ACC (5)
Automatic bid: North Carolina
At large: Duke, Maryland, Clemson, Miami
Bubble: Virginia Tech
AMERICA EAST (1)
Automatic bid: Maryland-Baltimore County
ATLANTIC 10 (3)
Automatic bid: Xavier
At large: Saint Joseph's, Massachusetts
Bubble: Rhode Island, Dayton
ATLANTIC SUN (1)
Automatic bid: Belmont
BIG 12 (6)
Automatic bid: Kansas
At large: Texas, Kansas State, Texas A&M, Oklahoma, Baylor
Bubble: Oklahoma State, Nebraska
BIG EAST (7)
Automatic bid: Connecticut
At large: Louisville, Georgetown, Notre Dame, Marquette, Pittsburgh, West Virginia
Bubble: Villanova, Syracuse
BIG SKY (1)
Automatic bid: Portland State
BIG SOUTH (1)
Automatic bid: Winthrop
BIG TEN (4)
Automatic bid: Wisconsin
At large: Purdue, Indiana, Michigan State
Bubble: None
BIG WEST (1)
Automatic bid: Pacific
COLONIAL ATHLETIC (1)
Automatic bid: Virginia Commonwealth
CONFERENCE USA (2)
Automatic bid: Memphis
At large: UAB
Bubble: Houston
HORIZON LEAGUE (1)
Automatic bid: Butler
IVY LEAGUE (1)
Automatic bid: Cornell
MAAC (1)
Automatic bid: Siena
MAC (1)
Automatic bid: Kent State
MEAC (1)
Automatic bid: Morgan State
MISSOURI VALLEY (1)
Automatic bid: Drake
At large: None
Bubble: Illinois State
MOUNTAIN WEST (2)
Automatic bid: BYU
At large: UNLV
Bubble: New Mexico
NORTHEAST (1)
Automatic bid: Robert Morris
OHIO VALLEY (1)
Automatic bid: Austin Peay
PAC-10 (6)
Automatic bid: UCLA
At large: Stanford, Washington State, USC, Arizona State, Arizona
Bubble: None
PATRIOT LEAGUE (1)
Automatic bid: Navy
SEC (6)
Automatic bid: Tennessee
At large: Vanderbilt, Mississippi State, Arkansas, Mississippi, Florida
Bubble: Kentucky
SOUTHERN (1)
Automatic bid: Davidson
SOUTHLAND (1)
Automatic bid: Lamar
At large: None
Bubble: Stephen F. Austin
SUMMIT LEAGUE (1)
Automatic bid: IUPUI
SUN BELT (2)
Automatic bid: South Alabama
At large: Western Kentucky
Bubble: None
SWAC (1)
Automatic bid: Alabama State
WAC (1)
Automatic bid: Boise State
WEST COAST (2)
Automatic bid: Gonzaga
At large: Saint Mary's
Bubble: None
Last four in: Florida, Arizona, Baylor, UAB
Last four out: Illinois State, Virginia Tech, Villanova, Syracuse
Next four out: Dayton, Houston, New Mexico, Rhode Island
Friday, February 29, 2008
Monday, February 18, 2008
Kidd to Dallas may finally get done
After a strange few days of negotiations, it looks like the New Jersey Nets are finally sending star point guard Jason Kidd to the Dallas Mavericks.
Earlier in the week, it was reported that Kidd was headed to Dallas along with Malik Allen for Devin Harris, DeSagana Diop, Maurice Ager, Jerry Stackhouse, Devean George, and two first-round draft picks. However, George vetoed the trade, sending both parties back to the drawing board.
Then, when word got out that Stackhouse was going to be bought out by New Jersey and then sign back with the Mavericks after 30 days, the NBA reportedly stepped in and refused to allow that to happen with thoughts that the deal may had been pre-arranged.
The newest version of the trade has Kidd and Allen going to Dallas for Harris, Diop, Ager, Trenton Hassell, and retired forward Keith Van Horn, who the Mavericks will throw into the deal to make contracts match.
