player has been the biggest surprise in the MLB so far?
Chris: The biggest surprise for me early on in this MLB season has been the mediocrity of the entire American League West. We all expected the Texas Rangers to be in a down year, but other than that, there is no excuse for the play we’ve seen in what was supposed to be one of the most competitive divisions in the league. The Seattle Mariners’ revamped offense hasn’t produced enough wins early on, and the Oakland A’s are struggling to gel as a team after a busy offseason. In my opinion, this division will be taken by the Los Angeles Angels, and they will be the team to step ahead from the rest thanks to reigning AL MVP Mike Trout. The best part about this division right now? The rebuilding Houston Astros currently sit in first place.
Josh: The The biggest surprise of the MLB season so far is the success of the Colorado Rockies. The Rockies finished last season with a 66-96 record but have started this season 7-3. Their success is partly to do with their batting. The Rockies currently have the third-best overall batting percentage in the league, hitting .292, and the player with the second-best batting average in the league, D.J. LeMahieu. Since the beginning of the season, the Rockies have been 6-1 on the road, sweeping both the Brewers and the Giants each in three-away-games series. In those six games, the Rockies outscored their opponent 30-9. If they keep up this strong play, the Rockies could become a force in the NL West.
Otto: Honestly, Alex Rodriguez has really surprised me this season. He has as many runs batted in as he has games played and is leading the Yankees in almost every team batting statistic. While his numbers are really incredible league wide, he has given the Yankees exactly what they needed this season — offense and a leader. He has stepped up in the locker room because of his production, and his teammates are starting to see him differently. No one expected a 39-year-old to have this type of impact, and he has just shown he’s still got something left in the tank. If he continues to lead the offense, others will follow suit and actually give the Yankees some sort of chance.
Otto gets 3 points for remembering A-Rod. Josh gets 2 points for using statistics to back his argument, and Chris gets 1 point for taking the safe bet with Trout.
3. Should the Redskins give up on RGIII and draft a quarterback with the fifth overall pick?
Chris: We’re getting close, but it is not yet time to give up on Robert Griffin III. This is going to be year four of the RGIII project, and quite frankly, the Redskins gave up too much in the trade to acquire the No. 2 overall draft pick. Trading Bobby Griff would mean the move was an absolute failure and that Washington essentially wasted three years of rebuilding. The biggest thing is, there really is no better option at quarterback within the organization, and you are not going to get the quarterback you want at the No. 5 pick. To keep your franchise and fan base from giving up this year, keep Robert Griffin III in the lineup, and let him regain that Heisman magic.
Josh: The Redskins should absolutely not draft a quarterback with the No. 5 pick. Not only would that be giving up on RGIII but also on Kirk Cousins. Also, interestingly enough, their offense is not their biggest issue. Last season, they were just outside the top-10 in terms of passing yards per game. The Redskins were much worse on the other side of the ball. They were tied for 21st in the league in total sacks and, on average, gave up 357 yards and 27.4 points per game. The best option for the Redskins would be Clemson’s OLB/DE Vic Beasley, an incredible athlete and a huge threat on the edge.
Otto: The Redskins should definitely not give on RG3. Not this year. There is no quarterback worth drafting fifth overall that will still be available. Jameis Winston and Marcus Mariota will most likely go one and two, so assuming they do, no other quarterback should even go in the front half of the first round. While Washington has had some issues with Griffin, he still is a young talented quarterback. I think the organization needs to get Griffin healthy and give him another season. He still has potential, and it would be a real waste to reach for someone who is unproven instead of working with someone who the organization knows can perform.
Josh gets 3 points for offering an alternate fit. Chris gets 2 points for not wanting to call the pick a failure yet, and Otto gets 1 point for realizing Griffin’s potential.
Josh wins Around the Dorm 8-6-5.
(04/15/15 4:32am)
In this week’s Around the Dorm, the “Ref,” George Tatoris, asks our panel of experts three questions: Will the MLS ever become as popular as European leagues, what does the hiring of the first female ref mean for the future of the NFL and which MLB team impressed the most on Opening Day?
1. Will the MLS ever reach the prestige of European soccer leagues?
Kevin: I don’t believe the MLS will ever be as popular as European soccer, or at least never in my lifetime. The fact of the matter is the MLS is the fifth-most popular professional American sport, while soccer is far and wide the most popular sport in all of the major European soccer nations. Even if the MLS grows exponentially in popularity, it would require the NFL, NBA, MLB and NHL to all decrease significantly in popularity. The MLS just doesn’t have the star power and money that the European leagues have. In 2014, the highest valued MLS team by Forbes was valued at $175 million. In comparison, Forbes ranked the top 20 European clubs, and they were all more valuable. All in all, the money, star power and popularity of European soccer is head and shoulders above the MLS.
Matt: The MLS will never be close to being considered prestigious. Americans have no interest in soccer, except for every four years when we pretend to care for two weeks and then go back to caring more about where Gronk partied the night before. Americans will never care for soccer, specifically a league with such little talent as the MLS. Messi and Ronaldo could come to the MLS in their primes, and people would still rather watch football, basketball, baseball, hockey or even squash. Soccer is just too low-scoring to keep Americans’ interests. Nobody wants to sit through a game that ends in a 0-0 tie or see a player fake an injury every two minutes. This is America — land of the free and the home of the brave — where only Communists fake injuries.
Michael: Yes, but it will take a lot of work on their part. Right now, the league has a lot of older players who can’t find teams to pay them in Europe and younger guys who are good, but not Chelsea or Manchester City good. If they’re able to lure over players who people know and are really good, like Tim Howard or Wayne Rooney — which they have no shot of but we’ll use — more people will want to see them play. I’ll end this with a personal story; after a New York Rangers game awhile back, I was waiting for a PATH train at 33rd street in New York. All around the station, I saw people wearing New York City FC jerseys, scarves, hats, etc, and I wondered what was going on. Turns out it was their first game, and that’s when it hit me. A brand new soccer team in the U.S. was moving merchandise like that, and this, my friends, is what gives me hope it can reach high levels of popularity here in the U.S.
Matt gets 3 points for calling out soccer as the commie sport it is. Michael gets 2 points for optimism, and Kevin gets 1 point for bringing up the money side of the issue.
2. What does the hiring of the NFL’s first female referee mean for the future of the league?
Kevin: I don’t think it will be a big deal in the long run. There will be a small period where it’s a little awkward, but if she’s a quality referee, that period won’t last that long. There are plenty of women who are heavily involved in the NFL via the media, so the idea of women not understanding football is a thing of the past. I don’t think this will lead to a huge influx of women in the NFL, but it may lead to a few more women involved in the league here and there which won’t be the end of the world.
Matt: The hiring of Sarah Thomas is a long overdue step in the right direction for the NFL, just in time to repair the league’s image after the mishandlings of multiple domestic violence cases. Thomas’ performance will be magnified compared to other refs because the NFL would like to make an icon out of her, and drunk idiots everywhere can’t wait until she messes up. Thomas has proven she is a very good referee because she has already climbed the referee ladder to the top. She can’t be worse than the replacement refs a few years ago. In the future, more women may aspire to become referees in any professional league because of her, but for the immediate future, not much changes.
Michael: To be honest, all it’s going to do is give drunk fans more ammo for insults which they claim are justified because of bad officiating. The game isn’t going to change because of this, and no one should really pay it any mind. If the league hires more female refs, that’s totally fine. It’s not like they can’t call games better or worse than male ones. If I’m really thinking about it, sure, this could lead to more females in the sport -— maybe a girl could be on the headset with a team’s coach telling him to throw that challenge flag, or hell, maybe a girl will be that coach! But seriously, for right now this doesn’t really mean anything and it shouldn’t. We shouldn’t be saying, “Let’s see how this girl does.” We should be saying, “Let’s see how this new official does.”
Matt gets 3 points for bringing up the NFL’s image. Michael gets 2 points for saying female refs are equal to male refs, and Kevin gets 1 point for mentioning women in football.
3. Which MLB team had the best performance Opening Day?
Kevin: I’ll say the best performance from Opening Day was by the New York Mets. When I heard 41-year-old Bartolo Colon was going to be the Opening Day starter for the Mets, I thought it might be an ugly start to the season for the Metropolitans. However, it was the complete opposite. Colon beat former Cy Young award winner Max Scherzer and one of the favorites in the NL, the Nationals. They ended up taking two of three from the Nats this week. Every year, I hear from Mets’ fans that this is the year the Mets become relevant. I’m not saying they’ll definitely make that leap, but Mets fans should definitely be happy with the good start against such a talented team.
Matt: Without a doubt the Seattle Mariners had the most impressive opening day, downing the Angels, 4-1. The Mariners are a team on the rise and one that is expected to compete for a World Series title. All the hype was confirmed on Opening Day, when the team shut down the Angels, a team that, along with Oakland, has owned the AL West the past few seasons. The Mariners pitching held Trout and Pujols, two of the biggest stars in the game, to a combined 1-6 on the day, sending a message that its the Mariners’ time to shine in the west.
Michael: There was a lot to talk about Opening Day, from David Price of the Tigers throwing eight shutout innings against the Twins to Alex Rodriguez getting a standing ovation at his home return (I don’t know what animal the Yankees sacrificed for that to happen, but let’s hope they do it for Tanaka’s arm, too). But I have to give the best performance to the Colorado Rockies against the Milwaukee Brewers. The team absolutely wrecked the Brewers, 10-0, and had an impressive day both offensively and defensively. Colorado allowed just eight hits off of 33 at bats. At the plate, the entire lineup helped play a role, but young third baseman Nolan Arenado really shined going 3-4 with four RBIs, including a two-run home run. All in all, I understand not a lot of people expect much from Milwaukee, so them losing isn’t a big deal. But this kind of strong start for Colorado is definitely worth mentioning, especially from a team I think is worth a watch this year.
Michael gets 3 points for bringing up statistics. Kevin gets 2 points for bringing up Colon’s performance, and Matt gets 1 point for mentioning the Mariners’ pitching.
Matt wins Around the Dorm via a Trivia Crack tiebreaker, 8-7-4.
(04/07/15 2:42am)
In this week’s Around the Dorm, the “Ref,” Josh Kestenbaum, asks our panel of experts three questions: Will the Los Angeles Kings make the playoffs, how will Matt Harvey pitch after getting Tommy John surgery and who would you want coaching your team in March Madness?
1. With the NHL playoffs approaching, will the Los Angeles Kings, the defending champions, clinch a spot?
Otto: When asked, Olivia said yes. So I have to say yes. The defending champs recently beat the Colorado Avalanche, permanently eliminating them from playoff contention. This leaves the Kings, the Flames and the Jets to fight for two spots. Unfortunately for the Kings, they have been unable to take advantage of close games late this season, giving away a couple throughout the year. Their strength over the last couple of years has been their defense and superstar goalie Jonathan Quick. But he can have only a small impact on the game if the offense struggles to score, as it has the entire season. If they don’t make the playoffs, they shouldn’t worry, though: They only win Stanley Cups on even-numbered years.
George: Knowing as little as I do about the NHL, I’ve decided to invent my own rating system for hockey: Canadians. Let me break this down, it’s kind of complicated. For every Canadian on a team’s roster, they get one Canadian. Eastern/Northern Europeans count as 1.5 Canadians. Russians count as two. This season the Kings have 16 absolute Canadians (that’s Canadians) plus three Eastern Europeans (Andrej Sekera, Marian Gaborik and Anze Kopitar) plus one Russian (Slava Voynov). However, they lose half a Canadian because Robyn Regehr was born in Brazil. That’s a total of 22 Canadians. Now divide that by 27 to get the Canadian Ratio — an impressive 0.815, which is only a little less than the ratio of the top scoring team this season, Anaheim, who has a ratio of 0.840. The difference is small, but given the nature of this statistic I’d say the Kings have a good chance of clinching.
Chris: As a hockey expert, I can guarantee to everyone that the Los Angeles Kings will make the playoffs. This has been a back and forth year for the Kings, with the highlight of the season honoring legend Barry Melrose earlier this season. Has anyone seen that guy’s mullet? That is as sweet of a salad that I have ever seen. A mullet like that could push any team into the playoffs. Speaking of L.A. King legends …Wayne Gretzky. WAYNE GRETZKY. He’s the greatest player in the history of the NHL for crying out loud, AND he used to play for the Kings! People call him the Michael Jordan of hockey, but I’ve never seen him dunk on the Monstars, so quite frankly I’m not buying it. That being said, I’m probably just going to take the one point for this round and start the comeback nice and early.
George gets three points for creating a new statistic. Otto gets two points because Olivia said no, and Chris gets one point because he ripped on Gretzky.
2. How will Matt Harvey perform this year after undergoing Tommy John surgery and missing all of the 2014 season?
Otto: I think Matt Harvey will have a very strong season this year. He’s still really young, and frankly, this is a very common surgery. In fact, a lot of executives and managers have talked about making their young pictures have the surgery before they pitch in the majors just to correct any problems they might have. While I don’t think that’s a smart move, the surgery has made a lot of guys healthier and has kept them at the same level they were on before. He’s been absolutely dominant in Spring Training, and we know that he loves the spotlight. I see him having a huge year and bringing a young Mets team with great pitching depth back to relevance again.
George: Matt Harvey will definitely perform better now that he has been Tommy John’d. After Spring Training, he finished with a 1.19 ERA, impressive for anyone — especially someone who just spent 16 months recuperating from surgery. While these are only spring stats and might not be a completely accurate projection of Harvey’s prospects this season, they do give Mets fans a bit of hope. On top of that, there is data that states that 80 percent of pitchers that get this surgery are able to get back on the mound, and usually it takes that 80 percent up to six months to get used to throwing a ball again. If Harvey is throwing like this already, there’s a good chance he’ll improve.
Chris: Matt Harvey is one of the many young, stud pitchers to have to undergo reconstructive Tommy John surgery. We have seen both successful and failed comebacks from this surgery, but I cannot see Matt Harvey being anything but successful. He is young and driven with amazing stuff in his arsenal and has just as much talent as any pitcher in the majors. The Mets get him back at the perfect time, just as they are expected to begin their run as a competitor in the NL East for years to come. Harvey will be leading a pitching staff with both young talent and long-time experience, with a top prospect in Noah Syndergaard waiting in the wings until the dog days of summer. Matt Harvey knows that the New York Mets will go as he goes, and that alone is a recipe for success for the Amazin’s this year.
George gets three points for using spring stats to predict success. Chris gets two points for mentioning the Mets’ success, and Otto gets one point for pointing out how common the surgery is.
3. If you could choose any active college basketball coach, who would you want coaching your college’s team in March?
Otto: If I want to be successful in March Madness, I want Coach K leading my team. Mike Krzyzewski has now made 12 Final Fours and nine championship games, winning four of them. The 12 Final Four appearances ties John Wooden’s record, who many consider to be the best college coach of all time. All the coaches in the current Final Four have a lot to offer: Calipari is brilliant at getting stars to work together, Ryan is a great at getting the most of lesser talent compared to other schools, and Izzo is a fantastic leader and motivator. However, Coach K has shown to be able to do all of those throughout the 40 years he’s been an NCAA head coach. He has done it with completely different personnel throughout his time. For example, two of his greatest big men, Christian Laettner and Jahlil Okafor, are very different, but Coach K has led them both to the promise land.
