Adam Silver Weighs Heavy Hand in First Major Controversy as Commissioner

Adam Silver took over for former NBA Commissioner David Stern on
February 1 of this Year. Stern had served as commish for 30 years

Some detractors complained about Adam Silver's desire to investigate the controversy regarding racist comments made by Los Angeles Clippers owner Donald Sterling late last week. The issue was as close you could come to a one-sided one, yet Silver decided to wait before acting. Yet any fears that Silver's decision regarding Sterling wouldn't be harsh enough subsided after the commissioner's lifetime ban and $2.5 million fine came down yesterday. Silver was undoubtedly tossed a bowling-ball sized pitch for his first major controversy to deal with as commissioner. However, the uncompromising way in which Silver handled the controversy serves as a statement for the direction the NBA is headed, and a win for everyone involved. 

Silver used his power as commissioner as broadly as possible in dealing with Clipper's owner Donald Sterling. His lifetime ban and $2.5 million dollar fine importantly creates a no-tolerance attitude by the NBA in regards to bigoted remarks such as Sterlings. It reaffirms the idea that the NBA is a player driven league, as well as appeases the black community, for which, Mike Wilbon has claimed, the NBA is the second most important communal institution behind the Church. Yet Silver's no nonsense punishment provides a winning platform for players, fans, and the Clippers organization. 

Reports were made during the early stages of the controversy that several NBA owners would use their leverage to oust Sterling from their ranks. Silver has given them a carte-blanche to do so, if not encouraged it. Silver claims he fully expects "to get the support [needed] from the NBA owners to remove him." Sterling's removal will require a 3/4s vote from the remaining owners. Acting to remove Sterling from ownership is of paramount importance to league owners, who are slated to face an increasingly "owners vs players" bargaining process in 2017.

Oprah Winfrey reportedly
has interest in Clippers

Additionally, Silver's move has allowed sponsors the opportunity to jump an board with the Los Angeles Clippers organization. For companies who backed out of support for the Clippers the statement has been made. With Sterling effectively removed from any aspect of the Clippers organization, sponsors can realign themselves with the popular sports franchise. Early reports of the many celebrities (from Oprah Winfrey, Magic Johnson and Sean Combs to Matt Damon) interested in purchasing the franchise boast positive returns of the teams viability.

Clippers Protest before Game 4 in Oakland, CA

Yet, perhaps the most important impact of Silver's decision is the one it will have on the players. Several playoff teams had voiced their displeasure with Sterling's actions, most notably the Los Angeles Clippers themselves, who staged a silent protest before their Game 4 matchup with Golden State. Recent reports have claimed the Golden State Warriors were willing to walk-off before the tip of Game 5, and that there was support from several teams to boycott last nights games. Silver's decision regarding Sterling has taken an incredible amount of pressure off of these players, showing the league office is behind them. It is difficult to say whether these teams will be able to completely return to business as usual, particularly the Clippers. However, Adam Silver has given them a much better opportunity to do so. 

Adam Silver has dealt with the Donald Sterling controversy in a terrific fashion, helping build confidence in his early tenure as NBA commissioner. He has been hailed as now both a commissioner of both the players and the coaches. It will be interesting to see how this move will impact incidents in other sports, and across the nation. 

Injury Woes, Braves Struggles Ring Similar Tune For Nationals

Zimmerman? Out 4-6 weeks. Wilson Ramos? Also out 4-6 weeks. Fister? Tuning up for activation. Span? Seven day disabled list. Werth? Worrisome groin strain. Early season injuries have become a familiar problem for the team many picked as preseason favorites in the National League East. The Washington Nationals are no strangers to injury. One year removed from winning 98 games, the Nationals saw their record slip to 86-76 in 2013. Injuries were a large part of the dip, as the team saw Bryce Harper, Jayson Werth, and Wilson Ramos all miss extended time. Their record with all three in the lineup? 33-20, or the winning percentage of an 100-win season. 

