Nets Coaching Options

Dimemag.com released their top 5 coaching options for the NJ Nets..

1. Kiki Vandeweghe: There has been plenty of speculation that Kiki would be follow the footsteps of Isiah Thomas, Don Nelson and Kevin McHale to move from the front office to the sidelines. Kiki does not have coaching experience but is a good GM and is credited with turning around the Nuggets several years back. Vandeweghe has great people skills and I think he’d get respect from his players.
2. Patrick Ewing: Like I mentioned earlier, Ewing could be a good option for Jersey. He’s from the area and has spent the last few seasons learning from Stan Van Gundy. Ewing has been credited with helping Dwight Howard with his footwork and his knowledge (especially at the center position) would be great for the Nets’ young big man, Brook Lopez. Ewing has also been to Finals both as a player and as a coach. He has also been coached by two great coaches in Pat Riley and John Thompson at Georgetown.
3. Mark Jackson: Jackson’s name was strongly thrown around when the Knicks were looking for a coach in ‘08. Now that there is an opportunity in Jersey, this could be a good fit for Jackson. He was a great point guard in his day (he is third in the history of the league in assists) and would be a valuable mentor for their star point guard Devin Harris. However, like Ewing, he does not have head coaching experience, but there is no question Jackson has all the tools to be a great coach some day.
4. Sam Mitchell: The former Raptors coach was the NBA Coach of the Year in 2007. He was able to resurrect Toronto from the bottom after Vince Carter left town. Maybe he can work his Magic again for the post-Carter Nets. Mitchell is a tough coach who will challenge players like Devin Harris and Brook Lopez. But on the flip side, Rafer Alston is on the team, and we all remember what happened last time the two were paired together.
5. Reggie Theus: Theus is a coach that players like to play for. He is a former player and a personable guy. It took him just one year to bring New Mexico State from a losing program to a team that played in the NCAA Tournament. He had some success his first year coaching the Kings leading them to a 38-44 record in 2007-08, but was let go the following season after a 6-18 start. Theus, if given the chance can get your team wins. And in Jersey, that quality is in high demand right now.


In my opinion, the Nets go with Patrick (Ch)Ewing!!

Video of the Day: CJ Leslie

Leslie has started his senior campaign at Word of God (John Wall's HS) with 61 points and 16 dunks in two games.. enough said.

Lawrence Frank Fired

The 0-16 New Jersey Nets fired their coach Lawrence Frank today. Nets assistant coach Tom Barrise will coach the game tonight in Los Angeles. With a lost against the Lakers, the Nets will have tied the record for the worst start in NBA history. Is it fair? Well, yes it is. Injuries or not, no wins is unacceptable. Now I know Devin Harris has only played five games going into tonight and New Jersey has yet to get a glimpse of their newly acquired Courtney Lee, but the rest of the Nets are not that bad. Brook Lopez is slowly becoming one of the best big men in the East. Harris is also back now, but the Nets have taken losses to the Knicks and a Kevin Marin-less Kings. I am not a Nets fan, actually, I can not stand them at all. I am still convinced the Nets should not be winless, I believe they have enough talent to win. Therefore, it was only a matter of time that Coach Frank was going to be let go. The Nets organization needed a change. It was the right thing to do.

Donovan's Mini Backcourt

Billy Donovan has one two National Championships in a row, and this year's Florida Gator squad has started 6-0. With solid wins coming against Florida State and Rutgers, and a major upset vs. #2 ranked Michigan State, some may say Florida has a really tough team. Well Donovan's squad may have a little chip on their shoulder coming into the season not ranked. If you are not familiar with the names on the Gator roster, Donovan's backcourt is the engine that makes Florida go. Brooklyn native sophomore Erving Walker (5'8 171 lbs) averages 11 points, 3 rebounds, and 5.2 assists. While his backcourt buddy, freshman Kenny Boynton (6'2 183 lbs) averages a team high 15.8 points, 3.5 rebounds, and 2.2 assists. With these two being quick as any, the Florida backcourt is a hard match-up for anyone in the country. Walker and Boynton are also exceptional shooters, so if teams do try to zone the Gators, they will make it rain. Donovan's two prized guards will try to lead Florida through a tough SEC conference, and through the adversity of being underrated. Look out for the little duo, doing big things.

Iverson back to Philly?

With the absence of Lou Williams, and the Sixers six game skid, the addition of Iverson doesn't seem like a bad idea. Obviously, Iverson's destination will increase ticket sales for that lucky franchise, but do they want the problems in the locker room? As for the situation in Philadelphia, this may be the only place that Iverson will get a chance to start. The Sixers have already been a home to Iverson for 10 years, and the fans there have always greatly appreciated Iverson. Although he is not in MVP form anymore, there is no doubt A.I. will be able to put points up. Lou Williams is out and Elton Brand has just never been at full tilt, therefore, Andre Iguodala is their only scoring threat. The combination of A.I. times two may be able to help the 76ers win a couple more games than before. I don't want Iverson's career to end like this, hopefully his second.. third.. well, fourth chance is in Philadelphia, the home of the beginning.

UConn vs. Duke 2009

The last time these two powerhouses met was in the 2004 Final Four. UConn led by Emeka Okafor and Ben Gordon came out victorious, later to win the National Championship. Coach Calhoun vs. Coach K are back at it again. #7 Duke is 4-0 led by their All-American Kyle Singler and sharpshooter Jon Scheyer. Both may be the faces of Duke this season, but neither are the leading scorer, that title goes to Nolan Smith, who is averaging 19.3 points per game. Duke is always very strong on the defensive end, but they may have a hard time matching up with UConn. #13 UConn is lead by high-flyer Stanley Robinson and spark plug Jerome Dyson, who is leading UConn in scoring at 20 points per contest. UConn point guard Kemba Walker can play with anybody, and will be the quickest player on the floor. Both of the front courts for Duke and UConn are very young, so it will be interesting to see who can get the other in foul trouble. UConn holds the athletic edge over Duke, but Duke can shoot the basketball a lot better than UConn is able to. It should be a very good game. My prediction counts because the game doesn't start for another 20 minutes..

