Hoosiers Handle Spartans, Down Another Top 5 Opponent

Cody Zeller led the charge on the offensive end with 18 points, and the Indiana Hoosiers beat the #5 ranked Michigan State Spartans 70-55 last night in front of a raucous home crowd at Assembly Hall.

Victor Oladipo pitched in 13 points while Christian Watford had 10 points and 14 rebounds, a career high.  The Hoosiers dominated this game from start to finish, and it is looking like they have gotten past their January slump that saw them lose games to some inferior opponents like Nebraska.

These Hoosiers looked good from start to finish last night, dominating on the offensive end while making life difficult for MSU players not named Draymond Green.  That man was an absolute bear last night, yet the Hoosiers weren't afraid and decided to let Green try to beat them single-handedly.  The crowd was insane, and I am bold enough to say that the IU crowd/fans are in the top five in the country when it comes to loudness.  Duke and UNC are right there, but Hoosier nation is revitalized and roaring these days even more than usual.  Even during the previous three years of losing teams, Indiana games sold out.  But now the Hoosiers are must-see television and are performing at an amazing level in the biggest games.

You can just see the confidence this team is playing with right now.  Head coach Tom Crean has them sold on what they are doing, and they are peaking at the right time now.  I know that had an ugly loss to Iowa, but these Hoosiers are looking to continue to play well and strengthen their seed in the tournament.  Having beaten the likes of Kentucky, Ohio State, and Michigan State, all top 5 opponents, the Hoosiers play great in these pressure situations.  These statement wins prove they can do it come March.  The remarkable thing about this whole turnaround is the fact that they only really added Cody Zeller to the mix this year.  Next year, the #2 recruiting class is coming in, so these Hoosiers can be scary good for years to come with guys wanting to come play at IU.

Regarding the game, there isn't much more to say other than reiterate the dominance of this effort.  With one more tuneup before the Big Ten Tournament, IU looks ready to make some noise.

Bulls Thoughts With Mahoney

The All-Star break is upon us, and with that comes a first half evaluation of the injury-ridden Chicago Bulls. Who would have thought Carlos Boozer and Omer Asik would be the only two players to make it through the first half of the season unscathed while playing in every game? Boozer’s health may be attributed to his extended time on the bench in particular 4th quarters, but that’s only speculation. However, even missing Derrick Rose couldn’t keep Tom Thibodeau’s defensive scheme from having success. As it stands the Bulls are in second place in the East with a record of 27-8. With that being said I give you my 1st half grades for your Chicago Bulls!

At center, from Turkey, Omer Asik (and Destroy). On offense grab it, pass it, or dunk it. The same goes on the defensive end, minus the dunk. Asik’s main goal is to be a bruiser, fluster the opposition with his length, and use his ability to run the floor. Thus far, he has done all the Bulls can ask him too. His effort, defense and rebounding cannot be questioned and though it’s a small step, he has become the tiniest bit better at catching and putting the ball up. A few times, he has even taken a dribble and made a jump hook, something his game did not have last year. With 6 fouls to give and all the energy in the world, Asik will continue to be a valuable defensive piece. Best case scenario he gives the East’s Beast’s such as Dwight Howard, Amare Stoudemire, and Chris Bosh fits come playoff time. Mid-Season grade: B+

At forward featuring a contract that makes the Bulls payroll jump higher than he can himself…Carlos Boozer. I’ll start with the positives. As mentioned earlier, he has been healthy. He hits open jump shots, and is an above average passer. He also leads the league in “Gimme that Sh*t’s” and “Grab it Jo’s”. The positives were short lived, onto the negatives. Boozer is often a black hole on offense. He jab steps and shoots fade-away’s like he’s Dirk Nowitzki. The problem, he doesn’t make them as often as Dirk, and when he misses it’s almost a sure rebound for the other team. There have also been countless situations where his effort can be questioned. Highlights have shown Boozer avoiding giving up a foul on plays at the rim and him being out-hustled by his man on the fast break. This is simply unacceptable. If he continues to stay healthy and brings a new level of intensity in the playoffs he can be a helpful piece. He's a threat to hit the open jumper, but he needs to be more of a force on the court. 
Mid-Season grade: B-