Ryan Zimmerman (3B) fractures his thumb in
a game at Atlanta on April 12. Out 4-6 weeks.

Early injuries in 2014 could spell trouble for a team facing a season-long fight with NL East rival Atlanta for the division crown. In a division containing improved rosters in Miami and New York, the Nationals have little margin for error while their stars get healthy. 

Luckily, the Atlanta Braves have had their own trouble with injuries to start the 2014 season, having already lost pitchers Kris Medlen and Brandon Beachy for the season. Yet, the Nationals have failed to capitalize in two series with the Braves so far, going 1-5 while posting a minus-16 run differential. The Nationals have handled their business elsewhere, sweeping series with the division rival Mets and Marlins. However, the team can't afford to post a record against Atlanta similar to the 6-13 record they posted in 2013. 

The Nationals will next face the Braves at home on June 19. They will look to get back on track against Miami as they lead the first game of a 3-game series, 9-2, heading into the stretch.

What's In a Name - Examining the Redskin's Name Controversy

In May of 2013 Snyder claimed the team
would "never" change it's name

It's hard to believe that something not involving new head coach Jay Gruden, free agent acquisition DeSean Jackson, or third year quarterback Robert Griffin III is capturing the headlines in Washington the way the current debate over the team's name is.  The current controversy over the NFL franchise based in our Nation's Capitol has intensified over the past year. Last May, team owner Dan Snyder stoked the fire, claiming the team would "never" change it's name. Since then, an intensified effort by Native American organizations and supporters alike, including an advertisement released during Superbowl Week, has been made to hasten change. Further fueling the debate was the recent backlash associated with Snyder's formation of the Washington Redskin's Original American Foundation, a move many have called pandering.

Perhaps the most disheartening aspect of the entire saga, has been Snyder's opposition to even discussing a change. What is clear, is that the name "Redskins" and caricature used as the teams mascot is disparaging to at least a marginal group of Americans. In a day and age, now 50 years removed from the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the idea of a professional sports franchise using a racial epithet as its mascot is unacceptable. The continued use of such a word constitutes a blemish, not a bright spot, upon the legacy of one of the NFL's most storied franchises.

Yet, the tide may be turning in the fight to change the name of the Washington Redskins. Recent rejections by the U.S Patent Office of products using the 'derogatory' slur, and the support of D.C mayor Vincent Gray for a name change exemplify growing support on the side of Native American groups. However, apathy on the part of fans continues to be one of the largest deterrents to changing the name. Though numerous rebranding campaigns have taken place, my personal favorite could serve to bridge the gap between fans who view the name 'Redskins' as one full of proud tradition to a more considerate name, the Washington Redhawks.

New Cleveland Indians Primary Logo

Washington has fallen, pitifully, behind in terms of sensitivity regarding sports mascots in recent years. The Cleveland Indians recently demoted their "Chief Wahoo" logo, opting for a block-C as their primary representation. Yet, DC sports fans need look no further than the city's professional basketball team for a positive example of rebranding. Late Washington Wizard's owner Abe Pollin's decision to change the teams name from the Bullets to the Wizards in 1995, due to the violent overtone of the old name, is indicative of the type of man he was. Snyder's insensitivity towards the impact of the franchise's name fits well with the insensitivity he has shown towards the fan experience at FedEx Field. 

Sometimes change comes slowly. And in the case of the Washington Redskins, a name change has been a long time coming. The price to rebrand the Washington Redskins will be extreme, but the positive impact it will cause far outweighs the cost. 

