Miami's Larranaga and Michigan's Burke Win AP Awards

In just his second season at Miami, Jim Larranaga was named The Associated Press' Coach of the Year. (Brendan Maloney)

On Thursday, The Associated Press announced their Coach of the Year and Player of the Year. Jim Larranaga, head coach at the University of Miami, was selected as Coach of the Year. Trey Burke, point guard for the University of Michigan was chosen as Player of the Year. In both cases, I believe that The Associated Press got it right.

In his second season at Miami, Larranaga led the Hurricanes to a school-best 29-7 record. The team won the first Atlantic Coast Conference regular season and tournament titles in school history. The Hurricanes were ranked as high as a school-best No. 2 in the AP poll. They were also the first to beat a No. 1 when they crushed Duke by 27 points. In the NCAA tournament, the Hurricanes reached the Sweet Sixteen before getting knocked out by Marquette.

From a 65-member national media panel, Larranaga received 29 votes . The next highest vote-getters were Jim Crews of Saint Louis (19 votes) and Mark Few of Gonzaga (11 votes). Crews' Saint Louis team was impressive this season. They were the Atlantic Ten regular season and tournament champions. Despite their difficult conference schedule, the Billikens won 15 of their last 16 heading into the NCAA tournament.

Mark Few's Gonzaga team boasted an excellent resume as well. Despite playing a difficult non-conference schedule, they only lost two games all season prior to the NCAA tournament. The Bulldogs also finished the regular season as the No. 1 team in the AP poll. All three teams and coaches were impressive. What put Larranaga over the top is what he acomplished in such a short amount of time at Miami. Additionally, the ACC is viewed as far superior to the Atlantic Ten and West Coast Conference.

Sophomore point guard Trey Burke joins Cazzie Russell (1966) as the only Michigan players to win the award. He often times had four freshmen on the court with him, but he showed wisdom beyond his years as the team's leader. Burke averaged 19.2 points, 6.7 assists and 3.1 rebounds a game. He also shot 40.1 percent from behind the 3-point line. Burke led the Wolverines back to the Final Four for the first time since 1993.

From a 65-member national media panel, Burke received 31 votes. The next highest vote-getters were Otto Porter Jr. of Georgetown (16 votes) and Victor Oladipo of Indiana (10 votes). Porter averaged 16.2 points, 7.5 rebounds and 2.7 assists per game. He helped lead the Hoyas to a share of the Big East regular season title and a No. 2 seed in the NCAA tournament. Oladipo averaged 13.6 points, 6.3 rebounds and 2.1 assists per game. He has vastly improved over his time with the Hoosiers and is always the player giving it all both on and off the court.

In my opinion, Burke gained his edge due to his performances in big games and the lack of experience of his teammates. He was the glue that held Michigan together more so than any of player on any other team. I am convinced that Larranaga and Burke were the proper choices here. I have presented the facts to support this, but is your decision whether or not you agree or disagree.

 From a 65-member national media panel, Larranaga received
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Rutgers Needs to Fire Rice Immeadiately For His Actions

Video evidence shows Rutgers men's basketball head coach Mike Rice verbally and physically abusing his players. (Debby Wong)

As a fan of Rutgers University, I had hoped Mike Rice would be the man to rescue the men's basketball program from the cellar of the Big East and restore it to national prominence. Rice had shown promise at Robert Morris, leading them to the NCAA tournament. I saw glimpses of it translate to the court in big upset wins. I knew that Rice was a fiery coach and often yelled at officials and his players. What I did not know about was the verbal and physical abuse of his players that permeated his practices. ESPN released portions of video (which you can watch below) of Rice shoving, grabbing and throwing balls at players in practice and using gay slurs.

What is tragic about this is that Rutgers officials knew about this. The video isn't new. In fact, a former assistant coach presented it to athletic director Tim Pernetti in the fall. After viewing the video, Pernetti suspended Rice, fined him $50,000 and ordered him to attend anger management courses.

During ESPN's interview with Pernetti, he explained that university president Robert Barchi also viewed the tape this past fall and agreed with the punishment.How could both of them not fire Rice as a result of this? I understand that in certain instances someone may deserve a second chance. With clear physical and verbal abuse taking place here, this cannot be one of those instances.

Think about it this way. I am about to graduate from college and become an elementary teacher. If I yelled at and threw objects at my students, I would not only be fired, but I would be headed to jail as well. Rice should be fired and convicted of verbal and physical abuse as well. Just as this not acceptable behavior for a teacher or parent, it is not acceptable behavior for a coach either. Coaches and athletes cannot be above the law in their actions.

As much as I feel Rice should be fired for his actions, I feel just as strongly that Pernetti and Barchi should be relieved of their respective duties at Rutgers as well. Pernetti repeated referred to the video as Rice's "first offense." So the question becomes, how many chances do you get to assault an athlete? Coaches and universities preach that they do what's best for the student-athlete. Here's an example of what is not best for them. Their coach verbal attacking and physical abusing them personally.

How is this any different than what took place in State College? This case brings about some of the same troubling questions raised about Joe Paterno's time at Penn State, where the program and the coach were protected at all costs. That lead to a scandal that shocked the world. This video of Rice should do the same.

As one who considers myself a fan of Rutgers athletics, I am embarrassed of the university and their pathetic excuse of a slap on the wrist of Rice in December. As a college sports fan I am embarrassed by the actions of coaches such as Rice and school officials such as Pernetti and Barchi. They disgrace and demean students who are trying so diligently to shine. Now, it is time for Rice, Pernetti and Barchi to be publicly humiliated for their actions.

It's Been a Good Day to Be a Louisville Basketball Fan

The Louisville men's and women's basketball teams earned a place in the Final Four and Elite Eight respectively. (https://www.facebook.com/GoCards)

The University of Louisville is known for their storied basketball tradition. The men's program has made 39 NCAA tournament appearances, 10 Final Fours, and won two national championships (1980 and 1986). The women's program does not have as impressive a history, but is steadily improving under head coach Jeff Walz. Walz led the Cardinals to their first Final Four in 2009, where they finished runners-up to Connecticut.

Both teams were in action on Easter Sunday. The men's team was set to battle Duke with a trip to the Final Four in Atlanta on the line. The women's team faced a huge challenge facing the No. 1 overall seed in Baylor in a Sweet Sixteen matchup.