My pick: UConn over Duke

Maui Championship

The Maui tournament has come to its end with just two teams left, Cincinnati and Gonzaga. Both teams are surprisingly not ranked, but should be by next week. With the field of teams not being at its highest as far as talent with only two ranked teams, the tournament was up for grabs. America's team, Gonzaga, is 4-1 defeating Colorado and Wisconsin on their way to the championship. Gonzaga is a strong team as they showed against Michigan State last week. Guard/Forward Matt Bouldin brings the Zags experience, and is leading the team in points and assists with 18.2 points and 4.2 assists. Center Robert Sacre (14.4 points and 6.8 rebounds) and freshman Elias Harris (12.6 points and 7.8 rebounds) are big surprises and have become big contributors for Mark Few. The other team, Cincinnati, is quietly making their way up the national scene. Cincinnati defeated the only two ranked teams in the tournament by beating #24 Vanderbilt and #22 Maryland. They are a solid 4-0 this season, and look to add to that resume with a Maui championship. The Bearcats return their leading scorer and All-Big East performer Deonta Vaughn who is averaging 13 points and 4.8 assists this season. Cincinnati has also returned big fellow Yancy Gates (13 points and 9 rebounds) and landed one of the prized freshman in the country with Brooklyn's own Lance Stephenson. Stephenson is praised by many as one of the top freshman in the country and a legitimate one-and-done player. I think both teams match up very well. The game is tonight on ESPN at 10 pm.

My pick: Cincinnati over Gonzaga

Mock Draft Update

NBAdraft.net recently released their new mock draft for 2010. The top ten picks are:

10. Xavier Henry Kansas

9. Willie Warren Oklahoma

8. Evan Turner Ohio State

7. Cole Aldrich Kansas

6. Devin Ebanks West VA

5. Al-Farouq Aminu Wake Forest

4. Wesley Johnson Syracuse

3. Derrick Favors GA Tech

2. Donatas Motiejunas Lithuania

1. John Wall Kentucky

My take: I do believe John Wall is the #1 pick, hands down. Although it would be interesting to see what New Jersey did with the #1 pick since they already have stud Devin Harris. I don't know much about the foreign kid, just that he is big and can shoot, but what else is new? Favors is a top 5. Wesley Johnson made a leap up the draft board after that performance vs. North Carolina. Well deserved, because he is 6'9 and proven he can stroke it. Aminu is another regular at the top 10. Ebanks is having off-court issues right now, so time will tell if that is going to decrease his draft stock. I am a big Cole Aldrich fan, he is the perfect big man, and I do think he is going to surprise a lot of people when he gets his chance in the league. Evan Turner is now a top 10 lock, you post a triple-double in college at a big time program, you go top 10. Willie Warren has fallen out of the top 5, and he needs to pick up his performance this season. He is a lot better than what he is showing. I watched Kansas the other night against Memphis, and you really can't understand how big Xavier Henry is until he stands next to other guards. He is a man among boys.

Video of the Day: Albany Basketball

Make sure you rewind that Tim Ambrose between the legs!!

Really Ref?

From ESPN.com and the Associated Press

They don't all need glasses. But if you always suspected basketball referees are biased -- well, you're right, according to a couple of professors who've studied the matter.
Refs favor the home team, the academics say. They're big on "make-up" calls. They make more calls against teams in the lead, and the discrepancy grows if the game is on national TV.
The professors studied 365 college games during the 2004-05 season and found that refs had a terrific knack for keeping the foul count even, regardless of which team was more aggressive.
Exhibit A: The 2005 Final Four meeting between Illinois and Louisville. The Illini, known for being more aggressive defensively, got whistled for the first seven fouls. By the end of the game, the foul count was Louisville 13, Illinois 12. The Illini won 72-57.
Results like this were the norm across all the games the professors studied from that season -- from the Big East to the ACC to the Big Ten and all 63 NCAA tournament games. The take-home message for coaches: The more aggressive your teams the better because, in the end, the foul count is going to be about even no matter what.
It helps explain, the professors say, why college basketball has gotten increasingly physical over the past 25 years.
"Part of the reason for the study came from something my coach used to tell me," said study co-author Kyle Anderson, a visiting professor at Indiana University's Kelley School of Business, who played at Division III Knox College. "He said a team can come in and push and shove and grab and hold, and by the end of the game, or end of the half, they've only got one or two more fouls because officials kind of get tired of calling it."

Among the key findings, which were published The Journal of Sports Sciences earlier this year:
• The probability of a foul being called on the visiting team was 7 percent higher than on the home team.
• When the home team is leading, the probability of the next foul being called on them was about 6.3 percentage points higher than when the home team was trailing. The professors also cited an earlier study that concluded there were more calls against teams ahead in games on national TV versus those ahead in locally televised games. Calling fouls against the leading team tends to keep games closer, the studies said.
• The bigger the difference in fouls between the two teams playing, the more likely it was that the next call would come against the team with fewer fouls. When the home team had five or more fouls than the visiting team, there was a 69 percent chance the visiting team would be whistled for the next foul.

As part of their 365-game sample, the professors looked at 93 games played on neutral courts, and the numbers remained largely the same when it came to leveling the foul count.
"There's something to it," said Irv Brown, a former official who worked six Final Fours and was supervisor of officials for the Western Athletic and Big Sky conferences. "If you're looking at the board and one team has a lot more fouls, you probably look a little harder to do something, subconsciously."
Brown said he used to experiment and try not to look at the scoreboard, but human nature dictates that referees will. Same for home-court advantage. Try as they might, there's no way a referee can completely block out thousands of fans yelling at him from close range.
"As an official, you get the reputation that you're tough on the road, and that's what you want," Brown said in a telephone interview last week. "But it takes a lot of years. You have to get established. Some guys who aren't established, you'll see them out there, trying to take some of the heat off, trying to take care of the home crowd."
Anderson said he talked to a number of referees as part of the research and the majority said "you're crazy. We don't do this."
"But a few others said, 'Yeah, I try to make it even out,' " Anderson said.
The NCAA asked for a copy of the study, and Anderson said he hasn't received any negative feedback -- at least not yet.
The professors looked only at first halves because teams committing intentional fouls while in catch-up mode at the end of games skewed the second-half results.
Anderson and his co-author, David Pierce of Ball State, made it clear in the study that referees aren't intentionally trying to influence foul counts.
"We'd like them to have no memory and strictly call what's going on on the court," Anderson said. "But part of this is, if I'm a ref, I want everyone to think I'm fair and if I call 10 fouls on one team and two on the other, people are going to think something's going on here. It's sort of subconscious. And it points out one of the biggest problems with basketball is that it's a very hard game to officiate."


What do you think about the refs evening the score?

Pearl's Squad

Bruce Pearl is one of my favorite coaches in college basketball. He has done a great job at Tennessee since his arrival. The Vols have started the season 4-0, and are scoring 92.3 points per game while only allowing 55.5 points per game. With their first test coming tonight against #6 ranked Purdue, I believe the Vols are ready to show the nation what they are about. Pearl knows that the field is wide-open this year, and Tennessee is poised to make a run at the Final Four. Tennessee's post season success is not exactly the best with no Final Four appearances and a 13-18 tournament record. With the return of senior forward Tyler Smith and super sophomore Scotty Hopson, who has already scored 25 points twice this season, the talent is there for Bruce Pearl. Their defense has to stay active, and their offense has to keep running. I believe the Vols have the horses to make it deep into the tournament, and quiet all the doubters.

