Shawn Taggert is Tyson Chandler with offensive skills. Tyreke Evans is, well, a 6′6 point guard who will be in the NBA in 2009. Robert Dozier is rock solid. Did I mention that Evans has a 7′3 wingspan?

And of course do include Pierre Henderson-Niles, who lost about 50 pounds during the summer. So from now on, Pierre, people are going to expect Robert “Tractor” Traylor types of things from you on the court—you know, like when Traylor was in college.

Jeff Zillgitt, USA Today

The 104 victories in three years tied an NCAA record, and if Memphis reaches 30 wins this season, seniors Robert Dozier and Antonio Anderson will become the winningest players in NCAA history.

Getting to 30 won’t be easy. With Derek Rose, Chris Douglas-Roberts and Joey Dorsey in the NBA, Memphis lost 50% of its scoring, 45% of rebounding, 44% of assists and blocked shots and 41% of steals.

“Other than that, we’re good. We have everybody else coming back,” Calipari says, laughing.

Post from: EveryJoe

Memphis Tigers

I was absolutely correct about this Sky Walker cat.

He is now dunking on all types of folks in the NBA, albeit in preseason tune ups, but it’s spectacular stuff nonetheless. Especially when dunking on Theo Ratliff, even though Theo has been in the NBA since the Jimmy Carter days.

You Got Dunked On has the video.

Update- YouTube does have video of this dunk party… apparently adding “Bill Walker dunk” was not enough to warrant YouTube finding the video for me. Adding “Bill Walker Ratliff” was.

Post from: EveryJoe

Way back in June

They return four out of the top five scorers. The team is senior laden and coached by one of the most underrated coaches in college basketball, Mike Brey.

Notre Dame Basketball is a big deal.

A few reasons why they are not on UNC’s level, or even Oklahoma’s…

Very little new blood will be infused to this team this year, as no freshmen or new transfers of any kind are on the roster. Consequently the team is not what you would call deep, but the firepower to score and score often is more than there. Losing Rob Kurz’s 12.5 ppg and 7.1 reb is significant especially considering that production in the lineup isn’t necessarily guaranteed to be filled. Redshirt sophomore Carleton Scott seems like the logical replacement, not in terms of position, but in terms of minute distribution. Starting position wise, 6’10 senior Luke Zeller will compete with fellow senior, 6’9 Zach Hillesland, for the second front court position alongside reigning Big East player of the year Luke Harangody.

6’7 Ryan Ayers, yet another battle tested senior, will be hard pressed to improve his stellar 45% downtown clip, but all the while will be a big part of the outside barrage and should be a likely double digit scorer for this squad (it will be interesting to see if the three point line change will adversely affect the Irish).

Tyrone Nash could be the sleeper choice out of the remaining bit players. Just a small premonition.

Guards Kyle McAlarney and Tory Jackson complement each other as well as any duo in the country. Kyle is a lethal shooter (44.1% 3pt fg) and Tory is the ringleader, the caddie, the shutdown corner.

Tory must improve his outside shooting efficiency (38.6% fg in 07) to be considered a true all around player. His gaudy 1.8 steals/gm and 5.9 assists/gm make him a consistent jumper away from being NBA material.

I’ll tell you this, the Fighting Irish may not have a lot of depth beyond the seventh guy, but it’s a solid and hungry group that can score in a variety of ways and know the roles in which they must carry out.

Next year transfers Ben Hansbrough and Scott Martin will be eligible to play, but with so many seniors departing, not to mention Harangody’s somewhat expected leap, the only chance to make serious noise is now.

Style over substance could be the theme that derails Notre Dame, but who doesn’t like scoring?

*Thanks to crackedsidewalks.com for having the Big East Prospectus easily available.

Post from: EveryJoe

Fighting Irish at #5

In no particular order and in no particular feeling of confidence either:

**** Scoff at it, just get mad at it UofA fans. Your team will lay an egg this year but totally get hot and win the NIT.

^ Addition by subtraction in Texas—ludicrous to say maybe, but D.J. and A.J. were beguiling wonders on the court that irrevocably held back the Longhorns from placing more impactful punches against stronger fighters.

