A Random Assortment of (Crazy; Possibly Delusional) Opinions Concerning College Basketball

Derek DeNote

Hoov has been politely pestering me to write an article for quite some time because, to be frank, I’m the real genius behind Out of Our League. But, with my busy schedule, I haven’t really had the time to write or even to think of something to write about. But now I’ve decided to dedicate one hour to OoOL, and you’ll read (and probably enjoy) this.

Why, JoJo, why?!

1. Since it’s almost Thanksgiving or possibly past Thanksgiving (depending on when Hoov gets around to putting this up) let’s be thankful for something. I’m thankful that Roy Williams is not at the helm of my college basketball team. I think I am officially able to say that he is the worst coach that has ever won two National Championships, which is probably more of a compliment than a disrespectful statement. I’m not saying Belmont is bad team, but when you’re one of the most prestigious basketball programs in NCAA history, you should be able to handle Belmont on your home court pretty easily. And that’s not all! How about an 8 seed last year in the tournament and not even getting to the Sweet Sixteen? And then the preseason scandal surrounding one of their best players?  Has North Carolina lost all accountability? And to further support my idea of Roy Williams’s worth (or lack thereof), just watch him on the sidelines. I think he’s pondering why JoJo’s comeback never escalated to anything instead of why he’s wasted lottery talent in James Michael McAdoo.

   

   Quinn Cook may not be dishing out a ton of turnovers,
   but his opponents frequently get their just-desserts. LAUGH!

2. Quinn Cook and Jabari Parker are one dangerous combination. Not so fast my friends! I don’t mean a dangerous combination for Dukes opponents. I mean a dangerous combination for Duke and quite possibly detrimental to their season.  I’m not sure where to start here, so I’m going to start with the guy I’d take first in the upcoming NBA Draft, Jabari Parker. He’s good (bold statement). I think he’s without a doubt the best of the big three in this class, but I think Duke is going to suffer from Austin Riversism. (The great thing about a blog is you can make words up and it doesn’t really matter) Austin Riversism is when a team, particularly Duke, has a player that it depends on entirely too much. This Duke team is absolutely loaded with talent, so Jabari (we’re on a first name basis) doesn’t need to put the team on his back. Rodney Hood or Rasheed SULAIMON could be the best player on the vast majority of BCS-level teams. Duke needs to go back to their team basketball and stop giving the ball to Jabari at the top of the key and watching him take stepbacks.  Okay, now onto Quinn Cook. I do not understand Coach K’s love fest for Cook at all. People that don’t watch them play and just glance at the box score must think I’m doing some hardcore drugs, considering he’s only averaging slightly more than 1 turnover per game. But if you take into account the ridiculous amount of shots he takes that leads to easy buckets that number probably skyrockets around to 4 or 5. Also, he can slap the floor all he wants, but if his guy continues to get paint touches (what Buzz Williams likes to call them) then it’s really not intimidating anyone.
3. I can’t really think of a third thing to write here, so let’s just bash the ACC as a collective bunch. The supposed to be best conference in basketball had a rough weekend.  North Carolina goes down to Belmont  (and before you ask, yes. I realized I already wrote an incoherent paragraph about this two points ago, but I want to reiterate it).  Virginia goes down to an VCU, an Atlantic 10 school albeit a very good one, but still a non-BCS. (And before you ask, yes. I realized this wasn’t this past weekend, but nonetheless should still be brought to everyone’s attention).  Notre Dame went down to Indiana State at home, but don’t forget ND went down to the Hawks of Saint Joeseph’s last year and Mike Brey still had them ready for the Big East tourney. My guess Brey will have them ready for the Big Ea-goddamnit the ACC tournament this year. Maryland went down to an Oregon State team that just suffered defeat by Coppin State, so using the transitive property of inequality, Coppin State is better than state-foe Maryland (Goddamn Nystrom would be proud of that usage and, before you ask, yes. I realized Oregon State was missing their best player and I’m only like 10% serious when I say Coppin State is better than Maryland). Needless to say Boston College has been kind of a letdown. All the hype coming into the season and they’ve already suffered defeats from A10 foe, UMASS, Big East contender, Providence and lastly the basketball power of Ohio-Toledo. That seat might be getting a little hot, Steve. And lastly, Syracuse got into a barnburner with St. Francis. Yes, a win is a win, but when you barely escape from a team that offered me a basketball scholarship, you have to re-evaluate yourself. (Them offering me a basketball scholarship may or may not be a complete lie, you can determine that for yourself)

Well there are my three crazy opinions about college basketball so far. I hope they’re not so delusional that you stop reading, but hey if you do, then I won’t have to continue to write these!

Tip-Off: Thoughts, Predictions, etc. on the Eve of College Basketball

Matt Hoover

It’s been a hot minute since anyone has posted anything of significance here on Out of Our League. (I’m ignoring Derek and Joe’s woeful attempt to pick football games. I’m trying to forget about the hundred or so dollars that the Straight Cash Homie Locks of the Week ended up costing me.) But today is a new day. Really, though, it’s not just any new day; it’s College Basketball Eve. In case you've yet to catch on, NCAAM is sort of our thing here at OoOL. In reality, we're more of a college basketball blog than a sports blog. So luckily for us and for you, it is, once again, our season to shine! Here are a few things to keep in mind as we set off down the road to JerryJonesville and this year’s Final Four...