Catching Up

So this past weekend, I have been slacking with the posts. It is not because I am getting lazy, I am now a manager for the Albany Men's Basketball Team. I have been doing it for a couple weeks now, and I love it. Well the reason for me to posting anything this past weekend is because Albany hosted the 2K Regional tournament which also included University of Detroit, Alcorn State, and Robert Morris. It was a round-robbin tournament, so there was no winner, but Detroit finished 3-0. I guess if somebody finished second, it was us at 2-1. Obviously, we lost to Detroit, who owned the weekend. Detroit's center, by the name of Eli Holman, was MVP of the weekend. Now I have seen Albany go up against Syracuse and Morgan State, who both have exceptional big men, but I haven't seen anyone like Eli Holman. He has been off the college scene for a while now, playing his freshman year in 2007-2008 for the Indiana Hoosiers. If you have been following college basketball, you know the program at Indiana was a mess the past couple years, and is now rebuilding under Tom Crean. Detroit's coaching staff was lucky to land the 6'10 center at their program. Holman is left handed and very athletic, he finishes everything under the basket. Holman is only a sophomore at Detroit so with this season just beginning, three years to leave his mark. He is a name you have to look out for, and in my opinion, a potential NBA draft pick whenever he decides to leave.

And Another One..

The New Jersey Nets are 0-13. Well is there anything good I can say about the Nets? No, probably not. Okay maybe one thing, they could possibly get the #1 pick in next year's draft. And that means John Wall, Derrick Favors, or Ed Davis. I mean the Nets lost to the Knicks tonight, the Knicks. With games against Denver and Portland coming up, it looks to be 0-15 for New Jersey. I understand injury and all that, but they let Gallinari score 17 points for the Knicks. Chris Douglas-Roberts is the only one playing basketball in New Jersey, and Brook Lopez is a hopeful but he is inconsistent. They really need Mr. Harris back ASAP. I think the Nets might opt to pull a Miami Heat, and play for a lottery pick rather than a playoff spot. They better not pull this stuff in Brooklyn.

VA Commonwealth at it Again

VA Commonwealth upset #17 Oklahoma tonight in Richmond, VA. Guard Jay Gavin led VA Commonwealth with 20 points and a 82-69 win over the Sooners. Jeff Capel does have a young squad this year at Oklahoma, so it was only a matter of time they fell to a superior team. Commonwealth has been upsetting people for the past couple years, with now Utah Jazz rookie, Eric Maynor. Maynor's sidekick, Larry Sanders, had 17 points for the Rams. Oklahoma struggled from the 3 point line only shooting 19 percent. Also POY candidate, Willie Warren, only scored 8 points. Warren is considered by most the top shooting guard in college basketball, so he must step up his game to still be in the running for POY.

Video of the Day: Larry Drew III

Larry Drew the 3rd in HS before he took over in Chapel Hill.

2k Sports Classic Championship

Okay, I was way off on California beat Syracuse. I have seen 'Cuse play a couple times now, and I wasn't impressed with their guard play until last night. Brandon Triche is not exactly a true point guard, but he does get the job done and is a mismatch nightmare for other point guards. But I was right about UNC, who gave me a little scare but a win is a win. There was a common theme for both of the games last night, the front courts of Syracuse and Carolina just beat up their opponents. California had no answer for anyone the entire game, although I'm sticking by my guy Jerome Randle as one of the best points in the country. Ohio State was also a little overwhelmed by the depth of Carolina's front court. The Buckeyes didn't let the game get out of hand, but it seemed UNC had control 90 percent of the time. I am a huge fan of Evan Turner, but I feel like he forced things last night.

Now we have UNC vs. Syracuse. Both with experienced front courts and young backcourts. Syracuse's Scoop Jardine had the best game of his career last night against Cali finishing with 22 points, 6 rebounds, and 6 assists off the bench. Transfer Wesley Johnson continues to impress hitting his jump shot with consistency. Syracuse is going to pack that zone and make Carolina shoot from the outside, and UNC does not have a legitimate 3 point threat this year. I will give the edge to Carolina's bench, but only by a little, especially if Jardine for Syracuse can stay productive. Roy Williams has so many bodies he can throw out at Onuaku and Rick Jackson. Carolina brings Zeller and freshman Henson off the bench, these two are starters almost anywhere else in the country. Syracuse's bigs must stay out of foul trouble for them to be successful.

My pick: Syracuse over Carolina

Is Atlanta For Real?

In the past two years, Atlanta has had some success in the NBA playoffs. In 2008, they took the former NBA champion Boston Celtics to seven games in the first round of the playoffs. In 2009, Atlanta was able to defeat the Miami Heat, but then eventually being defeated by the Eastern Conference champion Orlando Magic. We all knew the Hawks had players. Joe Johnson may be the most underrated player in the league and Josh Smith is the most athletic. Al Horford seems to get better each season, and the addition of Jamal Crawford has worked out for the better. The Hawks are off to a NBA best 10-2 start this season. They have quality wins over the Nuggets and Celtics. The Hawks have even beat both the Miami Heat and Portland Trail Blazers twice. Yes, they took a fall to the struggling Detroit Pistons, but nobody stays perfect in the NBA. Atlanta's offense has been close to unstoppable. They are averaging 107 ppg and five players average in double figures. The problem is I am not sure the Hawks could stand the wear and tear of a seven game series with the likes of Boston, Orlando, or Cleveland. I think if the Hawks can somehow make a trade to increase the production in the front court. Al Horford is the only one who can score with his back to the basket. Just a little help up front, and the Hawks could make a serious run for contention in the league. I do not think they can expect to be in contention with the roster at hand.

Tobias Harris Picks Tennessee

New York product and the #7 overall recruit on ESPN, Tobias Harris, makes Tennessee the next destination for his basketball career. Harris is a 6'8 power forward from Half Hollow Hills West High School in Dix Hills, NY. Harris chose the Volunteers over West Va, Syracuse, GA Tech, Kentucky, Maryland, and Louisville. He is coming into this Tennessee program expected to be a big contributor from the moment he steps on campus. Harris is very versatile and I believe he will play the 3 and 4 at the college level. He is not the flashiest player you will ever see, but he is very productive and efficient.