Ronnie Brewer knows his role and has thrived in it. He is active on offense and has clearly worked on his jump shot. His on-ball defense brings back memories of Scottie Pippen. If he were and inch or two taller he would be the dream matchup to guard that James character in Miami. However, he will be asked to take down the two guards in the East. Thibodeau will have to decide how to balance Brewer's defense and Hamilton's offense come playoff time. Brewer seems capable of being a significant contributor down the stretch. Thus far he has done his job. Mid-Season Grade: A-

Now for the rook, Jimmy Butler. I would hate to be the guy he has to guard in the final two minutes of a blowout. He brings intensity no matter what. He is out to prove he can perhaps replace Ronnie Brewer one day as a bench swing man with a tough defensive style. He has performed well in his limited playing time and has shown the ability to finish at the rim. Overall he has given the Bulls his all when asked to. Mid-Season Grade: B
Luol Deng finally got his due and made the All-Star team. The issue concerning Deng is his wrist. He bypassed the surgery that would have finished his season. Though I like his tenacity, his health concerns me based on his track record. His defense is impeccable and his outside shot is becoming more reliable as the days go by. If he can utilize his playoff experience and become a clutch go to option for D Rose, things will go well for the Bulls. Mid-Season Grade: A

The 7-foot-4 wingspan known as Taj Gibson has done all that he has been asked this year. His numbers are down a bit due to Boozer's health, but he is still effective on the defensive end. If he could improve his jump shot and his free-throw percentage, Boozer would see even less playing time. As it stands, Gibson will see time when a defensive presence is needed. Hopefully he has a few more dunks up his sleeve for this years playoffs. Mid-Season Grade: B

Gimme that Hot Sauce! It's pretty simple when it comes to Kyle Korver. He is either a spark or a dud. He has been shooting the rock well this year and is a dangerous passer off of a screen, but his defense consists of taking a charge and an attempted strip. This simply will not cut it when he has to guard players such as Dwyane Wade and Joe Johnson in the playoffs. He is a formidable matchup with the Mike Miller's and Steve Nowak's of the world, but beyond his stroke from the arc, he brings little to the table. Simply put, be spaces the floor and gives Rose more room to operate. Mid-Season Grade: B

Good old Johnny L as I call him. That's about all of the nice things I have to say about him. The man will forever be remembered as the guy who missed the free throws against the Nuggets and the chump that LeBron jumped over. This wouldn't be so hard to stomach, but when Lucas enters the game he feels like he has the ability to shoot the ball like he's the MVP himself. He needs to quite taking ridiculous jump shots and run the offense. I was disgusted when he achieved his career high of 25 points on 28 shots. At this point I'd consider him the 4th string point guard behind Rose, Watson, and savvy veteran Mike James. However, Thibodeau doesn't see things the same way as he continues to play him. Let's just hope Rose and Watson stay healthy throughout the playoffs and this issues blows over. Mid-Season Grade: D

Mike James. Like his tenure with the Bulls, I'll keep this short and sweet. He keeps the offense moving, isn't afraid of pressure, and he D'd up Rajon Rondo like he wanted to keep his job. Though his impact has been limited, he's done more than enough during his ten-day contracts. Mid-Season Grade: B

Quick-Draw McGraw Joakim Noah is next. Though I don't approve of his pistol celebration with a 4-2 lead over Boston, his effort of late has been remarkable. Over the last month Noah has been averaging 11.8 PPG and 11.5 RPG. His 15 foot jumper has become cash money and he always brings the intensity. Though he started off slow, the only legitimate complaint I have is that he needs to become a better finisher around the rim. When D Rose drives and misses, Noah needs to clean up the loose trash (see Mighty Ducks series). Mid Season Grade: B

Too big, too fast to strong. Reigning MVP Derrick Rose is fun to watch. Thibodeau has clearly been resting him to assure he is full strength come playoff time. His jump shot continues to improve, making him scarier for defenses around the league. He also has the type of swagger necessary to carry a team. With the talent pool Miami brings to the table, the story will always be do the Bulls have enough around Rose to compete. At this point all I know is that there is no one else I'd rather have steering the ship then Rose. I have no doubts he will be giving it his all injury or not come playoffs. Call me a homer but... Mid-Season Grade: A+ this dude's unreal.