The men's Elite Eight game between Louisville and Duke got off to an evenly matched start. The Cardinals led 21-20 with 6:33 left in the first half when a game-changing incident happened. Louisville guard Kevin Ware jumped as he attempted to block a 3-pointer by Tyler Thornton.As he landed, his leg severely broke and he collapsed to the ground.

Players, coaches, and fans were all visibly shaken. The Louisville players were overcome by emotion. Chane Behanan sobbed on the floor, Wayne Blackshear was on his hands and knees, Montrezl Harrell was doubled over and Russ Smith wept visibly as he pulled his jersey over his head to cover his tears. Even the Duke players could be seen clearly crying and distraught over what had occurred.

The Cardinals players gathered together. They weren't sure how they would be able to move on from this. Head coach Rick Pitino called his players over to where Ware lay on the ground. The sophomore guard couldn't walk, but he was fully capable of talking to his teammates.

"Kevin told us to win this game for him, so we had to take it upon ourselves to do that," Harrell said. "That's what we had to do. We didn't have a choice."

"He told us countless times: 'Just go win this game for me. Just go win this game. Don't worry about me, I'm fine. Just go win this game,'" explained Peyton Siva. "I don't know how he did it. I don't know how he got strength to do it, but he told us to go out there and win."

In the second half, the Louisville players held up their end of the bargain. With the score tied 42-42, the Cardinals went on a 17-2 run that proved to be the knockout punch to a Duke that could never recover. When the final buzzer sounded, they had prevailed 85-63.

There has been one question in women's college basketball that no seemed to be able to answer. How do you stop Brittney Griner? Baylor had won 32 straight games and 74 of 75 behind Griner, who is among the greatest players ever in her sport. Louisville finally found the answer during their Sweet Sixteen game Sunday night. As a result of doing so, they were able to accomplish one of the biggest upsets in the history of women's basketball.

The strategy the Cardinals utilized was referred to as box-and-chase. They tried to keep defenders both in front and in back of Griner. They were successful enough to hold Griner to 14 points on 4-of-10 shooting, which tied for the fourth fewest field goals she has attempted in a game this season.

Louisville made it interesting though. During the final 7½ minutes of the game, they blew a 17-point advantage. As the final seconds began to tick off the clock, the Cardinals forced Griner into another mistake. She committed a foul with 2.6 seconds left in the game that gave Louisville a chance to win.
Senior forward Monique Reid made both foul shots to propel the Cardinals to a 82-81 victory.

The Louisville women's basketball team has already accomplished history. They pulled off one of the most colossal upsets in the history of women's sports. The Cardinals will now face the University of Tennessee in the Elite Eight. The winner will advance to the women's Final Four in New Orleans.

As the Louisville men's team posed with their Midwest Regional trophy, what they were focused on was the No. 5 jersey with the name Ware emblazoned on it that they proudly held up. They knew what they had accomplished for their fallen comrade. The Cardinals know that their mission is not complete yet. The team will head to Atlanta, where they are two victory away from becoming national champions. That No. 5 jersey will provide all the motivation they need.

Michigan Completes Incredible Comeback to Defeat Kansas

Trey Burke’s clutch three from way beyond the arc sent the game to overtime, where Michigan emerged with the win. (Greg Nelson)

The University of Michigan's men's basketball team has always had a large contingent of doubters. People said they can't win the big game. Even Wolverine fans I know have told me that this team just isn't good enough. Their pessimism loomed large over a team with high expectations on the line.

Michigan struggled at times in Big Ten play. They split the regular season series with their rivals Ohio State and Michigan State and were swept by Wisconsin and Indiana. They lost five of their last 10 games to close the regular season, including a Big Ten quarterfinal loss to Wisconsin. This made the Wolverines a trendy upset pick heading into the NCAA tournament.

No. 4 Michigan opened their NCAA tournament with a relatively easy 71-56 win over No. 13 South Dakota State. They were set to play VCU with a trip to the Sweet 16 on the line. Expert after expert explained why the Rams' havoc defense would force the Wolverines into countless turnovers and poor shots. However, this Michigan team didn't get the memo as they throttled VCU 78-53.

Surely a Sweet Sixteen matchup with No. 1 seed Kansas would prove to be too much for Michigan. This sure seemed to be the case as the Jayhawks looked to have the victory virtually locked up as the game reached the final minutes. They led by 10 points with the ball and only two and a half minutes remaining in regulation. All Kansas needed to do was run clock, avoid turnovers and sink its free throws to advance to the Elite Eight.

Instead, the Jayhawks squandered that lead with a plethora of turnovers and blown defensive assignments. Ultimately, Elijah Johnson missed the front end of a one-and-one to give the Wolverines a chance to complete their miraculous comeback with three to send the game to overtime.

Michigan put the ball into the hands of their leader Trey Burke. He had to put all of the missed shots at the end of games he had throughout his collegiate career. It didn't matter that he hadn't scored a point during the entire first half of this game. All Burke needed to do was to find a way to make a clutch three-pointer. If he did not, his team's season would come to a close right here.

With the seconds ticking away, Burke came around a Mitch McGary screen and had just enough space to launch and bury a 25- foot bomb with five seconds left. In the overtime period, Burke and the Wolverines did just enough to hold on for an improbable 87-85 win.

Burke's heroics sends Michigan to the Elite Eight for the first time since 1994. Those were the days of the Fab Five, Chris Webber, Juwan Howard, Ray Jackson, Jimmy King and Jalen Rose. This Wolverines team is beginning to remind folks a lot of that team. Not only are they young like that team was, but the find ways to win just like the Fab Five did twenty years ago.

Fans of the Maize and Blue are beginning to hope that this team can accomplish one thing the Fab Five were unable to do. That is win a national title for Michigan. Following the improbable victory they earned tonight, anything seems possible if you simply believe it can happen.

Florida Gulf Coast Faces Tough Test Against Florida

Florida Gulf Coast University became the first No. 15 seed ever to reach the Sweet Sixteen. (Scott McIntyre)

Florida Gulf Coast University's first graduating class received their diplomas in 2001. Their enrollment is currently about 12,000 students. This is the Eagles' second year in NCAA Division I. They are playing in their first NCAA tournament ever. The University of Florida has about 50,000 students. They have won two national titles (2006 and 2007) and played in four Final Fours. The Gators are one of only four teams to make their third-straight appearance in the Round of 16 this year. They have reached the Elite Eight in four of the last seven seasons.