$ The Spartans will further cement themselves as the college version of the 21st century Detroit Pistons. Each has won one championship, yet both fan bases are becoming impatient with the standstill success. So much talent yet so little to show for it.

#!#@ Calling Conference USA a power conference was a little wishful. That statement, although made while sober, still feels dirty, but it could end up alright. Just hoping Vaden or some other power conference guy can make a run at the scoring title.

? Calling Northwestern a NIT team was an undemonstrative springboard to tomfoolery, as this season I will probably be glued to all news NW basketball, akin to the energy I gave them during the Jitim Young and Tavaras Hardy days.

(Preview of Big Ten season)—Probably the most accurate prediction of the Big Ten season as you will find, minus the Michigan placement. No Big Ten quality pg will be available to suit up for the Wolvies until the second semester.—-

% Hasheem Thabeet is ready for a monster year and a long run into the tourney. It would not be surprising to see the Huskies stay in the top 5 for the entire season, especially if Thabeet can average 14.5ppg, 9 reb and more than 4 blk. Just think about the terror an offensively skilled Thabeet would be.

高人 Speaking of impact big men, one should keep an eye out for UNC-Asheville’s Kenny George. When fresh, he’s really not much different than your rudimentary 7 foot center, except for the fact George can regularly hit free throws and, while this might not seem feasible, still surprises many guards with his length. After awhile you’d think they would find new ways to attack a 7’7 dude, but often they make the same mistake over and over. However the time to attack George is when he’s sucking major air. Not exactly an original idea, yet, for huge guy, the opportunities present themselves much more frequently.

It’s almost as of George has decent enough foot speed to move laterally and react, but it’s the body that often takes awhile to catch up. If the coach can really substitute him frequently and wisely, UNC-Asheville will be the best in the Big South.

The next two are direct matchup predictions.

$$$ The Big Ten will once again fall to the superior ACC and it will, as it has always been, be because of the significant back of the conference weakness’s of the Big Ten. Need I go further?

\&/ The Fighting Irish will beat the Tar Heels in the finals of the Maui Invitational.

So with that out of the way,

#1

My pick to win the whole enchilada.

Discuss.

photo credit: Newscom

Post from: EveryJoe

Ahhh Finally

The Challenge tips off on the first of December with Wisconsin visiting Virginia Tech.

After the opening day 5 games on each of the next 2 days will take place. There are some salivating matchups for sure.

Duke at Purdue

UNC vs. MSU at Ford Field– ok, UNC at MSU

Ohio St. at Miami

Eh, I guess know “salivating” is more of a subjective take on these games.

But those three matchups just about do it for me.

Is this the year the Big Ten will amass more than 5 wins in the challenge?

Nope.

7-4 will be the ACC’s record for this year’s challenge.

The rundown…

Wisconsin at Virginia Tech
Everyone is back from Tech save Deron Washington. A.D. Vassalo might be the best baller most of America doesn’t know about.

On second thought, Wiscy’s Trevon Hughes might be the best unknown dude. At any rate, Tech must shoot the ball better from downtown if they are to escape Bo’s onslaught of a defense.

Edge- Wiscy

Ohio St. at Miami
The deep and deadly Hurricanes will stomp the Buckeyes, of course.

Edge- Miami

Iowa at Boston College
Both of these teams suck, but Tyrese Rice brings excitement and scoring to the game. Iowa could overtake the cellar from Indiana before it’s all said and done this year.

Edge- BC

Clemson at Illinois
Clemson returns 7 of its top 10 players from last year’s NCAA tourney team, including the Eric Piatkowski look alike, Terrence Oglesby. I vividly remember a game last year where Oglesby jacked up about 18 threes and hit about 2 of them. Actually it was a 1 for 11 performance against Villanova in the first round last year. Look for a strong game from Terrence.

Edge- Clemson

Duke at Purdue
This will be one of those early tests for Purdue, one in which will help sort out the veracity of the heavily pro-Purdue prognosticators.

Expect a shootout.

Edge- Purdue

Virginia at Minnesota
The teams look to be even, but the coaches are far from it.

Edge- Minny

Indiana at Wake Forest
Wake will easily win this one. Wake looks like it could give anybody in the country problems as all five starters return and a highly touted class comes in.

