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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Top Winners From The NHL Trade Deadline

The Columbus Blue Jackets hope that trade deadline acquisition Marian Gaborik will help them return to the playoffs. (Al Bello)

The trade deadline in any sport can make a significant impact on a team whether they are buyers or sellers. Many NHL teams were looking for that one or two pieces that might push them over the edge in the quest to lift Lord Stanley's Cup. I have determined which teams I think are the top three winners at the trade deadline as they make a push for the postseason.

1. Pittsburgh Penguins - The Penguins were one of the most active teams throughout the trade deadline window. They got things going early on and were still in the mix for some deals right before the deadline. The Penguins began by acquiring three in a span of four days (March 24-27). Veteran forwards Brenden Morrow and Jarome Iginla will help provide the Penguins with scoring depth and playoff experience up front. Douglas Murray gives the Penguins another defender who can deliver hits and block shots when needed. Just when it seemed the Penguins might be finished, general manager Ray Shero added one more piece to the puzzle in Jussi Jokinen from the Hurricanes. Jokinen will likely start at center while the Penguins wait for captain Sidney Crosby to recover from a broken jaw. Additionally, Jokinen brings valuable playoff experience for the Hurricanes' run to the Eastern Conference finals in 2009. His presence adds yet another depth piece to an already stocked front line.

2. Minnesota Wild - The Wild have been one of the Western Conference's best teams the past several weeks. As they look to prove that they are Stanley Cup contenders, they acquired one of the best players available at the deadline in Buffalo Sabres captain Jason Pominville. The Wild did have to give up quite a bit in return. This included highly touted prospect Johan Larsson, goaltending prospect Matt Hackett, a first-round pick in 2013 and a second-round pick in 2014. The Wild did also receive the Sabres' fourth-round pick in 2014. That is a lot to give up, but for what a player like Pominville could mean to a playoff run, it is well worth it. He has reached the 30-goal plateau twice and recorded at least 20 goals in six straight seasons. Pominville adds the kind of scoring depth that the Wild need for a playoff run. He is a leader with the character and experience that is such a benefit to the team as a whole. The Wild are going to be battling the Vancouver Canucks for the Northwest Division crown the remainder of this month. This deadline move could prove to be enough to help them secure home-ice for the first round and possibly beyond.

3. Columbus Blue Jackets - After years and years of selling at the trade deadline, the Blue Jackets were actually buyers this season. The shocked everyone by acquiring three-time 40-goal scorer Marian Gaborik from the struggling New York Rangers. Just like the case was with the Wild acquiring Pominville, the price was heavy for Gaborik. The Blue Jackets gave up three of their key role players in Derek Dorsett (currently injured), Derick Brassard and John Moore. That is a significant amount to give up, but when you consider that this is team that has been to the playoffs just once (and were swept by Detroit in that lone playoff visit), the fact that they are in the hunt for a surprise postseason berth, makes Gaborik definitely worth the cost. Gaborik fell out of favor with the Rangers due to tension between him and head coach John Tortorella. The trade though reunites him with former teammates Artem Anisimov and Brandon Dubinsky, who ended up with the Blue Jackets in the Rick Nash trade last summer. Gaborik can definitely be an impact player with a fresh start from a team desperate that is desperate for his scoring help. The Blue Jackets currently rank 29th in goals per game and 27th on the power play. They will need Gaborik to help spark their offense if they hope to secure a return to the postseason.

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.

Flynn and McCoy are Lastest Quarterbacks to be Traded

The Oakland Raiders traded for Matt Flynn (left) to compete with Terrelle Pryor (right) for their starting quarterback position. (Getty Images)

With the weakest draft class of quarterbacks in recent memory, many NFL teams are resorting to trading for options to compete with who they currently have. The Kansas City Chiefs were the first team to make a move. They acquired veteran Alex Smith from the San Francisco 49ers in exchange for a 2013 second-round draft pick and a 2014 conditional second-round draft pick. Today, two more quarterbacks were on their way to new homes due to accepted trades.

The Oakland Raiders acquired quarterback Matt Flynn from the Seattle Seahawks in exchange for a fifth-round pick in the 2014 draft and a conditional pick in 2015. Flynn has waited for a long time to be given the reigns of a team as a starting quarterback. He spent for years backing up Aaron Rodgers in Green Bay. The Seahawks signed Flynn prior to last season, but he got beat out by rookie sensation Russell Wilson.

The Raiders knew they needed to bring a new quarterback in once they found that veteran Carson Palmer wasn't the answer. He failed to get Oakland to the playoffs in 2011, falling one game short. Last season, the Raiders regressed and finished 4-12. With Palmer owed $13 million for this season and the Raiders in rebuilding mode, general manager Reggie McKenzie decided to get a quarterback he was familiar with from his time in Green Bay.

Flynn did shine in his limited playing experience with the Packers. For example, he was 31-for-44 for 480 yards and six touchdown passes in the Packers' 2010 season finale win over the Detroit Lions. The Raiders do also have Terrelle Pryor who got limited action late last season after Palmer got injured.

In last season's regular season finale, Pryor went 13-for-28 for 150 yards, two touchdowns and an interception in a 24-21 loss to the Chargers. He also ran for 49 yards and a touchdown. Pryor showed signs of being capable of effectively running a NFL offense. It appears to be a fairly open race to see whether Flynn or Pryor will emerge during this offseason as the Raiders' starting quarterback.

The Seahawks are of course set with Wilson as their starter. They also have Tyler Thigpen on their roster, who is expected to be Wilson's primary backup. Thigpen has substantial NFL experience, including playing in 14 games with the Chiefs in 2008. The Seahawks will need to add one more quarterback to their roster. Matt Leinart is a possibility to rejoin his collegiate coach Pete Carroll, who is now the head coach of the Seahawks.

The Cleveland Browns traded backup quarterback Colt McCoy to the 49ers. The Browns sent McCoy and a sixth-round pick (173rd overall) in exchange for the 49ers' picks in the fifth (164th overall) and seventh rounds (227th overall). This trade seems to be a win-win for both the Browns and their former starter.

During his three seasons with the Browns, McCoy went 6-15 as a starter. This really should have come as no surprise. McCoy was projected to be a solid backup quarterback, but not a consistent starter. Additionally, with a weaker arm strength, he didn't have a chance of succeeding in Cleveland weather. The Browns really made a mistake using a third-round pick on him in the first place.

McCoy now gets a refreshing new start with the 49ers. He goes from one of the worst teams in the NFL to a Super Bowl contender. McCoy will compete against Scott Tolzien to be the backup to starter Colin Kaepernick. I expect that McCoy will win the job and will be ready in case of injury to Kaepernick.

This gives the Browns more financial flexibility at the quarterback position. This means that the Browns will likely give last season's starter Brandon Weeden every chance to earn the starting job again. He will likely get the majority of the first-team snaps during the team’s offseason.The Browns did bring in veteran Jason Campbell to compete with Weeden, so that is something to keep an eye on.

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.