  

The House That Calhoun Built - Exploring UConn's Legacy

Kentucky, UNC, Duke, UCLA, Michigan State, Indiana, Kansas. If you were to ask someone to list the greatest college basketball programs of all time you would probably get a list similar to that one. A few others might grace the list, from Louisville to Connecticut, to the occasional Florida and Georgetown or even wildcards like NC State. Yet the discussion on the upper echelon of college basketball is largely set. Connecticut's magical run in this years tournament raises questions of whether they can finally break into the highest tier of college basketball legacy. The guys over at FiveThirtyEight have made it clear UConn's Men and Women's team combine to be the the best program of all time. Yet, given their recent accomplishments, the Men's team alone makes a excellent case for the best program in the last twenty years. Here's why:
   

Jim Calhoun has led the Huskies to three
National Titles and four Final Four appearances

In May of 1986, the winningest coach in Northeastern University basketball history packed his bags for Connecticut. Jim Calhoun would spend the next 26 years coaching the University of Connecticut Men's Basketball team, building the program into, arguably, the best of the past 20 years. During Calhoun's tenure, the Huskies made 18 NCAA Tournament appearances, 13 times reaching the Sweet Sixteen. Combined with nine Elite Eights, four Final Fours, and three Championships, Calhoun built a Hall of Fame career coaching the Huskies. Following Calhoun's departure from the school, former Connecticut guard Kevin Ollie has taken the helm. The success garnered by Ollie in his first two years as head coach, including two 20 win seasons, and an NCAA Championship offers hope for a bright future at Connecticut, assuming he chooses to re-sign.

However, what has been most impressive about the Huskies over the last twenty years has been the era in which they've played. Without taking anything away from the great John Wooden UCLA teams, or any team to win consistently before the 1980s, the Huskies have accomplished more than anyone else in, arguably, the most balanced era of college basketball. Since the '94 tournament, the Huskies have appeared in 9 Elite Eights, and 5 Final Fours, while posting 16 twenty win seasons. Over that span, the Huskies have never had a losing season, and won 30+ games eight times. In an era where twelve programs have won an NCAA Championship in the past twenty years, Connecticut leads the pack with four titles, followed by Kentucky with three and Duke, North Carolina, and Florida with two. Yet despite their on the court excellence, for many, UConn doesn't fit the bill as an elite college basketball program. Perhaps this years championship can change some minds. 

UConn Wins Defensive Slugfest, Headed to Final Four

Connecticut coach Kevin Ollie has his team headed
to the Final Four in his first Tournament appearance

It seemed to be poetic justice when Niels Giffey's first of two free throw attempts rolled around the rim before dropping, all but sealing a UConn victory over the Michigan State Spartans. The Connecticut senior swingman struggled from the field, seeing many of his five missed three point attempts rim out following good looks. The dream run Shabazz Napier has the Huskies on has shades of Kemba Walker's 2011 run to an NCAA Championship. The Connecticut team is headed to it's fifth Final Four since 1999, and first under new coach Kevin Ollie, in his first NCAA Tournament appearance. When asked on court after the game, Ollie described the feeling; "Terrence [has] to slap me to make sure I'm not dreaming."
In a game which saw neither team shooting more than 40% from the field, turnovers ended up costing the Spartans, who saw a nine point lead evaporate midway through the second period. UConn got off to a hot start, building a 12-2 advantage early, while holding Michigan State to one made field goal in the first eight minutes of play. But the Spartans would counter with a stretch of great transition offense, taking their first lead of the game, 22-21, following a made three by sophomore Gary Harris, with 3:27 to go in the first half. MSU would end the first half on a 9-0 run to take a four point lead into the locker room.

Scrappy Defense by both side dominated much
of Sunday's Elite Eight matchup at the Garden

The Spartans carried that momentum into the second period, until Connecticut senior Shabazz Napier ended a 16-2 drought with a three pointer at the 16 minute mark. Michigan State turnovers, combined with a staunch UConn defense took away the transition game that the Spartans had built their lead upon. For lengthy stretches in the second half, the Spartans were forced to settle for contested shots late in the shot clock. Despite shooting 5-22 from 3-point land, the Huskies built a 10-point 49-39 lead with 6:30 to go, on clutch 3-pointers from Napier and Ryan Boatright, separated by a Niels Giffey run-out dunk. Napier all but sealed the win by making three of three free throw attempts following Michigan State senior guard Keith Appling's fifth foul with 30.6 seconds remaining in the game. The Connecticut senior collected 25 points, 6 rebounds, and 4 assists, while going 9-9 from the charity stripe. Next, the Huskies will take on the Florida Gators, who they beat early this season on a Napier buzzer beater, in the National Semifinal on Saturday in Arlington, TX.