Freshman Saves Nova'

Freshman Isaiah Armwood only played four minutes and only took one shot for Villanova in a game vs. George Mason, today at the O'Reilly Auto Parts Puerto Rico Tip-Off. Armwood sank a 3-pointer with 17 seconds left to help the Wildcats defeat George Mason 69-68. George Mason led by as much as 13 in the first half. Scottie Reynolds led the Wildcats with 18 points and Corey Fisher added 17. Ryan Pearson, a Christ the King product, led the Patriots with 14 points and 6 rebounds.

2k Sports Classic

There are four-ranked teams getting ready to play at Madison Square Garden tonight in the 2k Sports Classic. The first game at 7 p.m. is #24 Syracuse vs. #12 California. East coast vs. West coast.
The Golden Bears may have the best backcourt in the country led by point guard Jerome Randle, who is picking up where he left off from last year, averaging 20 ppg. His counterpart, Patrick Christopher, is also a very crafty guard and has much success from behind the 3 point line. Syracuse has the advantage in the paint, Arinze Onuaku may be the biggest human being in college basketball and possesses a soft touch around the rim. If he could hit a free throw to save his life, his points average would increase tremendously. Iowa State transfer, Wesley Johnson, has been a nice surprise for the Orange. Johnson reminds me of former Cincinnati player, DeMarr Johnson, from the days when Bob Huggins was the coach. Wesley Johnson is very versatile and one of the most athletic players in the country. If Syracuse can get their big men involved early, and get California into foul trouble, they have a shot for the upset. California has a bunch of scorers, and they want to get out and run. Syracuse must slow them down, or California could potentially run the Orange out of the building.
The second game of the night is #4 North Carolina vs. #15 Ohio State. I feel like these two teams are matched up every year. Carolina has been dominant in this series winning the last couple of years. UNC's backcourt is young, but don't get me wrong, they can play with anybody. I love how Roy Williams has made Deon Thompson is first option in the halfcourt because he is better than most people think. Thompson is averaging 17.7 point and 8.3 rebounds already this season. If new point guard, Larry Drew, can control the pace of the game, Carolina has too many athletes for Ohio State. On the other hand, Ohio State may have arguably the best player in the country, Evan Turner. Turner leads the Buckeyes in every major category besides blocks. He is already had a triple-double this season, the second in Ohio State history. Turner and sidekick, William Buford, can score just flat out score. They are both future first round draft picks whenever they decide to leave. If Carolina lets these two gain confidence, I smell an upset in the making.

California over Syracuse
North Carolina over Ohio State
I think the top ranked teams are going to get it done tonight.

Video of the Day: Jason Maxiell

No Highlight for Shannon Brown.

Clear Cut Favorites

Last year, there was the Tar Heels. Before them,, it was Kansas and Memphis. These were clear-cut favorites to win the National Championship. This year, I do believe Kansas and Michigan State are favorites, but there could be ten other teams who could win the championship. The games last night are the first of many upset alerts for high-ranked teams because of the little gap between the high-ranked teams and others throughout the country. I know it's a young season yet, but I'm just looking from the outside in.

BTW - My pick to win, TEXAS

Michigan State vs Gonzaga 2005

It's here. College basketball has finally officially begun across the country. Historic UCLA has already been upset. Now I am currently watching Siena's Edwin Ubiles make his case for a NBA draft pick next June. The highly anticipated games, Michigan State vs. Gonzaga and Kansas vs. Memphis, will take place tonight on ESPN. Don't miss out! Last time Michigan State and Gonzaga met each other was in the 2005 Maui Invitational. Some may remember this game, as it may have been the greatest in Maui's history. It was a game that had 18 ties and 24 lead changes and a triple overtime, with names like Adam Morrison, Maurice Ager, Shannon Brown, and J.P. Batista all being huge contributors. Morrison was the leading scoring in the game finishing with 43 points and Ager led the Spartans with 36 points. While Morrison led Gonzaga, Derek Raivio scored 26 points and J.P. Batista had 22 points and 13 rebounds, as the trio scored 91 of the Bulldogs' 109 points. State's Paul Davis finished with a double-double scoring 26 points and 13 rebounds, and the most successful out of all, Shannon Brown finished the game with 19 points. Gonzaga were the winners, 109-106, in triple overtime. Tune in tonight for the re-match.

White Magic - Robbie Hummel

Robbie Hummel is a 6'8, junior at the University of Purdue. Last year, he was one of the familiar faces on the Purdue Boilermakers. Hummel and his fellow juniors, JaJuan Johnson and E'twaun Moore, are the reason Purdue is the #7 ranked team in the country this season. Last year, Hummel averaged 12 points and 7 rebounds last year as a sophomore leading the Boilermakers to a tournament appearance. This year with Purdue considered a national power and title hopeful, Hummel plans to take his game to the next level. In his first game this season, Hummel put up 17 points, 6 rebounds, and 4 assists. NBA teams are not drooling over Hummel to enter the draft, but he is considered one of the most efficient players in the country at the college level. He is also a favorite to be first-team All-Big Ten this upcoming season. I will let his numbers and Purdue's success tell the rest of Hummel's story.

John Wall's debut

Kentucky's savior, John Wall, made his debut during a day game today against Miami of Ohio in Lexington. Wall finished with 19 points including 5 assists. We all knew Wall was going to be productive, but we didn't know he would have to hit game-winning jumpers for Kentucky to beat mid-major Miami of Ohio. The game was tied 70-70 with 6 seconds left, and Wall raced down the floor and hit a jumper from the wing with 0.5 seconds left. Some debut. Kentucky moves to 2-0 on the season, and let's just hope this was a bump in the road for the Wildcats. Patrick Patterson finished with 17 points and 10 rebounds, look for that to be a regular stat line for him. And shout outs to Nick Winbush of Miami of Ohio, who finished with 26 points against #5 ranked Kentucky.

Back at It: Ron Ron

Trevor Ariza was back in Los Angeles for his first time since signing with the Houston Rockets over the summer. The Lakers even had a nice little ceremony for Ariza while he received his championship ring from last year. This is the second meeting between Houston and Los Angeles this season, and Houston won last night's battle. In the first game, Ariza and new Laker, Ron Artest had some words for each other while guarding each other. These two did not get traded for one another, but basically swapped positions. Do you think there is any beef between these two? Check out what Ron Artest does do Ariza's shoe when he loses it during the game.

Captain Jack Traded

Stephen Jackson and Acie Law from the Golden State Warriors were traded to the Charlotte Bobcats in exchange for Raja Bell and Vladimir Radmanovic. Jackson has been asking the Golden State franchise to trade him for a while now, so he finally gets his wish. There was a lot of controversy around Jackson and Coach Don Nelson's relationship all summer. Jackson made it clear he did not want to be in California anymore, he even asked to be traded to Cleveland, New York, or one of the three Texas franchises. I'm not sure Charlotte was the exact destination Captain Jack was talking about, but there is no looking back for him now. He is stuck in Charlotte.