Coach Cal is excited for the nation to witness the power
of this fully-armed and operational Kentucky squad. 

1. The Year of the Juggernaut? My intuition might be way out of whack, but, to me, it feels like this year’s top teams are all completely, completely loaded. Darth John Calipari, Dark Lord of the Wildcats, has mustered what many are considering to be the most talented group of players ever assembled in the history of college basketball down in Lexington. Tom Izzo is returning the entire Appling-Harris-Payne trio as well as many supporting cast members from last season’s impressive Sweet 16 run (which could have easily been an Elite 8 run in any of the other tournament regions. As you'll recall, the Midwest was brutal.) up at Michigan State. Freshman Jabari Parker and Mississippi State transfer Rodney Hood will make K’s Dukies absolutely loaded at the wings. Defending champions Slick Rick and the Ville return a ton of players from their deep team last year and figure to compete for the trophy again this season. Additionally, Slick Rick and the Ville has all the makings of an outstanding band name. If anyone is in the market for a band name, contact me and we'll hammer out some sort of agreement. I haven't even mentioned Kansas, Arizona, Ohio State, Syracuse, or Michigan yet, and there’s a strong argument that any one of those teams could make a deep, deep run in March. It feels like a very top-heavy group of teams. I’m sure it will be a season full of surprises as usual, but there is a ton of talent all over the college basketball landscape this year, particularly at the top.

2. Post-Tourney Pressure. The trajectory on which a few good games in a NCAA Tournament can launch your college basketball career is absurd and unprecedented throughout team sports. Mitch McGary, a 6-10 hustle player (read: white and unathletic) who averaged 7.5 points per game for Michigan last season, is a Preseason First Team All-American pick because he played out of his God damn mind for about 3 ½ games in March. Andy Enfield, who was virtually unknown to the college basketball world before that fateful weekend in Philadelphia last March, is making well over a million dollars this season as the head coach of USC’s program because he won 2 games. Speaking of FGCU, I will probably never forget the names Brett Comer, Sherwood Brown, and Chase Fieler as long as I am a fan of basketball. These are just a few examples of how heavily tournament success is weighed. It’s a little much at times. It will be interesting to see how McGary, for example, responds to the vast expectations that have been placed upon him. Last year, it was easy for him to get away with his lack of athleticism and technical know-how since he was probably Michigan's 5th option on offence, but he won't have the luxury of sneaking up on teams this season. Can he be a go-to guy? (SPOILER ALERT: probably not)

3. Monster Freshmen. Most people who follow basketball have probably heard of Kansas’s Andrew Wiggins. Most people who follow basketball have also read headlines that say things like, “You’ve Probably Heard of Kentucky's Andrew Wiggins, but Have You Heard of Kentucky’s Julius Randle (and/or Duke’s Jabari Parker)?”All three will likely be impressive to behold. Plenty of NBA teams are said to be “Riggin’ for Wiggins,” but teams who are “Putting Out the Candle for Randle” or “Intentionally Making Our Outlook Darker for Parker” won't be disappointed, either. It will be fun to watch these three, as well as Kentucky’s Harrison twins, Zona’s Aaron Gordon, and various other frosh develop throughout the season. Obviously, Kentucky’s success depends almost entirely on its freshman being able to gel by tourney time, but they're an extreme example. Plenty of very, very good teams will rely on their freshmen this season.

4. This Tuesday. Even though games start on Friday, Tuesday will serve as the spiritual opening day for college basketball. A number of decent matchups are peppered between now and then, but the first two absolutely must-watch games of the season can be seen back-to-back on ESPN Tuesday night. First, raw talent and experience clash in a battle of the nation’s top 2 teams. Darth Calipari leads Kentucky against Izzo’s Michigan State squad. People are jumping on the Michigan State bandwagon much earlier this year compared to the last few years, which makes me somewhat uncomfortable. I actually expect that both Kentucky and Michigan State will be slightly worse than people expect early in the season. A team as young as Kentucky, in spite of all their talent, will probably need a few games to start to get in sync, and Izzo's teams are notorious for getting of to comparatively slow start and then quietly building up momentum on their way to a deep tournament run. It’s an intriguing matchup that will definitely provide an huge early test for both teams. Afterwards, don’t pick up that remote! The nation’s top two freshmen will likely be matched up against each other as Wiggins, coach Bill Self, Derek’s boy Charlie Weis, and Rock-Chalk nation take on Parker, the K-man, Derek’s boy Rasheed SULAIMON, and the Blue Devils. Here we have another top five matchup between two loaded teams that I suspect may initially be better than the teams in the previous game. Both are going to be freakishly athletic this year. Tuesday night is essentially going to be a mini Final Four. Let’s light this candle.

Generally, this article has been pretty bland. I'm not really in the full spirit of the season yet. To make up for how plain Jane this has been, I'll leave you with a few predictions, some standard and some controversial, for the upcoming season. Enjoy.

Let's all try to appreciate Marshall while he's still with us.