Daniels Goes Off As UConn Survives Iowa State

The energy was palpable at tip-off for what would be the first NCAA Tournament game at Madison Square Garden since 1961. The Huskies capped a five point victory by making 15 straight free throws down the stretch in a game in which they trailed for only 34 seconds. Connecticut's defense held Iowa State to 33% shooting in the first half, while holding the Cyclone's DeAndre Kane and Melvin Ejim to 23 points on 9-31 shooting.

Junior DeAndre Daniels (2) erupts for
27 points and 10 rebounds in win

The atmosphere in the Garden elicited the feeling of a Huskies' home game, given the mere 139 miles between the stadium and UConn's campus in Storrs, Connecticut. Trailing 2-3 in the first half, Shabazz Napier hit a fadeaway three at the 18-minute mark and never looked back. Napier would hit his first four shots, all threes, but the star of the show for UConn offensively was DeAndre Daniels. Daniels got it going early hitting a three pointer followed by a spinning fadeaway jumper with 4:30 to go in the first half. Daniels would finish the night with 27 points and 10 rebounds on 10-15 shooting from the field, including a three that pushed the lead to 17 with 14:17 to play in the game. With 9:44 to play, Iowa State's chances to comeback looked bleak after senior Mevlin Ejim picked up his third and fourth fouls on consecutive possessions. However, the Cyclone's wouldn't go down without a fight. Led by DeAndre Kane and Dustin Hogue (who scored a game high 34 points), Iowa State got to within 4 points, but couldn't overcome the Huskies 90.9% mark from the charity stripe. Connecticut will face the winner of Michigan State-Virginia on Sunday night at the Garden.   

Sorting Out the Sweet Sixteen

With the second weekend of the 2014 NCAA Tournament fast approaching, the field has been narrowed to sixteen teams. The field features three 10-plus seeded teams, and five 7-plus seeded teams. Overall number one seeded Florida is still around, as are two of the three other top seeds in Virginia and Arizona. Let's take an in depth look at each region of the bracket.

Senior Scottie Wilbekin (5) speaks with
Head Coach Billy Donovan

South Region - Memphis, TN
What more is there to say about the Southern Region. Overall number one seed Florida has the easiest path of any team remaining to make it to the Final Four. Led by senior guard Scottie Wilbekin, the Gators have lost only two games this year, both to ranked non-conference opponents. They'll have a tough test in UCLA, but head coach Billy Donovan has two NCAA Championships to his name (back-to-back in 2006-2007). So far their defense has looked fine in the tournament, but they have had difficulty this season when Wilbekin has gotten into foul trouble. The 10-11 matchup between Stanford and Dayton is a toss-up, and the winner will have a tough task in facing the winner of UCLA-Florida, but crazier things have happened in march.

Favorite - Florida

East Region - Madison Square Gardens, New York, NY

The Fourth Round matchup between Virginia and Michigan State will likely determine the winner of the East Region. MSU is playing terrific basketball, and with a healthy roster are showing why they entered the season ranked so highly. Virginia has struggled at times in the tournament so far, but the one consistency has been their defense. Connecticut is winning for all the reasons I mentioned earlier this week (in case you missed it) and could give the winner of MSU-UVA a run for their money. Shabazz Napier has been huge, and the bench for UConn has played surprisingly inspired basketball. Iowa State has a talented team, but the loss of sophomore forward Georges Niang will be difficult to overcome. I also question Iowa State's top end size to match up with the bigs of UConn. One thing that could give Connecticut the edge in both games is location. Madison Square Gardens is as close to a home game as you can get, especially for Brooklyn natives Terrence Samuel and Omar Calhoun. Alas, Michigan State still sports the most talented roster, and has legendary coach Tom Izzo to boot. 