George: What colleges need to do to shake things up a bit is to hire a relative unknown from the best country in the world: Lithuania. Rimas Kurtinaitis, current head coach of BC Khimki in Russia, would be perfect for NCAA Division I ball. Lithuania, nestled in a corner of Northern Europe by the Baltic Sea, is teeming with the culture and life necessary to produce a top-notch basketball coach for an American school. Who hasn’t been enamored with the rich heritage of Lithuania? Who hasn’t heard the legend of Vytautas the Great, whose deeds have echoed with those of Alexander and Frederick of Prussia? Which country or kingdom of any period could touch the glory of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania?
Chris: If I could have any college basketball coach leading my team through the tournament, it would have to be my man Kevin Ollie. Ollie is the ultimate players’ coach who is a leader in the new wave of young coaches getting set to take over the sport. If he was able to take over a University of Connecticut basketball team fresh off of a two-year ban from the NCAA tournament into the tournament as a seventh seed and lead them to cutting down the ropes as National Champions in just his second year on campus, then honestly, what can’t he do?
Chris gets three points for picking a young, experienced coach. Otto gets two points for comparing Coach K to big names, and George gets one point for not picking Andrija Gavrolovic.
George wins Around the Dorm 7-6-5.
(03/26/15 3:26pm)
In this week’s Around the Dorm, the “Ref,” Otto Gomez, asks our panel of experts three questions: What team had the biggest changes in the NFL offseason, who in the MLB is due for a breakout season and can Rory McIlroy complete the grand slam with a major win this year?
1. What has been the biggest move of the offseason in the NFL, and what impact will it have?
Kevin: There have been a lot of big moves this offseason, but I’ll say the biggest deal was the rich getting richer in Seattle. The biggest question mark with the Seahawks these past two seasons has been the weapons around Russell Wilson. That question was answered in a big way this offseason when they traded for Jimmy Graham. Graham is arguably the second-best tight end in the league (behind Gronk). He’ll be great as a red zone target and security blanket this year, and he’s the best receiver Wilson has played with in the NFL. How is anyone going to stop Seattle in the red zone this season (unless they choose to run a quick slant on the one-yard line)?
Matt: The biggest move of the offseason is one that comes in the front office, not on the field. The Philadelphia Eagles have given head coach Chip Kelly complete control of personnel decisions, effectively making him the team’s general manager, head coach, life guru and czar of Philly. Kelly has wasted no time taking advantage of his new power by shipping away his top three playmakers in favor of injury-prone or underachieving players. This experiment will end one of two ways: with a division title in Philly, or the more likely option of Bradford, Murray, Mathews and Alsonso all tearing their ACLs on the same play two games into the season as Kelly runs back to college. This would effectively leave the Eagles franchise in shambles for years to come.
Chris: The biggest offseason move would have to be the running back swap performed by the Philadelphia Eagles. Not only did they take LeSean McCoy and turn him into a young, stud linebacker by the name of Kiko Alonso, but they then went out and signed DeMarco Murray to be the running back of the future. Murray is coming off the best season of his career and has proven to be a durable workhorse that can carry an NFL offense. While I do not think Chip Kelly will use Murray as often as he was used in Dallas, Murray will be able to provide the fast-paced Eagles offense with tough yards and a nice change of pace when needed. The combination of bringing in a Pro Bowl caliber middle linebacker while keeping an All-Pro running back could spell a Super Bowl run for the Eagles.
Kevin gets 3 points for his jab at Carroll. Matt gets 2 points for pointing out the problems with Kelly’s dictatorship and Chris gets 1 point for comparing Murray’s worth.
2. Which baseball player is due for a breakout season in 2015?
Kevin: My breakout player for 2015 is Christian Yelich, outfielder for the Miami Marlins. The 23-year-old Yelich had a very good 2014 season where he won a Gold Glove while hitting .284 with 21 stolen bases and 94 runs scored (fifth in the NL) in the leadoff spot for Miami. This offseason, Miami traded for Dee Gordon, who is expected to be their new leadoff man. This will allow Yelich to move back to second or third in the everyday lineup where he will have more opportunities to drive in runs while getting fantastic lineup protection with Stanton behind him. One of the problems many young players have is that they are impatient at the plate and swing at too many bad pitches. This is absolutely not the case for Yelich. He was 10th in the NL in walks last year with 70. Overall, I expect Yelich to become a household name this season and get out of Stanton’s shadow in the Marlins outfield.
Matt: Kris Bryant of the Chicago Cubs will have a breakout season and cruise to the NL Rookie-of-the-Year award. Bryant, the Cubs’ top prospect, has been lighting the field on fire this spring. He’s been hitting an astounding .435 with eight of his 10 hits being for extra bases, and six of those have been home runs. This is unheard of for a prospect. He has played nine spring training games and is already being compared to Mike Schmidt, the best third basemen in MLB history. I fully expect Bryant to spark the Cubs’ rebuilt franchise — along with their other top prospects expected to make the leap to the big leagues this season. This could catapult that franchise from the laughing stock of the league to a legitimate World Series contender.
Chris: A guy I would love to see break out this year is Milwaukee Brewers shortstop Jean Segura. After a scorching start to his 2013 season, Segura earned an All-Star Game invitation thanks to a .322 batting average and 26 stolen bases. Ever since his visit to the mid-summer classic, it has been a rough patch for the young shortstop. In 2014 alone, Segura had to deal with getting hit in the eye by a Ryan Braun practice swing, and he also suffered through the unexpected passing of his 9-month-old son. That could cause anyone to go through an incredible slump. But now, heading into 2015, Segura is back and ready to break out. A decreased workload in the offseason along with some tweaks to his batting stance and swing has Milwaukee excited for a big season from their former All-Star.
3. With the Masters coming up in April, can Rory McIlroy win his third-straight major and complete the career grand slam?
Kevin: I think Rory can definitely win the Masters. He’s had some struggles recently, but he plays his best in the big tournaments, as he won the last two majors in 2014. Some people might think he’s cursed and haunted at the Masters after his horrid performance four years ago when leading after three rounds. However, if that performance was really going to affect him, he would’ve fallen off the golf map. The complete opposite has happened, and he’s grown a lot as a golfer and become one of the best in the world. He won these last two majors after breaking off his engagement with tennis star Caroline Wozniacki. Clearly, he was going through some conflicts in his personal life and that might’ve been affecting his golf game, which is such a mental sport as is.
Matt: While McIlroy is the number-one golfer in the world right now, he may also be the most inconsistent. It seems like every time Rory gets on a roll and wins a few tournaments, he collapses, shoots a +6 and misses the final cut. I expect McIlroy to compete this year but not in the Masters. Augusta is a course that demands patience and restraint, something that Rory has not been known for in his young career. Rory never plays his best golf early in the year. He excels in the summer when he has had time to shake off the rust. In his three tournaments this year, McIlroy has only made the cut once, proving he is off to a yet another slow start.
Chris: Rory McIlory is the best player in the world of golf right now. He has drawn comparisons to Tiger Woods as the next face of the sport. However, in a McIlory vs. the field situation, I have to take the field on this one. Augusta National has never been an easy course for Rory to play, and I wouldn’t be surprised to see him struggle yet again. Although he has taken the last two majors, he has not been the dominant force as of recently. A guy whom I would really like to see give McIlroy a run for his money is Jordan Spieth. Spieth is a young force to be reckoned with, coming off a nice win at the Valspar Championship just a few weeks ago. While McIlory is the world’s number one, he will come up short.
Kevin gets 3 points for talking about the importance of life outside golf. Chris gets 2 points for picking the field and Matt gets 1 point for noting Rory’s inconsistencies.
Kevin wins Around the Dorm 7-6-5.
(03/12/15 3:35pm)
In this week’s Around the Dorm, the “Ref,” Michael Battista, asks our panel of experts three questions: Can anybody on the Yankees replace Derek Jeter, will Jaromir Jagr ever win another Stanley Cup at the age of 43 and can boxing become mainstream again with its new TV deal?
1. Who, if anyone, will step up as a leader to replace Derek Jeter?
Otto: It’s impossible to replace Derek Jeter. Period. Because of that, I think fans and the media will look for any sign to crown the next face of the franchise very quickly before seeing a good amount of games. That’s going to cause a lot of disappointments, because this is not a talented roster. A big chunk of the payroll is designated for free-agent acquisitions like Brian McCann and Jacoby Ellsbury, guys who have established themselves as solid players in the league but as members of other teams. And, of course, there’s Alex Rodriguez, who we all know won’t step up to anything. I don’t see any young player making that jump to lead the Yankees and taking over as the locker room leader. While the veterans will lead by example, no one, at least for this year, will become “the guy” for the Yankees.
George: In the 12th century, Hartmann von Aue wrote a poem about the child born of an incestuous affair between a brother and sister who, ignorant of his own origin, married his own mother (aunt?) only to repent and become the pope, leader of the Catholic Church. The name baby? Gregorius. That is why I think Didi Gregorius, who is already filling Jeter’s cleats as the Yankee’s new shortstop, is a prime candidate to become the team’s new leader. While Didi’s story may not be as extreme, it’s clear that all you need to become the leader of something as important as the Catholic Church or the New York Yankees is the name Gregorius. It’s a good thing the Yankees snatched Didi when they did. It’s possible his talent could’ve been squandered if he were brought onto a much less important team like the Mets.
Josh: Without Derek Jeter, there will be a large leadership void in the New York Yankees this season. I believe that Mark Teixeira will step up and partially fill that void, provided he can stay at least as healthy as he did last season. Teixeira has been on four different teams over his 12 seasons in the MLB and has gone to the playoffs five times, including the Yankees’ 2009 championship run. During his career, Teixeira is a two-time All-Star, a three-time Silver Slugger winner and a five-time Gold Glove Winner. He has been with the organization since 2009, making him one of the longest tenured players with the Yankees on the roster. Hopefully he can stay healthy and provide the Bombers with some much-needed leadership.
George gets 3 points for his analogy. Otto gets 2 points for sighting the lack of homegrown talent, and Josh gets 1 point for thinking an injury-prone Teixeira can lead a team.
2. Will Jaromir Jagr win another championship in the NHL?
Otto: Most people at TCNJ weren’t even born before Jaromir Jagr won his last Stanley Cup. It’s been 23 years since he last held up that trophy, so I can’t really blame him for still being hungry and wanting to return to the top. He’s had very modest success since returning to the NHL four years ago, but more importantly, he’s always on the ice. At the age of 43, he’s still durable and is someone that can be relied on. That being said, I don’t think that he’ll be able to come out of this with a championship. The Panthers right now are not on pace to even make the playoffs, but they could make a strong push toward the end of the season. The inexperience of their younger players and the team’s struggles to score goals will eventually lead to their demise, in the playoffs or not.
George: While Jagr is the most senior player in the NHL at the moment, I would say he is nowhere close to being “late” in his career. It’s clear from the length of his career thus far that Jagr loves hockey. So why should he stop playing? I look at Jagr as being a bit like Beowulf. Beowulf was a warrior who loved to fight. His entire purpose consisted of slaying horrendous monsters and horrid beasts, so why stop? He only stopped when a dragon got the best of him, meaning that Jagr will continue to play until he is killed by a dragon in the rink, which will probably not happen for many years to come. In any one of those years, it will be possible for Jagr to pick up another NHL championship -— the more years one plays, statistically it becomes more possible.
Josh: Jaromir Jagr just turned 43, and I think his championship years are behind him. Jagr’s scoring ability has clearly not significantly declined (he had 67 points last season), but his speed has been a victim of time. In the NHL today, teams are trying to get faster, and the games overall reflect that trend. Jagr’s speed has declined ,but his value now lies in his experience. Now a member of the Florida Panthers, Jagr has been playing in the NHL longer than the Panthers franchise has existed, has made the playoffs more times and has scored more points than the top five scorers for the franchise combined. Jagr will now be more valuable to teams who are young and looking for a veteran presence and/or making a push to make the playoffs. The Panthers now and similar teams in the future give Jagr little chance to once again have his name engraved on Lord Stanley’s Cup.
Josh gets 3 points for pointing out Jagr’s age. Otto gets 2 points for looking at the Panthers playoff chances, and George gets 1 point for saying Jagr has “many years” left.
3. Since Boxing is returning to NBC, do you think the sport will hit a chord with the mainstream again?
Otto: I think this is the best thing that can happen to boxing. While it makes a ridiculous amount of money on Pay-Per-View because of its die-hard fans, it’s good for the general public to be exposed to the sport. The sport no longer has to appeal to its biggest supporters since they’re a lock. Instead, they can focus on young sports fans who could have the opportunity to watch boxing because it’s on TV again. Maybe it can slowly work itself back to what it once was. You always hear older sports writers reminisce about their childhoods watching the sport and what it meant. At best, it will bring the sport back to the mainstream, and at worst it’ll still have an impact it hasn’t had in years.
George: Definitely. Boxing is one of the most brutal sports, and America’s machismo is in desperate need of a boost. Football is violent, but not violent enough on account of the padding and baseball is pretty much the softest sport imaginable. The American public wants some good ole’ fist-punching, not this padded crap.We’ve got years of pent up frustration fueling this. And there’s nothing like watching two guys beat each other up if you want to vent out your frustration. Or maybe even punch something yourself. Or maybe just sitting down with a therapist and talking about your problems.
Josh: I don’t think boxing will be able to return to as high a level as it was in the age of Ali and Frazier. It has been 40 years since the “Thrilla in Manilla,” and the sport’s popularity has dropped dramatically. One reason why I don’t think boxing will rise to prominence is the generational gap. Many sports fans now do not have a strong connection with the golden age of boxing because many of those fans then have passed away and their passion was not continued in today’s sports fans. The other reason is the big four sports leagues and their cumulative 122 teams across the U.S. and Canada. Nowadays, almost everybody has a favorite team from at least one of these leagues. There is little room or demand for a boxing resurgence in an already crowded sports market.
Otto gets 3 points for looking at the young fans. George gets 2 points because I’m scared he’ll hurt me, and Josh gets 1 point for bringing up the age gap.
Otto wins Around the Dorm 7-6-5.
(03/04/15 11:02pm)
In this week’s Around the Dorm, the “Ref,” Kevin Luo, asks our panel of experts three questions: Who were the winners and losers of the NBA trade deadline, who is the best NBA draft prospect after Duke’s Jahlil Okafor and who is the NHL MVP at this point in the season?
1. Who were the biggest winners and losers of the NBA trade deadline?
Matt: No deal really stuck out as far as making a team a true contender, but the winner to me is the Minnesota Timberwolves for reacquiring Kevin Garnett. At his age, Garnett will not help the team on the court, but he can mentor the Wolves’ young nuclei, Andrew Wiggins and Ricky Rubio. The deal will almost certainly help the Wolves’ last-place attendance. As for the losers of the deadline, I still have no idea what Sam Hinkie plans to do with the 76ers. After trading Michael Carter-Williams, last year’s Rookie-of-the-Year, it appears the team has finally recommitted to rebuilding again. Currently sitting 14th in the East, it was clear this year’s team needed to be rebuilt in order to preserve their ongoing suckfest, especially if they want the No. 1 pick in this year’s draft.
