Analyzing the Huskies - Marquette & New Mexico Games

Some notes from the Huskies two NCAA Tournament wins

• The Huskies GO-TO players are playing at a very high level in both games

• Quincy Pondexter is averaging 18 points, 8 boards, 2 steals & 2 blocks
• Isaiah Thomas is averaging 17 points,7.5 assists & is 7 of 12 from beyond the arc
• Matthew Bryan-Amaning is averaging 13 points, 6 boards & 2.5 blocks
•  
• The Huskies bench play has been superb
• The Huskies bench is averaging 24 points so far this tourney, outscoring opposing benches 24-4 against Marquette and 24-11 against New Mexico.

• Elston Turner has been big from three
• Turner has come through in both games off the bench, going 6-10 from beyond the arc. Not only that, but it's clear that his confidence is high and his stroke is dialed-in like never before seen this season.  Turner brings a legitimate deep threat off the bench to compliment Thomas and Pondexter. 

• The Huskies are peaking at the right time
• It has been widely publicized that the Dawgs have been on a roll lately, winning nine straight games, including the Pac-10 tournament.  What is less looked at however is the fact the Huskies have won in essentially every type of game during that span.  There have been blowouts - UCLA by 29, New Mexico by 18 and Stanford by 15, but they have also kept their poise during nail-biters.  With wins against CAL by 4 and Marquette by 2, they have proven that they are on a mission to win no matter what.

One final note/thought that I have had throughout this tournament was captured perfectly in the below article by Ray Ratto, where Ratto draws light on the lack of coverage that the Huskies are getting in the media. Take a look:

Huskies carrying crown for Cinderella stories into Sweet 16

Major League Baseball Ponders Radical Realignment Plan

Today I read a very interesting article by Tom Verducci, one of my favorite Sports Illustrated columnists, on the radical proposal that the MLB is considering regarding realignment.  Essentially, as Verducci put it, the MLB is considering an idea, "in which teams would not be fixed to a division, but free to change divisions from year-to-year based on geography, payroll and their plans to contend or not." 

What this rule change would do is give teams like the Tampa Bay Rays a chance to switch divisions, leaving the AL East and the powerhouses of the Yankees and Red Sox, to a division like the much weaker AL Central where the Rays would have a realistic shot every year of winning the division. 
Take the 2009 season for example - at the conclusion of the regular season the Rays finished in third place behind the Red Sox (AL Wild-Card champions) and the division champion Yankees.  They finished the year 84-78, a whopping 19 games out of the pennant race.  If those same Rays would have been in the AL Central however, they would have been only 2 1/2 games behind the AL Central champion Twins.

This move I believe would be greatly beneficial to the MLB, for a number of reasons.

1. It would allow a more balanced playing field for teams like the Rays, who are in the top echelon of the American League, to compete year in and year out.
2. It would promote tighter pennant races for all three divisions.
3. It would allow lower payroll teams to vie for a chance to play in October.

All I can say is that I am presently surprised that the MLB is being more proactive at looking at the system of things, and trying to better the game. Even if this doesn't come to fruition, it's a move in the right direction to have the discussion.

Here is the link to the Tom Verducci piece:

Selig, committee considering radical realignment plan

The State of the Oregon Duck Football Program

This past season and now well into the off-season, the Oregon Duck's football program has experienced some significant problems with regard to player behavior.  Let's take a look at the incident that many people think started the behavioral issues.

Legarrette Blount made headline's everywhere by punching a Boise State football player after a tough loss, essentially blind-siding the opposing player with a sucker punch that landed him an 8 game suspension by Oregon head coach Chip Kelly.  On top of that, Blunt also was seen after the punch yelling and trying to fight fans at Boise State.  Chip Kelly initially made a very strong statement by suspending the running back for the entire season, but in what critics are now calling a detrimental move to team discipline, he reinstated Blunt after 8 games.