Out With the Old, In With the New

The Memphis Grizzlies signed Jamaal Tinsley to a 1-year contract for the veteran's minimum. This move could also mean the end of Allen Iverson's short career in Memphis. Although Grizzlies GM Chris Wallace admits that this signing is not to replace Iverson, just to give Michael Conley some help running the point.

Video of the Day: Josh Selby

Unsigned recruit Josh Selby, the highest jumping point guard in the country!!

Never Too Early: ESPN Preview Bracket

MIDWEST
1. Kentucky
16. -

8. Xavier
9. Gonzaga / WCC

5. Louisville
12. Northern Iowa / MVC

4. Michigan
13. Cornell / Ivy

6. Mississippi State
11. Tulsa / C-USA

3. West VA
14. Oakland / Summit

7. Maryland
10. Missouri

2. Purdue
15. Weber St. / Big Sky

WEST
1. Kentucky
16. Murray St. / OVC

8. Clemson
9. Oklahoma State

5. Illinois
12. Old Dominion / CAA

4. UConn
13. Akron / MAC

6. Minnesota
11. Utah St. / WAC

3. Washington
14. Sam Houston / Southland

7. Kansas St.
10. Syracuse

2. UNC
15. Long Beach / Big West

EAST
1. Michigan St.
16. Holy Cross / Patriot

8. Pittsburgh
9. Siena / MAAC

5. Oklahoma
12. Boston College

4. California
13. South Carolina

6. GA Tech
11. LSU

3. Butler
14. Jacksonville / Atl Sun

7. Dayton
10. BYU

2. Villanova
15. Mt. St. Mary's / Northeast

SOUTH
1. Texas
16. Morgan St. / MEAC

8. Wake Forest
9. Florida

5. Georgetown
12. Western Kentucky / Sun Belt

4. Ohio State
13. Arizona St.

6. UCLA
11. Notre Dame

3. Tennessee
14. Charleston / Southern

7. Texas A&M
10. Wisconsin

2. Duke
15. Radford / Big South

Brandon Jennings is an All-Star, Yes All-Star

With the 10th pick in the 2009 NBA draft, the Milwaukee Bucks select Brandon Jennings from Oak Hill Academy. And the Bucks may have got the best player in the draft. The talk surrounding #1 pick Blake Griffin is well deserved, and I do believe he will be a solid pro for many years. I do not think he has the All-Star potential like Jennings, not even close. This kid is nothing short of spectacular with the ball in his hands. Jennings has proven he can score, pass, play defense, and lead a team. Although he doesn't have much to work with in Milwaukee, but he is making it work so far. The Bucks are a surprising 5-2 this season with a victory over Western Conference power Denver. Most of the credit and success is because of Brandon Jennings. In the month of November, Jennings is averaging 27.6 points per game along with 4.8 assists and 4 rebounds. Last night in Golden State, he scored 55 points leading the Bucks to victory. Look for him to join the likes of Lebron and Kobe in Dallas come February at the All-Star game.

Video of the Day: Ryan Harrow

The best PG you don't know about. North Carolina's Finest.

The Forgotten

When you think Kentucky basketball, you think John Wall, John Calipari, and Patrick Patterson. Now the talk around Lexington and around the country is Calipari's historic recruiting class. Headlining the recruiting class is John Wall and Demarcus Cousins, but who the media and everyone else forgets to mention is Eric Bledsoe. Bledsoe is a 6'0 point guard out of Birmingham, Alabama, and a big piece to the puzzle down in Lexington. Let me just start this by saying, he is quite the player. Out of high school, he was highly recruited but received little media attention. Bledsoe considered Memphis, Florida, and Duke before making the final decision to go to school at Kentucky. Now a few months later with the season here, John Wall has to sit out the first two games for breaking minor NCAA rules, so the point guard reigns are handed over to Bledsoe. His first game against Morehead State, Bledsoe finished with 24 points, 7 rebounds, and 4 assists. The rest of the story is still unwritten.. and he is no longer "forgotten."

Upset Already: Rider Drops #19 Mississippi State

Rider shot 63% from 3 on their way to upsetting #19 Mississippi State. The Rider Broncos had 4 players to score over 15 points, while holding Mississippi State to only 42% from the field. To the Bulldogs defense, they were missing prized freshman recruit, Renardo Sidney did not play. All-American candidate, Jarvis Varnado, did all he could shooting 8 for 8 from the field finishing with 22 points and 14 rebounds. I don't think State needs to press the panic button yet, but they do need to re-group. As for Rider, this is a quality win for a quality team who should make some noise in the MAAC this season. They won't have to worry about scoring the basketball with the trio of Ryan Thompson (brother Jason on Sacramento Kings), Mike Ringgold, and Novar Gadson. Just the first upset of the 2009-2010 season, and there will be plenty more.

#1 H.S. Player Barnes Makes It Official

The #1 ranked player on ESPN.com, Harrison Barnes, has chose to take his game to Chapel Hill next fall. Barnes is from Ames, Iowa and also considered Oklahoma, Iowa State, Oklahoma, Duke, UCLA, and Kansas. Only the top schools for the top player. He is a skinny 6'8 do it all forward. Barnes also joins Reggie Bullock and Kendall Marshall in UNC recruiting class, and makes it the top class for 2010. He is expected to play the 2 or 3 at the college level. Roy Williams seems to reload every year, and this commitment just adds to his recruiting success.

Respect 23

Michael is the greatest basketball player to ever walk the earth. Lebron James is talking about changing his number from 23 to 6 next season. A quote from Lebron, ""I just think what Michael Jordan has done for the game has to be recognized some way soon," James said. "There would be no LeBron James, no Kobe Bryant, no Dwyane Wade if there wasn't Michael Jordan first." I think the honor would be great for the league. I mean I personally think the logo should be changed to the Air Jordan symbol. Jordan should be honored in some way, and Lebron shows a lot of class by seeking a change. And if anybody was going to lead the 23 movement, it would have to be Lebron James. I mean there are others such as Jason Richardson and Kevin Martin, but they have no choice with Lebron leading the way.

Video of the Day: Dwayne Wade

After the Lebron miss, show you how to do this son!!