Michael: The biggest winner would have to be the Oklahoma City Thunder, while the biggest loser would be the Phoenix Suns. Sam Presti helped fortify an aging Thunder roster without giving away too much. Joining the likes of Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook are D.J. Augustin, Kyle Singler and Enes Kanter, all players who, under the right coach, can perform and bring up a team. They got rid of Reggie Jackson, who made it obvious he didn’t want to play for the Thunder, and Kendrick Perkins, someone whose contract had been weighing the team down. Meanwhile in Phoenix, Robert Savar boasted he would never give in to Goran Dragic’s trade demands. Now here we are, with Dragic on the Heat and the Suns out of one of their best players. Savar continues to bad mouth Dragic, while his team continues to flounder in the West. It’s at times like this it’s better for an owner to keep quiet and rethink his strategy rather than run his mouth, making himself look even more pathetic.
Chris: My NBA trade deadline winner has to be the Portland Trail Blazers. The Blazers are a talented team on the fringe of championship contention, and they made moves that made them legit contenders out west. The team shipped out some bench pieces and a draft pick for Aaron Afflalo, who will provide some big time scoring off the bench as well as a legit threat from 3-point range. Afflalo could be the extra boost of depth that Portland needs come playoff time. My trade deadline loser has to be the Philadelphia 76ers. No one really knows what Philly is doing. By dealing out Michael Carter-Williams and K.J. McDaniels, the 76ers are basically playing with a glorified D-League lineup. The 74 draft picks they have over the next four years will be great, though.
Michael gets 3 points for discussing OKC’s quality moves. Chris gets 2 points for discussing the Afflalo pickup, and Matt gets 1 point for saying the Sixers need to rebuild.
2. Who’s the best NBA draft prospect not named Jahlil Okafor?
Matt: I believe Ohio State’s D’Angelo Russell may be the best prospect in the draft, including Okafor. The center position has become less important over the past decade. Except for Tim Duncan and the Spurs, teams do not need a good center to win in today’s NBA. However, teams do need a scorer and Russell fits that bill. He is a freshman point guard/shooting guard that can score at will in a tough conference, while still getting his teammates involved. Russell Westbrook of the Thunder has shown over the past month just how important it is to have a point guard that can score. In the end, Russell will probably be drafted by the 76ers, where he will inevitably be traded in two years for more first-round picks, launching the 76ers most recent rebuild.
Michael: The second-best NBA draft prospect is Karl-Anthony Towns. The New Jersey native has scored an impressive 269 points this year for the University of Kentucky and has averaged about nine points per game. Now, that may seem low, but ever since Kentucky implemented their “platoon system,” each player has been getting less time on the court. So, Towns’s performance this season shows he can do a lot in a very small amount of time. In his last five games alone, he’s scored 51 points and 33 rebounds, all in winning efforts against good schools such as the University of Arkansas and the University of Tennessee and also helped clinch the SEC title for the team. Towns is expected to go early in the draft, and it’s easy to see why, so the 76ers, Timberwolves or Lakers all have good reason to pick this kid up.
Chris: Karl-Anthony Towns might just be the best prospect in the whole draft, so he is the easy choice here. The Kentucky big man is an absolute freak of nature and is still an extremely raw product on both ends of the court. That being sad, Towns can still protect the rim and score the basketball just as well as any center in college basketball right now. Towns had an outstanding month of February and is currently challenging Jahlil Okafor for the No. 1 draft pick. A continue of this trend, as well as possibly a national championship, could put his draft stock at an all-time high. If I’m an NBA general manager, I know I want a big man who can pass, rebound, dribble, shoot, dunk and defend as well, if not better, than anyone at his position.
Matt gets 3 points for discussing the devaluing of centers. Chris gets 2 points for discussing Towns’s multitude of talents, and Michael gets 1 point for saying nine points is impressive.
3. Who is the NHL MVP at this point in the season?
Matt: This may be the first time in 13 years that a goalie wins the Hart Trophy. With nobody running away with the scoring title, it comes down to Nashville’s Pekka Rinne and Montreal’s Carey Price for MVP. Between the two, I would go with Rinne. The two have similar stats, but Price is playing with a much better team in front of him to boost his stats. Rinne has led the Predators to the best record in the NHL through three quarters of the season. Last season without Rinne, the Preds missed the playoffs entirely. Rinne has single-handedly lifted Nashville to the top of the NHL standings and looks unbeatable on most nights. Rinne truly exemplifies why he is the most valuable player to his team, more so than any other player in the league.
Michael: The NHL MVP right now is John Tavares of the New York Islanders. He has helped push that team far beyond where it has been over the past few seasons and is one of the key reasons why they are where they are right now. He has played in every game for the team so far this season and has an impressive set of 30 goals with 35 assists over that span. In the last 10 games Tavares has scored six times and assisted eight times in a stretch that included competition like the New York Rangers, Washington Capitals and the Vancouver Canucks. For his impressive work helping to keep his team on top, John Tavares is the NHL’s MVP, and coming from a Rangers fan, that’s a hard thing to say.
Chris: With Patrick Kane done for the season, my MVP is going to have to be Alex Ovechkin. The Washington Capitals franchise player has been a VIP member of the Red Light District, finding the back of the net 41 times so far this year, and has currently put the Washington Capitals in the playoff picture in the Eastern Conference. Leading the league in goals is always a key part of any NHL MVP’s resume, and Ovechkin is most certainly on pace to do so. John Tavares of the New York Islanders also deserves some serious recognition, pacing the Isles with 30 goals and 35 assists and consistently battling all season long for the NHL points lead. These are my two contenders for the NHL MVP award, but ultimately, Ovi takes the cake.
Michael gets 3 points for discussing Tavares carrying the Islanders. Matt gets 2 points for mentioning Rinne’s season, and Chris gets 1 point for focusing on Ovechkin’s goals.
Michael wins Around the Dorm 7-6-5.
(02/25/15 7:39pm)
In this week’s Around the Dorm, the “Ref,” Chris Drabik, asks our panel of experts three questions: Is shutting down Carmelo Anthony a good move for the Knicks, how large of a role will A-Rod play for the Yankees this season and which team is most likely to upset Kentucky?
1. Is shutting down Carmelo Anthony for the season the right move for the New York Knicks?
George: Carmelo needed to be shut down. Unit 89341764782001 alias Carmelo “Melo” Anthony has been an obedient android so far, but he has been growing awfully sentient as of late. Insiders in the Tyrell Corporation have told me disturbing stories of Melo pretending to be human and refusing to accept existence as a replicant. As of late, there have been a number of replicants acting human. This is bad, of course — machines are machines and humans are humans. No one, machine or man, should be able to cross that line, not even Carmelo Anthony. What the Knicks are doing with Carmelo Anthony, Unit 89341764782001, is a step in the right direction in my eyes — when machines go out of line, they need to be shut down. Who knows, maybe this’ll even help them win a game this season against a team that isn’t the Lakers.
Josh: Is this even a question? It is absolutely the right move. The Knicks have been exceedingly bad this season. They have only recently achieved double-digit wins while closing in on 50 losses on the season, partially thanks to their current six-game losing streak. Even with Melo, they were able to lose 16 straight earlier this season. They are not anywhere close to challenging for a playoff spot, so there is no reason to rush him back. Come back next season with a healthy Carmelo and hopefully a revamped roster.
Kevin: Melo shutting it down for the season is a great thing for the Knicks. The Knicks are flat-out terrible. They’re not making the playoffs. The only hope for the rest of the season is that they try to become as terrible as possible and get the number one pick and Jahlil Okafor. With Melo not playing, it’ll also open up more playing time and shots for players like Tim Hardaway Jr. and Langston Galloway so they can develop some confidence if they are indeed part of the Knicks’ future. This has been a lost season for the Knicks. Melo should’ve shut it down earlier, but I’m sure he wanted to be a good host for the All-Star Game in the Big Apple.
Kevin gets 3 points for looking at Jahlil Okafor. Josh gets 2 points for pointing out how poor the Knicks are, and George gets 1 point for recognizing Carmelo as a cyborg.
2. What role will Alex Rodriguez fill this season for the New York Yankees?
George: I believe with utmost certainty that Alex Rodriguez will wind up playing the role of team mom this season, especially since Jeter won’t be there to carry out those duties. Sure, A-Rod has a reputation of being a bit of an arrogant prick, but if you look carefully at his performance over the past few seasons, they clearly foreshadow a future as the Yankees very own team mom. A-Rod’s been spotted at games in an old minivan, sometimes carpooling with other teammates. He also reportedly gave Masahiro Tanaka a spare peanut butter and jelly sandwich (no crust— exactly how Tanaka likes it!) from his own private stock. Who besides a team mom has a private stock of sandwiches with and without crust? There are rumors that A-Rod even continued his domestic hobbies into the off-season — this fall, Mr. Rodriguez was spotted participating in bake sales and sweeping the dugouts at Yankee Stadium.
Josh: This is such an odd situation. A-Rod has only played 44 games in two years and will turn 40 in July. He will most likely be the right-handed counterpart to Garrett Jones at DH. While he may get some at-bats at third base, I don’t see that happening very often, if at all. The acquisitions made this off-season by the Bombers seem to have lessened his importance to the team. I would not be surprised if he ended the season playing 3B, and by that, I mean third bench.
Kevin: I think this season A-Rod will have a decent season for the Yanks. He’ll be mainly a DH but will get some time in the field to go along with a solid bat. He’ll probably bat fifth or sixth in the lineup. He’s not going to be anything special, but he’s playing with house money this season (along with about $30 Million). The spotlight on the Yankees this season will be much dimmer now that Jeter has retired. The expectation of the Yankees and A-Rod this season are both pretty low, and A-Rod has performed his best when the expectations have been low. I can see A-Rod hitting .260 with 20 homers and 80 RBIs while trying his best to stay out of the news (even though that probably won’t happen).
Kevin gets 3 points for pointing out A-Rod’s contract. George gets 2 points for saying he’s best team mom, and Josh gets 1 point for suggesting the Yanks are burying A-Rod on the bench.
3. Which school has the best shot of upsetting the Kentucky Wildcats in the NCAA Tournament?
George: It’s a long shot, but I’d like to see Gonzaga be the ones to beat the Wildcats. I like them because they have a name that sounds like a fancy Italian meat — I’d definitely order a pizza topped with Gonzaga — whatever that is. Most importantly though, Gonzaga has been having what is possibly the greatest season in their program’s history. They have already gone toe-to-toe with another top-10 Wildcat while enduring tough on-the-road conditions in Arizona. While Gonzaga lost that game, they were in control all throughout its duration and only lost in overtime after a few stumbles. On top of that, you have former U.K. player Kyle Wiltjer, who’s shooting nearly 47 percent beyond the arc and just might make a dent in Kentucky’s defense.
Josh: I hate to pick the obvious choice, but I believe No. 2 Virginia has the best chance to take down the top-seeded Kentucky Wildcats. The Cavaliers have an experienced roster made up of multiple seniors and juniors. Virginia also plays a game well suited to throwing the Wildcats off-balance. Their offense is fast-paced, and their defense is stifling. During this season, Virginia has the lowest points-per-game against with 50.4. Kentucky is currently just inside the top 50 in points-per-game. Virginia could be the team most likely to topple the mighty Wildcats come March Madness.
Kevin: In my opinion, Kentucky is far from unbeatable. Kentucky is a great defensive team, but they’re not a great offensive team. I wouldn’t say they have a true go-to scorer, and they don’t have enough offensive chemistry to compensate for that. They’ve struggled to beat many mediocre SEC teams (Texas A&M, LSU, Ole Miss). The team that I think matches up the best with Kentucky is Wisconsin. They have one of the best bigs in the country in Frank Kaminsky along with gritty forward Nigel Hayes to battle in the paint with the bigs of Kentucky. They also have tons of outside shooting, including Kaminsky, to spread the floor as the team that beats Kentucky will need to hit some outside shots.
Josh gets 3 points for pointing out Virginia’s defense. Kevin gets 2 points for crediting Kaminsky, and George gets 1 point for recognizing Gonzaga’s historic season.
Kevin wins Around the Dorm 8-6-4.
(02/18/15 6:21pm)
In this week’s Around the Dorm, the “Ref,” Matt Bowker, asks our panel of experts three questions: Are the Padres the favorite to win the NL West, who should be the first quarterback taken in the NFL draft and will Tiger Woods ever win another major?
1. After multiple off-season acquisitions, can the Padres beat out the Dodgers and Giants in the NL West?
Otto: Even after all of the additions to the Padres this off-season, I still think the Dodgers will win the National League West. We know what they’re going to get from their starting rotation, and now they have added Brandon McCarthy and Brett Anderson to close out the five-man group. While they got rid of hard-hitting Hanley Ramirez, they added Howie Kendrick and Jimmy Rollins to play up the middle. Adrian Gonzalez and Yasiel Puig will still be effective and have been more consistent than Matt Kemp in recent years, and overall, the Dodgers have more experienced players on their roster than the Padres, who, while getting James Shields, as well, have a lot of young names left to prove themselves.
Chris: As spring training is quickly approaching, it’s clear that the race for the NL West crown will be one of the most interesting storylines of the season. After having one of the most active off-seasons in recent memory, the San Diego Padres are in prime position to overtake the San Francisco Giants and the Los Angeles Dodgers. Led by free agent signees Matt Kemp and Justin Upton, the Padres will feature one of the most dangerous offenses in all of baseball. The biggest signing of them all for the Padres was starting pitcher James Shields. Shields provides the pitching staff with the ace they desperately need while also providing postseason experience. Combine this with the Giants’ loss of Pablo Sandoval as well as the Dodgers’ dependence on injury-prone hitters, and I feel that this is the Padres’ year.
Michael: The Padres can definitely overtake the Giants and Dodgers in the NL West. In his first off-season as the new general manager, A.J. Preller revamped the team in multiple areas, including pitching with the acquisition of James Shields. Still, they have their work cut out for them in the West, where the Giants have recently signed third baseman Casey McGehee and have been resigning the same talent that helped them win the World Series last year. The Dodgers have also been busy, trading away Matt Kemp and catcher Tim Federowicz in a five-player deal to, of all teams, the Padres. With players like Kemp, Shields and left fielder Jason Upton, amongst others, the Padres have enough new talent to get into the playoffs past one or both of the other teams.
Chris gets 3 points for calling the Dodgers injury-prone. Michael gets 2 points for praising Preller, and Otto gets 1 point for mentioning the Dodgers’ rotation.
2. Should Marcus Mariota or Jameis Winston be the first pick in the NFL draft?
Otto: Jameis Winston without a doubt. Winston is definitely more NFL ready, and history shows us that mobile quarterbacks who come into the league as projects do not fare well. Winston is more adept at making decisions on the field and adjusting to adversity, having so many come-from-behind wins this season. Mariota most likely cannot be a day-one starter, and the Buccaneers need someone to step in right away. Winston has the better physical attributes and also has proven that he can win the big game. Some people will forget what happened during his Heisman season because of last season’s struggles, but he was able to lead Florida State on a game-winning drive against Auburn in the National Championship as redshirt freshman.
