March to Madness Heating Up

As temperatures around the country grow colder, the world of college basketball is heating up. With college football season over, college basketball has taken over a good portion of the sports spotlight, as evidenced by the amount of college hoops shown on ESPN lately.  With at least two games a night all seven days this week and more to come, there is plenty of action for college hoops enthusiasts like myself.

This week has already seen great games, Georgetown falling to Pitt on the road in an intense Big East battle, Kansas establishing themselves as a team to beat with a blow out of Big 12 rival Oklahoma, Gonzaga showing they are still the top mid-major with a trouncing of Pepperdine, Creighton displaying the depth of the Missouri Valley Conference with a road win at Northern Iowa, and Michigan State running up a huge lead against Ohio State, only to have to fight to the end to pick up a big win. And there is plenty more to come.

We all know about the big teams, UNC, Kansas, UCLA, and Memphis, who are probably the top contenders to win it all in March. But, what about the teams that will make a surprising (to some) run deep into the tournament? 

Here are my five teams to watch heading into February (in no particular order):

1) Marquette: Tom Crean's Golden Eagles are a deep and experienced squad who will be battle-tested heading into tournament time following a difficult Big East schedule.  Ranked 10th in the country, they are led by junior guards Dominic James and Jerel McNeal and are 13-2 overall and 3-1 in conference play. Their only losses have come on the road to a tough West Virginia squad and earlier in the season against Duke, both games they had chances to win.

James and McNeal are extremely experienced for juniors, both having started all three years of their collegiate careers. James has started every game his career, while McNeal has only missed five games (last season due to injury). The one weakness of the Golden Eagles is height; 6'8" Dwight Burke and 6'6" Lazar Heyward start at the forward spots. Marquette defeated Notre Dame over the weekend but big man Luke Harangody scored 29 points and pulled down 14 boards for the Fighting Irish. The Golden Eagles will face another tough test going up against Louisville's big men, David Padgett and Derrick Caracter, on Thursday night, a game which can be seen on ESPN.

2) Dayton/The Atlantic Ten: The 14th ranked Flyers are 14-1 and grabbed the attention of the nation with a shocking dismantling of Pitt, 80-55 and also have big wins against Louisville and Rhode Island. Senior Brian Roberts provides the senior leadership needed to last throughout the season and his 20.1 points per game is 35th best in the nation. Roberts and the Flyers may not even be the best team in their conference, the Atlantic Ten, which has seen a remarkable resurgence this season with the aforementioned Rhode Island (15-2, 23rd) and Xavier (14-3, 20th) joining Dayton in the Top 25. St. Joseph's (9-4) and UMass (11-4) are also putting together impressive tournament resumes. The A-10 is as deep as ever and will be fun to watch heading into the heart of conference play. Key match-ups to look forward to in the coming weeks: Dayton at Xavier (1/24),  UMass at St. Joe's (1/23), Xavier at UMass (1/27), and Dayton at Rhode Island (1/30).

3) Drake: The unranked Bulldogs are 14-1 and are quietly running away with the ultra-competitive Missouri Valley Conference after jumping out to a 5-o start in conference play. Led by sophomore guard Josh Young, who averages just over 16 points per game and is a 45 percent three pointer shooter on the season, they have picked up key wins over Iowa and Iowa State out of conference and Indiana State, Wichita State and Southern Illinois in conference. Their only loss comes on the road at St. Mary's on Nov. 10. The Bulldogs still must go on the road against Creighton, Indiana State, Southern Illinois, and Northern Iowa, but look to be the favorite to win MVC.

4) Butler: The Bulldogs join their fellow 'Dogs as one of the few teams in the country with only one loss and are ranked 12th in the country with a 16-1 record and a 5-1 conference start.  They are on an eight game winning streak with their only loss coming at Wright State on Dec. 8. Butler beat Ohio State handedly (65-46), and also have wins over Michigan, Virginia Tech, Texas Tech, Indiana State, and Florida State. They have played one of the toughest non-conference schedules in the nation and will be ready for anything come tournament time. Seniors A.J. Graves (14.6 p.p.g) and Mike Green (15.4) lead a senior-laden team that will look to make  deep run into the tourney.