Favorite - Michigan State

Senior guard Xavier Thames drives to the
rim against University of Arizona

West Region - Anaheim, CA

Two compelling games top the bracket in the West Region. Baylor has been playing lights out in the first two rounds, and their size and athleticism will be a handful for 2 seed Wisconsin. If the Wisconsin team that showed up in the second half of their matchup with Oregon shows up to play they should be able to cover the Bears. The 1-4 matchup between San Diego State and Arizona could likewise go either way. These two teams met early in the non-conference schedule this year, with Arizona pulling out the nine point win. Arizona has the talent to take out SDSU, and handle the winner of Wisconsin-Baylor. However, SDSU has a stifling defense, and senior guard Xavier Thames has been a stud in the tournament so far.
Favorite - Arizona

Midwest Region - Indianapolis, IN

Russ Smith (2) lays it in against Southern
Methodist University during AAC play

Perhaps the most highly anticipated Sweet Sixteen matchup of all time will pit 4th seed Louisville against, heated rival, 8th seeded Kentucky. Both John Calipari and Rick Pitino have ample tournament coaching experience, and the winner of this matchup stands a great chance of advancing to the Final Four. Kentucky's super talented roster, led by freshman forward Julius Randle, is finally figuring things out, while Louisville can rely on seniors Luke Hancock and Russ Smith to contribute heavily. Experience may end up reining supreme if freshman twin guards Andrew and Aaron Harrison can't handle the high-pressure defense Louisville will unleash. Michigan would roll past Tennessee on any given day, but Tennessee recent stretch of excellent basketball will make things tough. Either way, the winner of Louisville-Kentucky should be the favorite to advance from the Midwest.
Favorite - Louisville

NFL Celebration Rule Changes Not A Slam Dunk

As most NFL fans will know by now, the League Office has recently established a rule prohibiting touchdown celebrations involving dunking over the goal posts. Despite understandable reasons for the rule change (read: Jimmy Graham's celebration in Atlanta that bent the goal posts causing a delay of game) this move continues to fuel the "No Fun League" moniker the League has

Jimmy Graham bends
goal posts in Atlanta

gained in recent years. Knee-jerk reaction. That's what many are calling the change, and given some of the NFL's recent decisions in terms of on-field behavior that's an accurate description. Especially when you consider the circumstance of Jimmy Graham's dunk that many believe the rule is based on. The slight tilt was most likely a result of Graham  suspending his body weight on the posts. Clearly this type of two handed jam represents the exception, not the rule in the spectrum of dunk celebrations in the NFL. 

Perhaps the most concerning aspect of the rule change is the NFL's continuing tendency to ignore the desires of its fans in regards to the evolution of the game. Changes involving player safety are something that, though some may lament the disappearance of bone-crushing hits, many fans can understand, if not agree with. However, the progressive tightening of the NFL's belt in terms of celebration has been going on for some time. The days of ritual team celebrations, the "Fun Bunch" Redskins of the 1980s being one of my personal favorites, are long gone. Heck, even using another player, or cheerleader for that matter, in a

Slim chance of that.
Sorry Chad.

celebration will invoke a 15-yard unsportsmanlike conduct penalty. And that's not too say there isn't a point at which celebration becomes too excessive. Most people would agree with the ban on outside props used in touchdown celebrations (a la the Chad Johnson and Terrell Owens celebrations of the early 2000s). Yet I, for one, can't help but feel that part of the fabric of the game is being torn asunder with the insistence to remove the individualism players could once display on the field. Football is a game driven by passion. And it shows in all aspects of the game, from on the field trash talk, to the press conferences. Fundamentally, the League Office is attempting to bottle up this passion. In the grand scheme of things this rule change won't have a perceivable impact on the way fans enjoy the game. However, I can't help but to imagine what kind of iconic moments we may miss out on because of it.    