Kidd was drafted by Dallas and spent the first two-and-a-half years of his career there. He was dealt to the Phoenix Suns in the 1996-97 campaign where he would go on to play four-and-a-half seasons. The All-Star was then traded to the Nets during the summer of 2001 for Stephon Marbury and others. Kidd played six-and-a-half seasons in New Jersey, leading the Nets to the NBA Finals twice during that span and never failing to make the playoffs.
Earlier in the week, it was reported that Kidd was headed to Dallas along with Malik Allen for Devin Harris, DeSagana Diop, Maurice Ager, Jerry Stackhouse, Devean George, and two first-round draft picks. However, George vetoed the trade, sending both parties back to the drawing board.
Then, when word got out that Stackhouse was going to be bought out by New Jersey and then sign back with the Mavericks after 30 days, the NBA reportedly stepped in and refused to allow that to happen with thoughts that the deal may had been pre-arranged.
The newest version of the trade has Kidd and Allen going to Dallas for Harris, Diop, Ager, Trenton Hassell, and retired forward Keith Van Horn, who the Mavericks will throw into the deal to make contracts match.
Kidd was drafted by Dallas and spent the first two-and-a-half years of his career there. He was dealt to the Phoenix Suns in the 1996-97 campaign where he would go on to play four-and-a-half seasons. The All-Star was then traded to the Nets during the summer of 2001 for Stephon Marbury and others. Kidd played six-and-a-half seasons in New Jersey, leading the Nets to the NBA Finals twice during that span and never failing to make the playoffs.
Wednesday, February 13, 2008
Predicting the NCAA Tournament field
ACC (5)
Automatic bid: North Carolina
At large: Duke, Maryland, Clemson, North Carolina State
On the bubble: Virginia Tech
AMERICA EAST (1)
Automatic bid: Maryland Baltimore-County
At large: None
On the bubble: None
ATLANTIC 10 (5)
Automatic bid: Xavier
At large: Rhode Island, Saint Joseph's, Dayton, Charlotte
On the bubble: Massachusetts
ATLANTIC SUN (1)
Automatic bid: Belmont
At large: None
On the bubble: None
BIG 12 (6)
Automatic bid: Kansas
At large: Texas, Kansas State, Texas A&M, Baylor, Oklahoma
On the bubble: None
BIG EAST (7)
Automatic bid: Connecticut
At large: Georgetown, Louisville, Notre Dame, Pittsburgh, Marquette, Syracuse
On the bubble: West Virginia
BIG SKY (1)
Automatic bid: Portland State
At large: None
On the bubble: None
BIG SOUTH (1)
Automatic bid: North Carolina-Asheville
At large: None
On the bubble: None
BIG TEN (4)
Automatic bid: Purdue
At large: Indiana, Wisconsin, Michigan State
On the bubble: Ohio State
BIG WEST (1)
Automatic bid: Pacific
At large: None
On the bubble: None
COLONIAL ATHLETIC (2)
Automatic bid: George Mason
At large: Virginia Commonwealth
On the bubble: None
CONFERENCE USA (1)
Automatic bid: Memphis
At large: None
On the bubble: Houston, UAB
HORIZON LEAGUE (1)
Automatic bid: Butler
At large: None
On the bubble: Wright State
IVY LEAGUE (1)
Automatic bid: Cornell
At large: None
On the bubble: None
MAAC (1)
Automatic bid: Siena
At large: None
On the bubble: None
MAC (1)
Automatic bid: Kent State
At large: None
On the bubble: Ohio
MEAC (1)
Automatic bid: Morgan State
At large: None
On the bubble: None
MISSOURI VALLEY (1)
Automatic bid: Drake
At large: None
On the bubble: Illinois State, Creighton
MOUNTAIN WEST (2)
Automatic bid: UNLV
At large: BYU
On the bubble: San Diego State, New Mexico
NORTHEAST (1)
Automatic bid: Robert Morris
At large: None
On the bubble: None
OHIO VALLEY (1)
Automatic bid: Austin Peay
At large: None
On the bubble: None
PAC-10 (5)
Automatic bid: UCLA
At large: Stanford, Washington State, USC, Arizona
On the bubble: Arizona State, California
PATRIOT LEAGUE (1)