5) Washington St.: Their loss at Pauley Pavilion against UCLA on Saturday not-withstanding, the Cougars (14-1) have been among the top teams in the nation all year long. With one loss now, the Cougs will fly more under the radar, especially on the East Coast, but will earn a high seed in the tournament with an impressive Pac-10 season. The Cougars should be nearly impossible to beat at home and will win a bunch of games on the road as well, led by seniors Derrick Low and Kyle Weaver. The experience, depth and shooting ability will earn them a top-three finish in the Pac-10 this year, with UCLA, Stanford, and Oregon providing tough battles ahead.

An Idol Becomes Eternal: Ronnie Franchise Enters the Hall of Fame

Growing up there were two things I looked forward to every year. The start of the Red Sox season and the start of the Whalers season.

Ron Francis may have been traded away from Hartford when I was only three years old, in 1991, but I still knew all about him. He was a beloved figure among Whalers fans, so much so that he was given the nickname "Ronnie Franchise."

He was a model-figure for the team and when he was traded it was the first in a series of crushing blows for Whalers fans, eventually leading up to the team moving in 1997.

Francis was born in Sault Ste. Marie, but as he has said many times in interviews, he grew up in Hartford. He arrived there as an 18 year old kid and left as a mature leader and captain who would go on to win Stanley Cups in Pittsburgh.

My favorite hockey player will always be Kevin Dineen, the great Whalers captain who took over after Francis left and led the team all the way up to their move to Carolina, but Francis is a close second.

He epitomizes everything that is great about hockey. He was a great scorer and a great leader. He is one of the most underrated players in hockey history and it is finally time for him to get his due tonight in Toronto.

2007-2008 Men's Basketball Predictions

The season is only one day away, so i figured it was time for me to predict how I think the Stags season will go, game by game.

Fairfield is still a rebuilding team, but with one more year under Jonathan Han's belt at the point, as well as the more developed Anthony Johnson and Greg Nero locking down the inside game, the outlook for the season is bright.

The Stags season came to a disappointing end last year, but they have a lot to build on after a strong finish in the regular season.

Here are my predictions:

@Wake Forest - L - I'd love to put a W, here but it is going to be too tough for the Stags on the road.

Holy Cross - W - At home, building off of tough play against Wake, the Stags will do what they could not last year, lock-up a win against rival Holy Cross.

@American - W - Once again, the more experienced Fairfield team can keep a lead and win when it matters, even on the road.

@Cincinnati - L - A tough Big East opponent on the road, smells like a loss for the Stags.

@St. Francis N.Y. - W - They picked up a big win at Alumni Hall last year over St. Francis and this year should be the same, even on the road. Too bad the Red Sea can't storm the court this year.

@Georgetown - L - Hibbert and the rest will be too tough to handle for Fairfield.

Yale -W- In front of a sold-out Alumni Hall, coming off a difficult road trip, this one won't even be close.

Siena -W- Riding the emotion of the Yale win and a strong start, Cooley and the Gang will continue to roll right into the MAAC season.

St. Joseph's -L- Phil Martelli is a great coach and his team will hand the Stags their first home loss of the year.

@St. Peter's -W- The Stags will head to Jersey City 1-0 in the MAAC and leave with another win.

@William and Mary -W- A great team to have on the schedule, in a solid Mid-Major conference, but should not be a major problem for Fairfield, similar to last season.

@Loyola -L- Last year Fairfield went to Baltimore and handed Jimmy Patsos' team a loss, but this year it will be different. Close game, but the Greyhounds pull it out in the end.

@Marist -L- A tough five game road trip continues for Fairfield in Poughkeepsie. They may have lost Jordan, but they are still talented and will win at home.

@Iona -W- Bounce back victory over a struggling Iona squad.

St. Peter's -W- Same outcome as Jersey City, probably an even larger margin this time.

Canisius -W- Always tough to travel from Buffalo to Bridgeport, Fairfield will win this one.

Niagara -W- Stags sweep the Buffalo teams at home.

@Canisius -W- The Griffs look for revenge less then a week later, but Fairfield wins.

@Niagara -L- Stags tired after tough game against Canisius and fall to Niagara.

@Manhattan -L- In the battle of the two teams picked for sixth in the MAAC, Fairfield loses Round One.

Iona -W- Stags complete season sweep of Gaels at home.

Rider -L- Jason Thompson overcomes tough defense to help the Broncs beat the Stags.