On Friday night, these two Sunshine State sides meet in an unlikely Sweet Sixteen matchup. If David ever met Goliath on the basketball court, this has to be it. An unheralded Florida Gulf Coast team under the direction of Andy Enfield meet up with one of the country's most established programs in Florida and future Hall of Fame coach Billy Donovan.

Florida Gulf Coast won't be intimated despite the significant statistical matchup they face. They have already slain two Goliaths to get this far. They shocked the nation by upsetting No. 2 Georgetown, 78-68. The Eagles then made history by defeating No. 7 San Diego State, 81-71, to become the first No. 15 seed to ever reach the Round of 16.

These two sides not only contrast in their experience, but they play completely different styles as well. Florida Gulf Coast plays an up-tempo brand of basketball that has earned them the nickname “Dunk City,” due to their frequent aerodynamic displays. Conversely, Florida boasts one of the nation's best defenses. They rank second in scoring defense, allowing just 53.8 points per game. The Gators have held four opponents to 40 points or fewer and 13 to less than 50 points.

Florida Gulf Coast's dynamic offense runs through Brett Comer. He is an assist machine and makes those around him better. The Eagles' leading scorer is Sherwood Brown, averaging 15.6 points per game. Bernard Thompson has scored 23 points in both of the Eagles’ tournament wins. Chase Fieler has been on the receiving end of many of his teammate's famous lobs.

Florida has a balanced offense with four players averaging in double figures. Statistically, they are led by Erik Murphy and Mike Rosario. The Gators love to open up their offense and let it rain from deep. They led the SEC with 8.4 3-pointers made per game and a .382 field goal percentage. The Eagles must try to limit those opportunities as much as possible.

Cinderella hopes the clock doesn't strike midnight yet on a magical tournament run. She will have to dance and lob her way around the big bully on the neighborhood block if she has any hope of surviving this prime time fight in the national spotlight.

Michigan's Trip to IU Headlines College Basketball Saturday

The superb play of Tim Hardaway Jr. is one of the major reasons why Michigan is currently the No. 1 team in the country. (Gregory Shamus)

5. #6 Syracuse (18-2, 6-1 Big East) @ Pittsburgh (17-5, 5-4 Big East) - 12:00 PM EST, ESPN

Syracuse enters this matchup following the team's second loss of the season. Poor perimeter defense and overconfidence were their demise. Meanwhile, Pittsburgh has begun to find its groove. They had won four straight contests before coming up short at Louisville. The Panthers will look to use their significant home court advantage to pull the surprising upset.

4. Oklahoma State (14-5, 4-3 Big 12) @ #2 Kansas (19-1, 7-0 Big 12) - 4:00 PM EST, ESPN3

Oklahoma State has had its share of ups and downs so far this season. They are entering this game with some momentum as winners of three of their last four. Since a November 13 loss to Michigan State, Kansas has gone on to win 18 straight games. Their defense has been dominant throughout the season. Freshman Ben McLemore has emerged as one of the best players in college basketball.

3. #14 Miami (16-3, 7-0 ACC) @ #19 NC State (16-5, 5-3 ACC) - 4:00 PM EST, CBS

Miami has been one of the biggest surprise stories of the college basketball season thus far. They have stormed out to a 7-0 start in ACC play, including dominating wins over then-No. 1 Duke and Florida State. NC State has been up and down in conference play. They have a win over Duke on the record as well. The Wolfpack will be glad to return home after a loss at Virginia this past week dropped their road record to 1-4 on the season.

2. #16 Mississippi (17-3, 6-1 SEC) @ #4 Florida (17-2, 7-0 ACC) - 7:00 PM EST, ESPNU

Ole Miss has been another one of this season's surprisingly successful teams. For those who have not seen them play, they run a high octane offense and rebound the ball well. The Rebels do enter the game on a sour note after their nine-game winning streak was snapped by a home loss to Kentucky. They hope to prove that they belong among the best in the SEC. Beating Florida would be a step in the right direction. The Gators have won nine straight and have emerged as the cream of the conference's crop.

1. Michigan (20-1, 7-1 Big Ten) @ #3 Indiana (19-2, 7-1 Big Ten) - 9:00 PM EST, ESPN

The Big Ten is widely considered to be the best conference in college basketball right now. Matchups like this remind us of why that is. Michigan doesn't simply have a strong record. They have been winning convincingly as well. Since December 4, the Wolverines have won every game by double digits except for two. One was a narrow defeat at Ohio State and an eight point win over Minnesota. Indiana has been a strong team as well. They have been rock solid as well with the exception of their two close losses, one in overtime to Butler and the other to Wisconsin by five at home. This is a battle to determine who is the top dog in the Big Ten as of right now at least.

Previewing the Final Weekend of January College Hoops

Trey Burke will look to lead Michigan to a victory in Champaign over Illinois with another shot at being No. 1 on the line. (Mike Stobe)

This is already the last weekend in January. It's hard to believe, but we only have one more full month until the NCAA tournament tips off. Conference matchups becoming increasingly important this time of year. My blog post will briefly preview the top five games to watch this weekend.

5. North Carolina (13-5, 3-2 ACC) at #18 NC State (15-4, 4-2 ACC) - Saturday, 7:00 PM EST, ESPN

This game features two rival trending in opposite directions. On January 10, North Carolina lost at home to Miami by nine points. The loss dropped their record to 10-5 and 0-2 in the ACC. Despite doubters and critics ripping them apart, they have used a solid two weeks to turn around their season. The Tar Heels won at Florida State and defeated both Maryland and Georgia Tech by double digits. Reggie Bullock and James Michael McAdoo have led the way offensively. The team has also cut down its turnovers and defensive lapses.

On January 12, NC State looked like a national championship calibar team. They capped off a 3-0 start in ACC play, their best since 1973-74, with an impressive 84-76 victory over No. 1 Duke. However, they have looked like a completely different team since. In a span of six days, the Wolfpack dropped two of their past three games. Poor shooting doomed them in a narrow defeat at Maryland, and a poor defensive performance in the second half saw them fall at Wake Forest on Tuesday.