Scal-a-brine! His chance to make headlines came earlier this year when he missed a game winning 3 against the Pacers. Either way, he is an extremely positive bench presence and knows Thibodeau's defensive scheme like the back of his hand. Not to mention Stacey King brings out his "A" material when this man steps on the floor. Whether it's getting up to celebrate with teammates or checking into the game, it's always good news when Scalabrine stands up. Mid-Season Grade: C+

Last but not least CJ Watsooooon. His shooting percentage isn't very hot at 38%, but with Rose sitting out he has been asked to do a lot. Watson has the speed and the jump shot to be an effective scorer. I only support his shot selection due to his track record. When John Lucas drops 41 in an NBA game I'll let a few reckless shots slide. For now, I think Watson is the perfect back up to Rose. His offensive game allows for the Bulls to run a similar offense as to when Rose is available. As the season presses on, his shots should fall more frequently. Mid-Season Grade: C+

Rip Hamilton I will give an Injured Reserve Pass. In his limited time I like his ability to be a shooting and passing threat off of screens. He has playoff experience and hopefully come back healthy and gain some chemistry with the team. If Rose can drive and dish to a slicing Luol Deng and a free Richard Hamilton, the offense will become much more potent. Hamilton brings the type of offense Korver does with better D.

Thibodeau has the Bulls playing at a high level. Anytime they play a weak team, they put them away. They will likely finish as the one or two seed in the Eastern Conference. The real question is will their teamwork and camaraderie be enough to get them past teams such as Miami or Oklahoma City? Overall Mid-Season Grade: A-

Guest Blogger of the Week-Shane Mahoney

Before you ask about the ridiculous picture to the side of this writing, I'd like to introduce you to our guest blogger of the week, Shane Mahoney.  This is a ridiculous picture of Mahoney when him and I were at a DePaul-Detroit basketball game in November of 2008, sitting courtside at the game.  His coat was obviously wild and suited for just about any temperature, as we called it "The Anteater Coat".

Mahoney is a Prospect '08 grad and student at Bowling Green State University in Bowling Green, Ohio.  Him and I have attended numerous sporting events over the years and also dueled in out on the basketball court frequently.  The reason I bring Mahoney on here today is because he specializes in all things Chicago Bulls.  I don't admit to watching every minute of every Bulls game, but I'd be surprised if he hadn't budgeted his time so far this year to watch basically every minute of every game.  Because of his passion  for the Bulls, I think he is well-equipped to grade out the Chicago Bulls as we are at the midway point of the NBA season.  This fiery redhead will give you his fiery perspective on the Bulls.

Take it away Mr. Mahoney.

NBA All-Star Weekend 2012 Thoughts

As I've grown older in age, I have become less and less interested in this particular weekend on the NBA schedule.  As a kid, I used to love watching the likes of MJ, Kobe, Shaq, etc play in the All-Star game.  These guys were superhuman to me, and it was just simply fun to watch.  My eyes used to light up as I saw the likes of Vince Carter doing amazing dunks thought unthinkable previously.  Even the Freshman/Sophomore (now the Rising Stars Challenge) kept me entertained as I got to see the greatest young players play at the same time.  The three point contest featured marksman from the stripe, as they tickled the twine with big scores.  I even watched the celebrity game just to see who was in it.  But now, at age 23, I am extremely jaded when it comes to the song and dance known as NBA All-Star weekend.  Here is a little recap of how my All-Star weekend went and some thoughts I had:

Friday
-I did not watch a second of the celebrity game.  I simply had no interest and I feel it would have been a total waste of time. I have no interest in trying to summarize the game or try to draw any significance out of it because there is none.

-Despite the Linsanity, I did not watch a single second of the Rising Stars Challenge.  It no longer interests me to see games in which no defense is being played and the players really don't care.  I don't know if I can blame them, though, because they don't want to get hurt.  And besides, I thought the "talent" in the game this year was pretty mediocre in general.

