Final Four Preview

Thomas Robinson and Kansas take on Ohio State tomorrow. 

Anthony Davis and the rest of his squad take on Louisville. 

We’re finally here. 64 teams have been eliminated, to leave us with four. These four teams have demonstrated that they are the best in college basketball. From the South region we have Kentucky. Kentucky has beaten everyone this year. Everyone except Indiana, whom they avenged in the Sweet 16, and Vanderbilt, who were eliminated in the third round. They have dominated their opponents in this tournament, beating Western Kentucky, Iowa State, Indiana, and Baylor by at least 12 points. Facing Kentucky, is number four seed Louisville. Louisville has surprised everyone this tournament to become the West Region champs, beating Bradley Beal’s Florida squad. 

In the other matchup, Thomas Robinson and Kansas take on Jared Sullinger and Ohio State. Kansas, which finished with a 27-6 record this season, including a victory over the Buckeyes, who were without their star forward Sullinger. The Jayhawks have won every game in this tournament, but have had to fight in each and every game. The Buckeyes on the other hand, won an East Region, in which despite being the number 2 seed, were predicted to lose. Sullinger along with Aaron Craft have led this strong Buckeye team. 

Kentucky Wildcats vs. Louisville Cardinals 

The question isn’t if Kentucky can win, it is can they lose? Rick Pitino will attempt to find the answer to this question tomorrow afternoon. Pitino has led his birds a long way, and they did beat the heavily favored Michigan State Spartans and star forward Draymond Green. Louisville is led  by guards Kyle Kuric and Peyton Siva, who average about a third of the team’s points. Also contributing is 6-11 sophomore Gorgui Dieng. Dieng averaged 9 points and 9 boards on the season, as well as 3 blocks. Meanwhile, Coach Calipari and his Wildcats will try to score as much as they can, against a defense that allows just 60 points per game. The Wildcats have averaged 88 points per game this tournament. No team has been able to figure them out, with their five starters, as well as Darius Miller averaging in double figures. The only way for Louisville to beat Kentucky, is to slow them down. Hold Davis to single digits, get him into foul trouble. Unfortunately for Louisville, these things are very hard to do. And as a result of that, their NCAA tournament run will conclude. 

Kentucky over Louisville 

Kansas Jayhawks vs. Ohio State Buckeyes 

Who wants it more? Is it Thomas Robinson, who a year after losing his mother, and two grandparents, is leading Kansas in the final four? Or, is it Ohio State Buckeye Jared Sullinger, who chose to stay in school for another year, and drove his team back to the national semi-finals? Choices, choices. Ultimatley, it will come down to who has the best supporting cast. Or, it could come down to luck, like most NCAA tournament games. The Buckeyes have averaged 77 points per game in this tournament, while the Jayhawks have just scored 67 points per game. So obviously, Kansas needs to slow down the potent attack of William Buford, Sullinger, and Deshaun Thomas. Kansas has a great defense, however. So it won’t be to big of a problem. They have allowed just 58 points this tournament, holding North Carolina to just 67 last week. The Buckeyes have been solid, but not as great as Kansas has been, allowing 65 points per game in this tournament. The bottom line of this game, goes back to who wants it more. Whoever wants it more, is going to get it. If Robinson can get Tyshawn Taylor and Elijah Johnson to play hard, and step up, Kansas will romp. But if Sullinger, Buford, and Aaron Craft can play well enough, the Buckeyes will come back to the final. I’m betting on Robinson to reach the title in honor of his mom and grandparents. 

Kansas over Ohio State 

Bye-Bye Fish

Below this picture, is a letter which could have been written by Kobe Bryant to Derek Fisher. 

Dear Fish,

Thank you. Thank you for your 13 years of service. Thank you for always being a team player, playing your heart out, doing what needed to be done. Sure, in the past few years you’ve been struggling, but you were a vital part of the Lakers. Thank you for your help in winning five championships. I liked having you as my point guard all these years. Thanks for making the shot. You know which shot. Against the Spurs, Game 5? It was a great play. Thank you for always being there for me, always standing by me. I will miss you so much. Those three years when you were gone were hard. I didn’t know what to do with myself. I needed my point guard. Fish, I hope that Houston will be a great place for you, and know that you are a fantastic player, and I will relish every moment that I have spent on the court playing with you. 

Much love, 

Kobe B. Bryant

Los Angeles Lakers 

Skills or Championships?

While Eli has just won a Superbowl, Peyton Manning's career could be in jeopardy.

He’s gone. After 208 games and 7,210 passes, Peyton Manning was cut by the Indianapolis Colts. What will happen? Will anyone sign him? Or, will the countless amount of neck surgeries force him into retirement?

 If Peyton either retires voluntarily, or no team signs him, a debate will begin. The debate of who is a better player, Peyton, or his brother Eli. There are different opinions for either of these brothers. Some say Peyton’s better because of his four MVP awards. Others say that Eli has won more Superbowl Championships, (2, to Peyton’s single championship) and thus is the better player. 

Peyton obviously has had a better career stats wise. It took Peyton only three years to throw thirty touchdown passes, while it took Eli seven. Peyton also threw for 4000+ yards in his first season, and Eli was playing for six years before he finally threw for that many yards. 

But, it all comes down to championships, and Eli has two of ‘em. Eli and his Giants have come from behind to beat the Pats twice. Peyton is 1-1 in his Superbowl appearances. Beating the Bears in his first appearance, but losing to the Saints in his next. 

All in all, Peyton and Eli are both great quarterbacks. Peyton has the edge on the skills side, while Eli has the advantage on the championship side. And who knows, the Washington Redskins are one of the teams in line to sign Peyton, so we could be seeing more Peyton and Eli battles in the future! 

Kobe Bryant: The Greatest Player in the Game Today?

Not even a concussion and a broken nose could stop Kobe Bryant!

“He’s the best player in the game, it’s just that simple, there is nothing that Kobe Bryant can’t do”, raps Lil Wayne in his song “Kobe Bryant”. Weezy wrote this song in 2009, the year after Kobe had won his fourth championship. People thought that the Black Mamba was on fire. 

Fast forward to the end of last year. His Lakers, Kobe’s Lakers, had just lost four straight games in the NBA playoff semifinals to the Mavericks. People thought Kobe’s reign at the top was finished. That LeBron is the new king of the court now. Well, think again. After LeBron choked in the finals against the Mavs, Kobe knew that he had to do something. 

And this past season he has. When Lakers’ management pondered trading Lamar and Pau, and then they didn’t, he told them it was a distraction. They traded Lamar, which Kobe was a bit unhappy about Then a few weeks ago, he told the management to trade Pau or don’t trade him. Just decide, he said.

Meanwhile, Kobe has flourished this year. He is leading the NBA in scoring with 28.5 points per game. And how old is he? He is 33 years of age. In third place on that list, Mr. LeBron James. The so-called “King”. 

Yeah, Yeah. Call Kobe a “ballhog”. So maybe he doesn’t pass the ball to often. But he doesn’t need to pass very much. Five assists per game is fine. As long as he can play well, that’s what matters. 

Uh Oh. That’s the feeling that Lakers’ fans had when Dwayne Wade elbowed Kobe in the All-Star game. Lakers’ fans became even more worried when they found out that he had a concussion and broke his nose. 

So what does Kobe do? How many games does he miss? None. That’s right, none. A true champion. In fact, in his first game back, Kobe drops 31 on the Timberwolves, all while wearing a mask. 

Kobe is a true baller. Five championships. If he can get one this year, the MJ/Kobe debates can finally begin. Who knows what we will say in June?