The Fire Back in Phoenix

I am watching this Suns vs. Hornets game tonight, and as I look up at the score, the Suns already have 75 points at halftime. The run-and-gun Suns transition offense is back. With the departure of Shaq, who by the way just completely ruined things in Phoenix, the Suns are back to their running ways. Starting off the season 7-1, looking to be 8-1 after tonight, the Suns are scoring quickly and effectively. They have 6 players averaging double digits, and a seventh player who averages nine. The Suns are also averaging 110 points per game and Nash is leading the league in assist at 12.9 per contest. I know there has been all this talk about Deron Williams and Chris Paul being elite point guards, and rightfully so. But what about Steve Nash? When he is in this offense and in the open court, I don't think their is a soul on planet earth better than him. By the way, he has already had two 20 assist outings this year. Yeah you remember him, the two-time MVP, forget what happened last year, the Suns are back to their old selves and Nash is leading the way.

Code of Silence

According to ESPN.com, frustrated by the repeated questions about his future, LeBron James said Wednesday that he won't talk about his possible free agency next summer until after this season. James had this to say, "I think I owe it to myself, and I owe it to my teammates. It's just getting old. I'm focusing on this season, and this is going to be a really good season for us. I don't want anymore distractions for my teammates, for my organization, for my family. This will be the last time I answer a free agent question for the rest of the year." Lebron seems to handle every situation to the best, way beyond his years. He doesn't completely shut the media down, but let them know he has nothing else to say about next year. Let next year be next year. James seems focused as the Cavs, now 5-3 after tonight's win in Orlando, look to keep the winning ways alive in Cleveland and their sites on a championship. It is going to be very funny when next year comes around, and Lebron decides that he wants to stay in Cleveland.

Prized Perry Jones Makes it Official

Perry Jones, a senior and #3 on ESPN.com's top 150 recruits, signed his letter of intent to play at Baylor next year. He is the first big recruit to make it official in the early signing period, with plenty more to come. Some recruits may wait until the late signing period, of course, to keep us all in suspense. Jones is 6'11 from the highly competitive Duncanville High School in Duncanville, Texas. Some said he would back out of his pledge to Baylor, and chose a more competitive program. Well, there is no looking back now, Jones is officially a Baylor Bear. He is also one of my favorite recruits in the class of 2010. Take a look..

Video of the Day: Travis Outlaw

AHHH!!!

My Top 10 Point Guards in College Basketball

10. E'twaun Moore Purdue Junior
Last Season: 14 points, 5 rebounds, 3 assists

9. Iman Shumpert GA Tech Sophomore
Last Season: 11 points, 4 rebounds, 5 assists

8. Abdul Gaddy Washington Freshman
Last Season: N/A

7. Devan Downey South Carolina Senior
Last Season: 20 points, 3 rebounds, 4.5 assists

6. Jerome Randle California Senior
Last Season: 18 points, 3 rebounds, 5 assists

5. Kemba Walker UConn Sophomore
Last Season: 9 points, 3.5 rebounds, 3 assists

4. Kalin Lucas Michigan St. Junior
Last Season: 15 points, 2 rebounds, 5 assists

3. Greivis Vasquez Maryland Senior
Last Season: 17.5 points, 5 rebounds, 5 assists

2. Sherron Collins Kansas Junior
Last Season: 19 points, 3 rebounds, 5 assists

1. John Wall Kentucky Freshman
Last Season: N/A

#1 Center Josh Smith Commits

Josh Smith, from Kentwood High in Covington, WA, verbally committed to the UCLA Bruins Monday night. Smith is the #1 ranked center according to ESPN.com. Also according to ESPN.com, Smith's choice came down to hometown University of Washington or UCLA tradition. Smith is an absolute force in the paint. Some scouts agree that he should shed a couple of pounds, but I'm sure UCLA will not have a problem helping Smith drop a couple pounds. Picture "Big Baby" Davis in college, but a little bigger and with better post moves. Smith is a program changer, and UCLA has landed him.

Video of the Day: Allen Iverson

With his season in shambles, lets take a look at the young and energetic Iverson when he never missed a practice.

My Top 10 Off Guards in College Basketball

10. Avery Bradley Texas Freshman
Last Season: N/A

9. Sylven Landesberg Virginia Sophomore
Last Season: 17 points, 6 rebounds, 3 assists

8. Xavier Henry Kansas Freshman
Last Season: N/A

7. Jerome Dyson UConn Senior
Last Season: 13 points, 4 rebounds, 3 assists

6. Patrick Christopher California Senior
Last Season: 14.5 points, 4 rebounds, 2 assists

5. Manny Harris Michigan Junior
Last Season: 17 points, 7 rebounds, 4 assists

4. Terrico White Mississippi Sophomore
Last Season: 14 points, 3 rebounds, 2 assists

3. Evan Turner Ohio State Junior
Last Season: 17 points, 7 rebounds, 4 assists

2. Scottie Reynolds Villanova Senior
Last Season: 15 points, 3 rebounds, 3 assists

1. Willie Warren Oklahoma Sophomore
Last Season: 15 points, 2 rebounds, 3 assists

This One is On Me: Donnie Walsh

Now it is obvious the New York Knicks have messed up another draft this year. Walsh has admitted to making the wrong pick after passing up guys such as Ty Lawson, Earl Clark, Terrence Williams, and even Brandon Jennings. Jennings was sure he was going to be picked by NY in June. He had this to say, "I thought I showed them enough in the workout on one-on-one drills, beating everyone else up and down the court, playing defense,’ Jennings said. ‘I thought me and D’Antoni would have a good relationship, speak a little Italian together and go to Italian restaurants. I seen what he did for Steve Nash." Jennings has already proven he can pick up the reigns of a team in Milwaukee. I wouldn't call myself exactly a Knick fan, but a guy who wants to see the Knicks do well. Just another oops in the drafting process for the faithful New York fans. To me, it is just so clear to see that these picks are everything close to terrible. Now I believe Donnie Walsh is there to improve the franchise, and everyone is anticipating the moves he will make during the 2010 offseason. Above all, Walsh has to eliminate all these "oops" that the Knicks front office has faced in the past decade.

Video of the Day: Brandon Knight

#1 rated point guard in Class of 2010.

