After landing two of the top five recruits on sites such as Rivals.com, Xavier Henry and DeMarcus Cusions, Memphis has been able to reload with big name recruits over the past few years. Last year they landed Derrick Rose who nearly led the Tigers to their first National Title until they collapsed and Mario Chalmers hit a three with just seconds remaining (See picture above). This year they got Tyreke Evans who is their clear star player who very well may lead Memphis to another final four. Memphis should not expect a championship or even a final four appearance with this class since they will lack experience and will have one starter most likely returning.
They may have the best recruiting class, however, just because you get the top freshman doesn't mean you will be going to the final four or compete for a championship. Cousins and Henry are one and done players and it takes time develop players at the college basketball level so your school can compete for championships. Teams that end up going to final fours and championships are not loaded with freshman as starters (Kansas, Florida, North Carolina, UCLA, UConn, Memphis(Rose only starting freshman)).These teams were led by sophomores, juniors, and seniors. Memphis will also lose Robert Dozier, Tyreke Evans, and Antonio Anderson. Evans is one of those one and done freshman, but if he stays Memphis could have a chance with Cousins, Henry, and Taggart, the only returning starter. The bottom line is you don’t win with four freshmen and one senior.
A few teams over the past decade were able to make it to the championship game. Ohio State was able to make it to the championship with freshman Mike Conley, Dequan Cook, and Greg Oden a few years ago only to fall to an experienced Florida team that ended up repeating that year. Syracuse was able to win the championship with Carmelo Anthony, Hakim Warrick, and Gary McNamara sadly over my Kansas Jayhawks. I would not be surprised if Memphis goes undefeated in CUSA or if they get a 1 or 2 seed. Whether they make it far in the tourney next year will depend on how well the freshman grow, and play together throughout next year.
John Calipari is one of the best recruiters in all of college basketball and is a very good coach as well. If Memphis is able to hang onto Tyreke Evans for some reason I think they could win it all. The problem that many coaches face is whether to hand out a scholarship to a player who will only be around for a year or to give one to recruit who will stick around for a few years and develop as a player. No matter how many freshmen Memphis may start this will be one team that no one will want to face next year or this year in the tournament.
Sunday, March 8, 2009
Sunday, February 22, 2009
Others Should Follow A-Roid
Alex Rodriguez has set an example to previous steroid users. After reports came out that A-Rod tested positive for a steroid back in 2003 he finally confessed to what he had done in the past. Roger Clemens, and Barry Bonds are currently making their case in court to try to prove that they have never done steroids or lied under oath, when everyone knows they did. It is not easy, but its something that many former and current players will have to eventually admit to.
Already players have admitted to steroid use in the past. Last year, Andy Petitte said he had used a human growth hormone(HGH). Jason Giambi a few years ago was under oath in court for a traffic violation and was asked if he had ever done steroids. Not wanting to lie under oath, he said that he had used steroids. This are some of the more notable players who took the high road to avoid facing more serious problems.
Some players have faced consequences, or are in court to to prove they are innocent. Miguel Tejada was found guilty of lying to federal officials about previous steroid use and now may face 6 months in jail. Mark McGwire went before congress to say that he had never done performance enhancing drugs. Although he has never been found guilty, a statue of him outside Busch Stadium has been removed along with I-70 highway being named after him.
Despite having holes in his story, A-Rod might have set an example to others to come forward about their mistakes. Not only is this good for baseball but it is a way to spread the message to others, especially kids, that using performance enhancing drugs are not right. If players follow A-Rod, they can help baseball recover from its dark age, the steroid era.
Already players have admitted to steroid use in the past. Last year, Andy Petitte said he had used a human growth hormone(HGH). Jason Giambi a few years ago was under oath in court for a traffic violation and was asked if he had ever done steroids. Not wanting to lie under oath, he said that he had used steroids. This are some of the more notable players who took the high road to avoid facing more serious problems.
Some players have faced consequences, or are in court to to prove they are innocent. Miguel Tejada was found guilty of lying to federal officials about previous steroid use and now may face 6 months in jail. Mark McGwire went before congress to say that he had never done performance enhancing drugs. Although he has never been found guilty, a statue of him outside Busch Stadium has been removed along with I-70 highway being named after him.
Despite having holes in his story, A-Rod might have set an example to others to come forward about their mistakes. Not only is this good for baseball but it is a way to spread the message to others, especially kids, that using performance enhancing drugs are not right. If players follow A-Rod, they can help baseball recover from its dark age, the steroid era.
Wednesday, February 4, 2009
Big Ben is a good quarterback, not a great one
After leading the Steelers to their sixth title , many think that Ben Roethlisberger should be considered a great quarterback, one of the best in the NFL, and some even think he is one of the best ever. Yes he has won two Super Bowl titles, but it took more then him to win them both. Right now he is a good quarterback but hey he could take that next step to greatness next year.