Marist -W- No Jordan, no Whittington, no Smith for Marist, at home the Stags win.

Bracketbuster -??? Too tough to call without knowing who Fairfield will play.

Manhattan -W- Split the home and home.

Rider -W- Stags finish season strong.

Overall - 16-9 (11-5 MAAC)

NLCS Game 1 Reaction/ALCS Game 1 Prediction

I've definitely change my mind about the way that the NLCS will go. I thought that the Arizona Diamondbacks, behind ace Brandon Webb, would jump out to a 1-0 lead with a Game 1 victory and then head to Colorado up 2-0. Now it appears that Jeff Francis and the Rockies are the better squad and they will be returning home to Corrs with at least a split of the first two games.

Francis' excellent performance and the Rockies 5-1 victory changes the entire outlook of the series. The Rockies offense has not cooled down one bit and they have now won 18 of their last 19 games (14 of 15 in the regular season, 4 straight in the playoffs). This is the hottest team in baseball and frankly I'd be nervous to face them no matter what team I am. The Red Sox and Indians better watch out, because if Colorado can keep rolling through this series, they may pull a St. Louis Cardinals and continue to roll right though the World Series.

As much as I am rooting for the Red Sox to win the World Series and think that they could shut down the Corrs Train to win it all, I admit that the Rockies winning would be a great story. Todd Helton is one of the best players of this era, probably top ten, maybe even top five. He is one of the best hitters for average, up there with Ichiro. But he constantly has the stigma of "Corrs Field" riding over him. A World Series ring would do a lot for his credentials.

Meanwhile Dan O'Dowd has turned around a franchise that has seen a little success, but has never been near where they are now. With excellent drafting and trades, the Rockies are now a team that can contend year in and year out. There make-shift pitching staff has done the job, keeping the opposing team's score low enough for the amazing offense, made up mostly of young players who will be the team's core for years to come, to win games decesively. Manny Corpas has proven to be a un-hittable closer, both in the playoffs and the regular season. Matt Holliday, Troy Tulowitzki and the rest of the cast of regulars are slugging this team to victory, but the pitching hasn't been too shabby either.

This is a team I liked for two years down the line, maybe with the addition of another pitcher or two, same as the D-Backs, but both teams have shocked everyone and now baseball fans are left with an exciting series. Hopefully people will tune in and find out more about two teams that had great years, mostly under the radar.

One other thing from this series was the disgraceful behavior by the Diamondbacks fans. I know it was just a handful of fans and I know that it happens all over the place, but come on. It was the right call and to delay a game for that long was just ridiculous. Booing is one thing, but throwing full water bottles onto the field near players was wrong. Express your displeasure with boos, but don't throw things on the field. The D-Backs have been an amazingly successful franchise, having been around for just ten years and having a shot at their second World Series within their grasp. These fans should behave better than they did.

Moving on to the ALCS, the series everyone is talking about.

The Red Sox and the Indians are two teams that had great seasons, just like the Rockies and Diamondbacks, but both have been in the spotlight longer.

Josh Beckett and C.C. Sabathia are both Cy Young contenders and tomorrow's game should be exciting.

My prediction: 6-2 Red Sox, Bobby Kielty continues his success against C.C. with at least two hits and two RBI.

On the NL side, the Diamondbacks will not be able to salvage the second game of the series, as the Rockies take the game 7-3.

Enjoy the games tomorrow night.

Torre, A-Rod Eras in Bronx Appears to Be Over

As a Red Sox fan, I couldn't help but smile after the Yankees fell to the Cleveland Indians today in the Bronx, ending their season.

As a baseball fan I couldn't help but feel sorry for Joe Torre, one of the game's best managers, ever, as he seemingly finished his career in New York with a walk to the dugout, head down, as the Bronx faithful gave him a final cheer.

Torre has not lived up to the Boss' expectations the past few years and while he has been able to scrape by the past few years without that elusive fifth World Series ring, this year seems to be his last.

Loyal players like Jorge Posada and Derek Jeter stuck up for their manager, a player favorite, but it probably won't be enough to save him, as The Boss wants one thing: rings.

As I watch Game 4 of the 2004 ALCS (yes I own the DVD set with all the ALCS and World Series games from that year) I remember how close it came to the end of Torre in New York as he helped the Yankees become the first baseball team ever to blow a 3-0 series lead. He survived that set-back but won't survive this one.