Napier, Bench Fuel UConn Win Over Villanova After Early Deficit

With 12:09 left in the first half of Saturday's third round matchup with Villanova, UConn's tournament hopes looked to be fading fast. Senior point guard Shabazz Napier had just picked up his second foul of the night, one that would cause head coach Kevin Ollie to pull him for the remainder of the half, and the Huskies found themselves in a 16-9 deficit. That deficit quickly became ten points when Villanova junior guard Darrun Hillard hit a 3-point jumper at the 11:30 mark. But that's when things began to click for a Connecticut squad appearing in their first NCAA Tournament under new head coach Kevin Ollie. Tough defense off the bench from freshman center Amida Brimah, combined with an offensive outburst from reserves Lasan Kromah and fresman Terrence Samuel helped the Huskies build a five point lead over Jay Wright's Wildcats. The Huskies would enter halftime with a 25-24 advantage, achieved with Napier on the bench. 

Heading into the half, Coach Kevin Ollie spoke of his
squad's heart claiming "We're going to win this game"

Entering the second half with a one point lead, the Huskies never looked back. Senior guard Shabazz Napier put on a show, hitting a pair of back to back deep 3 pointers to extend UConn's lead to eleven with 9:00 left in the contest, and another step-back three with 5 seconds on the shot clock at the six minute mark. The dribble-drive penetration by starting guards Ryan Boatright and Napier allowed Connecticut to pick apart the defensive pressure that Villanova employed for much of the second period. In a game where senior sharpshooter Neils Giffey went 1-3 from the field and failed to hit a three pointer the Huskies went a combined 9-20 from beyond the arc. Villanova's cold streak from downtown continued as they went 11-31 as a team, and tied an NCAA Tournament record low for two-point field goals made with seven. Connecticut's bench outscored Villanova's 26-5.

Trainer's work on Napier late in second half

After reaggravating a calf/ankle injury sustained on an un-called foul in the early minutes, Napier left the game inside of four minutes. The senior would later return, only to add to his "Mr. Clutch" MO with a driving windmill-layup to put the Huskies up nine with 2:17 to go. The time off will be beneficial for Napier's recovery. The Huskies will face the winner of the Iowa State - North Carolina at Madison Square Gardens on Friday March 28. (See limited highlights and analysis of the game here.)

7 Reasons UConn Could Win It All

Call me a homer all you want, but people tend to forget the Connecticut Huskies have already beaten Tournament overall number one Florida this year. The Huskies have as good a chance as anyone to win the NCAA Championship in this years tournament. Without a true favorite to win, any team who gets hot and has the proper credentials could make the six game run to a National Championship. Here are 7 reasons the Huskies could be that team.

2011 NCAA Championship Team (Napier far left)

Championship Experience

Connecticut's magical run in the 2011 Tournament can serve as more than motivation for Kevin Ollie's squad. The 2014 Huskies boast 3 senior holdovers from the squad that made an improbable run to the Championship in 2011. Shabazz Napier and Niels Giffey play big minutes for this years Connecticut team, while the third championship holdover, Tyler Olander, provides spot help and rest for the younger bigs on the roster.  

Poise

The backcourt leadership from Shabazz Napier and Ryan Boatright play a big role in the poise this years team continues to show. They've had their hiccups along the way, including embarrassing losses to Houston and Louisville, but more often than not they've stayed in games mentally even when down. Thursday night's comeback win over St. Joseph's offers a prime example of the Huskies ability to stick to playing fundamentally sound basketball when behind, rather than forcing shots and making critical mistakes on defense. Without poise, no team can make it through the grueling six-game tilt that is the Big Dance.

Taking Advantage at the Charity Stripe

Few teams in the NCAA shoot better than the Huskies do from the free throw line, at 76.4%. And if Thursday's comeback win, or NC State's utter collapse against St. Louis aren't evidence enough, Free Throw's can be absolutely vital to any Tournament run. Even team worst shooter Amida Brimah (shooting 57.1%) is making his shots, hitting three huge shots in last night's win. With Shabazz Napier leading the way at 85.9% the Huskies can put out a lineup to close out games where everyone on the floor is shooting better than 76.7% from the stripe.