• Florida will appear in yet another Elite 8. They'll also beat Kentucky at least once.
• In 4 months, no one will remember who Wichita State is.
• Jim Boeheim will challenge Roy Williams for the title of Grumpiest Old Man in the ACC.
• Bo Ryan, John Thompson III and Frank Haith combined will win fewer tournament games than Slick Rick the Brick Pitino.
• Aaron Craft will win the Peyton Siva award (which, of course, is given annually to the player who has been on his team for 40 years).
• Amile Jefferson will be average 10 points per game for Duke.
• John Calipari will personally oversee the final phases of the construction of the second Death Star.
• Adreian Payne will literally eat Mitch McGary alive at some point this season.
• Kentucky will begin the NCAA tournament with 4 losses. No more, no less.
• LaSalle and Temple will both miss the field in March.
• Tim Higgins doesn’t get this fantasy league together until March.
• Derek and I will decide to try to get tickets for the Sweet 16 and/or Elite 8 at Madison Square Garden. We'll think too deeply into my piss-poor, flat out inexcusable performance last year (in which I grossly overpaid for tournament tickets by purchasing them way too early) and end up not getting tickets because we wait too long and it sells out.
• Marshall Henderson’s reckless lifestyle will cost him his life. That’s right. He'll be dead before the season is over. You heard it here first.
• Wisconsin will average just under 8 possessions per game.

Two Final Thoughts:

1. Feel free to sleep on North Carolina. The fact of the matter is Dean Smith has forgotten more about the game of basketball than Roy Williams will ever know.

2. It’s absolutely amazing that Kevin Ware is on schedule to play in Louisville’s second game of the season. As you’ll probably recall, his shin injury in the Elite 8 last year was the worst thing you have ever seen. 

Week 3 Picks

You’re getting write-ups for all the games, so be thankful people…it’s the little things in life. Big Joey D is on absolute fire on Saturday, so take that as you will. I feel like I’m starting to get into mid-season form as well, considering I picked those games in about 3 minutes last week and that’s why you didn’t get a write-up and hey I’ll take 2-1. But, luckily for you, we spent some time on these picks this week and we’re confident. So, here ya go:

Derek

West Virginia (+5.5) over Maryland

Typically you don’t side with dudes named Dana when it comes down to football, but give me Dana’s high-powered offense (and 5.5) and I think they beat that sell out, Edsall. I really wish UCONN could’ve pulled the upset last weekend against the coach that abandoned them, but hey I’ll settle for a WVU victory.

 

USC (-7) over Utah State

USC is in shambles and I’ve been convinced that Lane Kiffin didn’t know what he’s been doing for years (since his stint with the Raiders) but I think everyone else is slowly starting to catch onto that. But, with all that being said USC just has too much talent for Utah State and keep in mind that Utah State lost their head coach this offseason.

 

Texas A&M (-29) over SMU

I’ll be honest I liked SMU when I first saw this, but then remembered SMU gave up 41 to Texas Tech and Texas Tech doesn’t have Johnny Manziel. So, my prediction is a lot of point, a lot of TOPSZN signs, and a lot beer consumed by Johnny after the game. Also like the over here, too people. A&M’s d couldn’t tackle Hoov in the open field and June Jones is gonna spread ya out and throw it all over the field.

 

 

You’re getting write-ups for all the games, so be thankful people…it’s the little things in life. Big Joey D is on absolute fire on Saturday, so take that as you will. I feel like I’m starting to get into mid-season form as well, considering I picked those games in about 3 minutes last week and that’s why you didn’t get a write-up and hey I’ll take 2-1. But, luckily for you, we spent some time on these picks this week and we’re confident. So, here ya go:

Derek

West Virginia (+5.5) over Maryland

Typically you don’t side with dudes named Dana when it comes down to football, but give me Dana’s high-powered offense (and 5.5) and I think they beat that sell out, Edsall. I really wish UCONN could’ve pulled the upset last weekend against the coach that abandoned them, but hey I’ll settle for a WVU victory.

 

USC (-7) over Utah State

USC is in shambles and I’ve been convinced that Lane Kiffin didn’t know what he’s been doing for years (since his stint with the Raiders) but I think everyone else is slowly starting to catch onto that. But, with all that being said USC just has too much talent for Utah State and keep in mind that Utah State lost their head coach this offseason.

 

Texas A&M (-29) over SMU

I’ll be honest I liked SMU when I first saw this, but then remembered SMU gave up 41 to Texas Tech and Texas Tech doesn’t have Johnny Manziel. So, my prediction is a lot of point, a lot of TOPSZN signs, and a lot beer consumed by Johnny after the game. Also like the over here, too people. A&M’s d couldn’t tackle Hoov in the open field and June Jones is gonna spread ya out and throw it all over the field.

Joe

We learned two things last weekend. 1: Mr. Saturday Afternoon is on fire and was a backdoor away from another perfect saturday. (Dammit TJ Yeldon!) 2: Mr Sunday Afternoon should be set on fire. Not only did each team not cover, 2 of the 3 lost! I have to admit though, watching Kaepernick and Vick lose was well worth it. I feel a really good week coming so lets get to it.

 

NCAA

 

Michigan -18 @ Connecticut

 Much like USC the week before, Michigan was embarrassed at home vs. Akron surviving with a 4 point W. I like Michigan to bounce back and prove to the nation that they are one of the top teams in the country. Their opponent, UConn, is a joke. They lost by 2 scores to national powers Maryland and.... wait for it.... TOWSON. If Towson can beat the Huskies by 15, no reason Michigan can’t beat them by 30.