Chris: Who do I think will be the Tampa Bay Buccaneer’s newest quarterback? Winston. While both QBs have a whole lot that they bring to the table, Winston’s big, accurate arm will fit in perfectly with Tampa Bay’s pro-style offense. Recently hired offensive coordinator Dirk Keotter will be responsible for using Winston’s skill set to his advantage in their first year together in Tampa. Mariota is an outstanding talent but is unproven at running a pro-style offense and could be a big risk as the No. 1 overall pick. Buccaneers General Manager Jason Licht needs to get this right, and keeping Winston in his home state of Florida is the right call.
Michael: Marcus Mariota is the obvious choice here, just because he’s shown more in 2014 then Jameis Winston. The 2014 Heisman winner lead the Pac 12 in rushing touchdowns this season while leading Oregon to 13 wins and the College Football Playoff National Championship. Winston, on the other hand, has had a year including improvements and disappointments both on and off the field. While his regular season with Florida State showed a lot of improvement from 2013, his Rose Bowl game against Mariota and the Ducks ended in a crushing 59-20 defeat. The 2013 Heisman winner also has dealt with multiple incidents off the field including sexual assault charges, shoplifting charges and suspensions for yelling a vulgar Internet phrase in public. Mariota’s clean record and more recent accomplishments should land him the first pick in the draft, or at the very least a higher pick then Winston.
Michael gets 3 points for his concern about Winston’s issues. Otto and Chris get 2 points each for saying that Winston is more pro-ready.
3. After announcing he will take yet another break from golf, will Tiger Woods ever win another major?
Otto: Absolutely. He’ll win one more for sure, maybe two or three, but that’s it. Unfortunately, we won’t see Tiger break Jack Nicklaus’s record of 18 majors, that at one time was sure to fall. Tiger is past his physical prime and has been dealing with injury after injury for the last couple of years, and that’s impossible to really get back from. That being said, you cannot deny that in his prime, Tiger Woods exemplified greatness in a way that very few in sports ever have. And that’s a quality that never goes away. It’s ingrained forever. He will find a way to rise to the top once more at the very least, but as we all know, Father Time is undefeated and will continue to be so, and I’m afraid we have almost seen the very last of Tiger Woods.
Chris: Tiger Woods’s golf career has taken yet another hit. Heading into the season, Tiger seemed primed for a big comeback campaign, stating that his body had finally started to cooperate with him again. However, after withdrawing last week at Torrey Pines, no one can be confident as to whether or not Woods will ever return to his No. 1 in the world form. It always seems to be one injury after another for the 14-time major champion, which is why I think that same title will remain when he retires. Tiger Woods winning is a great thing for the world of golf, but capturing another major tournament victory has become too large of an obstacle, both mentally and physically, for the best player of our generation to overcome.
Michael: With another year off due to injury, I think Woods’s time winning majors and being the world’s best golfer is over. Next year he’s going to be 40, and with the injuries he’s already sustained, you have to wonder how much more he can take. Right now, people need to watch the newer talent like Jordan Speith or Hideki Matsuyama, whose rising stardoms show they have a chance to be great players in the sport. While they may not ever be as good as Tiger Woods, it’s clear now that he himself will never be as good as he once was, and that’s something both we and he need to accept.
Chris gets 3 points for looking at Woods’s mentality. Michael gets 2 points for looking at young players, and Otto gets 1 point for not giving up hope.
Chris wins Around the Dorm 8-7-4.
(02/11/15 6:38pm)
In this week’s Around the Dorm, the “Ref,” Josh Kestenbaum, asks our panel of experts three questions: Will the Seahawks return to a third-straight Super Bowl, which team will be the most active at the upcoming NHL trade deadline and which MLB team has improved the most this off-season?
1. Will the Seahawks make it to a third-straight Super Bowl next season? If not, who will unseat them?
Matt: I do not see the Seahawks returning to the Super Bowl next year. Their defense will remain largely intact, but their offense just is not good enough. They must get a receiver to keep pace with teams like the Packers and Cowboys in the NFC. The Hawks draft 31st and will have no elite receivers left on the board. The Seahawks are ready, whether justified or not, to make Russell Wilson the highest-paid QB in the NFL. This will leave the team with no cap space to bolster their receiving corps in free agency. And after their supposed “greatest defense ever” was picked apart by Brady in the Super Bowl, there is no reason to believe the Seahawks will be able to beat a healthy Aaron Rodgers in next year’s playoffs.
Andrew: The Seahawks will not make their third-straight Super Bowl simply because they do not have enough money to bring back some of their elite players. With Richard Sherman and Earl Thomas getting big contracts and Russell Wilson expected to get one as well, Marshawn Lynch will be the odd man out. Despite the questionable play at the end of the Super Bowl, Seattle has established itself as a run-first offense. Unless Robert Turbin can have a breakthrough year and fill Lynch’s shoes or the Seahawks pick up another running back in the offseason, Seattle will lose one of its biggest advantages. Without a strong running back, expect the Green Bay Packers to take the NFC, barring Brian Bostick attempting to recover another onside kick.
Kyle: Next season, expect to see Seattle in the Super Bowl, but don’t expect to see them there again soon after that. With no major contracts expiring this offseason, the Seahawks can expect to keep all their skill players for next season, plus whatever additions they make this offseason. However, after next season, Russell Wilson’s contract will expire, and after two Super Bowl appearances and one win, he’s not going to be cheap. Most of their starting secondary expires at the end of next season as well, stripping the defense of their most valuable assets. Seattle will be in the big game again, but barring some magic, they won’t be there soon after.
Matt gets 3 points for addressing Seattle’s need for a No. 1 receiver. Kyle gets 2 points for bringing up Seattle’s cap issues, and Andrew gets 1 point for poking fun at Bostick.
2. With the NHL trade deadline approaching, which team will be the most active?
Matt: It’s a buyer’s market this year in the NHL, with so many bad teams looking to trade away talent and improve their chances of getting the number one pick in the draft. I believe that the most active of those teams will be the Maple Leafs, losers of 11-straight games. The Leafs have imploded for the third-straight year in a row, and it’s time for a change. It’s time to blow up that team. They’re so dysfunctional, they deserve their own reality show on the E! Network. Their core players are unwilling to change their me-first attitude, which resulted in the firing of their coach midway through the season. After repeatedly being called “uncoachable,” management has no choice but to trade away Kessel, Phaneuf, Kadri and Lupul. All four of those players, especially Kessel, would rake in a very nice return for the Leafs and expedite the rebuilding process.
Andrew: Expect the Buffalo Sabres to be the most active team with the NHL trade deadline approaching. After just snapping a 14-game losing streak, Buffalo has the worst record in the NHL and is on pace to have the second-worst goal differential in league history. Needless to say, the Sabres could use a lot of help. In fact, most recently, head coach Ted Nolan told his players that “maybe somebody will see you and want you.” It is wrong when motivation stems from playing well in order to get traded to a better team. With the playoffs well out of reach, all the Sabres can do is move on, so expect players to be moved around for role players and potential draft picks.
Kyle: At this stage in the season, with the record they have so far, the Buffalo Sabres will be the most active at the trade deadline. This is a team that has been at the bottom of the league for the entirety of the season and needs to start looking towards the future. Dealing large contracts will free up cap space, and with the high demand for defensemen in the league, you may see Buffalo deal a few of their own.
Matt gets 3 points for pitching a Maple Leafs E! Network reality show. Andrew and Kyle get 1 point each for picking the worst team in the league.
3. Which MLB team improved the most through off-season acquisitions?
Matt: Clearly the teams in Chicago are the most improved, with the White Sox trade for Jeff Samadzija and the Cubs signing of Jon Lester. However, I believe both of these teams are still a year or two away from being serious contenders. The one team that turned itself from a possible worst-to-first candidate this offseason is the Boston Red Sox. After winning the world series, the Red Sox had a hugely disappointing season in 2014. In order to ensure success this year, the team threw so much money at Pablo Sandoval that he left the world-champion Giants, and the team also signed Hanley Ramirez. The biggest problem with the Sox last season was their pitching. Since then, they have acquired Wade Miley, Rick Porcello and Justin Masterson, all solid pitchers at the end of the rotation. The Sox are still missing a true ace, but James Shields is still available, and the Red Sox are willing to spend any amount to compete. Their lack of an ace will hopefully, force them to make a deal with the devil, Phillies GM Ruben Amaro and trade for Cole Hamels or Cliff Lee.
Andrew: The Red Sox have taken full advantage of their offseason and will be the most improved team in 2015. After finishing last in the American League East with a disappointing 71-91 season, Boston can only get better. Fortunately for the Red Sox, they are one of MLB’s richest franchises. In an expensive acquisition of almost $200 million, the Red Sox picked up two leading sluggers in Pablo Sandoval and Hanley Ramirez. These two add much needed depth on the offensive side for Boston. Last season, the Red Sox ranked in the bottom third of runs scored. With the two big acquisitions, expect that to change this season.
Kyle: With the addition of slugger Melky Cabrera, the Chicago White Sox are the winners of the MLB offseason thus far. In addition, a trade with Oakland netted the Sox former Notre Dame receiver-turned-pitcher, Jeff Samardzija to bolster their core rotation. Cabrera is an addition to a team that already sports Rookie-of-the-Year, Jose Abreu and ace lefty Chris Sale. Look for the White Sox to make a splash with all this firepower next season.
Matt gets 3 points for showing Boston’s improvment. Kyle gets 2 points for pointing out Chicago’s firepower, and Andrew gets 1 point for reminding us how bad the Sox were.
Matt wins Around the Dorm 9-5-3.
(02/05/15 12:14am)
In this week’s Around the Dorm, the “Ref,” Otto Gomez, asks our panel of experts three questions: What should be the penalty for the Patriots’ “Deflate-Gate” scandal, who was the biggest snub or surprise selection to the NBA All-Star Game, and can the Kentucky men’s basketball team finish the regular season undefeated?
1. What do you think the punishment should be for “Deflate-Gate,” and how could it affect the Patriots in the future?
Kevin: Honestly, I’m not sure what the punishment should be for “Deflate-Gate’”because I’m not sure what actually happened. I think it’s both plausible that the Patriots did nothing wrong and that the league won’t be able to prove they did anything wrong. If that’s the case, there will be no punishment. However, if the league proves there was systematic cheating on the Patriots’ behalf, I expect Brady and/or Belichick to be suspended for a couple games, fined and the team will lose a first-round pick. I personally don’t think this is a big deal, but this on top of Spygate, along with the scrutiny the league has been on this season, will lead to this harsh punishment if the Patriots are found guilty.
Josh: I don’t think the Patriots should be harshly punished for “Deflate-Gate.” While some of the coaches and higher-ups may have known of the plan or even ordered the balls to be deflated, I don’t believe the players had such knowledge. And, in hindsight, I really don’t think the deflated balls had much impact on the game. The Patriots beat the Colts 45-7 in dominant fashion. I think the Patriots would have won handily even without the ball pressure help. Even Colts tight end Dwayne Allen tweeted, “They could have played with soap for balls and beat us. Simply the better team.” The Patriots organization should be assessed a fine or, at most, docked a late-round draft pick. Their future will be affected as much as it was by Spygate: a slight hit to their reputation and nothing more.
George:”Deflate-Gate” is the most heinous football crime of our day, and its perpetrators deserve strict and sudden castigation. All the big players involved will surely be weeded out one by one, but the question will remain: Did the Big Cheese, star quarterback Tom Brady, know what was happening? Mr. Brady will deny any involvement, but I hear from my anonymous source — let’s refer to him as Deep Throw — that Mr. Brady records every conversation that takes place in the locker room. If the tapes reveal that Mr. Brady did in fact know about “Deflate-Gate” beforehand, I believe the only punishment suitable would be the swift impeachment of the Pats quarterback. As for what this means for the Patriots’ franchise, “Deflate-Gate” will forever smirch the organization known for four Super Bowl wins, eight Super Bowl appearances and freeing the slaves.
George gets 3 points for reminding us of the emancipation. Josh gets 2 points for saying the balls were irrelevant during the game, and Kevin gets 1 point for mentioning Spygate.
2. What was the biggest surprise from the NBA All-Star team selections?
Kevin: I was going to say the biggest All-Star snub was Boogie Cousins, but he got chosen as Kobe’s replacement. I’ll go with the other obvious snub instead, Damian Lillard. I thought Lillard’s clutch performances last postseason put him on the map enough that a good first half of the season would definitely make him an All Star, and he had a really good first half of the season. You can make a strong argument he’s been the second best point guard in the west behind Steph Curry. So in order for there to be a snub, there has to be someone who doesn’t belong. They’re both incredible players, but at least one of the Thunder stars, Westbrook or Durant, doesn’t deserve to be an All Star this season. They’ve both missed a chunk of the season, and their team isn’t in the playoffs right now.
Josh: The biggest surprise from the NBA All-Star selections was the absence of Atlanta Hawks guard Kyle Korver. While the Hawks are already being represented by three other players plus their head coach, Korver is a big reason why the Hawks currently sit atop the Eastern Conference and have won 19 straight games. The 12-year vet has not posted off-the-charts numbers in points, assists or rebounds, but he has put up incredible shooting percentages. Korver is currently shooting 51.8 percent from the floor, 53.4 percent from behind the arc and 92.3 percent from the free throw line. If he keeps up these numbers, he is headed for two league records: first player to post a 50/50/90 shooting slash and the best overall shooting percentage of all time. With percentages like this, Korver deserved to be invited to New York to take part in the festivities.
George: The biggest surprise by far is the fact that there are no actual stars on either roster. Sure, they got Melo, King James and the Boshtrich, who are all pretty good players, but where’s Aldebaran? Betelgeuse? Polaris? And don’t even get me started on Sirius. These guys are in their prime right now, but time flies. In a couple billion years, these star players will become hot enough to fuse helium into carbon and oxygen through the triple-alpha process and eventually turn into white dwarfs. Some of the bigger stars might even exceed the largest possible mass supported by degeneracy pressure, experience a core-collapse supernova and become black holes or neutron stars. And neutron stars can’t be ballers.
Kevin gets 3 points for mentioning the Thunder’s injuries. Josh gets 2 points for the Korver analysis, and George gets 1 point for assuming that neutron stars can’t be ballers.
3. Will the Kentucky Wildcats go undefeated throughout the rest of the regular season and win the March Madness Tournament?
Kevin: I don’t see Kentucky going undefeated throughout the whole season. They’re in a mediocre conference, but they also had to go to OT to win their first two conference games this season. They’re tremendously talented, smothering on defense and have two full squads of future first-round picks. However, they are not without flaws. I don’t think they have a true go-to option on offense and have the potential to go through droughts on offense when they can’t force the opponents into turnovers. They’re also just crazy young, and it’s super difficult to go undefeated in college basketball.
Josh: I think there is a better chance of the Wildcats going undefeated in the regular season than there is winning the national championship. Kentucky does not play another ranked team for the rest of the season, and they are firing on all cylinders right now after retaining most of their monstrous 2013 recruiting class. While their schedule seems to point toward an undefeated regular season, the real danger lies in the tournament. Every year, high-seeded teams fall to lower-seeded teams in shocking defeats. Last year, No. 3 Duke fell to the 14th-ranked Mercer. The bigger they are, the harder they fall, and I don’t think Kentucky is immune to this perennial occurrence. A No. 1 seed has only won the whole thing once in the last 13 years. Undefeated? Probably. Champions? History says probably not.