NCAA My Top 15 Preview

15. Michigan
Key Returns: Manny Harris, DeShawn Sims, Lavel Lucas-Perry
Key Additions: Darius Morris

14. Washington
Key Returns: Quincy Pondexter, Isaiah Thomas, Matthew Bryan-Armstrong
Key Additions: Abdul Gaddy, Clarence Trent

13. Butler
Key Returns: Matt Howard, Gordon Hayward
Key Additions: Andrew Smith

12. California
Key Returns: Jerome Randle, Patrick Christopher, Jamal Boykin
Key Additions: None

11. UConn
Key Returns: Kemba Walker, Stanley Robinson, Jerome Dyson
Key Additions: Ater Majok, Alex Oriakhi

10. Tennessee
Key Returns: Tyler Smith, Wayne Chism, Scotty Hopson
Key Additions: None

9. Duke:
Key Returns: Kyle Singler, Jon Scheyer, Nolan Smith
Key Additions: Mason Plumlee, Andre Dawkins, Ryan Kelly

8. Purdue
Key Returns: Robbie Hummel, JaJuan Johnson, E'twaun Moore
Key Additions: DJ Byrd

7. North Carolina
Key Returns: Deon Thompson, Ed Davis, Larry Drew II
Key Additions: Dexter Strickland, John Henson, Leslie McDonald

6. West Virginia
Key Returns: Devin Ebanks, Da'Sean Butler, Kevin Jones
Key Additions: Joe Mazzulla (medical redshirt), Danny Jennings

5. Kentucky
Key Returns: Patrick Patterson, DeAndre Liggins, Darius Miller
Key Additions: John Wall, Demarcus Cousins, Daniel Orton

4. Villanova
Key Returns: Scottie Reynolds, Corey Fisher, Corey Stokes
Key Additions: Maalik Wayns, Mouphtau Yarou, Dominic Cheek

3. Michigan State
Key Returns: Kalin Lucas, Raymar Morgan, Durrell Summers
Key Additions: Derrick Nix, Garrick Sherman

2. Texas
Key Returns: Damion James, Gary Johnson, Dexter Pittman
Key Additions: Jai Lucas (transfer), Avery Bradley, Jordan Hamilton

1. Kansas
Key Returns: Sherron Collins, Cole Aldrich, Tyshawn Taylor
Key Additions: Xavier Henry, Thomas Robinson

Iverson leaves Grizzlies

Only six games into the season, Iverson has already had enough with the Grizzlies. The Commercial Appeal has the scant details: The Allen Iverson saga has taken another turn as the veteran guard asked for and was granted permission to leave the Grizzlies to deal with a personal matter, according to an NBA source. Iverson, 34, met with Griz owner Michael Heisley Friday night following the team’s 114-98 loss to the Los Angeles Lakers. The pair met again this morning, and Iverson was expected to depart for Atlanta this afternoon. Atlanta is where Iverson lives during the offseason. This looks like a terrible ending to what was a successful career for the Answer.

Appreciation

Deon Thompson is entering his senior season at the University of North Carolina. He was not a prized recruit nor has he received the media attention like his former teammates. He is the only starter left from last year's championship team. And already people talk about teammate, Ed Davis, more than Thompson. Many believe Davis will leave after this season, and become a lottery pick in the 2010 draft. But what about Thompson? He has been the perfect compliment to Tyler Hansbrough since he stepped on campus. Let's give credit where it's due. Thompson may never be an All-American, but he has given North Carolina all he has. Davis may be the prized recruit and future NBA stud, but Thompson will most likely lead the Tar Heels in scoring and in the locker room. Last year, Thompson averaged 11 points and 6 rebounds, so look for those numbers to rise this upcoming season. He is the new face of Carolina basketball.

My Top 10 Forwards in College Basketball

10. Tyler Smith Tennessee Senior
Last Season: 17 points, 6 rebounds, 3 assists

9. Damion James Texas Senior
Last Season: 15 points, 9 rebounds, 1 assist

8. Al Farouq-Aminu Wake Forest Sophomore
Last Season: 13 points, 8 rebounds, 1.5 assists

7. Paul George Fresno St. Sophomore
Last Season: 14 points, 6 rebounds, 2 assists

6. Devin Ebanks West Virginia Sophomore
Last Season: 10.5 points, 8 rebounds, 3 assists

5. Ed Davis North Carolina Sophomore
Last Season: 7 points, 7 rebounds, 1 assist

4. Kyle Singler Duke Junior
Last Season: 16.5 points, 5 rebounds, 2 assists

3. Craig Brackins Iowa State Junior
Last Season: 20 points, 9.5 rebounds, 1 assist

2. Patrick Patterson Kentucky Junior
Last Season: 18 points, 9 rebounds, 2 assists

1. Luke Harangody Notre Dame Senior
Last Season: 23 points, 12 rebounds, 2 assists

Video of the Day: Andre Iguodala

All that dunking Terrence Williams did at Louisville, he absolutely gets throw on..

My Top 10 Centers in College Basketball

10. Dexter Pittman Texas Senior
Last Season: 10 points, 5.5 rebounds, 1 block

9. Demarcus Cousins Kentucky Freshman
Last Season: N/A

8. JaJuan Johnson Purdue Junior
Last Season: 13 points, 6 rebounds, 2 blocks

7. Larry Sanders VA. Commonwealth Junior
Last Season: 11 points, 9 rebounds, 3 blocks

6. AJ Oglivy Vanderbilt Junior
Last Season: 15 points, 7 rebounds, 2 blocks

5. Jarvis Varnado Mississippi St. Senior
Last Season: 13 points, 9 rebounds, 5 blocks (this is not a mistake, yes 5 blocks)

4. Derrick Favors GA Tech Freshman
Last Season: N/A

3. Jerome Jordan Tulsa Senior
Last Season: 14 points, 9 rebounds, 2.5 blocks

2. Greg Monroe Georgetown Sophomore
Last Season: 13 points, 6.5 rebounds, 1.5 blocks, (2.5 assists)

1. Cole Aldrich Kansas Junior
Last Season: 15 points, 11 rebounds, 3 blocks

Big Baby: NFL Dreams

Glen Davis recently released a statement that after all is said and done with his time in the league, that he would like to give the NFL a try. Davis is 6'9, 290 lbs. and probably wouldn't be too much fun to get hit by. Davis was a two-way player in high school, as he played both defensive end and defensive tackle with a little time at tailback. Now just imagine Glen Davis lining up in a backfield near you. Maybe he could help my struggling Giants.

Stephenson cleared

After all the controversy following Lance "Born Ready" Stephenson, he can finally relax and do what he loves most, play basketball. Stephenson was cleared by the NCAA to play this year for Cincinnati. The NCAA ruled that Stephenson's online reality show did not ruin his amateur status. I think Lance is going to be a killer this year in the Big East. Honestly, I wouldn't surprise if he was in the conversation for Big East POY at the end of the season. Yes, he is that good, forget all the controversy.

Videos of the Day: H-Town's Finest

OMG!!

Great Player vs. Great Coach

According to ESPN,
Isiah Thomas lost his coaching debut at Florida International on Wednesday night when Northwood, an NAIA school coached by Rollie Massimino, beat the Panthers 71-61 in an exhibition game. Thomas, the Basketball Hall of Famer and most recently coach of the New York Knicks, faced Massimino, who coached Villanova to the 1985 NCAA title and is entering his fourth season at the West Palm Beach, Fla., school.