Edge- Wake

Penn St. at Georgia Tech
Tech could be an ACC dark horse this year. Penn St. needs the Crispin brothers back.

Edge- GTech

Michigan at Maryland
Greivis vs Corperryale.

Michigan will turn the ball over 20 plus times but still be within 6 or 8 when it’s over.

I live in Michigan. Bet on it. No really.

Edge- Maryland

UNC at MSU (Ford Field)

MSU fans get loud. Ford Field is way bigger than the Breslin.

Unfortunately,

Hansbrough and Deon Thompson>>> Goran Suton and Marquise Gray

Edge- UNC

Florida St. at Northwestern

(Snorts and giggles)

The Seminoles will get their asses handed to them by an academic school that has had virtually no success in basketball, hence the giggling and snorting. This will feel like losing to Duke in football. Florida St. will have some mighty trouble this year, they lost too much from last year’s team. Northwestern is tough at home.

Edge- NW

The ACC, albeit not looking like a super strong conference this year, will still end up tearing apart most of the sluggish teams from the B10.

Not really going out on a limb here with the history of this challenge and all, but you’ll forget about this one after you read my final two death wishes… er, predictions.

Post from: EveryJoe

Prediction 8: ACC/Big Ten Challenge

He’s a tower.

Though sometimes the coach can’t get him out of the game quick enough.

The game’s pace often times leaves George doubled over after just a minute or so. Lots of 5 on 4’s result. Gotta have the big man in there, but, to a point.

And yet, when his minutes are finely controlled, George can wreak havoc on any team on any end of the court.

Against the UNC Tar Heels last year, Kenny put up 14 points, 11 boards and 4 blocks in 24 minutes of action.

Will Kenny’s role ever expand?

07/08 stats- 19.4 min/gm, 69.6 % fg, 65.2 % ft, 3.3 blk, 12.4 ppg, 7 reb

If George can play a strong 25 min/gm and block at least 4 shots while improving on his ppg and rebounding averages, Asheville will win another 20 games and be invited to another postseason tourney.

The more Kenny is “in the game”, the chances Asheville can compete for the conference crown rise dramatically.

This will be the year the UNC-Asheville Bulldogs will win the Big South tourney and go dancing.

Post from: EveryJoe

Prediction 7: Less is actually more

At first glance 7′1 B.J. Mullens reminds me of the classic stiff, the guy who had all sorts of people saying great things about him prior to even lacing up sneakers in the NBA.

Robert Swift, Michael Olowokandi, Chris Mihm, Jim McIlvaine, uhh, maybe not Jimster there, but those first 3 were supposed to be the next really good, even spectacular, pivots, but are the epitome of Muresanian stiffness and Will Perdue blandness.

Beating up on Gheorghe like that isn’t like me, so I’ll say Ostertag stiffness instead.

Muresan had game.

Hoops analysts and geniuses –just about every one of that species—has proclaimed B.J. to be the next Oden type impact in college basketball. He can shoot it like Dirk, dunk it like Dominique, run the floor like a gazelle and can kiss it in off the glass like Mr. Fundamentals.

Just imagine how much more we would hear about B.J. if he was going to an ACC school?

Dickie V. would be saying he’s the number one Diaper Dandy!

Milicic

Is Mullens the next Darko flop?

Does he wow people in solo workouts like Darko apparently wowed Joe Dumars?

I’m not going to sit back and say Mullens will be a total disaster his freshman year.

First off, he’ll play at least 19 games against a disaster of a conference, the Big Ten. That alone should guarantee him at least a double digit scoring average.

Northwestern, Michigan and Iowa probably have enough combined talent to make a run in the NIT if they joined together, but split up that core and you have three downright weak teams.

Penn St. and Illinois won’t turn any heads either.

Indiana, it will be awhile.

Second, Mullens will (already has) easily impress others with his hops on wide open dunks and such, inflating the esteem of the many futile videos that already exist exhibiting his growing heap of skills. With every little highlight play he makes, the koolaid will be traveling more and more.

I’ll be really blunt… there haven’t been any white (American) centers who have taken the NBA by storm in recent years. There have been quite a few who were projected to be real good, like a couple mentioned above. Add on Bryant Reeves and Travis Knight to that list save Kandi Man.