Saturday
I watched the entire slate of action on Saturday night and was actually more entertained than I thought I would be.  Here's how I break it down:

-Shooting Stars-Allan Houston and the New York team won this one, and I actually enjoy this competition because I enjoy watching these players attempt half court shots.  I can make a half court shot, but the fact that they do it with the clock running and make it look pretty easy is still a remarkable thing to me.  They practically line it up like a long jumper, fire away, and find bottom of the net within a few attempts.

-Three-Point Shootout-I miss the days when guys lit it up for 20-25 a round.  Kevin Love showed his range by hitting 17 to win, but it still wasn't that impressive to me to see such a low number win.  Some pure shooters were left out of the competition this year and that disappointed me.  Anthony Morrow's tribute to the late Drazen Petrovic was pretty touching.  Here's the link if you didn't know about it: http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/nba-ball-dont-lie/anthony-morrow-pays-tribute-drazen-petrovic-three-point-030144993.html

-Taco Bell Skill Challenge-Tony Parker ended up winning this one because of the blunders of Rondo and Williams.  Williams looked the smoothest in the competition, but he messed up on the jump shot station that cost him a chance to win.  It is pretty neat to watch these players make some of the things look so easy.

-Slam Dunk Contest-Unheralded Jeremy Evans ended up winning this competition, though he did only receive 29% of votes.  His dunking of two balls was pretty impressive, and his other dunks were good enough to get him consideration.  Paul George did some interesting stuff, Chase Budinger can really jump for a white guy and had an impressive Ceballos-esque blindfolded dunk, and Derrick Williams had one good dunk.  The contest was better than what I expected, but the NBA needs to push to have the likes of Griffin, James, Howard, and the big boys in the contest.  Fans don't pay to come see Paul George dunking.  They want to see the best the NBA has to offer, and the players should have the courtesy to make the fans happy and make this a must-see event.

Sunday
-All-Star Game-I did not watch a second of this as I was busy last night.  I read about it and will probably watch some highlights of it, but I don't think it would have held my attention for four quarters anyways.  I saw the West held on for the victory and Durant took home MVP.

For me, All-Star Weekend is for the fans, and I just think the various competitions need to step their games up regarding who is in them.  The stars who can electrify need to be in them.  This weekend is better than the pointless Pro Bowl, but it can be made better in order to provide the best viewing experience for the fan.  I want to have child-like excitement when watching this weekend rather than wondering why Jeremy Evans is winning dunk contests.

Feel free to chime in on what your favorite moment was on the All-Star weekend or if you agree/disagree with me on my belief that the stars need to be in the competitions.

Hunter Mahan Takes the Cake at WGC Accenture Match Play Championship

The WGC Accenture Match Play Championship reached its conclusion today, as American Hunter Mahan defeated Irishman Rory McIlroy 2&1 to capture the crown and deny McIlroy a shot at being world number 1.  Mahan hit pinpoint iron shots and struck it beautifully off the tee.  While both players had some minor struggles and it was still a great match.  In the morning, Mahan got by fellow American Mark Wilson and McIlroy beat Englishman Lee Westwood in a very good matchup that saw Rors come back from 3 down through 4 holes, string some birdies together, and ultimately edge Westwood.  The stage was set for a duel in the desert, and Mahan got the best of McIlroy.

I am still extremely proud of my Mark Wilson pick more than anything.  It was gutsy, but that pick wasn't enough for me to make a statement as I screwed up my other guys I had going deep (Baddeley, Day , Woods).  This is such a great event and I enjoy watching it every year.  I finished with 50 points in my bracket, but I was quite all right with that and happen to see Mahan win.  I like him and think he is good for the game of golf and is a great player.  He made a splash in his "Golf Boys" video, but his game did the talking this week as he proved he can be a force on the PGA Tour.  I wouldn't be surprised to see him near the top of the leaderboard at Augusta this year.  He hits the ball well off the tee, is a great iron player, and has a great feel on the greens, a perfect combination for a course like that.