Automatic bid: American
At large: None
On the bubble: None
SEC (6)
Automatic bid: Tennessee
At large: Mississippi, Mississippi State, Arkansas, Vanderbilt, Florida
On the bubble: None
SOUTHERN (1)
Automatic bid: Davidson
At large: None
On the bubble: None
SOUTHLAND (1)
Automatic bid: Sam Houston State
At large: None
On the bubble: None
SUMMIT LEAGUE (1)
Automatic bid: Oral Roberts
At large: None
On the bubble: None
SUN BELT (1)
Automatic bid: South Alabama
At large: None
On the bubble: None
SWAC (1)
Automatic bid: Alabama State
At large: None
On the bubble: None
WAC (1)
Automatic bid: Utah State
At large: None
On the bubble: Boise State
WEST COAST (2)
Automatic bid: Saint Mary's
At large: Gonzaga
On the bubble: None
Automatic bid: North Carolina
At large: Duke, Maryland, Clemson, North Carolina State
On the bubble: Virginia Tech
AMERICA EAST (1)
Automatic bid: Maryland Baltimore-County
At large: None
On the bubble: None
ATLANTIC 10 (5)
Automatic bid: Xavier
At large: Rhode Island, Saint Joseph's, Dayton, Charlotte
On the bubble: Massachusetts
ATLANTIC SUN (1)
Automatic bid: Belmont
At large: None
On the bubble: None
BIG 12 (6)
Automatic bid: Kansas
At large: Texas, Kansas State, Texas A&M, Baylor, Oklahoma
On the bubble: None
BIG EAST (7)
Automatic bid: Connecticut
At large: Georgetown, Louisville, Notre Dame, Pittsburgh, Marquette, Syracuse
On the bubble: West Virginia
BIG SKY (1)
Automatic bid: Portland State
At large: None
On the bubble: None
BIG SOUTH (1)
Automatic bid: North Carolina-Asheville
At large: None
On the bubble: None
BIG TEN (4)
Automatic bid: Purdue
At large: Indiana, Wisconsin, Michigan State
On the bubble: Ohio State
BIG WEST (1)
Automatic bid: Pacific
At large: None
On the bubble: None
COLONIAL ATHLETIC (2)
Automatic bid: George Mason
At large: Virginia Commonwealth
On the bubble: None
CONFERENCE USA (1)
Automatic bid: Memphis
At large: None
On the bubble: Houston, UAB
HORIZON LEAGUE (1)
Automatic bid: Butler
At large: None
On the bubble: Wright State
IVY LEAGUE (1)
Automatic bid: Cornell
At large: None
On the bubble: None
MAAC (1)
Automatic bid: Siena
At large: None
On the bubble: None
MAC (1)
Automatic bid: Kent State
At large: None
On the bubble: Ohio
MEAC (1)
Automatic bid: Morgan State
At large: None
On the bubble: None
MISSOURI VALLEY (1)
Automatic bid: Drake
At large: None
On the bubble: Illinois State, Creighton
MOUNTAIN WEST (2)
Automatic bid: UNLV
At large: BYU
On the bubble: San Diego State, New Mexico
NORTHEAST (1)
Automatic bid: Robert Morris
At large: None
On the bubble: None
OHIO VALLEY (1)
Automatic bid: Austin Peay
At large: None
On the bubble: None
PAC-10 (5)
Automatic bid: UCLA
At large: Stanford, Washington State, USC, Arizona
On the bubble: Arizona State, California
PATRIOT LEAGUE (1)
Automatic bid: American
At large: None
On the bubble: None
SEC (6)
Automatic bid: Tennessee
At large: Mississippi, Mississippi State, Arkansas, Vanderbilt, Florida
On the bubble: None
SOUTHERN (1)
Automatic bid: Davidson
At large: None
On the bubble: None
SOUTHLAND (1)
Automatic bid: Sam Houston State
At large: None
On the bubble: None
SUMMIT LEAGUE (1)
Automatic bid: Oral Roberts
At large: None
On the bubble: None
SUN BELT (1)
Automatic bid: South Alabama
At large: None
On the bubble: None
SWAC (1)
Automatic bid: Alabama State
At large: None
On the bubble: None
WAC (1)
Automatic bid: Utah State
At large: None
On the bubble: Boise State
WEST COAST (2)
Automatic bid: Saint Mary's
At large: Gonzaga
On the bubble: None
Wednesday, February 06, 2008
Shaq headed to Phoenix; I don't get it
As long as he passes his physical, four-time champion center Shaquille O'Neal will be traded from the Miami Heat to the Phoenix Suns for Shawn Marion and Marcus Banks. The question to Phoenix is: why?