4.  Temple (13-5, 2-2 A-10) at #9 Butler (16-3, 3-1 A-10) - Saturday, 6:00 PM EST, ESPN2

Temple wants to prove it belongs with the top teams in the Atlantic 10. They will have a chance to prove it on Saturday when they look to hand Butler their first home loss of the season. The Owls have had their share of ups and downs this season. Their best win to date is there upset of Syracuse in Madison Square Garden. Home losses to Canisius and St. Bonaventure have been disappointing performance for Temple. They have played a tough schedule getting blown out by Duke and falling short in an upset attempt at Kansas. Butler is the Owls' fourth top ten opponent of the season, so they won't be intimidated by playing in a hostile environment on the road.

Butler has been on an emotional roller coaster over the past week. One week ago, Roosevelt Jones made a steal and game-winning shot to knock off Gonzaga. However, they watched an opponent become the hometown hero just a few days later. La Salle senior Ramon Galloway drove coast-to-coast to lift the Explorers to their first victory over a top ten team since 1980. The loss was the Bulldogs' first in over two months. They will get a huge boost from the return of Rotnei Clarke from injury. The senior leads Butler in scoring with 16.3 points per game and is expected to play on Saturday.

3. #15 New Mexico (17-2, 4-0 MWC) at San Diego State (15-4, 3-2 MWC) - Saturday, 4:00 PM EST, NBCN

New Mexico has established itself at the top of the Mountain West Conference, but it has been far from pretty. Five point wins over UNLV and at Boise State in overtime have been far from certain outcomes. They also almost blew a 22-point lead to Colorado State before winning by five once again. The Lobos are a talented team with three top 25 wins and haven't lost in the new year. Junior Tony Snell has stepped up his game lately. Over his past three games, he has averaged 20.3 points per game.

San Diego State has looked strong for much of the season, but a recent rough patch knocked them out of the polls. They were ranked until they lost back-to-back games to UNLV and Wyoming. On Wednesday, they bounced back with a 21-point victory at Nevada. If the Aztecs hope to win the Mountain West, they would take a big step in the right direction with an upset of New Mexico. They will need to get strong play out of senior Chase Tapley and junior Jamaal Franklin if they hope to do that.

2. #13 Michigan State (17-3, 6-1 Big Ten) at #7 Indiana (17-2, 5-1 Big Ten) - Sunday, 1:00 PM EST, CBS

Since losing their Big Ten opener at Minnesota, Michigan State has won six straight conference games to take the lead in the nation's deepest and most difficult conference. Despite knocking off Ohio State and winning at Wisconsin, their schedule does not get an easier as they must travel to Assembly Hall to take on Indiana. The Spartans have played very well this season, but the end of the Wisconsin game showed that this team can be inept on the offensive end at times. Junior point guard Keith Appling can be the leader that can make the difference on the court when he is needed to.

Indiana has been No. 1 in the country twice this season, but has been unable to hold on to the spot. The first time the came up short in overtime to budding rival Butler. The second time around they were surprised at home by a confident Wisconsin team. Even though they are now ranked #7 in the country, this is one of the nation's best teams. Sophomore Cody Zeller is one of the nation's best players. Junior Victor Oladipo and senior Christian Watford are hard-working team players who are coaches' dream athletes and hustlers.

1. #2 Michigan (18-1, 5-1 Big Ten) at Illinois (15-5, 2-4 Big Ten) - Sunday, 6:00 PM EST, BTN

Exactly two weeks prior, Michigan played on a Sunday with a chance to win and become the No. 1 team in the country. They got off to a slow start and came up short at Ohio State. On Sunday night, they will get another chance when they travel to Assembly Hall to take on Illinois. The Wolverines boast a balanced attack and strong defense. Junior Tim Hardaway Jr. and freshmen Nik Stauskas and Glenn Robinson III all are averaging in double digits scoring. As good as they have all been, it is sophomore point guard Trey Burke who runs the show as good as anyone in the country.

Illinois was one of college basketball's surprise stories in the early stages of the season. They got off to a 12-0 start and won the Maui Invitational. Beginning with a loss to Missouri, the Fighting Illini's season success came to a sudden and dramatic stop. They lost five out of seven games to fall to 1-4 in Big Ten play. Illinois did end a three-game losing streak with a 20-point win at Nebraska on Tuesday. Senior D.J. Richardson led the way with 30 points. The Illini will look to use a similar formula as they hope to upset Michigan.

Wyoming is Off to Best Start in School History

 Wyoming is off to their best start in school history, but are now without Luke Martinez due to a broken finger. (US Presswire)

Wyoming unexpectedly began the season 12-0. Needing only one win to set the record for the best start in school history, they were dealt a huge blow when they found out one of their best players, Luke Martinez, broke his hand in an off-campus incident and is out indefinitely.

Martinez had been averaging 14.5 points, three rebounds and two steals per game. He also leads the team with 35 three pointers made, while shooting 42.2 percent from three and 86.1 percent from the free throw line. The fifth-year senior is Wyoming's leader on both sides of the ball.

Wyoming knew they would be in for a challenge as their first game was on the road against a talented SMU team. They needed someone to step up and senior forward Leonard Washington did. He stole the ball from the Mustangs' Nick Russell and dunked it on the other end to put the Cowboys up by three with 16 seconds left. Washington finished with 19 points and 11 rebounds.

Wyoming found a way to stay unbeaten and are off to the best start in school history. If you look at their numbers and resume this season, it should come as no surprise. This is a talented team and their undefeated start is no fluke. On December 1, the Cowboys beat a ranked Colorado team by seven, and they won at Illinois State later that week.

Wyoming has solid depth throughout its lineup  The aforementioned Washington and sophomore Larry Nance Jr. are the team's leaders in the post. The latter is averaging 11.2 points and 6.8 rebounds per game on the season. The Cowboys' rotation of talented guards will help to lessen the impact the absence of Martinez. Derrious Gilmore, Josh Adams and Riley Grabau are among the guards who will need to step up in his place.

Wyoming's success is also linked to the efficiency of their offense. They are shooting 57.7 percent on two-point attempts this season, which is second in the country to only NC State. The challenge for the Cowboys will be to keeping this up without Martinez. His three-point shooting ability is one of the major things that allows them to stretch the opposition's defense.