 

Tennessee +17 @ Florida

 Don’t let last weekend’s blowout at Oregon fool you, Tennessee is a good football team. Florida on the other hand has not looked very impressive this year. They opened the year with an unimpressive 18 point victory vs. Toledo and lost against cross state rival, Miami. A piece of me thinks Florida will still win the game, but to quote Lee Corso it will be “closer than the experts think”

 

Louisiana-Lafayette -7.5 @ Akron

 I know what you are thinking, “What kind of degenerate bets on a Louisiana-Lafayette game?” Well, THIS degenerate bets on a Louisiana-Lafayette game! Akron had their Super Bowl last week at Michigan and almost pulled off the biggest upset since Appalachian State. An emotional game takes a lot out of you so I’m going with the Ragin’ Cajuns.

 

NFL

 

Jacksonville +19.5 @ Seattle

 Sure, Jacksonville is the worst team in the NFL and probably won’t win a game all season and hell, Alabama would give the Jags a run for their money. The bottom line is this, they are still an NFL team and any NFL team that is a 19.5 point dawg is a bet I can’t possibly pass up. A good bet would be to tease them +25.5 and over 35... but do whatever you want to do.

 

Straight Cash Homie Locks of the week

 You read that right, locks, plural. Let’s rap for a minute; I have been awful when it comes to the SCH Lock of the week. Like 2013, Philadelphia Phillies awful. Unlike the Phillies and much like Batman we will rise! So this week I’ll give you 2 absolute locks.

 

New York Giants -1.5 @ Carolina

 Two years ago, the Giants won the Super Bowl. Now, they are sitting at 0-2 looking up at the Cowboys and Eagles. I cannot see Eli Manning starting the year 0-3 but I can see Cam Newton go 0-3, so give me the Giants in a rout, 41-10.

 

 Baltimore +2.5 vs. Houston

 The defending Super Bowl Champs are a dawg at home? I don’t like that kind of disrespect and I’m sure the Ravens don’t either. Next to Philadelphia, Houston has to be the early seasons most overrated team in the league. A come from behind win against San Diego in week 1 and an overtime W vs. Tennessee warrants a top 3 power ranking? To quote Lee Corso again “Not so fast my friend!” The Ravens make a statement and win 24-17.

 

 

Week 2 Picks

Well last week certainly could have gone better, but what I think everyone should remember is that they had fun reading (even though my picks were worse than being a Notre Dame fan from 2002-2012). Regardless, we’re back for another fun week and Joe D even decided to grace us with a write up and I don’t want to get weird about it, but it is absolutely fantastic. But, since he didn’t do a write-up last weekend and was so successful, I’m gonna steal his idea. So here are the picks:

Joe

Before I get into my picks this week, I’d like to take a look back at last weeks picks and give you the analysis that only Mr. Saturday Afternoon can offer. First off I must apologize for not giving you a write up with my picks, I was too busy doing absolutely nothing. Anyway, I went 3-3 last week, undefeated on Saturday with an abysmal Sunday and Monday which tells me I’m more dialed in with my NCAA picks this year so I’ll give you 3 College & 3 Pro this week, sound good? Okay, Lets go!

USC -14 vs. Boston College

I know what you’re thinking, how could I possibly pick USC after losing to Washington State? Well because they’re playing Boston College. I actually watched Boston College vs. Villanova week 1 because I have family ties to both schools and it was honestly painful to watch. Boston College could not move the ball against the Steel Curtain like defense of Villanova and even gave up a fake punt for a touchdown. The Trojans are a team coming of an embarrassing loss and will bounce back at home to beat the Eagles by at least 3 TDs.

Fordham +20.5 @ Temple

This one is simple. Temple isn’t beating any team by 3 touchdowns. I don’t care if it’s Fordham, Buffalo, Camden Catholic or Me, Derek, Hoov and 8 other bums, it won’t happen. All we need from the Rams is one TD and we can celebrate. By the way, how about that Houston backdoor cover last week vs. Temple? #MrSaturdayAfternoon

NFL

Philadelphia -7.5 vs. San Diego

I Believe in Chipadelphia!!!... Actually, no I don’t, but I have to admit they looked pretty good on Monday Night. I question if the Eagles could keep up this style of offense up for 16 weeks but for now, I’ll strike while the iron is hot. Also, the west coast team to east coast trend is real. Look for San Diego to come out sluggish with that 4 hour time difference.

Chicago -6.5 vs. Minnesota

The Bears looked impressive in their week 1 victory over the Bengals and traditionally start the season off very strong. The Vikings on the other hand did not look too impressive. The Bears will slow down AP thus shutting down the Vikings chance at leaving the Windy City with a W.

San Francisco +3 @ Seattle

I must really like these games if I’m picking the Eagles, Bears & Niners. As much as I hate to give credit to the big beaked nerd, Colin Kaepernick and his scumbag Head Coach, Jim Harbaugh, San Fran looked really good against my Packers and might just be the best team in the NFL. Although Seattle did cover last week as I predicted, they did not dominate Carolina like everyone expected. I’ll take the 49ers OUTRIGHT!

STRAIGHT CASH HOMIE LOCK OF THE WEEK

Alabama -8 @ Texas A&M

So last week the SCH got off to a slow start when I picked the new look Eagles to go down to RGIII and the Redskins. This week I’m going to go with the game every college football fan has been waiting for since last November, the rematch between Alabama and Texas A&M. Since Nick Saban has taken over at Alabama, the Tide have been tremendous in these “revenge games.” In 2009, Bama beat Florida in an SEC Championship rematch on their way to the National Championship and in 2011 beating LSU in the National Championship after the Tigers beat them earlier in the season. I expect the same result this year and I’ll even give you a final score. 27-14 Tide. 