George: It’s possible they’ll be defeated, but not by any big team. Instead it’s going to be a team they’d never expect to beat them. The Wildcats play well against good teams. They dominate the court when they share it with someone of equal caliber. For example, UCLA, North Carolina and Kansas all fell to the Wildcats. What the cats will struggle with is when they go against a team that they underestimate. Take for example, their game against unranked Ole Miss. The Cats had to drag the game into overtime to win, and beforehand were struggling defensively. While this game may have been a one-time thing, it revealed cracks in the seemingly flawless Wildcats strategy.
Josh gets 3 points for acknowledging the danger of the Tournament. George and Kevin get 2 points each for talking about the weaknesses of the Wildcats.
Josh wins Around the Dorm 8-7-6.
(01/30/15 12:09am)
In this week’s Around the Dorm, the “Ref,” Matt Bowker, asks our panel of experts three questions: Have the Patriots or Seahawks been more impressive this seasoon, who should be the starting quarterback for Ohio State next season and can the Cavaliers turn around their season in time for the playoffs?
1. Both the Patriots and Seahawks were counted out early in the season. Which team has had a more impressive turnaround and why?
Michael: To be honest, neither team really showed a lot of weaknesses all year. The Patriots started the season off with a loss to Miami, a team that has fluctuated from a joke to a contender in recent years. Minus the week four trainwreck that was the Chiefs game, New England’s special teams and offense were performing at a solid pace and didn’t have any apparent weakness. That being said, the Seahawks have had the biggest turnaround this season because of the pressure a defending world champion has to contend with. The Legion of Boom continued to cut off their opponent’s passes, and while Russell Wilson isn’t the best quarterback in the league, he’s been put with a team that allows him to succeed.
Otto: No doubt that the Patriots have had the biggest turnaround in the season. The 41-14 loss that they suffered in the beginning of the season to the Kansas City Chiefs was devastating, and it was a primetime game that everyone saw. The Seahawks, on the other hand, while losing more games in the early part of the season, were only defeated by a small margin each time, and the struggles could have been attributed to the pressures of repeating after a Super Bowl title and just some early season nerves. The Patriots were completely dominated by the Chiefs and had no real excuse to fall back upon. They looked slow and old, hence making their turnaround a lot more impressive. Once they got Gronkowski back, the team looked fresh and started to play quality football. Many figured Seattle would figure it out, but no one expected the Patriots to shift the way they did and as quickly as they did.
Chris: While both of this year’s Super Bowl teams had tough starts to the season, I consider the New England Patriots’ turnaround to be more impressive. After the Patriots lost in a blowout game to the Kansas City Chiefs in week four to even their record at 2-2, New England was considered down and out, and the Belichick-Brady era was all but over. All the Patriots did next was close out the season winning 11 of 13 to clinch the AFC East and the No. 1 overall seed in the conference. While the Seahawks started out 3-3 on the year, the NFC West title pretty much fell into their lap after the Arizona Cardinals sunk like a stone when they were forced to start third-string quarterback Ryan Lindley after their first two options went down with injuries, all after a 10-1 start to the season. New England both faced, and answered, more critics with their early season turnaround.
Chris gets 3 points for mentioning the Cardinals’ collapse. Otto gets 2 points for citing Gronk, and Michael gets 1 point for pointing out the added pressure facing the champions.
2. With Cardale Jones returning to school and Braxton Miller and J.T. Barrett coming back from injury, who should be the starting quarterback for Ohio State next season?
Michael : Ohio State’s natiomnal title is thanks to Cardale Jones, and his amazing games against Alabama. However, with his 28-8 record between 2011 and 2013, I would have to bring back Miller as the starting quarterback through his senior year. He made a strong case in 2013, showing improvements in his passing game, and had continued to show he was solid at rushing. The saying goes, “if something ain’t broke, don’t fix it,” but I would have to stay with the guy who has been putting up solid numbers for the team over multiple years rather than two players who may be “flashes in the pan.”
Otto: The Buckeyes probably can’t mess this decision up if they tried. Either way they are going to have a fantastic season trying to repeat as national champions, and I think Cardale Jones will be the quarterback leading the squad. Coach Urban Meyer recognizes that he should ride the hot hand and give him as much playing experience as possible. Meyer understands that senior Braxton Miller can be a Heisman-worthy player in any program and should not be shocked if he decides to transfer. J.T. Barrett, on the other hand, will be a redshirt sophomore in the upcoming year, and so he still has two years of eligibility left if he backs up Jones. Jones will surely declare for the draft after the season, but the Buckeyes will still have Barrett ready to go after a season of gaining experience as a backup.
Chris: I am not just going to tell you who the starting quarterback should be, but who the starting quarterback WILL be for Ohio State next season: Cardale Jones. Jones, at least for next year, is the answer at quarterback. A big reason why this will hold true is because of the future of Braxton Miller. Miller, who has already graduated and is eligible to transfer without sitting out a season, is being recruited by big name school like Florida State and Oregon to come play for them. I predict that Urban Meyer uses that speed and transforms Miller into a dangerous wide receiver for the Buckeyes. In the Jones vs. Barrett debate, I think Cardale Jones walks into spring practice and wins the job.
Otto gets 3 points for his plan for the future. Michael gets 2 points for his loyalty to Miller, and Chris gets 1 point for being a Michigan fan.
3. With the season at its midpoint, can the Cavaliers turn it around in time for the playoffs?
Michael:This needs to be prefaced by saying the East is terrible. Two of the top eight teams are under .500. Cleveland has been dealing with a lot this season, from the homecoming of Lebron James and his injury, and the inept defense that had been displayed for the last month. However, the recent win against the Bulls and the addition of Iman Shumpert, shows the team is starting to get back on track. The biggest help, though, may come in the form of recent acquisition Timofey Mozgov. The seven-foot tall Russian showed just how effective he could be on defense against the Bulls, blocking multiple shots from 2011 MVP Derrick Rose. If Cleveland can keep this up, they have a great chance of pulling ahead in the East.
Otto: Without a doubt. I’ll go as far as to say that they will be very dangerous in the playoffs. They have made great acquisitions, particularly Timofey Mozgov and J.R. Smith. The short break that LeBron James took to rest from injuries has seemed to do wonders for him. The offense will continue to improve as the season goes on, allowing the chemistry to continue to build and the defense to improve. Mozgov serves as a great rim protector, and Iman Shumpert, an excellent perimeter defender, will be a great addition coming off the bench. LeBron will serve as an experienced leader for the rest of the season, and along with Kyrie Irving and Kevin Love, the team at its best is very scary.
Chris: About a quarter of the way into this NBA season, the Cleveland Cavaliers have really struggled to mesh as a team so far. Luckily for them, they play in the extremely weak Eastern Conference and also have the best player on the planet, LeBron James. A huge move that was made was bringing in J.R. Smith and Iman Shumpert. Shumpert is the perimeter defender that Cleveland desperately needed, while I think Smith will be a dangerous scoring option off the bench who is able to generate his own shots. It is only a matter of time before the Cleveland Cavaliers pass the likes of the Bulls, Raptors and Wizards to compete for the Atlanta Hawks for the No. 1 seed in the East.
Everyone gets 3 points for mentioning the Cavs’ recent acquisitions of Timofey Mozgov, J.R. Smith and Iman Shumpert.
Otto wins Around the Dorm 8-7-6.
(09/24/14 2:27pm)
By Jen Goetz
Correspondent
Participants from the College, William Patterson University and Bryant University attended Pi Sigma Epsilon’s inaugural sales competition last Saturday, Sept. 20.
“We’re making history here,” President Matt Napoli said. Pi Sigma Epsilon competes in sales competitions twice a year, but this was the first time the College has hosted.
The competition is a business-to-business sales roleplay. The competitors had executive meetings for 12 minutes to pitch their products. These students were split up between five rooms and were given a random product to sell. Each room had three judges observing each sales pitch. Christine Murtha was one of the students who helped record these sales pitches. She said that after the judges decided on their favorite for each room, the tapes were watched to determine the overall winners.
Following the competition in the School of Business, students had the opportunity to listen to guest speaker Steve Cucinelli, attend a career fair and go to a banquet in the Brower Student Center where the event’s winners were announced.
“The career fair is a chance for the participants to relax and interact with recruiters,” Napoli said.
The career fair offered sign ups and applications for employment opportunities from the sponsors of the event.
The sponsors included lead sponsor Northwestern Mutual, UPS, Modis, Tom James Suits, YP, Federated Insurance, Johnson & Johnson, Guardian IPA and Multiview.
“It’s a great networking opportunity,” sophomore marketing major Derek Carper said. “It’s a chance for students to interact with different partners from different companies.”
Aside from all the connections and life skills that participants gain from the business roleplay, the top three sales competitors took home cash prizes. Third place was Eric Sawyer, second place was Keith Zients and the first place winner was Sarah Brown. The awards were $100 for third, $250 for second and $500 for first.
Rachael Scott, vice president of public relations for Pi Sigma said the School of Business wants it to be known that sales is a very transferable skill.
“Having the skills to compete makes you that much more marketable as a business major,” she said.
Overall, this has not been something the College has been exposed to, and will be of great service to those interested in a business major. For anyone interested in sales, this provides real-life experience.
This event has been years in the making, but the current executive board is responsible for making it happen and for making it a success. The sponsors, particularly Northwestern Mutual Insurance, provided more than just information about their companies, but valuable knowledge about the ethics and integrity of making sales. The sales competition was organized last spring, and this co-ed, non-exclusive organization accepts students of all majors to participate.
(04/29/14 10:59pm)
In this week’s Around the Dorm, the “Ref,” Mike Herold, asks our panel of experts three questions: what has been the most exciting game thus far in either the NBA or NHL, who should the Milwaukee Bucks look to pick up in the NBA draft, and what is the best day of the summer for which every sports fan should be excited?
1. The opening rounds of both the NBA and NHL playoffs are currently going on. Which game has been the most exciting so far?
Chris: The NBA and NHL playoffs are both incredibly exciting. However, the most exciting game was Game 1 of the Rockets-Blazers series. First off, you have an all-time performance by LaMarcus Aldridge, going for 46 and 18, and absolutely destroying Dwight Howard and company with his mid-range shot. I don’t know about you, but one of my favorite things to watch in basketball is a big man going to work, and Aldridge has done it all year. Then you had Damian Lillard’s first playoff game, dropping 31 points and being clutch as all hell. The Blazers also made two comebacks with the latter sending it to overtime. And did I mention that three Rockets’ players had 24 or more points? That showed us that, as expected, there wasn’t going to be a ton of defense played in this series.
Matt: In my (slightly) biased opinion, I think the Penguins-Blue Jackets Game 4 has been the most exciting game of either playoffs so far with the heavily-favored Penguins with superstars Crosby, Malkin and Neal vs. the average-Joe Blue Jackets, making their second-ever playoff appearance in their 14-year history. The Pens led late into the third, when former Stanley Cup winning goalie Marc-Andre Fleury made a terrible play and coughed up the puck behind his net. With the extra attacker on, the Blue Jackets stole the puck from Fleury and buried it, tying the game at three apiece. The Columbus crowd erupted after witnessing undoubtedly the best moment in franchise history. The Jackets carried their momentum into overtime, when Nick Foligno notched the game winner on what should’ve been a routine save for Fleury. This game had it all: the intensity of a divisional rivalry, with the thrill of overtime action. Columbus pulled off an upset for even an average Joe like Peter LaFleur to appreciate.
Peter: This has been an atypically awesome first round for the NBA, and it’s been highlighted by Game 3 of the wire-to-wire Oklahoma City-Memphis series. Kevin Durant has been characteristically defying the laws of physics, making for some highlight-reel basketball — his four-point play at the end of regulation in Game 2 was just jaw-dropping, and the Thunder got another game-tying, four-point play in Game 3. But the Grizzlies are proving, once again, that basketball is a team sport rather than a “who has the most stars?” contest. Memphis has been getting contributions from everyone, including from a smothering defensive effort or backup Beno Udrih pouring in double digits, and as a result it rattled off its second straight win against a title favorite. For those sick and tired of the stars-oriented culture and coverage of the NBA, nothing is more exciting than gritty Grizzlies wins in the postseason pioneered by teamwork.
Pete wins for mentioning the teamwork factor, Matt gets 2 points for his ‘Dodgeball’ reference and Chris gets 1 point because everyone fouled out of that game.
2. Who would you take with the first pick as the Milwaukee Bucks?
Chris: The Bucks need help pretty much anywhere they can get it, so I don’t think they’ll be making this pick by position if they get it. I’ll go with Andrew Wiggins. The fact of the matter is that Wiggins simply has the most potential, and his floor isn’t half bad either. Everyone can say he struggled at Kansas, but what some may not know is that Bill Self runs a very specific system — one that makes it difficult for guys to take over. While Jabari Parker was heaving threes and being fed the ball in the post, Wiggins was getting his, just less notably. Wiggins can shoot and attack like Parker, but his athleticism and defense separate him from Parker. Embiid has that once-in-a-lifetime potential, too, but his back issues are frightening. Building a team is what the Bucks need the most, and Wiggins is the man to do that. Let’s be honest — no free agent is picking Milwaukee over Los Angeles, New York or Miami. But if someone is there to give them a reason to come, that may be the most value that Wiggins can provide.
Matt: No player in this year’s draft will be able to save the Bucks all on their own, regardless of who they take with their possible No. 1 selection. The two likely candidates for the top pick are Kansas’s Andrew Wiggins and Duke’s Jabari Parker but even with them, the Bucks will still be the laughing stock of the league. This is why I believe the Bucks should select Kansas’s center Joel Embiid with their pick. The Bucks have serviceable scorers like Brandon Knight and OJ Mayo, but they will never be half the players Wiggins or Parker can be. If you look at the Bucks current roster, their centers are Zaza Pachulia, Miroslav Raduljica and Ekpe Udoh. These names sound more like they belong on a TSA no-fly list rather than the back of an NBA jersey. All three are awful and are on the team for the sole purpose of helping the Bucks lose games. Embiid is a player that comes along once in a decade and is capable of dominating the paint like Shaq used to. Players like Parker and Wiggins are easier to find than a truly dominant franchise center. The Bucks should put their faith in Joel Embiid to resurrect their franchise.
Peter: There’s no doubt Wiggins is the safest pick for Milwaukee. Duke small forward Jabari Parker might be more talented offensively and posted better numbers than Wiggins’s last season, but his limited athleticism worries NBA scouts. In a league full of physical freaks, having elite genetics plays a role in your ability to do your job. Wiggins’s size gives him a huge long-term advantage over Parker, especially on defense. Maybe Wiggins’s teammate Joel Embiid had an argument to be No. 1 before his back injury, but with how often injuries destroy the careers of top centers — see Greg Oden, Brook Lopez, etc. — it would be an unnecessary risk to waste a 15-win season on a player who might not play. Wiggins has tremendous upside as a pure scorer, doesn’t come with the injury baggage of Embiid and has the NBA-level athleticism Parker lacks, and he’s the best option at No. 1.