Wyoming is off to a record-setting start to the season. They will need continued balance on offense and defense as they wait for Martinez to return. The Cowboys will look to keep their undefeated season going next week as they host Boise State on Wednesday and travel to Reno to take on Nevada on Saturday night.

Why Duke Should be the No. 1 Team in the Country

Duke senior forward Mason Plumlee carried the Blue Devils to victory with his 21 points and 17 rebounds. (Gerry Broome)

I know that Indiana was the No. 1 team in the preseason polls. I know that they are undefeated with a 7-0 record. I watched their impressive shellacking of a young North Carolina team in the ACC/Big Ten Challenge. The problem is that the Hoosiers nor any other team in the country has even remotely close to as good of a resume as Duke has right now.

Tonight, the Blue Devils picked up their third win over a top five team in the polls. They even managed despite struggling badly offensively, especially in the first half. Duke shot only 30% from the field in the first half and trailed Ohio State by as much as ten in the second half. However, they weren't done yet, especially with the Cameron Crazies urging them on.

A couple of turning points were all the Blue Devils needed. The first was an incredible transition alley-oop from Quinn Cook to Mason Plumlee that further electrified an already crazy loud crowd. The second came with 6:06 left in the game. Duke senior forward Ryan Kelly buried a three-pointer to tie the score up 53-53. He nailed another seconds later to give the Blue Devils the lead for good.

As I already mentioned, this isn't Duke's first top five win. Back on November 13, they beat a young, but very talented Kentucky team. Last Saturday, they also beat Louisville, who was a Final Four team last season. Very few teams ever beat three top five teams in an entire season, but the Blue Devils have found a way to accomplish it in a span of 15 days.

As if that weren't enough, Duke beat a now ranked Minnesota team by 18 points. I have a feeling that their nine-point win over VCU will be another impressive win come March. With three top five wins, wins over at least five predicted tournament teams and a perfect 7-0 record, there is nothing that came compare to what the Blue Devils have accomplished so early in the season.

Sorry about that Indiana. You are undefeated and very talented, but there is a team that has been far more impressive against significantly stronger opposition. Duke should be the No. 1 team in the polls. There is no doubt about it in my mind. If the polls look strictly at a team's resume, there is no way that the Blue Devils cannot be the top team in the country. They have made a strong case to say the least.

VCU Creating Havoc Early in the College Basketball Season

Shaka Smart and his coaching staff have this year's version of the VCU Rams creating "havoc" already. (Mark Gormus)

On March 15, 2007, Virginia Commonwealth University's men's basketball team burst into the national spotlight. Crafty guard Eric Maynor made a 14-foot game-winner jumper to propel the Rams to a 79-77 upset of traditional power Duke. In 2011, head coach Shaka Smart had his team continue to unleash their "havoc" style of play as they made a magical run to the Final Four.

VCU's "havoc" style of play is an up-tempo, pressure intense system that leaves the opposition frustrated and prone to make mistakes. The more Smart's players play in it, the better it works and is executed. The Rams will benefit this season from losing only one senior, even though Bradford Burgess was a major leader and contributor last season.

VCU's season did get off to a bit of a bumpy start with a surprisingly two-point loss at home to Wichita State. "That's fine," Smart said. "We like being written off." The Rams looked at the Battle 4 Atlantis as an opportunity to show that they are a force to be reckoned with again this year. They got their first shot on Thursday night when they faced #19 Memphis.

VCU took the lead to start the game and never looked back. They were up by 14 at the half and ended up pulling off the upset in convincing style by 13. The Rams "havoc" defense forced 22 Memphis turnovers, including seven out of junior point guard Joe Jackson. Offensively, they shot an incredible 13-for-22 from beyond the arc. Sophomore Treveon Graham led the team with 26 points. Junior Rob Brandenberg came off the bench to shoot a perfect five-for-five from three for 15 points.

The Rams have shown that they can shoot the ball well, play tenacious defense and pull off the big upset. They will to do the latter again tomorrow night when the face fifth-ranked Duke for the first time since their NCAA tournament upset in 2007. Even though the Blue Devils are a physical team, I except VCU to give them a run for their money. This team will be well-prepared by its experienced leaders. There are still five players on this team who played a significant role in the team that made it to the Final Four two years ago.

"They could win the whole national championship if they make shots like that," said Memphis head coach Josh Pastner following Thursday night's game. While this may appear to be a bit extreme, anything is possible, especially considering how open of a field this year's NCAA tournament is expected to be. What is for certain is that VCU won't be a team anyone wants to stand in the way of come March.

Breaking Down the AP Preseason All-Americans

Indiana sophomore Cody Zeller was a near unanimous selection as a Associated Press Preseason All-Americans. (Kevin C. Cox)

We are on the verge of November, which means the college basketball season is just about to tip off. It also means that it is time for all of the preseason honors and predictions to be given out. Today, the Associated Press announced their preseason All-Americans.

A 65-member panel does the deciding voting on who will be the All-Americans. This year, there were a tie for the fifth most votes, so there are six players overall. The players are as follows with the number of votes in parentheses:

• Cody Zeller, Indiana (64)
• Doug McDermott, Creighton (62)
• Isaiah Canaan, Murray State (43)
• Deshaun Thomas, Ohio State (26)
• C.J. McCollum, Lehigh (16)
• Trey Burke, Michigan (16)

There were five main stories that jumped out at me from this year's list.

1. Three out of the six All-Americans are from mid-majors.
I doubt this has ever happened before. Not only are McDermott, Canaan and McCollum from mid-majors, they are all from different conferences. The wealth of college basketball talent seems to spread around the country more and more each season. You no longer have to play at Kentucky, North Carolina or Kansas to be the best players in the country. Each of these players led their teams on deep runs into the NCAA tournament last year and are fully capable of doing it again this year.

2. The other three All-Americans are from the Big Ten.
The AP voters love the Big Ten this year. First, they put Indiana (#1), Ohio State (#4) and Michigan (#5) in the preseason top five in the poll. Now, they named each of their respective stars All-American. Zeller is the top man on a talented and experienced Hoosiers team. Thomas may have been overshadowed by Jared Sullinger (now in the NBA) during last season's Final Four run, but he will shine as the star now. Even though no Buckeye fans will agree with this, Burke is the best point guard in the country and is the most dominant at his craft.