#5 Niels Giffey (Germany) boasts an
unreal 52.5% from beyond the arc

Deadly From 3-Point Range

UConn possesses three players who can consistently hit from beyond the arc in Napier, Boatright and DeAndre Daniels. Daniels' 43.5% mark from beyond the arc adds dangerous versatility to his offensive repertoire. And those three are before you even mention Senior Niels Giffey who is absolutely deadly with a 52.5% 3-Point Shooting Percentage, good for second in the NCAA. UConn's prowess with the three ball allows them to effectively spread the floor to work isolations on the wings, or inside with young big men Amida Brimah and Phillip Nolan.  

Efficient Pressure Defense

The Huskies play an efficient brand of pressure defense that is predicated on quick switches and  their guards putting pressure on opponents before they cross the centerline. This defense forces opponents to make crisp passes to the open man, and hit open shots when they present themselves, a difficult task in a high pressure, tournament environment. This brand of defense often results in turnovers and a high point-off-turnovers differential. If UConn takes care of the ball, they can heavily swing games in their favor.

Exceptional Backcourt Play

One of the most important characteristics of an NCAA Champion is to have, at the least, passable play from the guards. UConn is exceptional in the backcourt with Shabazz Napier and Ryan Boatright leading the way and Omar Calhoun and Lasan Kromah coming off the bench. All four offer great defensive pressure and speed, but what makes this group deadly is Napier and Boatright's ability to turn the corner and get to the rim. This ability was on display Thursday night, and helped to fuel Connecticut's second round comeback.

Mr. Clutch

Napier (13) hits winning shot against Florida on December 2nd

Perhaps the most compelling reason the Huskies are capable of anything is senior point guard Shabazz Napier. Already with AAC Player of the Year, Napier looks to end his career at UConn the way it started, with a National Championship. Napier has shown a tendency to be clutch in crunch time, and no stage has been too big. He hit the game winner at Florida early this year, after missing his first attempt and getting his own rebound no less. Napier has hit more clutch shots than perhaps any player in Connecticut Men's Basketball history. Yes, that is a history that includes the likes of Kemba Walker, Ray Allen, Richard Hamilton, Caron Butler, Ben Gordon and Chris Smith. And by the looks of it, Napier's clutch play is rubbing off on teammates, including Freshman Amida Brimah who's old-school three-point play helped send last nights game to Overtime. 

Upset Alert -- 1 Florida vs 9 Pittsburgh

Senior Lamar Patterson (21) goes for a jam in
matchup with Duquesne on November 30

Many casual followers of the NCAA Tournament will look at Saturdays One-Nine matchup between the Florida Gators and Pittsburgh Panthers as just that, a One-Nine matchup in the third round of the tournament. However, there is no guarantee that the tournament's number one seed, the Florida Gators will make it out of the first weekend of the Big Dance. The Gators potentially face the toughest third round matchup of any of the top seeds. With the efficient offense, and tenacious defense (all four starters outside of big man Talib Zanna notched two-plus steals) unleashed against Colorado on Thursday evening, Jamie Dixon's squad is primed to come into their Saturday matchup firing on all cylinders. Expect to see a heavy dose of Seniors Talib Zanna and Lamar Patterson, as well as a solid backcourt presence from underclassmen Cameron Wright and James Robinson. 

The potential for a third round upset in the Tournament's South Region is deeper than Pitt's stellar second round performance and Florida's escape from their matchup with 16-seed Albany. Pittsburgh has played up to snuff all season long, featuring only one double-digit loss to Duke, at the time ranked 17th in the Nation. Many of the players on Jamie Dixon's squad boasts a Big East pedigree of playing in high pressure situations against incredibly talented teams before their transition to the ACC this year. Florida's journey to the tournament's top overall seed has been far less strenuous, and seeing consecutive tough match-ups could spell the end to their Championship hopes.  If Pittsburgh's front-court can force the issue, and their defense can stay aggressive and under control than Florida is in for a monumental task to advance to the Sweet Sixteen.  