Chris wins for noting the limitations placed on Wiggins in college, Pete gets 2 points for his athleticism analysis and Matt gets 1 point for picking a center with back trouble.
3. Look ahead to this summer and pick one day to which every sports fan should be excited. Convince me that this will be the best day of summer.
Chris: Sunday, July 13. Why’s that? Because the World Cup final is that day. Sure, it’s going to be great watching USA play (and honestly all the other games — everyone is a soccer fan when it’s the World Cup), but we’re going to get the best two teams in the world squaring off in what arguably should be the best soccer game we’ll see for four years. In addition, it’s a Sunday in July, so you’ve got a full slate of baseball on all day, along with Sunday night baseball. There’s not a ton going on sports-wise during the summer, but this is a day you’ll want to sit back, grill some burgers and enjoy the sports.
Matt: The one event that true sports fans should be looking forward to over the summer is the Belmont Stakes. Horse racing is said to be “the most exciting two minutes in sports,” and I couldn’t agree more. Horse racing is like the final two minutes of a March Madness game, a Stanley Cup overtime game and a Hail Mary on the final play in the Super Bowl all mashed up into one moment. Nowhere else in sports does so much ride on two chaotic minutes. History can be made and fortunes can be lost in an instant. Two horses coming down the homestretch, neck and neck with each other, one in search of immortality and one trying to play the role of the spoiler, and it ends in a photo finish. You can’t tell me that isn’t something to look forward to.
Peter: The World Cup is the best event in sports every four years, and sports fans in this country should be amped up for the U.S.’s first game on Monday, June 16, in a must-win grudge match with Ghana. If the Americans can get revenge against their bogey team for losses in the 2006 and 2010 World Cups — with that last deflating defeat coming in extra time, after an inspired regulation comeback by the U.S. — they’ll be only one more result away from qualifying out of the most difficult group in the tournament. The Americans won’t be the only ones playing that day either: Germany, Portugal, Iran and Nigeria will be making their World Cup debuts. And sports fans who’ve decided they don’t like freedom have other options, too: MLB has a full slate of games and the NCAA World Series begins, making it a day everyone can enjoy.
Pete wins for picking more than one sport and the patriotic angle, Chris gets 2 points for his multi-sport angle and Matt gets 1 point because he didn’t give a specific date.
Peter wins Around the Dorm, 8-6-4
(04/22/14 4:00pm)
In this week’s Around the Dorm, the “Ref,” Andrew Grossman, asks our panel of experts three questions: will Chris Johnson be the weapon the New York Jets have been lacking at RB, is New York Yankees pitcher Masahiro Tanaka’s strong start to the season a fluke, and who can upset Rafa Nadal in next month’s French Open?
1. How much of an impact will Chris Johnson make with the Jets?
Chris: It all depends on Johnson’s attitude. We know he has the talent — he rushed for over 2,000 yards one year and over 1,000 yards every year in his career. Now being with the Jets, there are two ways he can go. He can either be rejuvenated by coming to New York and have one of his best seasons in years or he can be satisfied by his new contract and continue to play poorly and unmotivated. I think the former will happen. Johnson has something to prove, and the hype of him going to the Jets has been big. Johnson is also not an incredibly big back, so having Christopher Ivory to spell him will help him out and keep him healthy. The Jets could do some interesting things on offense with Michael Vick and Johnson, so don’t be surprised to see some gimmicks as well.
Mike: Honestly, not much of one. I suppose Johnson did technically gain more yards rushing last season than any single Jet, but his average of 3.9 yards per carry was below the team’s average of 4.4 in that all-important rushing statistic. He also definitely isn’t the all-time great rusher he makes himself out to be. Other than his one great season in 2008, he’s been a good, but not great, running back in the NFL. He’s also been plagued by injuries throughout his career, which is never a great sign for a player who has been in the league for a while. Furthermore, the Jets are looking to be better on offense by strengthening their passing game, either by continuing the development of Geno Smith or by hoping Michael Vick has one more great year left in him. Neither of those options is helped tremendously by a star running back, especially not one who needs a huge amount of carries to be successful like Johnson.
George: Johnson will definitely provide an element that the Jets offense sorely lacked last season. His phenomenal speed will play nicely off fellow RB Chris Ivory’s more powerful running style as they share the load next season, improving the Jets’ running game. Johnson’s oft-overlooked ability to catch the ball, demonstrated by his average of 45 catches per season and his 503 receiving yards during his 2000-rushing yard season, means he’ll be able to run screen passes for the Jets as well. This will give the Jets’ offense the variety they were missing last season.
Chris gets 3 points for describing Johnson’s motivational issue, Mike gets 2 points for saying Jets needs a passing game, and George gets 1 point for discussing Johnson’s catching ability.
2. New York Yankees pitcher Masahiro Tanaka has started out the season strong. Is his 2-0 start and 28 strikeouts in three games a fluke, or will he be able to maintain it throughout the season and justify his $155 million contract?
Chris: While I don’t think it’s a fluke, Tanaka will probably come down to earth a little bit, similarly to how Yu Dravish did in his first year in the majors. It’s simply a case of hitters seeing Tanaka more and figuring him out. That’s not to say that Tanaka won’t be good. He’s still got ace potential and filthy stuff, so expect those strikeout numbers to stay steady. With the way he pitched in Japan and the way he’s started so far, it’s easy to be very optimistic. The gophers might come, but I wouldn’t be too worried about them. That’s what happens when you play at Yankee Stadium.
Mike: I would say it’s a little of both — I don’t think Tanaka’s great start is a fluke, but I also don’t think he’ll be able to maintain this level of domination for very long. I mean, before we get too excited about this guy let’s look at the teams he’s faced so far: Toronto, Baltimore and the Cubs aren’t exactly striking too much fear into the hearts of the opposition, although the Blue Jays and Orioles do have a few dangerous hitters. So I’d like to reserve judgment just a little bit until we’ve seen Tanaka pitch against better clubs, especially once they know what to expect from his pitching. That all said, a 14-to-1 K/BB ratio is just about as good as it gets, and boasting a 2.05 ERA after three major league starts is nothing to scoff at. I think Tanaka could end up being a very good pitcher in this league, but I also think he’ll cool off a bit later in the season when better teams are prepared to face him.
George: Tanaka’s stats are inflated at the moment because he’s only played three games. Batters don’t have enough film of his pitches to study, just like with every new pitcher. Also, one-third of the batters Tanaka pitched to were Cubs. Those factors are going to skew things a little bit. But I still think the Yankees have something in Tanaka. His first three games demonstrate control having only walked two players. He’s adapting fast to the American league as well, showing obvious improvement as a game goes on. In his debut against the Blue Jays, his only two mistakes occurred during the first three innings. This is important for players transitioning from a league as different as NPB, which is less competitive in general than MLB.
Mike gets 3 points for mentioning the Yankees schedule, Chris gets 2 points for making the Dravish comparison, and George gets 1 point for saying stats were inflated.
3. With the French Open happening in about a month, what tennis player has the best chance of overthrowing the King of Clay, Rafa Nadal?
Chris: It’s the easy pick, but it’s the only pick — Novak Djokovic. Tennis is a very top-heavy sport. The elite players usually come out on top. Djokovic is Nadal’s true rival now, and he favors playing on harder courts (I know, Nadal loves his clay). The reason why Djokovic has a shot is because of the combination of his fierce, cold-blooded approach combined with the fact that Nadal just lost on clay for the first time since 2004 David Ferrer. This mortality could be all Djokovic needs to go in for the kill.
Mike: I really wanted to give a different answer than Novak Djokovic. I really did. But there isn’t much point in denying the facts: The Djoker is one of just three players to have ever beaten Nadal in a clay-court final, and he’s done it three times, including last year. In fact, given that he beat Nadal on clay last year, one could argue that Nadal is attempting to reclaim his lost crown, rather than having other players chase him for it. I could get fancy and pull a wild card like Horatio Zellabos, the other man besides Djokovic and the ever-aging Roger Federer to take down the Rafa in a clay final, but the player with the best chance at this point absolutely has to be Novak. He’s beaten Nadal in their last three matches, he beat Nadal last year, and he’s just the best shot to do it again. That said, I’d say Nadal still has to be considered the favorite, since he’s won 93.4 percent of the matches he’s ever played on clay.
George: Current No. 3 Stanislas Wawrinka can topple the King of Clay on his own turf. He’s already proven he can do so on at least a hard court with his victory at the Australian Open, which made him the first player outside the Top Four to win a Grand Slam title since 2009. During that tournament, he not only beat Nadal, but also No. 2 Novak Djokovic as well. His winning the Monte-Carlo Masters this year against former No. 3 Roger Federer can be seen as a testament to his ability to play on clay.
Chris gets 3 points for mentioning Nadal’s most recent loss, George gets 2 points for making a risky prediction, and Mike gets 1 point for pointing out Djokovic’s recent success.
Chris wins Around the Dorm, 8-6-4
(04/15/14 4:00pm)
In this week’s Around the Dorm, the “Ref,” Chris Molicki, asks our panel of experts three questions: should college athletes like Connecticut’s “hungry” Shabazz Napier be paid for what they do, which of Kansas’s two NBA prospects — Joel Embiid and Andrew Wiggins — should go first in the draft, and are New England’s winning ways worth a controversial culture criticized by Brandon Spikes?
1. The men’s Connecticut basketball team won the national title, but other stories surfaced from the team — namely Shabazz Napier saying there were nights he went “hungry.” Do you think college athletes should be getting any sort of payment for what they do?
Matt: College athletes should absolutely be paid for their play. Major universities make millions of dollars a season for ticket sales, memorabilia and jersey sales and TV deals. All of these things are a direct product of the athletes’ performance on the field. Student-athletes are the reason schools like Notre Dame, USC and Florida State are so popular. Look at Florida Gulf Coast as an example: Two years ago, nobody had ever heard of FGCU until their Cinderella run in the NCAA tournament, and now the university is reaping the financial benefits the athletes have earned the school. FGCU saw a 35 percent increase in admission applications after the school’s tournament run. Playing a sport in college is a full-time job, and athletes should be paid.
Gabe: This is an extremely layered issue. On one hand, many of these athletes are receiving compensation in the form of free education via scholarship. On the other, the degree to which some of these athletes are being educated is indeed questionable. This is certainly no rule of thumb, as there are plenty of institutions that don’t excuse their athletes from being held to the same academic standard. Then there’s also the fact that the NFL and NBA don’t allow players to enter their drafts immediately after graduating from high school -— and these schools, and the coaches of these programs, are raking in a ton of money. While the rules of entrance to the professional sports leagues are not up to the NCAA, it can’t hurt to provide a little bit of compensation for these athletes. Is it really too much to ask the colleges to compensate the athletes enough that they can eat well? These athletes don’t have the time to get adequate jobs during their seasons. Logically, it doesn’t seem to add up, and I think paying or providing meals for athletes should seriously be considered.
Matt wins for saying athletes lead to an increase in admissions, Gabe gets 2 points for saying schools can afford to pay, and Andrew gets 1 point for explaining the difficulties with paying.
2) Kansas teammates Joel Embiid and Andrew Wiggins have both declared for the NBA draft. Not considering Jabari Parker who may stay, if you were an NBA general manager, would you go the big-man route in Embiid or shoot for the forward potential in Wiggins?
Matt: Lottery teams will have a tough time choosing between the two. If I were a GM with the first pick, I would take Wiggins without hesitation. Wiggins averaged 17.1 points as a freshman in what was considered an up-and-down season. He showed flashes of how dominant he can be, scoring 41 points in 39 minutes played against West Virginia. Wiggins has ideal NBA size to become a scoring forward like Lebron James, Carmelo Anthony and Paul George. He averaged more points per game than eight of the last 10 first overall picks. On the other hand, Embiid has the potential to be a dominant center, a player that comes along once every decade. However, Embiid is coming off of a stress fracture in his back that made him miss the team’s last six games. Teams should be worried about the severity of this injury. Just think back to Greg Oden. The center is also a dying position in today’s NBA. The Miami Heat have won the past two titles without a true center. The NBA today is all about star scorers, and Andrew Wiggins is exactly that.
Gabe: Conventional wisdom of the last decade says take the forward in Wiggins. Both guys definitely have loads of potential, but the safe bet (based on the recent years) says the big man is less likely to avoid injuries. The hype surrounding Wiggins entering his freshman year at Kansas was the highest it’s been for an incoming freshman in some time. Embiid is a 20-year old, seven-foot, 250-pound center from Cameroon — he’s only been playing basketball for a few years now, and his nimble footwork has seen him draw comparisons to Hakeem Olajuwon. The last time it came down to taking a big or a wing like this, the Trailblazers chose the clunky Greg Oden over the slender, wiry Kevin Durant. For much of the college season, Embiid was number one in most mock drafts, but when he was forced to miss the last several weeks of the season and the NCAA tournament due to a back injury, Wiggins ultimately regained his spot at the top in most mocks. While I acknowledge that Wiggins has plenty of potential, I truly do not believe he is going to be the next Slim Reaper. In fact, I’m really not nearly as sold on this draft class living up to all its hype. But if I had to take Wiggins or Embiid, I’d take Embiid. I wouldn’t be able to pass on the best big-man prospect to enter the draft since Tim Duncan.
Andrew: The decision is a toss-up. While big-man Embiid is definitely the better pick, his health is a major concern. After hurting his back and missing the NCAA Tournament, one can only wonder his true value. If, however, Embiid remains healthy, he is definitely a no-brainer and an immediate impact player. It is tough to find an elite center, and for teams in need of a big man, Embiid fits that role nicely. As for Wiggins, he began his career with Kansas as being the biggest prospect out of high school. That said, while the sky is the limit for him, I question how his skills will translate to the NBA. Depending on what team I was managing, the big question I ask myself is whether I want to win now or wait a few years for Wiggins to develop. With everything considered, Embiid is the better pick.
Matt wins for saying teams are built around wing players, Andrew gets 2 points for highlighting the rarity of good centers, and Gabe gets 1 point for talking about big men’s injury history.
3) Brandon Spikes went on a Twitter spree, saying his time with the Patriots was “4 years a slave.” If Spikes is speaking the truth about the Patriots’ culture, do you think New England should change the way they do things despite their winning ways?
Matt: Brandon Spikes’s Twitter rant about the hallowed “Patriot way,” while entertaining, was not a good move. Spikes, who signed with Buffalo this offseason, said he was “4 years a slave” in New England. What Spikes doesn’t realize is he was also four years a winner. Although they have not won a Super Bowl in almost 10 years, the Pats have won 51 games during the span of Spikes’s time in New England, more than any other team during that time. I do not believe the Patriots have a culture problem. Yes, Bill Belichick is probably the strictest coach in the league, but I find it hard to believe that the conditions in New England are that bad. If there were slave-like conditions in New England, players would be leaving left and right. The Patriots have already re-signed five of their free agents, so clearly players are happy with their situation. I doubt veterans like Vince Wilfork would re-sign if conditions were truly terrible. If the “Patriot culture” means winning football games, then Brandon Spikes is the problem here. Maybe he simply didn’t fit in with the Patriots’ expectations on player conduct. Either way, get used to losing, Spikes.