3. One voter is delusional or blinded by his dislike for Cody Zeller.
Zeller is the best college basketball player in the country as of right now. For standing 6-foot-11, he is extraordinarily agile and mobile. He has good scoring instincts and doesn't mind being aggressive. Zeller can be explosive at the rim, runs the floor very well and has a high basketball IQ. He has All-American written all over him. I hope the one voter who chose not to vote for Zeller gets to watch him dominant on a nightly basis.

4. There are no freshman preseason All-Americans.
This isn't about a lack of talent. It is clearly there. It's even quite likely that there will be at least one freshman on the list at the end of March. However, the problem from now is that there aren't any of them that we are confident will make an immediate impact. Kentucky's Nerlens Noel, UCLA's Shabazz Muhammad and and Kyle Anderson and Arizona's Kaleb Tarczewski all have respectable chances at being named All-Americans by season end.

5. If this list is any indicator, this year's March Madness might be crazier than ever.
Not to downgrade their talent one single bit, but this list of preseason All-Americans is one of the weakest I have seen in a long time. The Big Ten is expected to be a tough conference at the top, but after that the rankings are pretty spread wide and far. It appears as though pretty much any team could make a shocking run to the top this season.

Wiggins Becomes Top Recruit in Class of 2013

Andrew Wiggins becomes top recruit in Class of 2013 after he reclassified from the Class of 2014. (Sam Forencich)

Yesterday, Andrew Wiggins was the top college basketball recruit in the Class of 2014. Today, he no longer is following a drastic decision to reclassify to join this year's Class of 2013. Wiggins doesn't suffer any decline though as he supplants Jabari Parker as the new No. 1 in his new class.

"It's time for him (to show) that he is the best in college right now. I think he is ready for the next step. Academically wise, he is doing great. Maturity wise, he is doing great. He has a lot of talent. He is ready for the next step, and everybody knows it is time. It is Andrew's time. Next year is coming soon and he is ready," stated Mitchell Wiggins, Andrew's father.

There's no doubt that the talent is there. Wiggins was undoubtedly the best player at the LeBron James Skills Academy last summer. He is deeply skilled, able to score in bunches, and has very promising potential. Check out highlights of what he did this past summer at the LJSA.

At 6-7, Wiggins has tremendous athleticism and size. He has the ability to score from anywhere on the court and has demonstrated a consistent perimeter game. His long term potential should not be overlooked either. Needless to say, the move to this year's recruitment class has college basketball powerhouses buzzing.

Kentucky seems to be a frontrunner for every top recruit. Their Class of 2013 already includes commits from the Harrison twins (#3 and #4), small forward James Young (#10), and center Marcus Lee (#39). A pair of power forwards, Julius Randle (#5) and Aaron Gordon (#6), are also reportedly very interested in playing for the Wildcats.

Florida State is the other favorite to land Wiggins. Andrew's father played there. With an up-and-coming ACC program, the Seminoles will at least intrigue Wiggins to a degree. UNC, Kansas, and Ohio State are reportedly going to start pursuing beginning next week.

Wiggins has the talent and potential to change the face of college basketball and the NBA not too far down the road. ESPN's Paul Biancardi went as far to say that he is the best perimeter prospect since LeBron James. One NBA executive stated he believes Wiggins will be the top pick in the 2014 NBA draft and will start his rookie season. Obviously, people believe in the potential and abilities the Canadian possesses. Now, the only decision that remains to be seen is where he will be playing his college ball at next fall.

Demetrius Jackson Commits to Notre Dame

Marian Catholic (IN) point guard recruit Demetrius Jackson has chosen to attend Notre Dame University. (247sports.com)

Demetrius Jackson may not be as much of a household name as some of the other top basketball recruits in the class of 2013. He doesn't play for a high school powerhouse or a flashy AAU team. Jackson has been content to keep a low profile limited primarily to the local area. While major conference suitors came a calling one after another, his decision always appeared to be between Notre Dame University and the University of Illinois.

Jackson is the No. 4 point guard in ESPN's class of 2013 rankings. He is a smart kid with a stellar work ethic. Several years ago, Jackson had an inconsistent jumper that lacked confidence. Entering his senior season, his perimeter jumper is one of the strengths of his game. Jackson's awareness while penetrating on offense and analyzing on defense is superb for his age. He has a college-ready body that should only continue to grow and strengthen.

The college decision was not an easy one for Jackson. He stated that, "With the last two schools, it was hard to see myself not playing there. It was very difficult because of the built-in relationships and the opportunity that Illinois had to offer." Ultimately though, Jackson decided to commit to Notre Dame. One of the main reasons he chose the Fighting Irish was the establishment of point guard Eric Atkins. Atkins will be a senior when Jackson becomes a freshman. While some scouts viewed Atkins' presence as an impediment, Jackson foresaw it as a valuable learning opportunity.

Jackson explained that, "With them having a senior point guard my freshman year -- and he's done a great job in the Big East and he'll do a solid job in the ACC -- I'll have someone to learn from and teach me the ways. At first, that scared me away because I didn't think I'll be able to start my freshman year, but I figured out that's not what it's about. Having that senior point guard there to help me out will make a difference."

Jackson is exactly the type of recruit Notre Dame needed, especially with the upcoming move to the ACC. The point guard position requires a leader, facilitator and scorer as needed. Jackson is prepared to provide all three. If he remains faithful to his commitment to grow and improve, he will only get better and better during his time with the Fighting Irish.

Jackson must be open to coaching and willing to rely on his teammates. According to ESPN, Notre Dame currently has the fifth-best 2013 basketball recruiting class. As members of that class, Jackson will be joined by V.J. Beachem and Steve Vasturia, a pair of ESPN Top 100 recruits. As you can see, the Fighting Irish appear ready to compete in the ACC. Jackson has the oppornity to blossom into a true star and leader.

Notre Dame Joins ACC in All Sports Except Football

Notre Dame's men's basketball team has played in tbe NCAA Tournamnet five of the last six years. (Matt Cashore)

Conference alignments have resurfaced the face of college sports over the last several seasons. One school that has always distinguished itself from all of the chaos is Notre Dame. However, the free-thinking Fighting Irish aren't even immune from the changes anymore. On Wednesday morning, news broke that Notre Dame was joining the Atlantic Coast Conference as a full member with the excption of football.