- Thomas has already started his recruiting ways by already landing top 50 recruit from the 2010 class, Dominique Ferguson.

It's Gotta Be The Shoes

Adidas has chosen not to continue their relationship with the University of Central Florida because one of their players wears Jordan shoes. Who might that be? Marcus Jordan, Michael's son, wore a pair of J's in an exhibition game Wed. night. Jordan's son says the shoes hold special meaning to his family, and he will not give up wearing them. Marcus Jordan is a freshman guard at the UCF, and already calling the shots. The other sports programs at Central Florida must be pretty upset with him because this did not just affect the basketball team. Ridiculous or not? Michael has yet to comment on the issue.

Redemption Season

Samardo Samuels, the sophomore center for the Louisville Cardinals, never really lived up to expectations last season. He finished the season averaging 12 points and 5 rebounds a game. For a first team Parade All-American these stats do not stick out at you. I know expectations of freshman have shot way up over the years, but the fact is Samuels came in as a prized recruit for Rick Pitino. Samuels could never really stay out of foul trouble, and could never really put the scoring and the rebounding together. He had a season high of 24 points against South Alabama, but only 4 rebounds. Then his season high in rebounds was 13 against Ole Miss, but Samardo only scored 9 points. Now I do not want you to think at all that I am criticizing Samardo Samuels, I mean he was only a freshman, and if people forgot these kids are only 18 to 19 years old. I believe this is Samardo's year, he will prove a lot of people wrong about his not being NBA ready. If Samuels can learn how to stay out of foul trouble, his numbers should increase significantly. Let's just wait and see.

Syracuse Upset

Most of you know by now that Syracuse lost to the D2 school Le Moyne yesterday. I could take this blog a couple ways. Now obviously, most D1 schools would beat D2 schools. But I think the gap between both is getting closer. Some D2 schools are scheduling D1 schools for their first games, and beating them. We only hear about when the big time D1 schools lose or schools that are in the top 25. Do you think D2 schools are starting to contend with the average D1 schools?

Video of the Day: Kenny Dobbs

Kenny Dobbs aka the Dunk Inventor is a new streetball dunker on the rise. Check em' out!!

White Magic - Luke Babbitt

Its one in the morning, and I am searching online for my next topic to write about. I haven't showed many white boys any love on my page so I am deciding to tell you about a guy you may or may not know about. I am going to do pieces on those white boys who still rep on the hardwood, called "White Magic." Luke Babbitt is a sophomore, forward at the University of Nevada. Babbitt, originally from Reno, was a highly sought out recruit coming out of high school but choose to stay close to his Nevada roots. He led the Wolf Pack in scoring last year as a freshman averaging 17 points and 7 rebounds per contest. His game is closely compared to Chris Mullin, Babbitt has that sweet lefty stroke. At 6'8, 220 lbs., Babbitt is ready made for success at the next level. Already predicted to be at top 20 pick come June by NBAdraft.net. Look for Babbitt to continue his scoring ways, and become more of a household name as this highly anticipated college basketball season gets underway.

Preseason All-Americans

The Associated Press released their preseason All-Americans for this upcoming 2009-2010 college basketball season..

- Luke Harangody 6'8 senior Notre Dame

- Cole Aldrich 6'11 junior Kansas

- Sherron Collins 5'11 junior Kansas

- Patrick Patterson 6'9 junior Kentucky

- Kyle Singler 6'8 junior Duke

I would say Harangody is the front runner for POY thus far, but he must lead his team to the tournament at least to be the winner. Bill Self has already declared Cole Aldrich as having the potential to be the best big man in Kansas history besides Wilt the Stilt. Collins is deserving. I am not convinced that Singler will put up All-American stats, and while I do think Patterson is worthy, his stats may go down with all those weapons in that Kentucky offense this season. Who else should the AP have considered?

Remembering Len Bias

Tonight at 8pm ESPN will air their new piece about the life and career of the late, great Len Bias. It is called "Without Bias", covering the life of arguably the greatest college basketball player in the 1980s and one of the greatest of all time. Bias averaged 23 ppg and 7 rpg his senior year at Maryland in 1985-86 while shooting 54% from the field. He was selected 2nd overall by the Boston Celtics in the 1986 draft, and everybody wonders what if? He would have been apart of the defending championship Celtics, who made a genius trade for the 2nd overall pick in 1984 with the Seattle Supersonics. Bias later died of a cocaine overdose. Lenny Bias will forever be remember (1963-1986).

Don't Mess with Texas

The Texas Longhorns have been ranked in the top 5 in just about every college basketball poll that has been released thus far. The Longhorns are simply loaded. Yes, the return of senior Damion James is a key, but Rick Barnes went along and got a top 5 recruit to add to his top 5 team. His name, Avery Bradley. Bradley is a do-everything guard, who was considered as the best defender in the class of 2009. He even reached the #1 ranking on ESPN.com's recruiting list. Bradley is not the shooter that AJ Abrams was but he is more of a complete player. He is definitely Texas's best guard on the roster for this upcoming season. Here are some highlights from Bradley's high school days..

Already A.I.?

He is back. Allen Iverson made his Memphis Grizzlies debut last night playing 18 minutes and scoring 11 points. He was the first one to come off the bench, and this is a problem for him. A.I. released a statement yesterday after the game: “Go look at my resume and that will show you that I’m not a sixth man,” Iverson said. “I don’t think it has anything to do with me being selfish. It’s just who I am. I don’t want to change what gave me all the success that I’ve had since I’ve been in this league.” Listen Allen, you are not going to get more time than OJ Mayo, it's just not going to happen. You should have probably been aware of that when you signed. If you wanted to start, you should have signed elsewhere.

Video of the Day: Keion Bell

A sophomore at Pepperdine University, and preseason 1st Team All-American for his conference.

We All Knew He Could

Now I know most teams are only three games in this season, but would my blog be a blog if I didn't mention the recent play of Carmelo Anthony. We all know he can score and we all know he is one of the biggest mismatches in the L. After his opening night dunk over Paul Millsap, and his screaming of "I'm back" several times, you could just see Carmelo was going to prove something this year. After getting so close last year and eventually losing to the championship Lakers, Melo got his taste of playoff success. He is back for more. Already he is averaging 37 ppg and has dished out over five assists in each of his three games. Anthony has even displayed his star power by out playing Brandon Roy in the Portland game and out doing OJ Mayo's 40 with 42 of his own last night. For all those doubters who left Carmelo out of the Wade and Lebron talks, your respect is due. Carmelo Anthony proclaims he is back, and I believe him.