Critics are now citing this reinstatement as a detrimental move to the program, as four Oregon players have been arrested in the last three weeks.  Let's examine what the reinstatement of Blunt did:

Let's make an assumption here; Blunt's athletic ability did have an impact on his reinstatement.  Consider this - if a backup punter had acted the same way, is there any chance that the player would be reinstated?  Never.  Instead he would be marked as an example, a scapegoat, plain and simple.  The fact that Blunt had the potential to help Oregon down the home stretch did lead to his return to the team, and sent a very bad message to players - if you make a mistake, but are a talented player, we'll give you a second chance.  Since that incident, the following incidents have occurred:

• Players allegedly involved in a brawl or retaliation for brawl. [Rob Beard, Mike Bowlin, Matt Simms].
• Player allegedly beat up girlfriend. [LaMichael James]. 
• Player arrested for allegedly driving under the influence. [Kiko Alonso]. 
• Player dismissed after publicly challenging Chip Kelly's authority. [Jamere Holland].
• Players accused - but not charged - in stealing items from fraternity house. [Jeremiah Masoli, Garrett Embry].

The state of Oregon football is in trouble, that is for certain.  Chip Kelly better get a grip on his team, and quick, or we could see boosters calling for his head.  

There should be a clear set of rules for all academic students putting on a uniform, these are college students, not professional athletes.  Putting on that uniform is a privilege, not a right.  If Kelly does not lay down some hard-and-fast guidelines for his program, Oregon will become a laughing stock. 

Here are a few links on the Duck's various problems:

Oregon football: Chip Kelly's interview with John Canzano (audio) 

Oregon’s troubles are traceable to ‘the punch’ 

Oregon football: Which allegation against the Ducks troubles you most? (Poll) 

Trouble for the England National Team

As it has been widely publicized, especially in Europe, the England National Team has experienced some considerable controversy over the John Terry, Wayne Bridge situation.  For those that don't know, it was confirmed that then England Captain John Terry had an affair with England teammate Wayne Bridge's girlfriend, and mother to his children.

So far Terry has already been stripped of his captaincy, and now even more drama has been stirred up.

The latest news is that Bridge has declined to join the England World Cup Team, as he reportedly told pals: “Terry makes me sick to my stomach. He betrayed me.”

Now the question on everyone's mind; is this the right decision by Bridge?

From my point of view, Bridge is standing behind two principles by making this stand:

1. He cannot stand the idea of being in the same locker room or on the same pitch as a man who betrayed him as a teammate and as a friend, and lost his trust.  I stand behind this point 100%.  Would anyone be able to stand being in that kind of proximity to a man that had committed adultery with your childrens mother?  I certainly would not.  Well maybe I would, but only to inflict some kind of physical harm to that person.
2. Bridge believes that being on the same team as Terry would serve as a huge distraction to the team, which would be detrimental to unity and comradery.  When you are preparing for a World Cup game, the last thing you want on your mind is to be worried about the mental state of two players who have a conflict over women.   

In my humble opinion, although it is NEVER easy to pass up an opportunity to join your country's World Cup team, I agree with Bridge.  I would have done the same thing in his position.  Furthermore, I find it absolutely ludicrous that people infer that his decision is selfish.  If anything it is noble, trying to keep the World Cup team focused on one thing - the game.  No matter the state of the England defense due to injury, I stand by Bridge's decision.


Also, I hope this decision makes Terry and Bridge's ex-girlfriend Vanessa Perroncel feel sick to their stomachs, as they deserve.

ESPN reports on the matter.
Bridge refuses England call up

The Mirror UK reports on the matter.
Wayne Bridge quits England team over John Terry "betrayal"

Sports Update

Its been a little while since my last post, as my sports viewing has gone down considerably lately.  This is mainly because:

1. The NFL season has come to an end, and thus, life is not quite as grand.  The majority of my writing lately had been NFL playoff talk, so the absence of the pigskin has cut into my writing a bit.  The Sabbath has truly been a day of rest for me lately.
2. The MLB spring training has, for the most part, not started yet.  Soon I will be posting quite regularly on the latest news, transactions, fantasy updates and everything else under the sun.  Until then however, news is light.
3. The other sport I enjoy blogging about, MLS Soccer, is also in its off-season and has been relatively silent lately.  

Having said all this, I'm working on my picks for the upcoming Fantasy Baseball season, which will be coming in the next week days... I am starting to get excited for America's past-time!