Jack Swarbrick, Notre Dame vice president of and director of athletics released this statement, "We have monitored the changing conference landscape for many months and have concluded that moving to the ACC is the best course of action for us. We are able to maintain our historic independence in football, join in the ACC's non-BCS bowl package, and provide a new and extremely competitive home for other sports."

While this affects all men's sports, the two prominant one's are football and baseketball. As was already mentioned, Notre Dame does remain independent in football. However, the Fighting Irish are required to play five games annually against ACC opponents. This will only make ACC football more competitive and followed.

As far as basketball is concerned, the ACC may have just become the most dominant conference in the history of the sport. Notre Dame joins Syracuse and Pittsburgh as members set to join. The conference already boasted the likes of North Carolina, Duke, Florida State, N.C. State, Georgia Tech, and Wake Forest. That is nine either current or former basketball powerhouses.

Notre Dame's move to the ACC also effects the landscape of women's collegiate athletics across the country. The biggest change is taking place in soccer. The Fighting Irish are the only team other than North Carolina to win at least three national championships in the sport. This move is equivalant of a team like Kansas joining the ACC in men's basketball. Speaking of basketball, it can't be neglected either. After all, Notre Dame has been to four Women's Final Fours since 1997. They won the national championship in 2001. Softball, lacrosse, and volleyball will all be effected as well.

The last major impact of this move is the further crippling of the Big East Conference. The conference has already been gutted by moves to the ACC and Big 12. With the addition of Notre Dame, the ACC currently has 15 members. Of course, the rumor mills are overflowing with speculation about the conference adding one more team. Georgetown, Louisville, Connecticut, and Rutgers are among the most likely candidates.

The ACC denies any supposed claims that are out there. However, the Notre Dame move seemingly came out of nowhere. College sports is drastically changing. This move reminds us that it all isn't over yet. What is for certain is that the ACC is now even more fully loaded than ever. It should be a fun conference to watch across the sports spectrum.

The First Noel and The Westward Bound Muhammad

Nerlens Noel just secured another #1 recruiting class for John Calipari at Kentucky. Noel revealed his decision in style as he swiveled around in his chair on the ESPNU studio set. Noel is the #2 overall player in the Rivals.com class of 2012 rankings. He is a big, strong athletic center, who can shot-block very well and should anchor the post for the Wildcats. Noel is commonly compared to Anthony Davis. The comparison is limited though as Noel has always been a big man. His shot-blocking ability might actually be better than Davis' and he prefers to stay close to the rim. Noel immeadiately puts Kentucky back in the national championship discussion for next year. It will be interesting to see how he does living up to the hype that is quickly building up around him.

The #1 overall recruit (Rivals.com), Shabazz Muhammad, was the other big name making his decision tonight. Kentucky was on Muhammad's radar, but he was strongly committed to UCLA from the get go. Despite the tumultuous season the Bruins had this past season, nothing could change Muhammad's mind from choosing to go to Westwood and play under Ben Howland. Rather than be discouraged by it, Muhammad embraced the challenge of rebuilding the legendary UCLA program. He said, "Knowing how bad they were the last two years, it's a challenge to get them back up to the top." Muhammad joins fellow top-five recruit Kyle Anderson in what could be a promising Bruins nucleus with returners such as the Wear twins and Joshua Smith. UCLA appears to be headed in the right direction.

Noel and Muhammad chose very different paths. Noel is joining the reigning National Champions. He will be playing on a team full of lots of top talent. Muhammad chose to join a rebuilding program in need of a star. It will be interesting to watch how each embraces their new surroundings. Which will blossom into the next great star? For that, we will have to wait and see.

Thomas Robinson Bids Kansas Farewell

Thomas Robinson is forgoing his senior year to enter to the NBA Draft, but none of the Kansas faithful can blame him after what he has given to the program. Considering all he has overcome, he deserves it. In January 2011, Robinson received a phone call from his nine-year old sister that his mother had died suddenly from a heart attack. The two had been raised by their single mother and were very close to her. What made it even harder was that it came within a three week span of losing their grandfather and grandmother as well. Robinson continued to play basketball, and the University of Kansas helped out the family by covering some of the funeral costs and setting up a scholarship fund for Thomas' sister Jayla.

Robinson vowed to play even better his junior season. He did just that for the Jayhawks. On the season, he averaged 17.9 points per game and 11.8 rebounds per game. Robinson led the nation with 27 double-doubles. At times, Kansas' offense would sputter, but they could always lean on their big man inside. Robinson helped lead the Jayhawks to national runner-up in the NCAA tournament. He had 18 points and 17 rebounds in the championship game against Kentucky.

Robinson became the first unanimous first-team All-American since Blake Griffin. He made his formal announcement of his decision to enter the draft Monday with his sister Jayla and head coach Bill Self by his side. Self faithfully supported Robinson throughout his career and encouraged him to make the decision to leave early. Self believed it was in the best interest of Robinson and his sister. Robinson will likely be a top-five pick in the NBA Draft and will receive the luxurious contract that comes with that. Thomas Robinson will be remembered for all he did on and off the court for the Jayhawks and what he overcame to make it happen.

Kentucky Held On, While Kansas Came From Behind

Kentucky 69 Louisville 61

The first Final Four matchup was the Battle of the Bluegrass between Kentucky and Louisville. Kentucky built the lead early behind great defensive prowess, especially that of Anthony Davis. Louisville looked like it had a chance when they pulled even on Peyton Siva's three-pointer with just over nine minutes to go in the game, but the Cardinals failed to score over the next six minutes. The Wildcats took over during that stretch, and the Cardinals could never recover. In the game, Davis showed why he is the best player in the country. He had 18 points, 14 rebounds, and 5 blocks. That in and of itself is impressive, but that doesn't even take into account the number of shots Davis altered or influenced. The Wildcats had the better talent on the floor, and it showed in the result.