 

Derek

Oregon State (+3) over Utah

Oregon (-28.5) over Tennessee

Texas (-3) over Ole Miss

Week 1 Picks

Derek DeNote

Out of Our League wasn’t around last football season, and, while I apologize for that, I was quite busy doing big things with my life (like playing copious amounts of NCAA Football). This year Joe and I will be giving great gambling insight, but keep in mind people there is reason why these picks are free. Don’t go betting your mortgage on these (unless, of course, you wanna win your mortgage). But all joking aside, as Colin Cowherd always says, “Don’t bet what you don’t have.” And now without further adieu, here are the picks:

Derek

Cincinatti (-9) over Illinois.

Give me the bearcats in this one for a multitude of reasons. The first being that smokeshow is going to be in attendance and he’s been hyping up this bearcat team all summer, so I’m fairly confident in the W. Tommy Tuberville’s team whooped up on the B1G last week and I’m expecting a repeat performance, expect the run often. Another point, when was the last time Illinois was relevant; Juice Williams, Arrelious Benn? 

South Carolina (+3.5) over Georgia

I want the ol’ ball coach and Connor Shaw in this one. Georgia is notoriously bad in the beginning of the season, but I can guarantee everyone will start talking about Mark Richt on the hot seat and he’ll come close to winning out the rest of the season. This Georgia team is good and at home, but I think Clowney will be a lot for their line to handle (I know, so insightful). Plus you’re giving me a field goal and a half a point to make a mistake and I certainly think South Carolina will keep it close.

Navy (+12) over Indiana

I’m not gonna lie to you, only because I like you, I haven’t watched either of these teams play. But, Navy still runs the option and well, Indiana is still Indiana. No doubting Indiana looked extremely impressive in their opener, but imagine if they actually signed the one-time commit and one-time 5 star, Gunner Kiel.

Notre Dame (+4.5) over Michigan

Notre Dame…outright. I think Notre Dame escapes this one with a W, mainly because I’m not a huge Brady Hoke fan. Also, Brady Hoke probably is a little afraid of Louis Nix…I mean who isn’t and Brady Hoke offended Nix with some preseason comments. Notre Dame’s offense is actually improved with Rees at the helm (Despite my dad still proclaiming that Golson is better than Manziel). Kelly let him loose in the first two drives against Temple and all of a sudden Rees to Daniels was looking like Clausen to Floyd or perhaps Quinn to McKnight for you older fans. I think Kelly kept some things under wraps and the Irish pull out the W.

Joe

NCAA:

Houston (-3) over Temple

Tennessee (+13.5) over Western Kentucky

NFL:

Atlanta Falcons (+3) over New Orleans Saints

Seattle Seahawks (-3.5) over Carolina Panthers

Indianapolis Colts (-10) over Oakland Raiders

And it’s Back!!! The Straight Cash Homie Lock of the Week:

Washington Redskins (-3.5) over Philadelphia Eagles  

5 Things You Should Know about College Basketball in July

Derek DeNote

Just when you thought we were done, we’re back!! Well, we’re not actually back because that would imply that we’re fully dedicated to bringing this back and, frankly, we’re not. I’m just really bored since at the time of writing I’m in stuck the adventurous town of Freeburg, Illinois, and I thought what’s a better way to pass time than to talk college basketball in July?! And then it dawned on me that hanging out with friends, getting a life, several methods of suicide, and probably most other things would be a better way to pass time. But the whole friends thing is unattainable right now, so I’ll talk college basketball. Here are five things worth talking about.

Not me! Them!

1.     Big 12. Not Bruce Weber. Competing. Everyone is raving that this will be the greatest draft class since 2003, I’d like to watch them play some college basketball before I make this assertion, but with the Sixers recent moves I hope to God it’s all it’s talked up to be. Of course, I’m pumped to see Andrew Wiggins play at Allen Fieldhouse, but don’t forget people… the last number one overall player Kansas got turned out to be Josh Selby. Didn’t exactly pan out. But Wiggins seems to be of much higher character and he’s being compared to LeBron, who’s the best player of my lifetime. (I count my sports lifetime as remembering live events…meaning Jordan is excluded from this cause I don’t think he wants me to remember his Wizards days anyway.) Like always, Kansas is going to be good and Bill Self’s squad should be a favorite to win the Big 12 despite Marcus Smart returning with LeBryan Nash (the one-time top 10 ESPN recruit) and Markel Brown. Give me Self and Wiggins in this one. Though, if the whole suck for Wiggins doesn’t exactly work out for the Sixers, I certainly would not mind Marcus Smart.

2.     Kentucky. John Calipari. Recruiting. Analysts are saying they wanna see this team before they crown them the greatest recruiting class ever, but for Christ’s sake the dude is bringing in 5 of the top 9 players…I don’t care if they’re all busts, to have the ability to convince 5 guys that he’ll be able to get them all touches is unbelievable. Well done, Cal. I’m pumped to see the twins play together, and even more pumped to see if the Sixers two lottery picks turns into them drafting the twins. But, regardless Kentucky will be talked about a lot in the preseason. And I’m also gonna go out on a huge, huge limb and say they’ll be a lot better than last year’s team. I don’t expect another national title, though, mainly because I don’t see a nice blend guy/real team oriented guy like Michael Kidd-Gilchrist was. If someone can emerge as a similar player, though, a title is in sights. Cal always says he’d rather have talent than experience, and he certainly has the talent this year.