The Suns currently have the best record in the Western Conference. They have one of the NBA's most lethal trios in Steve Nash, Amare Stoudemire, and Marion, and now they want to break it up? First of all, I think Marion is a bit overrated and is really just a product of Phoenix's run-and-gun system, but that's exactly why the Suns should not be dealing him, especially for a 35-year old who is clearly past his prime.
No disrespect to O'Neal, but he is not even a top 50 player in the league anymore. The 14-time All-Star is averaging a career-low 14.2 points and a next-to-career-worst 7.8 rebounds per game and has missed 14 games this season. As a matter of fact, Shaq has sat out 79 games since the 2005-06 campaign. Even his great friend and now-former teammate Dwyane Wade publicly called out O'Neal for not being in playing shape. If the 325-pound behemoth couldn't get up and down the floor in Miami, how in the world is he going to do that with the fast-paced Suns?
Phoenix scores a good chunk of points in transition night in and night out. Yes, they can put up points in a halfcourt set, but let's face it; when you think of the Suns, you think of Nash throwing alley-oops to Stoudemire and Marion on fast breaks. You don't think of a team that can methodically wear other teams down by pounding the ball down low or having their guards slash into the paint. Getting O'Neal will definitely help their low-post game, but Shaq cannot be relied on to do that every time down the floor like has was in past years. Now he will have to worry about simply keeping up when Nash and company decide to run.
Unless the Suns are trying to tweak their philosophy, I don't see how this move makes any sense at all. I will say that the game Phoenix plays now will not win them any championships. In order to beat teams like San Antonio and Dallas out West, you need to be able to score points in ways other than getting out on the break. Maybe Mike D'Antoni realizes that and is attempting to have the halfcourt offense run through O'Neal? Either way, the Suns' defense took a hit with this move, as Shaq was never known for being a tenacious defender and they also lost Marion's cover skills out on the perimeter.
This trade could have also been a knee-jerk reaction to the Lakers acquiring Pau Gasol from Memphis. Phoenix felt the need to add a low-post threat of their own to counter Los Angeles, and if D'Antoni is willing to restructure the offense and Shaq stays motivated, then maybe things can work. However, I think the Suns would have still beaten the Lakers anyway. Gasol is a nice player, but he is a far cry from a superstar.
All in all, this was a very questionable move by Phoenix. For the Heat, they are in rebuilding mode, and they get a decent chip in Marion to play alongside Wade. I think the most important concept here for Miami is that they can deal Marion to a contender either by the trading deadline or in the off-season if they don't feel he is going to be part of their future plans. I'm sure many teams would vie for his services, and the Heat would probably get a decent haul in return should they decide to deal the 29-year old.