Kansas 64 Ohio State 62

In the second Final Four game, Ohio State came out on fire. They built the lead to 26-13 and seemed to be in complete control. Kansas head coach Bill Self called a timeout and whatever he said turned things around for the Jayhawks. Over the next 12 minutes, Kansas went on a 25-12 run to tie the game up at 38. Ohio State regained the lead, but were never able to put away the Jayhawks. With 2:22 left in the game, Aaron Craft put the lead at 3 for the Buckeyes. From that point on, the Kansas defense took it up a notch. In the final seconds, Ohio State trailed by 3, so Kansas fouled Aaron Craft before he could get off a shot. He made the first free throw and missed the second on purpose. However, he was called for a lane violation trying to get the rebound. The Buckeye players were so busy yelling at the official that Kansas inbounded the ball and won the game. Everyone will talk about Kansas' Thomas Robinson's dominance on offense in the paint as the difference in the game, I would argue that it was the other Jayhawk big man, Jeff Withey, who was the biggest difference maker. Withey quietly had 8 rebounds and 7 blocks. He bothered Ohio State star Jared Sullinger all night and made every shot in the paint difficult for the Buckeyes. Kansas showed why once again why you can't count them out. Kentucky might be the big favorites on Monday, but don't count out the Jayhawks just yet.

UNC Trio Headed to NBA Draft

This year's University of North Carolina men's basketball team was supposed be title contenders all along. However, they were never really healthy enough to have that opportunity. Now, the season is over for the Tar Heels and the offseason decisions were to be made. The team's three star underclassmen made their decisions today. They all chose to declare for the NBA Draft.

Harrison Barnes is an amazing player, but never fully lived up to expectations in Chapel Hill. As a freshman, he was known for his clutch game-winners and cool demeanor. As a sophomore, people expected him to take his game to the next level as he was voted a preseason All-American. That didn't really happen. He still had a great season averaging 17.1 points per game and becoming a first-team All-ACC selection. He struggled in NCAA tournament games, which helped lead to the failure of his team's success. As the #1 recruit in the nation, Barnes never achieved what was expected of him.

Fellow sophomore John Henson has decided to turn pro as well. Henson decided to return to UNC for his sophomore season because he wanted to repeat as ACC Defensive Player of the Year and also improve his all-around game. Unlike Barnes, Henson showed great improvement in his second season. He developed a nice jump shot and a quality hook shot. Despite finishing the season with a sprained wrist, Henson averaged 13.7 points per game, 9.9 rebounds per game, and 279 career blocks (2nd in UNC history).

Kendall Marshall was the man who made everything happen for UNC. When he got injured in the NCAA tournament, it was clear that the Tar Heels would never be the same. Marshall is commonly known as an assist machine. This season he set the ACC single-season record for assists in a season and averaged 7.96 assists per game (a UNC single-season record). In the games prior to the injury, Marshall showed he knew how to score as well. He will always be remembered though as an excellent passer, which is one of the main reasons he won the Cousy Award, given to the nation's top point guard.

These players will certainly be missed in Chapel Hill. Their early departures are not entirely unexpected. They have had great careers as Tar Heels. I wish them the best of luck in the NBA. ESPN currently has them all being drafted in the Top 20 overall. Harrison Barnes, John Henson, and Kendall Marshall all play in very different ways. But there is no denying the talent they have. UNC will be forced to make do with what they still have, plus the core of new recruits. This should be no difficulty for the Tar Heels. They should easily remain among the top-tier of college basketball programs without any real difficulty.

Traditional Power North Carolina Wins in Nontraditional Manner

No one could have thought that University of North Carolina's men's basketball team would have so many injuries in one season. The latest of which was point guard Kendall Marshall's broken wrist. This was especially significant because Marshall is the man that gets the offense to run the way it should. Without him, the Tar Heels lacked some of their identity and direction. Both were evident in the game.

In their Sweet Sixteen game, UNC drew the #13 seed Ohio. The game looked like a pushover on paper, but the Bobcats came into the matchup confident. Without Marshall and with preseason All-American Harrison Barnes struggling, the Tar Heels struggled to put away the upstart Bobcats. If UNC was going to win, someone was going to need to step up. One of those unlikely players who did was sophomore Reggie Bullock. With around 12 minutes to go in regulation, Bullock overheard an Ohio assistant coach state that Carolina couldn't win without Marshall. This infuriated Bullock, who went on to score 12 of his 17 points after the incident. Other Tar Heel players stepped up as well to fill the void Marshall left. Rarely used freshman point guard Stilman White earned his first start of the season and finished with 0 turnovers in the game. Carolina big man Tyler Zeller came up huge as well. He finished with 20 points and 22 rebounds. He is the first player to have a 20-20 performance in a tournament game since Tim Duncan in 1997.

The game ended up going to overtime, but North Carolina did enough to survive. They now play a more traditional powerhouse team, Kansas, in the Elite Eight on Sunday. The Tar Heels will certainly have to play better to beat the Jayhawks. They certainly can, especially since Barnes didn't play well. They may also get Marshall back from injury. Either way, head coach Roy Williams will have his boys ready. UNC showed they can win without Marshall and win even when they play poorly. The Tar Heels are definitely still a team to be reckoned with here in March.

Breaking Down the Sweet Sixteen From a Geographical Standpoint

No Teams From the Western Half of the U.S.

Everyone knows the Pac-12 was down this year in basketball, but apparently the whole western half of the country was as well. WAC favorite Nevada bowed out in their conference tournament. The conference that looked the most dominant was the Mountain West. They received four bids (three of which were #6 or higher), but the conference finished with a combined record of only 1-4 in the tournament. No teams from this vast geographic region made it to the Sweet Sixteen.

Midwest Central

Since the West produced nothing, someone had to step up, and the Midwest happily filled the void. The two best conferences by far this season, the Big 12 and Big Ten, are both centered in the heart of Midwestern farm land. But it is more than just these conferences. The Midwest took commanding control of the tournament. 12 of the remaining Sweet Sixteen teams are from the geographic region. Making the odds of a champion coming from the Midwest increasingly likely.

Ohio Domination

The Midwest conquered as a region, but one of its state dominated like no other. That state was Ohio. The state got only four teams into the tournament, but all of them are Sweet Sixteen teams. That means that one-quarter of the teams left in the NCAA tournament are from Ohio. What makes it even more impressive is that these teams aren't even a highly ranked group as a whole. The teams consist of a #2 seed (Ohio State), a #6 seed (Cincinnati), a #10 seed (Xavier), and a #13 seed (Ohio University). Ohioans should be proud of their basketball. One doesn't see a feat like this everyday.