When I think of great quaterbacks guys like Peyton Manning, Tom Brady, Drew Brees, Kurt Warner, Donovan McNabb, and Brett Favre(Before the last five games of this year). A great quartback is someone who is a leader, make big plays when they count, put up big numbers, compete for MVP, and put a game on their shoulders and win it on their own. Yes Big Ben may have done this in the Super Bowl, however, he has not throughout a whole season or on a consistant basis. Ben's Super Bowl was very similar to another quarterback named Eli Manning. Eli led the the Giants to victory last year in one of the biggest upsets in sports history and in one of the best games ever played! Is Eli Manning a great quarteback? NO, in fact I think he no more then an average quaarterback who is way over hyped. The point is players can have their one shinning moment and ocasionally make incredable plays.
Big Ben I feel is a product of the Steelers offensive system which takes pressure off him by being a running, or run first team. The goal for their team on offense is to control the clock and posses the ball more then the other team while mixes in a few pass plays to keep the opposing defenses honest. In Ben's first two years he only threw the ball about 21 times a games which is not a whole lot for the average NFL quarterback proving that they are a running team. In those years he did have a high QB Rating around 98.5. In his third year, with injuries around him to players like Willy Parker and after loosing Jerome "The Bus" Bettis to retirement, he had to play a bigger role in the offense and carry more of a load on offense. Intead of averaging 21 throws a game it became nearly 32. His rating dropped significantly to 75.4, and turned the ball over 24 times. This proving that he can't literally carry a team on his own compared to what Peyton Manning did with the Colts this year. Peyton had injuries to lineman, wide recievers, and running backs and still managed to go 12-4 with even more hurt players on defense. He did have one great year last year in the regular season but took a step back to only have a decent season.
Finally Big Ben did not carry this team, it was the "Steel Curtain" defense. Pittsburgh had the number one defense and James Harrison's interception return for a touchdown might have been a bigger play then Holmes catch at the end. This Steelers team reminds me a lot of the Ravens Super Bowl team from seven years ago. The Ravens had a lights out defense led by Ray Lewis. The quartback was Trent Dilfer, one whom you may have never heard of. The offense was a run first team led by star rookie running back Jamal Lewis and a great line that included future Hall of Famer Jonathan Ogdan. Trent was just supposed to throw the ball, like Ben to keep defenses honest.
Ben will be 27 at the start of next year and will most likely conitue to improve. If he is able to be more consistant and have more big games like he did in the Super Bowl, even if it was against a mediocre Arizona defense, then he can join the group of great NFL players. I think head coach Mike Tomlin said it best by describing him and a "Franchise Quarterback". Who knows with Ben and his future, he might even end up in Canton one day.
When I think of great quaterbacks guys like Peyton Manning, Tom Brady, Drew Brees, Kurt Warner, Donovan McNabb, and Brett Favre(Before the last five games of this year). A great quartback is someone who is a leader, make big plays when they count, put up big numbers, compete for MVP, and put a game on their shoulders and win it on their own. Yes Big Ben may have done this in the Super Bowl, however, he has not throughout a whole season or on a consistant basis. Ben's Super Bowl was very similar to another quarterback named Eli Manning. Eli led the the Giants to victory last year in one of the biggest upsets in sports history and in one of the best games ever played! Is Eli Manning a great quarteback? NO, in fact I think he no more then an average quaarterback who is way over hyped. The point is players can have their one shinning moment and ocasionally make incredable plays.
Big Ben I feel is a product of the Steelers offensive system which takes pressure off him by being a running, or run first team. The goal for their team on offense is to control the clock and posses the ball more then the other team while mixes in a few pass plays to keep the opposing defenses honest. In Ben's first two years he only threw the ball about 21 times a games which is not a whole lot for the average NFL quarterback proving that they are a running team. In those years he did have a high QB Rating around 98.5. In his third year, with injuries around him to players like Willy Parker and after loosing Jerome "The Bus" Bettis to retirement, he had to play a bigger role in the offense and carry more of a load on offense. Intead of averaging 21 throws a game it became nearly 32. His rating dropped significantly to 75.4, and turned the ball over 24 times. This proving that he can't literally carry a team on his own compared to what Peyton Manning did with the Colts this year. Peyton had injuries to lineman, wide recievers, and running backs and still managed to go 12-4 with even more hurt players on defense. He did have one great year last year in the regular season but took a step back to only have a decent season.
Finally Big Ben did not carry this team, it was the "Steel Curtain" defense. Pittsburgh had the number one defense and James Harrison's interception return for a touchdown might have been a bigger play then Holmes catch at the end. This Steelers team reminds me a lot of the Ravens Super Bowl team from seven years ago. The Ravens had a lights out defense led by Ray Lewis. The quartback was Trent Dilfer, one whom you may have never heard of. The offense was a run first team led by star rookie running back Jamal Lewis and a great line that included future Hall of Famer Jonathan Ogdan. Trent was just supposed to throw the ball, like Ben to keep defenses honest.
Ben will be 27 at the start of next year and will most likely conitue to improve. If he is able to be more consistant and have more big games like he did in the Super Bowl, even if it was against a mediocre Arizona defense, then he can join the group of great NFL players. I think head coach Mike Tomlin said it best by describing him and a "Franchise Quarterback". Who knows with Ben and his future, he might even end up in Canton one day.
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