My apologies for not doing my analysis/insight on the blog the last few days, but I will do my best to cover the most stuff possible in the coming weeks, especially with March Madness and The Masters lurking.  Hope everyone enjoyed watching

WGC Accenture Match Play Championship First and Second Round Thoughts

As much as I love to compete and win when it comes to brackets, I would prefer to have a great tournament rather than get all of my picks right and it be boring.  This is the case for this year's WGC Match Play bracket.  Through two days and with 16 players remaining, I only have one member of my Final Four remaining and two guys with the potential to make the Elite 8 that I picked (Mark Wilson and Matt Kuchar).  With that said, just like the NCAA Tournament, I can throw my bracket into the furnace and be o.k. with things if the rest of the action is riveting.  Now that I am unlikely to win any bracket pool, I hope the golf matches remaining will be thrilling and capture my attention.

Looking at Round 1 from yesterday, the biggest surprise of the day had to be Ernie Els' 5&4 drubbing of tournament #1 seed and #1 player in the world Luke Donald.  I'll admit Els played steady, but Donald was a disaster and not in good form at all, dunking balls in the water and even shanking a shot.  Kyle Stanley beat K.J. Choi in a pretty good match and proved that he can hang with the big boys.  Also in the Jones bracket, the bracket lost its #2 seed as Adam Scott fell apart late and let the hatless wonder Robert Rock beat him 1 up.  I'll admit Rock hit some good shots, but Scott threw this away and I wasn't too disappointed because I had Scott losing to Wilson in the next round anyways.  Jim Furyk also blew a golden opportunity to beat Dustin Johnson, as he had him on the ropes throughout, allowed things to slip away, and blew it in the playoff hole where he was in much better position than Johnson.  In the Hogan bracket, everything pretty much went according to plan except for Oosthuizen edging Baddeley (much to my chagrin because I had Baddeley going deep) and the big upset may have been Y.E. Yang over Graeme McDowell, but I didn't really see it as an upset because Yang plays well under pressure and has slayed some giants in his day.  In the Player bracket, "The Mechanic" Miguel Angel Jimenez nipped Sergio Garcia in a minor upset, while Sang-moon Bae beat Ian Poulter, a winner at this event previously.  Poulter seemed way off and needs to figure out his game again to be able to compete at the high level he's capable of.  One of the best comebacks of the day was from Jason Day, who was three down with three to play, won the final three holes, and threw a dart in the first playoff hole to beat R.C. Bello.  In the Snead bracket, Matteo Manassero edged #2 seed Webb Simpson for an upset, but most wouldn't call it a big one because Manassero advanced to the third round last year.  In the bottom part of the bracket, Ryo Ishikawa stormed back to beat #3 seed Bill Haas, who was fresh off a win last week in dramatic fashion at Riviera.  Finally, Tiger Woods did not play well, but he earned a 1 up victory over Castano.

In today's Round 2, there were some good matches to be noted.  Brandt Snedeker once again got the best of Kyle Stanley in a tight one, while Matt Kuchar bested Bubba Watson.  Steve Stricker eeked it out against Louis Oosthuizen, while Hunter Mahan continued his strong play in throttling Y.E. Yang.  McIlroy kept it rolling, and The Mechanic beat recently hot Keegan Bradley.  John Senden worked a struggling Jason Day, while Sang-moon Bae edged Masters champ Charl Schwartzel.  In one of the marquee matches of the day, Nick Watney beat Tiger Woods 1 up, as Woods missed a 5 1/2 footer on 18 to force extra holes.  Tiger's putting killed him today, as he missed five putts inside of 10 feet that doomed him.  He hit it decently, but isn't making the putts he used to and it frustrates to see that.  When one part of his game has been spot on, the other part usually fails to live up to his lofty standards.

Looking ahead to tomorrow, here are my predictions of how the matches will go:

Jones Bracket:
#9 Peter Hanson vs #5 Brandt Snedeker-I see Snedeker winning.  Hanson is hot, but I like Sneds in this one.
#10 Mark Wilson vs #3 Dustin Johnson-I have to roll with Wilson here because I have him to make the Final Four.

Hogan Bracket:
#1 Martin Kaymer vs #4 Matt Kuchar-Both players are strong in this event, but I will go with the slight upset and take Kuch.
#2 Steve Stricker vs #6 Hunter Mahan-Mahan is playing really well and momentum is building, so I will take him.