This trade is boom or bust for the Suns. If O'Neal can incorporate himself into the offense and re-establish himself as a consistent low-post threat, then this is a great move for a team that lacked a true inside go-to guy. Stoudemire can get the job done on occasion, but he is at his best on the run and was never able to dominate in the paint. However, if the O'Neal we've seen in the 32 games he's played in this season shows up, then that could throw Phoenix all out of whack. Their run-and-gun game will no longer be as potent, and they will be short a key perimeter defender who has been known to do a fine job against players such as Kobe Bryant in big games. On the other side again, though, the Suns may have needed a change considering they have been beaten by the Spurs, twice, and the Mavericks in the playoffs since this squad came together in the 2004-05 season.
We'll just have to wait and see what happens.
The Suns currently have the best record in the Western Conference. They have one of the NBA's most lethal trios in Steve Nash, Amare Stoudemire, and Marion, and now they want to break it up? First of all, I think Marion is a bit overrated and is really just a product of Phoenix's run-and-gun system, but that's exactly why the Suns should not be dealing him, especially for a 35-year old who is clearly past his prime.
No disrespect to O'Neal, but he is not even a top 50 player in the league anymore. The 14-time All-Star is averaging a career-low 14.2 points and a next-to-career-worst 7.8 rebounds per game and has missed 14 games this season. As a matter of fact, Shaq has sat out 79 games since the 2005-06 campaign. Even his great friend and now-former teammate Dwyane Wade publicly called out O'Neal for not being in playing shape. If the 325-pound behemoth couldn't get up and down the floor in Miami, how in the world is he going to do that with the fast-paced Suns?
Phoenix scores a good chunk of points in transition night in and night out. Yes, they can put up points in a halfcourt set, but let's face it; when you think of the Suns, you think of Nash throwing alley-oops to Stoudemire and Marion on fast breaks. You don't think of a team that can methodically wear other teams down by pounding the ball down low or having their guards slash into the paint. Getting O'Neal will definitely help their low-post game, but Shaq cannot be relied on to do that every time down the floor like has was in past years. Now he will have to worry about simply keeping up when Nash and company decide to run.
Unless the Suns are trying to tweak their philosophy, I don't see how this move makes any sense at all. I will say that the game Phoenix plays now will not win them any championships. In order to beat teams like San Antonio and Dallas out West, you need to be able to score points in ways other than getting out on the break. Maybe Mike D'Antoni realizes that and is attempting to have the halfcourt offense run through O'Neal? Either way, the Suns' defense took a hit with this move, as Shaq was never known for being a tenacious defender and they also lost Marion's cover skills out on the perimeter.
This trade could have also been a knee-jerk reaction to the Lakers acquiring Pau Gasol from Memphis. Phoenix felt the need to add a low-post threat of their own to counter Los Angeles, and if D'Antoni is willing to restructure the offense and Shaq stays motivated, then maybe things can work. However, I think the Suns would have still beaten the Lakers anyway. Gasol is a nice player, but he is a far cry from a superstar.
All in all, this was a very questionable move by Phoenix. For the Heat, they are in rebuilding mode, and they get a decent chip in Marion to play alongside Wade. I think the most important concept here for Miami is that they can deal Marion to a contender either by the trading deadline or in the off-season if they don't feel he is going to be part of their future plans. I'm sure many teams would vie for his services, and the Heat would probably get a decent haul in return should they decide to deal the 29-year old.
This trade is boom or bust for the Suns. If O'Neal can incorporate himself into the offense and re-establish himself as a consistent low-post threat, then this is a great move for a team that lacked a true inside go-to guy. Stoudemire can get the job done on occasion, but he is at his best on the run and was never able to dominate in the paint. However, if the O'Neal we've seen in the 32 games he's played in this season shows up, then that could throw Phoenix all out of whack. Their run-and-gun game will no longer be as potent, and they will be short a key perimeter defender who has been known to do a fine job against players such as Kobe Bryant in big games. On the other side again, though, the Suns may have needed a change considering they have been beaten by the Spurs, twice, and the Mavericks in the playoffs since this squad came together in the 2004-05 season.
We'll just have to wait and see what happens.
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