 

Since Matt is usually in charge of the captions
and doesn't watch Entourage, he doesn't really
get this reference enough to say anything funny.
I think they spell their first names differently, though.

3.     Florida. Billy Donovan. Winning (even when you’re not hyped). I’ll still never admit those back to back National Championship teams were any good, but that’s probably why I write a shitty blog and not for ESPN, but this is how I want it anyway (unless ESPN is reading this, then I will sell out and join the regime). I’ve been pumped to write about Florida for some quite time and it’s all because of Kasey Hill. I saw him play last year and was blown away by his ability to get to the basket at will and his vision is great. Luckily this Florida native didn’t back out of his commitment to Florida. (Yes, Austin Rivers, I’m staring at you.) Scottie Wilbekin being suspended indefinitely in the offseason (Yeah, I don’t understand that either.) will probably be a blessing in disguise. Wilbekin was known as a defensive stopper last year, but now Donovan will get a lot more offensive efficiency out of his point guard, so I expect big things. Florida will miss E from Entourage (Erik Murphy) and his ability to spread the floor, but with Kasey Hill’s explosiveness at the point, I’d expect Florida to be a different team from last year.

4.     Duke. Coach K. Running. Duke is going to be so much fun to watch this year. There’s a big misconception that Duke doesn’t like to run, but the easiest way to get an open 3 is off a rebound and in transition, so expect a lot of transition. Duke returns Quinn Cook, Tyler Thornton, Rasheed SULAIMON (I haven’t forgotten people and you shouldn’t have either), and bring back sharp shooter Andre Dawkins. In case you guys forgot Kelly Olynyk redshirted midseason and became a POY candidate, so I expect big things from Dawkins. I know Dawkins redshirted for personal reasons, not to improve his game like Olynyk, but I have a slight feeling that he’s going to be really good. Oh yeah, add in Jabari Parker, the second best (first until Wiggins reclassified) recruit in the country and you should be pumped to watch this Duke team. I’m pumped for the emergence of Rodney Hood, the Mississippi State transfer. The lefty can stroke it from deep and adds even more athleticism to the roster. Also, Duke is going to be dependent on some combination of Hairston, Jefferson, and Murphy in the interior. Hairston played really well as role player and his role may diminish this year, but the productivity should/needs to continue. Jefferson, the Philly product, played extremely well in the absence of Ryan Kelly last year. He stepped up big time and I expect even more growth from him. He’ll need to control his foul trouble, so he can stay on the court, but that will come with maturity and experience. Finally, I think Alex Murphy, E’s brother (I’m sure Mr. and Mrs. Murphy are ecstatic that the brothers made it into the same Out of Our League Blog article!!!) is the wildcard. People were hyping him as a Kyle Singler-esque player when he committed and I haven’t seen it. He started to come into his toward of the end of the season, but if has any Kyle Singler in him this would be a great time to show it because if he can play like Singler did in 2010, he may be winning a National Championship like Kyle.

 

There's a chance Brad Stevens
could pull a Rick Pitino and end up
back in the NCAA in a few years.

5.     Butler. Me. Crying. After the shocking news of Brad Stevens leaving to take the Celtics job, I have finally stopped sobbing and am ready to become a normal part of society again. I had high hopes for this Butler team, because Mr. Stevens raved about his incoming class and he returned sharp shooter, Kellen Dunham and the front court of Kam Woods, Roosevelt Jones, and Erik Fromm. Brandon Miller seems highly qualified and God knows Butler has gotten the coaching decisions right in the past, hiring Thad Matta and Brad Stevens. But, let’s talk about Stevens now and his tenure in the NBA. Best case: He does what he did at Butler and takes the Celtics to championships, hopefully winning them this time. Worst case: He collapses like every other college coach that has made the jump in the past 20, gets fired, and takes over for Coach K when he retires. What I fear most and see as the most likely: He suffers from what I like to call Sixers syndrome. Sixers syndrome is when you don’t quite have the talent to do anything too noteworthy in the postseason, but since you have a great coach you still make the playoffs and that ultimately keeps you out of the lottery, preventing you from actually getting the player you need to make a difference. Good news for Stevens is the Boston has more of an allure than Philly.

Guest Post: Joe D's Mock Draft v2.0

A lot has happened since my last mock draft, folks. Free Agency took place and helped answer some teams’s question marks while it also raised some more questions for others. The combine also took place in Indianapolis, helping some players’s stock rise while others’s (aka Manti Te’o) fell harder than that freak Kevin Ware vs. Duke. So, without further adieu (or is it ado?) I present Mock 2.0

1.  Kansas City - T Luke Joeckel Texas A&M - Kansas City made a big splash this offseason trading for former #1 pick Alex Smith. With weapons like Dwayne Bowe and Jammal Charles, Smith has a chance to flourish and take Kansas City to the next level, as long as he stays on his feet. The Chiefs re-signed T Branden Albert and released T Eric Winston before the start of free agency which all but locks up a tackle going with the top selection in the draft. The question is, Joeckel or Fisher? I ranted and raved about Fisher in mock one and still believe he is the best tackle in this draft, but the level of competition he faced in college raises some questions. There is no denying the level of competition Joeckel faced, which makes him more “pro ready” and gives him the slight edge. 