Chris Kaman is the closest definition of a solid white “center” out there now. And by all means, Chris is a valuable player and really had a breakout year in 07/08. He’s a border line All-Star caliber player.

Brad Miller is on the honorable mention list, but he’s never been a back to the basket player anyways.

So this B.J. guy has a lot to live up to and many people he must prove wrong, and also, prove right.

I think too many basketball fans and “analysts” are often overly gaga over an athletic white guy, a smooth white guy, someone who they think can break out and be considered the next Larry Bird or Bill Walton, Rex Chapman, Brent Barry, Kevin McHale, John Stockton, Chris Mullin.

Good American white players are hard to come by lately.

B.J. is a phony as of now.

You can’t teach height.

True.

But you can teach others to be aware of Darko.

Post from: EveryJoe

B.J. Mullens hype machine warm and ready

We are proud to announce that the b5media Sports Channel has expanded to now have 24 total blogs.

All Poker Addicts by Blake Butler
BCS Frenzy by Allison Boyer
BIGPLAY Radio NFL Podcast by David Kindervater
College Fast Break by Rich Carlson
Do You Nascar by Tim Zaegel
Dejuiced by Albert Bianchi
Every Morning Quarterback by David Kindervater
Getting Reel by Don Zaegel
Gossip on Sports by Jodie Lynn Boduch
Green Posse by Michael Stramba
Hockey Beat by Jeanne Dupuis
Hoops Fantasy by Stephen Kersey
Jab & Grapple by Kris Karkoski
Knuckle Curve by Geoff Young
Ladies Court by Joe Ruiz
Light the Torch by Sasha Manuel
NBA Obsessed by James Edwards
Rackets and Balls by Erica Beck
Real Muscle Online by Ramsay Taplin
Six and Out by Dinsa Sachan
Squib Kick by James Edwards
The Fantasy Kickoff by Kori Ellis
The Footie by Jyle Dupuis
Ultra Sports Bet by T.O. Whenham

To celebrate the launch of the new blogs and the continued excellence of the existing blogs, we are holding the Sports Channel Launch Contest.

What’s up for grabs?

Prize Package #1:

• $50 Amazon Gift Certificate
• Five Lebron James basketball cards, including a 2004 Upper Deck Rookie Card graded a Gem Mint
• Ohio State Buckeyes Rug from Milliken Rugs

Prize Package #2:

• $50 Amazon Gift Certificate
• David Beckham Bobblehead
• Soccer Bear from The Vermont Teddy Bear Company

Prize Package #3:

• World Poker Tour Chip Set
• Other World Poker Tour Merchandise
• UFC Classic DVD Set

Prize Package #4:

• Fox Sports Tailgating Handbook: The Gear, The Food, The Stadiums
• “Haunted Baseball” by Mickey Bradley and Dan Gordon
• “Greatest Team Ever” (Dallas Cowboys) photographs by Ron St. Angelo, essays from Norm Hitzges
• Florida Gators Rug from Milliken Rugs

Prize Package #5:

• Six Brett Favre Football Cards, all mint condition or better
• Fox Sports Tailgating Handbook: The Gear, The Food, The Stadiums
• Autographed copy of “Romo – My Life on the Edge: Living Dreams and Slaying Dragons” by Bill Romanowski
• Family Guy Stewie football

Prize Package #6:

• Mio Fitness Watch
• Hockey Bear from The Vermont Teddy Bear Company
• World Poker Tour Merchandise

Prize Package #7:

• 2007 Topps Series 2 MLB Cards – Sealed Box
• Life Fitness Watch
• USC Trojans Rug from Milliken Rugs
• Family Guy Stewie football

Each package will also include a copy of “Ricky Barry’s Super Sports Trivia” from Square One Publishers and Dr. Adrianne Ahern’s “Snap Out of It Now!”.

There are two fun ways to win. You can enter our sports trivia contest, or you can write on your own blog about one (or more) of the b5 sports blogs.

You must enter the contest before Friday, October 12, 2007 at 12:00 noon ET.

CLICK HERE to get all the details on how to enter and win!

We want to thank all the sponsors who provided the contest prizes.

Good luck !!!

Post from: EveryJoe

Get Into The Game – Sports Channel Launch Contest