Gabe: While the Patriots haven’t won a Super Bowl since 2005, they should not and will not change anything about their culture. The opinion of one man, Brandon Spikes, means next to nothing in the big scope of things. If Tom Brady had said it, it’d be a big deal, no doubt. The Patriots haven’t won a Super Bowl since the Spygate controversy, and they may not have enough talent to win another one in the Brady Era, but Bill Belichick isn’t going anywhere anytime soon.
Andrew: In football, it doesn’t matter how nice a person is. It doesn’t matter when someone was drafted. All that truly matters are the results. While Spikes may say he was a slave during his time with the Patriots organization, no one can argue the Pats’ success over the past four years. In that time span, New England won all AFC East Titles and reached the Super Bowl in 2011. The Bills — who have not had a playoff appearance since 1999 — will predictably have a similar year to last one. It will be interesting to see what Spikes says after his one-year contract runs out and whether he misses his winning ways.
Andrew: Under no circumstances should college athletes get paid for playing their designated sport. One could argue that Napier is already getting paid through an athletic scholarship. While Napier may say he was hungry, throughout his four years, he received a free education worth over $120,000. That money saved is more than enough to cover the cost of food.The other problem with paying college athletes is there are a lot of gray areas. Johnny “Football” Manziel believes he deserved to be paid. While statistically he is more valuable than the second-string punter, universities would have a very difficult time determining who should be paid and figuring out their worth.
All three players get 2 points for making the same argument that the Pats keep winning and Spikes seems like a disgruntled player.
Matt wins Around the Dorm, 8-5-5
(04/08/14 5:01am)
In this week’s Around the Dorm, the “Ref,” Peter Fiorilla, asks our panel of experts three questions: what impact will the DeSean Jackson saga have on the Philadelphia Eagles and Washington Redskins, should the San Antonio Spurs be considered championship favorites, and what should U.S. soccer fans worry about heading into the World Cup this summer?
1) With the addition of DeSean Jackson, the Washington Redskins have one of the scariest offenses in the NFC — on paper, at least. What are your expectations for Washington next year, and will the Eagles regret cutting Jackson?
Chris: We should temper our expectations on Jackson. Sure, he’s a great deep threat and RGIII can throw the deep ball, but keep in mind how this team was last season. Even with a workhorse running back in Alfred Morris, RG3 and the offense had plenty of struggles. This has a lot to do with Griffin simply not living up to the hype. I understand that Jackson paired with Pierre Garcon will help him, but it all depends on the development and health of the quarterback. As for the Eagles, while I’m not sure I agree with the way they ostracized Jackson, I don’t think they’ll have a tough time replacing him. Chip Kelly’s offense could be described as plug-and-play — that is, there are plenty of unique pieces that cause matchup problems in his fast-paced offense, so they might be able to get Jackson’s production elsewhere. Tight end Zach Ertz was more involved near the end of the season, and he’ll continue that growth next year. Plus, Philly gets the return of Jeremy Maclin and Darren Sproles. Before we go worrying about the Redskins in the NFC, let’s remember that they aren’t the best in the NFC East.
Mike: Yes, the Eagles will regret cutting Jackson. He’s a super-talented player in the middle of his prime, and a whole mess of teams would have traded for him, so at the very least the team lost out on his trade value. As for my expectations for Washington, that’s trickier, mostly since we’ve seen one good year and one bad year from RGIII, so it’s tough to tell what that team is going to get from their QB. I’d say that with a weaker NFC East — the Cowboys and Giants aren’t really scaring anyone right now, and Philly is another question mark after the team’s tumultuous 2013 campaign — Washington might just come away with the division win, but I don’t see them being anything close to a juggernaut. Either way, I don’t see more than one team making the playoffs from this division -— there’s too much talent elsewhere.
Amy: I’d say the Redskins have a pretty exciting season to look forward to. They made the biggest move of the off-season by signing Jackson. Coming off of a 3-13 season, they desperately needed to add some spice to their offense, and Jackson certainly has the spark they need. Last year, he set career-highs with 82 catches and 1,332 yards for the the Eagles, so I definitely think the Eagles will regret letting him go. Jackson is also pretty excited about the switch to Washington, as he tweeted, “ITS GOIN DOWN !! BURGUNDY & GOLD.”
Chris wins for highlighting Washington’s struggles last year, Mike gets 2 points for pointing out how weak the NFC East is, and Amy gets 1 point for mentioning Jackson’s career year.
2) The Spurs have been tearing apart the NBA recently, a trend punctuated by their 26-point win over Indiana. Is San Antonio the clear favorite to win it all this year, and if not, then who is?
Chris: The Spurs have been incredible (this is nothing new), and they’re obviously a big-time contender, but I’m skeptical to consider them the favorite, and here’s why: the NBA playoffs are completely different from the regular season. San Antonio’s offense is based on picture-perfect screens, cuts and fundamentals — things that every player on the roster understands and things that succeed on a nightly basis. However, in the playoffs, starpower adds a new element, which is why I’d say the Spurs are no better than the third-favorite. I understand they were so close to a title last year that they could sniff it, but keep in mind they still lost to Miami and they didn’t even have to play OKC. I also worry if Manu Ginobili will continue to decline in the postseason, along with Danny Green’s ability to once again don that Superman cape. With the level that Kevin Durant is playing at and the hungriness of LeBron James to win a third straight title and make his decision of where to be next season easier, I don’t feel comfortable picking the Spurs.
Mike: I’ll say this up front: I love the Spurs. They are without a doubt my favorite team to watch. But they aren’t the favorite this season. That honor belongs to one of the four younger, superstar-led teams — the Thunder, Heat, Pacers and Clippers. They have the right combination of superstar talent and depth to take home the title, and you cannot underestimate the power of the superstar in the NBA playoffs. The Spurs simply don’t have anyone at that level right now, even though they might have the best team from top to bottom. I could still legitimately see the Spurs winning it all come June, if they can get past or avoid OKC, who’s beaten them every game this year, but to call them favorites with those other teams in the mix is just something I can’t do. If I had to pick one team as my favorite, it has to go to the two-time defending champs. Until someone beats the Heat, they have to be considered the favorites.
Amy: Yes, the Spurs had a 19-game win streak earlier in the season and have overall been dominant, but I don’t necessarily think they have what it takes to go all the way. The Spurs will have a difficult time going against skilled teams in the Western conference, which is why I think Miami has a better chance at taking it all the way. If the Spurs and Miami both make it to the finals, however, I think the Spurs will take the crown.
Mike wins for bringing up the Clippers as a dark horse, Chris gets 2 points for highlighting how old the Spurs are, and Amy gets 1 point for pointing out how stacked the West is.
3. The U.S. men’s national team had a Jekyll and Hyde performance against Mexico last week, building up and then choking away a 2-0 lead. What should U.S. fans worry about heading into the Group of Death in Brazil?
Chris: Being in the Group of Death is a start. The United States has to deal with Germany (a team some are considering the favorites), Portugal (yeah, they have Cristiano Ronaldo) and Ghana (a solid team who knocked them out of last year’s World Cup). I would say that the U.S. fans should worry most about things breaking their way. In 2010, a freak goal against England and a miracle against Algeria got the Americans to the group stages. This year, they’ll need to make some of the their own luck. The Ghana game is pretty much a must-win, but hopefully the team has revenge on their minds. Portugal isn’t unbeatable, but at least a tie is crucial. The one thing that the U.S. has going for them is they get Germany in the last game, so maybe the Germans won’t be too worried with America if they’ve already won the group by then. It’s going to take a lot of luck and even better play if the U.S. wants to even advance to the group stages. Here’s hoping they do.
Mike: Germany, Portugal and Ghana. Those are the teams the U.S. will be facing in the World Cup, and the second-ranked Germans, Christiano Ronaldo-led Portuguese and the team that took out the U.S. in the last World Cup (Ghana) are not looking fun to play against. A skeptic will tell you the U.S. doesn’t stand a chance, while a realist will probably nod along sadly and the optimist will be quietly crying in the corner. Things don’t look good, but the Mexico game wasn’t exactly a symbol of bad play to come. First of all, the U.S. had a goal taken away by a questionable/flat-out-wrong offsides call, which means the offense is working pretty well with kind-of three goals scored. When you also consider that the U.S. was missing some of the team’s best defenders for the game, it gets a little less bleak. Even without Geoff Cameron or Fabian Johnson, the defense wasn’t terrible, and Matt Besler looked like a great defensive player. The World Cup doesn’t look fun for the Americans, but it also isn’t all bad.
Amy: Setting the draw against Mexico aside, the U.S. should be worried about heading into Brazil. As you may know, Brazilian goalie Bruno Fernandes de Souza was sentenced to 22 years in prison for ordering the kidnapping and murder of his pregnant ex-girlfriend (and then feeding her to a dog) because he didn’t want to pay child support. Recently, however, he was released from prison on a day basis to train and play with his team. Brazil takes soccer more seriously than keeping murderers in jail. So, yes, the U.S. should be worried.
Chris gets 3 points for his analysis of the Americans’ schedule, Mike gets 2 points for saying the U.S. has a chance, and Amy gets 1 point for pointing out how dangerous Brazil is.
Chris wins Around the Dorm, 8-7-3
(04/01/14 5:00am)
In this week’s Around the Dorm, the “Ref,” Andrew Grossman, asks our expert panel three questions: what have been the best and worst teams in NFL free agency so far, who left in March Madness — Kentucky, Connecticut, Wisconsin or Florida — will ultimately win the tournament, and will the 76ers ever win a game?
1. Who has been the best and the worst team in NFL free agency so far?
Gabe: It’s hard to argue with the way the Broncos have gone about strengthening their squad through the opening weeks of free agency, as they bolstered their shaky defense by signing safety T.J. Ward and bringing in DeMarcus Ware after the Cowboys questionably decided to waive him from their roster. Further, they signed former Pittsburgh Steelers WR Emmanuel Sanders to join Wes Welker, Demaryius Thomas and Julius Thomas, and replace Eric Decker alongside who signed with the New York Jets. While they lost Knowshon Moreno to the Miami Dolphins and may need to target a running back in the draft or free agency, the Broncos have put together a team that’s going to maximize what might be Peyton Manning’s final season in the NFL.
Peter: The Buccaneers aren’t a sexy team to highlight, but they have added a ton of talented players to their roster this offseason on reasonable deals, and GM Jason Licht should be applauded for taking a big step toward making the playoffs. The biggest addition is QB Josh McCown, who had a passer rating of 109 last season, but there’s been improvement across the board: the offensive line has been bolstered with veteran center Evan Dietrick-Smith and left tackle Anthony Collins, who can make the team’s difficulties protecting the QB a thing of the past, while the defense can improve with players like premier rusher Michael Johnson and former Seahawks tackle Clinton McDonald. The Cowboys have had the worst offseason, obviously — letting their best defensive player go after one of the worst defensive seasons in history is so Jerry Jones.
Matt: The Denver Broncos are the clear winner of free agency so far, and it’s not even close. After giving up 43 points in the Super Bowl, the Broncos realized they cannot win with just a record-setting offense. They got a first-hand look at how dominant defenses win championships. So John Elway and the Broncos went out and signed star defensive end Demarcus Ware, safety T.J. Ward, and cornerback Aqib Talib. These acquisitions, along with the return of all-pro linebacker Von Miller from injury, will sure up Denver’s defensive problems. The biggest loser of NFL free agency is Carolina Panthers. The Panthers let three-time All-Pro wide receiver Steve Smith walk in free agency. At 35 years old, losing Smith might not seem like the biggest loss. However, the Panthers also failed to resign fellow receivers Ted Ginn Jr. and Brandon Lafell. The Panthers lost their top three recievers, and their answer is Jericho Cotchery and Marvin McNutt? If that’s not a loss, I don’t know what is.
Peter wins for not picking the obvious choice, Matt gets 2 points for mentioning the Panthers’ woes, and Gabe gets one for pointing out the Emmanuel Sanders acquisition.
2) Who will win March Madness?
Gabe: In what has arguably been the maddest March in recent history, I expect the SEC’s Florida Gators and Kentucky Wildcats to advance to the championship game. Florida has been mostly untested so far in the tournament due to their dominant defensive prowess. If Connecticut’s Shabazz Napier can get it going early and often and the Huskies can find a way to consistently score against the Gator D, they could very well advance to the final, as Florida’s main question mark is offensive consistency. They’re a deep offensive group but they don’t have a Napier like UConn who they can feed when they need a bucket. On the other side of the draw, Wisconsin and Kentucky should be an outstanding game. Wisconsin is smart, they shoot the lights out, don’t turn the ball over and they’re well-coached, but Kentucky is just on fire right now and they’ve clearly hit their stride at the right time. The preseason No. 1 team might be too talented for the Badgers, who lack the same depth of NBA talent that the Wildcats possess. If center Willie Cauley-Stein is able to return to the Wildcat lineup he could be the difference in this one and in the Finals when they take on the Florida Gators. Given how many top teams they’ve taken down on their road to the Final Four, and with Cauley-Stein potentially making his return, I have to pick the Julius Randle-led Kentucky Wildcats to capture the championship this year.
Peter: Anyone in the final four could win it all this year, but Florida has to be the favorite: The top-seeded Gators haven’t lost since Dec. 2 and have won their four games in the NCAA Tournament by an average of 12.25 points, the largest margin of any team. Their relatively low-seeded opponents haven’t been marshmallows, either, and it took real quality to dispatch Dayton by double digits. This is a team that doesn’t have any household names but a lot of talent, and is the most likely of any Final Four team to take home this year’s title.
Matt: I stick with my original pick — Florida will win the National Championship. Coach Billy Donovan has already won it all twice before and has his team playing very well. Donovan has the experience and talent to lead this team to a third championship in the past decade, the most of any program in that span. While Kentucky’s John Calipari may be the best coach remaining, Kentucky has many inexperienced freshmen, which could come back to hurt them. Florida has won all of their games so far by at least 10 points and is the only remaining team that has not given up 70 points in a game. I expect Florida’s balanced attack and strong defense to stop Shabazz Napier’s hot streak and cruise into the final. When all is said and done, Donovan’s Gators will be cutting down the net in Dallas.
Matt wins for mentioning Billy Donovan’s previous success, Gabe gets 2 points for highlighting Florida’s defensive talents, and Peter gets one for bringing up the Gator’s winning streak.
3. The Sixers cannot win a game. What changes, if there are any, can they make to end the losing streak?
Gabe: The Philadelphia 76ers signed up for these exact results when they traded point guard Jrue Holiday, the youngest All-Star in their franchise’s storied history. They replaced Doug Collins with Greg Popovich understudy Brett Brown, a vastly superior coach, but short of playing Thaddeus Young 48 minutes a game or Commissioner Silver issuing the Sixers a replacement schedule down the stretch laced with the Milwaukee Bucks and Los Angeles Lakers, Philadelphia has little chance at winning another game this season. It’s not that the players aren’t giving 110 percent every night — they are. The fact is that GM Sam Hinkie had a plan and executed it. Not only did he trade Holiday, he also rid the team of anyone who was a decent, legitimate NBA player (Spencer Hawes, Evan Turner) and wasn’t in the long-term plans of the team. This was the plan along for Hinkie and company, and while he was probably happy to see his 76ers get a win for the first time in two months, albeit against the disastrous Detroit Pistons, that win puts Philly two games ahead of Milwaukee and pretty much guarantees the Bucks will finish with the league’s worst record. With falling to the worst record in the league all but an impossibility, I wouldn’t be too surprised to see Brett Brown coach them to another win before the season is over, but I certainly wouldn’t bet on it either.