Player Bracket:
#1 Rory McIlroy vs #13 Miguel Angel Jimenez-I am going with an upset special here and saying The Mechanic pulls it out.
#10 John Senden vs #11 Sang-moon Bae-I am going with Senden because he putts very well.

Snead Bracket:
#1 Lee Westwood vs #4 Nick Watney-I think Westwood executes shots and wins.
#10 Martin Laird vs #11 Paul Lawrie-I am going with Lawrie in this one for no particular reason.

Happy watching to everyone tomorrow! Let the fireworks begin!

WGC Accenture Match Play Championship 2012 Preview/Predictions

We have arrived at one of the most entertaining and unpredictable weeks of golf of the year.  The match play championship is always fun and brings the unexpected to the table.  This year is no different as the top players in the world duke it out in the desert at The Ritz-Carlton Golf Club at Dove Mountain in Marana, Arizona.  This is such a unique tournament because of the match play style.  It's a blast to see these guys square off in do-or-die matches and have to perform.  This five day marathon will be an exciting one this week, and I look forward to it as usual.  Picking the bracket for this is nearly a crap shoot, but I am here to unveil my picks and also provide some insight on the first round matches I am most interested in tomorrow.  I will start off by talking a little bit about the matches tomorrow that will catch my eye.

Jones Bracket:
#1 Luke Donald vs #16 Ernie Els-It's hard to believe Els is such a low seed, but Donald better not think this match will be a walk in the park. He is not in midseason form yet and Ernie could sneak up on him, but it all depends on if he can make any putts.

#4 K.J. Choi vs #13 Kyle Stanley-The Tank is in for a tough one as Stanley has played great this year and blossomed into a good player.  The Tank is tough though, so Stanley will have to utilize his length and play solid golf.

#3 Dustin Johnson vs #14 Jim Furyk-The classic case of power vs finesse here.  Johnson can hit it a mile, but his touch around the greens is suspect.  He doesn't play great in match play and Furyk is a tough competitor.

Hogan Bracket:
#5 Bubba Watson vs #12 Ben Crane-The "Golf Boys" take center stage, but this time they will be dueling it out.  Crane's sluggish pace will be matched against Watson's pink driver bombing it deep.

#6 Hunter Mahan vs #11 Zach Johnson-A number of people have Mahan making a deep run, but he has to beat the always scrappy Johnson first, who is tough as nails in match play.

Player Bracket:
#5 Keegan Bradley vs #12 Geoff Ogilvy-Perhaps the best match of the first round will feature a young, up and coming stud against a match play stalwart in Ogilivy.  Ogilvy isn't in midseason form, but he always seems to flip the switch on for this event.

#4 Sergio Garcia vs #13 Miguel Angel Jimenez-This is an interesting one between the majorless Sergio and the cigar-smoking Jimenez.  Could go either way, but I look for Garcia to pull out a win.

Snead Bracket:
#5 Tiger Woods vs #12 Gonzalo Fernadez Castano-Woods squares off against this unknown and hopes to make a big showing here and prove to the golf world he's back.

#3 Bill Haas vs #14 Ryo Ishikawa-Haas is fresh off a dramatic win, but Ishikawa could sneak up on him.


Here are my predictions/picks in my bracket

Jones Bracket: Donald, Snedeker, Wilson, Furyk in the Sweet 16
Hogan Bracket: Kaymer, Kuchar, Baddeley, Mahan in the Sweet 16
Player Bracket: McIlroy, Garcia, Day, Schwartzel in the Sweet 16
Snead Bracket: Westwood, Woods, Simpson, Rose in the Sweet 16

Final 4: Wilson, Baddeley, Day, Woods
Championship: Baddeley vs Woods
Winner: Tiger Woods
Third Place: Day

I am going out on a huge limb with these Final 4 picks, but I think Wilson can play great golf, Baddeley is an excellent putter, Day is a fierce competitor, and Tiger has the will to get it done this week.  He is furious coming off of blown chances to win, and I really want to see him pull this thing out.  There you have it, folks. Feel free to comment and let me know what you have in your bracket.  Let the fun and good golf begin!