2.     Jacksonville - T Eric Fisher Central Michigan - Jacksonville needs an upgrade at every position on the board except for running back so the best player available philosophy should apply. The best on the board, and in my opinion the best in the entire draft, is Eric Fisher. 

3.     Oakland - DT Sharriff Floyd Florida - I’m not exactly sold on Floyd. I think he’s just another combine warrior who looks great doing drills but doesn’t produce on the field... which makes him a perfect fit for the Raiders! Floyd had just 3 sacks and 29 tackles in 2012, but hey, he had a great combine! I debated having Oakland select QB Geno Smith with this selection, but they then traded for the man who is tied for the single game record for TD passes thrown by a Green Bay Packer. No, not Aaron Rodgers, I’m talking about Matt Flynn of course. 

4.     Philadelphia - DE/OLB Dion Jordan Oregon - This pick makes a lot of sense on a couple of levels. New Eagles Head Coach Chip Kelly is of course Jordan’s former skipper at Oregon so it makes sense that Kelly would pick him up. Also, after a disappointing season out of Trent Cole and the release of tattooed freak Jason Babin during the season leaves the Eagles with a need for a pass rusher. 

5.     Detroit - T Lane Johnson Oklahoma - The Lions needed O-line help badly heading into the offseason. Then Jeff Backus retired which made their need even worse. In a division with premier pass rushers like Clay Matthews, Julius Peppers and Jared Allen, a good offensive line is key to survival. Detroit should race to the podium to select Johnson if he is still available. 

6.     Cleveland - DE Ezekial Ansah BYU - Cleveland’s defense actually was pretty good in 2012. They finished the year right in the middle of the pack in all of the major defensive statistics but still could use an upgrade at DE across from Jabaal Sheard. Ansah is a bit of a one-year wonder after just recording 10 tackles combined in his sophomore and junior seasons, but his upside is tremendous. He plays a lot like Jason Pierre-Paul of the Giants. 

7.     Arizona - DE/OLB Barkevious Mingo LSU - Arizona took care of their need at QB by trading for Carson Palmer a few weeks back so Geno Smith can most likely cross off Arizona as a possible destination. The Cards defense was pretty solid last season but could still use a DE across from Sam Acho. With Jordan and Ansah off the board, Mingo is best pass rusher remaining. 

8.     Buffalo - QB Geno Smith West Virginia - The Bills have been on a search for a franchise QB since Jim Kelly retired and have failed miserably in doing so. Names like Rob Johnson, Drew Bledsoe, JP Losman, Ryan Fitzpatrick and Trent Edwards couldn’t get the job done. Geno Smith has all the tools to be a franchise QB in this league. 

9.     New York (Jets) - CB Dee Milliner Alabama - If you haven’t tuned in SportsCenter lately, you might have missed that Darrelle Revis got traded to the Bucs. Before I break down the pick, let me break down the trade. The Jets got away with robbery. As I have mentioned before, the only positions you should trade a first round pick for are a franchise QB, top tier pass rusher or an elite LT.... Revis is none of these. Also, he’s coming off an ACL tear. Now the Jets should replace Revis, with Milliner Island... See what I did there?

10.  Tennessee - DT Star Lotulelei Utah - No team gave up more points in 2012 than the Titans. Tennessee also finished in the bottom half of every defensive statistic in the league. They could use a big body to clog up some running lanes to help their mediocre run D. Lotulelei was a guy who was in my top 3 on my big board before it was discovered that he had a neck injury at the combine. If the Titans could grab him at #10 it would be a steal.

11.  San Diego - WR Tavon Austin West Virginia - The Chargers passing attack is just plain bad. Danario Alexander, Malcolm Floyd and Eddie Royal don’t exactly strike fear in a lot of teams in the league. What they need is a play maker, and thats what Tavon Austin. He’s a bit of a question mark like Shariff Floyd because he really shot up after the combine. However, unlike Floyd I think Austin will be a stud. 

12.  Miami - TE Tyler Eiffert Notre Dame - This is the biggest reach thus far but I think its a good fit. Tight end play has been a weak spot for the Dolphins over the past couple of seasons and with a young QB you should have a solid to TE to help bail him out. 

13.  New York (Jets) - DE/OLB Jarvis Jones Georgia - After taking care of their open void at corner, the Jets should attack their need at DE. Rex Ryan loves Barkevious Mingo but he got snagged before their first selection. The next best option would be Jarvis Jones from Georgia. 

14.  Carolina - DT Sheldon Richardson Missouri - Carolina’s D-line has been weak ever since Julius Peppers took off for Chicago a few years ago. Richardson is listed at DT but could easily transition over to end. 

15.  New Orleans - CB Xavier Rhodes Florida State - After getting spurned by Nnamdi Asomugha, the Saints still need to address the cornerback position. Although statistically they weren’t the worst ranked pass defensive in the NFL last season, they were in my opinion the worst. In a division with Roddy White, Julio Jones and Vincent Jackson the Saints will need to upgrade ASAP.

16.  St. Louis - WR Corradelle Patterson Tennessee - In mock 1.0, I mentioned the Rams need for a tackle to protect Sam Bradford and a WR for him. The Rams inked up Jake Long in the offseason taking care of the tackle need. Now they should get him a weapon and Patterson is the most dangerous one left. 