Peter: The Sixers ended up winning a game. Congratulations, guys.
Matt: The 76ers are a disgrace. There is nothing they can do — no changes that can be made at this point in the season — that can help this team win. After trading away Jrue Holiday in the offseason and Spencer Hawes, Evan Turner and Lavoy Allen at the trade deadline, the Sixers are left with a roster of should-be NBA D-League players. Seriously, as a fan of the NBA, can anyone name a Sixers player, not name Michael Carter-Williams. I get the idea of tanking, but the Sixers have taken it to a whole new level. They’re not even trying to win games anymore. Just take a look at that roster. Twenty-six straight losses, a league record, is pitiful. And they don’t even have the worst record in the league. The Milwaukee Bucks are two games worse than them. The Sixers should and will continue their losing ways in order to have a better chance at the No. 1 pick in this year’s draft.
Peter wins for pointing out the obvious, Gabe gets 2 points for discussing the 76ers long-term plans, and Matt gets 1 point for mentioning that Philadelphia needs a lot of help.
Peter wins Around the Dorm, 7-6-5
(03/25/14 4:00pm)
1. The first weekend of the NCAA tournament is in the books. Who is your biggest surprise team and biggest disappointing team?
Chrissy: After the first weekend of the NCAA tournament, I would have to say Harvard was the biggest surprise. Going up against Cincinnati, it was hard to say who would come out on top, but I’m pretty sure not many people were picking Harvard. Being an Ivy League school, it’s not very well known for its basketball, but they proved their worth last weekend in a surprise victory. It was a No. 12 seed going up against a No. 5 seed, an unpredictable win for sure. However, the biggest disappointment would absolutely have to be Duke. Expected to go much further, they shocked fans and statisticians across the country. Jabari Parker definitely did not want it to end that way, and it’s still unsure as to whether or not he’ll return next year. It’s hard to see someone have to end his time on a team in such disappointment.
Andrew: No one heard of Mercer University before March Madness, but their win over the No. 3 Duke makes them the biggest surprise team of the tournament. With a strong senior presence, they were able to overcome all odds. Despite allowing 17 three-point shots, Mercer was able to control the paint against Duke’s impressive roster. Keep in mind, Mercer comes from the Atlantic Sun Conference, the same one that saw Florida Gulf Coast make it into the Sweet Sixteen last year. As for the biggest disappointing team, I am not going with Duke, the apparent choice. Instead I am choosing the team that ultimately messed up my bracket, Syracuse. After a dominating first-round performance, freshman Tyler Ennis barely showed up and played sloppy against Dayton. Despite the team’s poor efforts, Ennis had two final shots at the end of the game, which would have put the Orange ahead. Needless to say, both shot attempts did not fall in.
George: As I was walking to class Friday, a mysterious wind swept over me. Something was off about it. I thought I heard something unnatural behind the wind, so I strained my ear to listen. Then I heard it. The wind carried with it the million sighs uttered from the mouths of college basketball fans whose brackets had just been busted by Duke losing to Mercer. According to ESPN, 96.6 percent of eligible brackets were gone, like dust in the wind, at the end of the game. Their frustration at witnessing a veteran team coached by one of the greatest coaches in the history of the NCAA be beaten by a team that had never been in the championships before earns Duke the coveted spot of “Most Disappointing Team (So Far)” and Mercer the spot of “Most Surprising Team (So Far).”
Andrew wins for talking about Syracuse’s sloppy play, George gets 2 points for highlighting a disappointing Coach K team, and Chrissy gets 1 point for pointing out the Ivy upsets.
2. Phil Jackson has been hired by the Knicks to turn the franchise around. Can the Zen Master get the job done? And how long will it take him to get New York to the promised land?
Chrissy: After Phil Jackson had been hired by the New York Knicks, there was hope in the air that things will turn around soon. However, I think it will take a few years before the team is brought to the “promised land.” The team needs to rebuild, and this will not happen in only one year. One of the biggest advantages of his coming to the team will be Carmelo Anthony possibly choosing to stay with the Knicks due to this change in coaching. He may not opt out of his contract now, and this will greatly help the Knicks, seeing as how essential he has been to the team. Jackson has been able to bring a brilliant mind to the NBA and will certainly be able to bring the team to the promised land soon enough. He was definitely bring an element of respect to the team and this is something that can carry them a long way.
Andrew: If anyone can turn the Knicks around, it is the Zen Master. He has a knack for winning, whether it was with Chicago or the Lakers. And as for the Knicks, they haven’t won the title since 1973, when — you guessed it — Jackson was a player on the winning team. That said, if New York wants to win in the short term, it all depends on if they can retain their All-Star forward Carmelo Anthony, who has the ability to opt out of his contract after the 2014 season comes to an end. If Anthony stays, there is potential to see a championship in the future, but tough roster decisions will have to be made. The Zen Master has a talent for picking up good supporting players. If he is able to find players to complement Anthony, then there is no reason why the Knicks don’t have a shot at the title. If, however, Anthony leaves, I don’t see the Knicks being a true championship contender until they acquire another franchise All-Star.
George: Jackson’s success with the Knicks hinges on one factor: his relationship with owner James Dolan. The owner is the heir to a large cable company fortune and has a degree in communications from SUNY-New Paltz and has very little knowledge of basketball itself. Despite this, Dolan has a tendency of overriding decisions he doesn’t like, even if that decision is made by someone with a greater understanding for the sport than he does, like Jackson. If Dolan does as he says he’ll do and doesn’t interfere, then Jackson will be able to hire a disciple of his as a coach. As for how long it will take Jackson to lead the Knicks into the Promised Land, only time will tell. Hopefully it won’t take as long as it took Moses — I’m not sure Jackson’s got another 40 years in him.
George wins for saying Jackson and Dolan need to get along, Chrissy gets 2 points for saying it will be a multi-year project, and Andrew gets 1 point for saying he needs to keep Carmelo.
3. The NFL Draft is coming up. Will Johnny Manziel, Teddy Bridgewater or Blake Bortles be the first QB selected?
Chrissy: Out of Johnny Manziel, Teddy Bridgewater and Blake Bortles, I believe Teddy Bridgewater will be the first caller selected in the NFL Draft because of his all-around ability on the field. Even after a disappointing show this past week in practices, missing multiple passes, I still believe he will be the top pick. When put under pressure in the past, he has proven to get the job done and he will be able to do so in the NFL, I think all the teams are able to see that. He has great leadership potential and this is something revered in quarterbacks around the league. Although Manziel displays equally stellar play on the field, his antics off the field are sometimes less than desirable. Cockiness and arrogance seem to come in bulk with many new players, and this may be one of his less desirables attributes. However, it’s going to come down to this handful of players, but I am projecting Bridgewater to be the first caller selected.
Andrew: Despite all this hype surrounding Johnny “Football” Manziel and Teddy Bridgewater, there is one feature that Blake Bortles has that can’t be taught: height. At 6’5,” this quarterback out of University of Central Florida has the prototypical NFL build. While there is still room for improvement for all three of the quarterbacks, all of Bortles supposed “weaknesses” — which include lack of arm strength and ball security — can be easily fixed if given the proper instruction. The other two quarterbacks both definitely have a lot of potential, but Bortles easily has the largest upside.
George: Bortles will be the first. Manziel’s good but has a tendency to run out of the pocket that, according to some, will not translate well into the professional league, where QBs of Manziel’s size tend to stay inside the pocket to avoid the much larger defensive linemen. Also, most franchises may be hesitant to put up with Manziel’s wild behavior. Bridgewater’s chances have been hampered by his mediocre performance at pro day, which left a bad taste in many scouts’ and coaches’ mouths. That leaves Bortles. Though some cite Bortles’s poor footwork as cause for worry, these bad habits can be worked on in practice. He’s got potential. Also his name is fun to say.
Andrew wins for saying Bortles is the prototypical QB, Chrissy gets 2 points for talking about Bridgewater’s clutch play, and George gets 1 point for picking Bortles by default.
Andrew wins Around the Dorm, 7-6-5
"I would like to thank the Academy." —Andrew
(03/18/14 5:00am)
In this week’s Around the Dorm, the “Ref,” Matthew Bowker, asks our expert panel three questions: who are the biggest winners and losers in NFL free agency so far, which two teams from the NHL’s Metropolitan division will squeeze into the postseason and what team should be favored to win it all in March Madness this year?
1. NFL free agency is underway, and a lot of big names have already been signed. So far, who is the biggest winner and the biggest loser of free agency?
Chris: It’s the obvious answer, but it’s the right answer: the Denver Broncos. Denver has been very active in bolstering their defense, and they’ve made the most big moves. First, they got DeMarcus Ware, a premier pass rusher in this league, to plug into their already fearsome front seven. Then, they grabbed Aqib Talib, one of the best corners in the NFL, and a better one than Denver has. Finally, they shored up the secondary with a solid safety in T.J. Ward. Let’s not forget, the Broncos were one game from the Super Bowl last year, and the Seahawks showed them that a good defense can go a long way. Last time I checked, the Broncos’ problem wasn’t offense, and even if they lost Eric Decker and may lose Knowshon Moreno, Peyton Manning and his crew will likely roll. Kudos to them for being aggressive.
Gabe: There have been some teams that have made solid moves already this NFL offseason. In my opinion, the most notable are the Indianapolis Colts, Baltimore Ravens and Philadelphia Eagles. While the Colts added Hakeem Nicks to their WR core to join T.Y. Hilton and a hopefully healthy Reggie Wayne, and the Ravens added Steve Smith to pair with Torrey Smith, the Eagles have had the best offseason thus far in my opinion. Trading a fifth-round pick for RB Darren Sproles has to have Chip Kelly psyched for the new season, as Sproles is sure to continue his excellent production in Kelly’s high-octane offense and provide valuable support and relief for star RB LeSean McCoy. The Eagles also signed Jeremy Maclin to a one-year deal, and while Maclin is coming off of a torn right ACL, he has been a big contributor in recent years for the Eagles, and it was feared that someone else would swoop in and sign him away from Philly. If things keep going at this rate, Kelly is going to have a lot of new toys to play with in the upcoming season.
Courtney: There is no such thing as a free lunch, but there is free agency. I’d say we are looking at our biggest winner being Tampa Bay with their new acquisition of Josh McCown. The biggest loser is Chris Molicki, who’s been on a strict turkey sandwich diet.
Chris wins for pointing out Denver’s focus on defense, Gabe gets 2 points for remembering Maclin can still be productive, and Courtney gets 1 point for highlighting McCown.
2. The NHL is coming into the homestretch of the season, with teams having just under 20 games remaining to be played. In the tightest race in the league, the Metropolitan Division has five teams, separated by just four points, fighting for two playoff positions. Which two teams from the Metropolitan can squeeze their way into the playoffs and why?
Chris: Although it pains me to say this as a Devils fan, I have to go with the Rangers and Capitals. The Rangers are the leaders in this race, and made a huge acquisition in trading for Martin St. Louis. They also have the best goalie of these teams, which is a huge factor. As for Washington, they’ve got the second best power play in the league. If any team is going to take an advantage of an opportunity, whether it be a power play or a playoff spot, they’re the most likely to. And, oh yeah, they have Alex Ovechkin. With talents like Ovechkin and Henrik Lundqvist, I expect the cream to rise to the top.
Gabe: The Penguins can lose every game from here on out and still win division, while the Rangers, Flyers and Blue Jackets are all right about even. The Rangers are going to make the playoffs, led by Henrik Lundqvist, one of the top goalies in the NHL, as well as veterans Brad Richards, Rick Nash and Martin St. Louis. The Flyers have the second-most third period goals in the NHL, meaning they’re fighters. They simply aren’t going to give up and that’s why I think they’re going to make the playoffs. They also upgraded their defense having acquired Andrew MacDonald from the New York Islanders. The Jackets will fall behind the Flyers and Rangers because Sergei Bobrovsky has been struggling, and he had a very lackluster Olympic performance. Further, the team lacks the defensive depth to help lift the team out of their slump. Still, injuries to key teams in the division should slow them down enough to allow the Jackets to slip into the playoffs. The Washington Capitals also suffered a seismic blow to their playoff chances, as wing Dan Cleary has no timetable for return. These teams have been inconsistent all year, and losing key players is never a good thing.
Courtney: Picking two teams from the Metropolitan Division is always tough. I think we will likely see the Penguins and the Capitals in the playoffs. Both teams bring a key player — the Penguins with Sidney Crosby and the Capitals with Alex Ovechkin.
Gabe wins for highlighting each team’s strengths, Chris gets 2 points for including the importance of goaltending, and Courtney gets 1 point for mentioning the top stars.
3. March Madness begins this week. Which team do you think has what it takes to win the National Championship?
Chris: It might sound a little crazy, but maybe the team that hasn’t lost yet? Wichita State has been on a tear this season, and it’s not a fluke. Sure, their schedule was easy, but keep in mind, they did beat Saint Louis on the road — along with everyone else. Cleanthony Early is the best player. He can score from anywhere on the floor and provides a huge matchup problem. Ron Baker has gone from just a sharpshooter to an excellent ballhandler and calming presence. Fed VanVleet, who broke out during last year’s Final Four run, has emerged into one of the best point guards of the country. And Tekele Cotton gives the Shockers a very solid fourth option. The biggest thing to remember is that this team has been there before — they made it to the Final Four last year, so they know what it takes. After not losing much from the previous season, I truly believe that Gregg Marshall and his squad could make it all the way.
Gabe: This year’s March Madness looks like it may be the most wide-open in tournament history. There are so many teams with great upside and ability, and yet the majority of teams have been inconsistent enough that picking a true favorite isn’t so easy, but if I had to pick one team as the favorite, I’d take Florida. Earlier in the season, if you’d asked me this question I’d have told you Kansas is the unquestionable favorite, but with Joel Embiid dealing with a back issue that will keep him out through the first two rounds at least, the Jayhawks are no longer my favorites. With head coach Billy Donovan at the helm and a very balanced attack, the Gators haven’t lost since Dec. 2, and while fellow No. 1 seed Wichita St. hasn’t lost all season, they’ve faced considerably lesser opponents. Wichita St. did make it to the Final Four last season, and are considerably better this year, so I think they have a real shot at winning it all this year, but if I have to pick a favorite, Florida’s size up front and depth is too hard to pass up on.
Courtney: Who has what it takes to go all the way? Tough question. There is a lot that could happen in the coming weeks. I’d say Duke has what it takes. They are backed by a lot of school spirit. Though I’d love to see the CONJ come out of nowhere and steal the spotlight.
Chris wins for highlighting the mismatches that Wichita poses, Courtney gets 2 points for her school spirit, and Gabe gets 1 point for questioning Embiid’s health.
Chris wins Around the Dorm, 8-6-4
"It's good to be back." —Chris