Steinbrenner said Torre was managing for his career in New York and with the loss, it appears that he will be out of a job.

Joe Girardi, Don Mattingly and maybe even Tony LaRussa will be the top candidates to replace Torre, though I think it is Girardi's job if he wants it and he should take it.

Girardi reminds me of a young Torre, a good player who will be an even better manager, liked by fans and players.

Mattingly should stay in the Yankees organization, helping Joe G replace Joe T, but he may be able to pick up a managerial job of his own somewhere else.

With LaRussa out of St. Louis, I can see Torre spending a few more years in baseball their, in a huge baseball town with appreciative fans, where he once played. He can retire there with less pressure and finish his career on a good note, maybe even leading the Cardinals to another World Series victory.

Meanwhile I can see LaRussa heading up to Seattle to join Walt Jocketty as the two of them continue their dominance as great baseball minds, using Ichiro Suzuki and the rest to take over the AL West from the Angels, who desperately need a power hitter or two, as proved by the loss to the Red Sox, where their offense looked very over-matched.

As for Alex Rodriguez, I think it is time for him to get out of the Bronx and I think he feels the same way, even if he didn't say it. He will never be a "True Yankee" after never winning a World Series ring, and I don't think he ever will be.

A-Rod can't seem to take the pressure and I think he will opt out. He put that clause in for a reason and without the Rangers picking up his contract, Yanks GM Brian Cashman said they wouldn't go after him.

My prediction is this: The Red Sox will trade Manny Ramirez for a third starter, sending him to somewhere like the Chicago White Sox for Jon Garland or Javier Vazquez or to the Angels for Kelvim Escobar or Ervin Santana or even to the Dodgers to bring back Derek Lowe or for someone like Chad Billingsley (if the Dodgers would trade Billingsley, it would be worth Manny and a prospect, like Craig Hansen).

Mike Lowell will leave the Sox to free agency to go back to the NL to finish his career, and Curt Schilling will leave as well, heading somewhere like Arizona to serve as a Number Two starter in an easier league. With Ramirez, Lowell, and Schill gone, the Sox can afford to spend a lot of money on A-Rod and add him to the lineup.

The Sox will have Beckett, Matzusaka, Garland/Vazquez/Escobar/Santana/Lowe/Billingsley/???, Wakefield, and Lester/Buchholz in the rotation and a 3-4-5 of Ortiz, Rodriguez, and Drew (who can hopefully step-up) and Jacoby Ellsbury starting in leftfield as the replacement lead-off hitter for Johnny Damon they hoped to find in Coco Crisp, who will be a great number nine hitter.

The Sox are already a World Series contender and should win this year, but this off-season they will still be very active, finally ridding themselves of the headache (but great hitter) that Ramirez is, adding an all-time great (maybe the best ever) in A-Rod, and adding a third starter they will need to replace Schilling. Schilling cannot pitch three more years in Boston, but if they win the World Series this year, he could do that somewhere else and earn a Hall of Fame plaque. The Sox need to make room for Ellsbury, a budding superstar, and also for Buchholz, a future Cy Young winner. The future is bright this yea and in the future for the Sox.

No matter what, it should be an interesting off-season, but first comes a couple great Championship Series.

Go Sox! Go D-Backs! I predicted it on WVOF, now its time for it to happen.

The Rangers

During tonight's game five I realized something. This is the most emotionally attached I've been to a sports team since the 2004 Red Sox won the World Series.

I've always been a Rangers fan, since the Whalers left Hartford at least, but former Mirror Sports Editor Dan Akeson really made me attached to this team. His connection and live and die with the team attitude made me become emotionally attached as well. Tonight's loss hurts, but the Rangers have not yet lost at MSG in the playoffs and that will continue.

Buffalo will get what they deserve. Damn Chris Drury.

The Rangers

During tonight's game five I realized something. This is the most emotionally attached I've been to a sports team since the 2004 Red Sox won the World Series.

I've always been a Rangers fan, since the Whalers left Hartford at least, but former Mirror Sports Editor Dan Akeson really made me attached to this team. His connection and live and die with the team attitude made me become emotionally attached as well. Tonight's loss hurts, but the Rangers have not yet lost at MSG in the playoffs and that will continue.

Buffalo will get what they deserve. Damn Chris Drury.