The Calm Before the Storm - 5 Thoughts on This Years NCAA Tournament

Now I would be remised to give thoughts on the NCAA tournament without posting my bracket so here goes:

Why We Love March Madness?

March Madness offers an indelible experience for even the most casual basketball fans. Every year, stories abound of non-fans filling out exceptionally accurate brackets by picking the mascots they like the most. But it's not the fan fare of filling out brackets or flexing ones college basketball knowledge in front of complete strangers that makes the NCAA Tournament one of the best sporting events of the year. Certainly, these things add dimension to the tournament, but what is truly gripping is the "anything can happen" atmosphere. We watch for the '13 Florida Gulf Coasts, '06 George Masons, and '85 Villanovas that defy the odds in exhilarating fashion. The Warren Buffett sponsored billion-dollar bracket challenge brings nice context to the popularity of March Madness; it is almost literally unpredictable.

Unprecedented Parity in the Field of 64

This year's tournament offers an almost unprecedented level of parity, especially amongst the top twenty teams in the nation. Of the top-rated seeds, a championship run from any of the top four seeds in each region would not be surprising. Teams like Kansas and Kentucky offer the high end talent to win it all, but health concerns and lack of consistency would make early tournament exits unsurprising. Several teams in this year's tournament offer exceptional guard play, a strong indicator of post-season performance (Syracuse, Wichita St, every team from the AAC). While, a handful of lower seeds add transcendent players with the talent to lift their teams to the top (see Oklahoma State's Marcus Smart, UConn's Shabazz Napier, Creighton's Doug McDermott). When comparing the preseason and postseason AP polls, the top 20 teams have moved all over the map, leading to a large disparity between talent (perceived or actual) and performance on the court.

A Team Effort

One of the most interesting dynamics to play out in recent years of the NCAA tournament is the rise of Mid-Major teams as legitimate Final Four contenders. This can be attributed to, in large part, by the advent of the NBA's "One Year Rule". One-and-done players are more common than ever before, as the days of the four-year superstar are all but gone (see Patrick Ewing at Georgetown, Chris Mullin at St. Johns, Michael Jordan at UNC for 3 years). Perennial powerhouses with freshman sensations, such as Duke with Jabari Parker and Kansas With Wiggins/Embiid, must match up with well-oiled, senior-laden mid-major squads. The results, as have been the case in many recent years are more upsets and lower seeds advancing than past tournaments. Perhaps the logjam of top 20 teams with legitimate title hopes will stifle this current trend, but expect to see at least one 6+ seed advance to this year's Elite Eight.

Transcendent Talent, No Transcendent Team

This year's tournament offers exceptional talent on the individual level. Freshman phenoms Jabari Parker and Andrew Wiggins lead highly ranked Duke and Kansas, respectively. Despite a disappointing sophomore campaign, Oklahoma State's Marcus Smart has the talent to play at the next level. Senior's Shabazz Napier of Connecticutt and Doug McDermott if Creighton may not offer high-level NBA talent, but both represent their conference's Player of the Year. However, the amount of individual talent in the tournament has not led to a true favorite to win the tournament.

Bracket Bias for Big Conferences?
One thing I noticed when examining this years bracket is the tendency to align big conference teams in a way that gives them the most potential for tournament success. This may or may not be an intentional move by the selection committee to promote exposure for the larger market share the large conferences bring in. When examining the ACC, Big 10 and the AAC for instance, the difference in potential tournament conference success is clear. The ACC boasts 2 teams in each of the South, East and Midwest regions, while the Big 10 boasts 2 teams in the West region and one team in each of the remaining regions. Meanwhile, the AAC has 3 of there 4 tournament teams in the East region. Seeding plays a big role in the location of each team, but the question should be asked, why are big conferences seemingly favored in terms of tournament spread?