17.  Pittsburgh - DE/OLB Bjoern Werner Florida State - Recently, the Steelers parted ways with former defensive player of the year and Super Bowl hero, James Harrison, who signed with the Bengals. The Steelers defensive isn’t getting any younger and could use some youth at OLB. Werner is a guy with not a lot of football experience but has the potential to be a future Pro Bowler.

18.  Dallas - G Chance Warmack Alabama - Dallas desperately needs to fix their defensive line. Hell, they have needed to fix their line for the past 4 seasons but haven’t. They could go with a tackle or guard so they should just grab the best of either left. Warmack could make an immediate impact in Dallas after going up against some of the best pass rushers in the country in the SEC.

19.  New York (Giants) - LB Alec Ogletree Georgia - The G Men had expressed some interest in Manti Te’o even after his abysmal combine performance, making it clear that they would like to upgrade at inside linebacker. If there is a better option available for them at middle linebacker they should snatch him quick. Ogletree is a much better option.

20.  Chicago - LB Arthur Brown Kansas State - When Brian Urlacher left Chicago last month after getting that slap in the face contract offer it ended an era in the Windy City. There was no denying that Brian had lost a step last season and the Bears made the right move of getting rid of him. Brown is an absolute stud and would be a great heir apparent in Chicago. 

21.  Cincinnati - S Kenny Vaccaro Texas - This would be a steal for the Bengals if he’s still available. They can grab the best safety and arguably the best defensive back in the whole draft as well. Vaccaro would help improve an already impressive defense in Cincy. 

22.  St. Louis - RB Eddie Lacy Alabama - Steven Jackson and the Rams parted ways this offseason leaving a huge hole at the running back position. Unless they want to go into the season with the Isaiah Pead or Terrance Gannaway being they featured back they’ll need to draft one. 

23.  Minnesota - DT Johnathan Hankins Ohio State - Kevin Williams isn’t getting any younger is declining each season. It’s time for the Vikings to move on from him.

24.  Indianapolis - DE Margus Hunt SMU - Margus Hunt is a guy I love. He’s just a jerk out there. All he does is goes out and pushes people around and hits hard. Theres not anything pretty about his game, he just hurts people. He’d be a great fit for a team who lacks leadership and toughness on the defensive side of the ball.

25.  Minnesota - QB Ryan Nasib Syracuse - Let’s be real, Christian Ponder is awful. How did this guy not get torn into for missing a playoff of game due to a BRUISE?? He has proven that he has no heart and on top of that he has not talent. Watch any tape of him rolling to the left forcing him to throw across his body, its a nightmare. All he has going for him is his smoking hot wife, ESPN Broadcaster Sam Steele. Minnesota needs a change and a leader if they want to compete for an NFC North crown. Ryan Nasib is that change. 

26.  Green Bay - S Jonathan Cyprien Florida International - The Packers pass defense has never been the same since S Nick Collins retired in 2011 due to a neck injury. Cyprien is a great fit for Green Bay, hes a sure tackler and a big hitter which the Green and Gold could use. He reminds me a lot of current Packer safety Morgan Burnett.

27.  Houston - WR Justin Hunter Tennessee - Andre Johnson could really use a weapon opposite him. Kevin Walter is a solid player but he struggles to stay healthy and doesn’t exactly take attention away from Andre Johnson. There are some health concerns with Hunter but if he could get back to 2011 form, the Texans will be fun to watch. 

28.  Denver - DE Datone Jones UCLA - After the whole Elvis Dumervil fax debacle the Broncos need an edge rusher opposite Von Miller. Although, Jones is more of a run stuffer, he could still contribute as a solid pass rusher. 

29.  New England - S Matt Elam Florida - We know how bad the Patriots pass defense has been the past couple of seasons and will need to address it in this draft. Patrick Chung left New England for Philly so safety should be the first position they fill. 

30.  Atlanta - CB Desmond Trufant Washington - Dunta Robinson and Brent Grimes are gone and Trufant is still available. It seems like a great fit for a team that got roasted in the NFC Championship game. 

31.  San Francisco - C Jonathan Cooper North Carolina - San Fran’s O-Line is tremendous so this is not a pick to fill position of need. This is purely to provide them with depth because honestly, the Niners don’t have that many needs. Cooper could play center or guard so if one of them goes down he could be plugged in and can contribute. 

32.  Baltimore - LB Manti Te’o Notre Dame - If you somehow forgot, let me remind you all that Ray Lewis retired. As much of a nuisance Ray was, there was no denying he could play and was a leader. We all know about Manti’s fake/dead girlfriend/boyfriend and his poor showing at the combine, but there is no denying what he did with his time at ND. Te’o would be a “killer” replacement for Ray Lewis in Baltimore. 

That concludes round one of Mock 2.0. Here are some bonus picks for other players of interest. 

33. Jacksonville - QB Matt Barkely USC

35. Philadelphia - QB EJ Manuel Florida State

43. Tampa Bay - QB Mike Glennon NC State

88. Green Bay - RB Montee Ball Wisconsin 

100. Oakland - QB Tyler Wilson Arkansas

101. Philadelphia - CB Tyrann Mathieu LSU

121. Indianapolis - QB Tyler Bray Tennessee 

160. Houston - RB Marcus Lattimore South Carolina 

172. Oakland - QB/WR Denard Robinson Michigan 

202. Tennessee - QB Colin Klein Kansas State

254. Indianapolis - OLB Tom Wort Oklahoma (Mr. Irrelevant)