Couch Potato's Guide February 27th-March 4

Ahh the return of the infamous Couch Potato's guide on FloodSportsBlog. Yes if you are lazy and watch sports every night, this is your guide for all things on televised sports, and I will keep you informed on what to watch for the upcoming week.  Its the end of Febuary Frenzy and we will be going right into March Madness this weekend. A very good stretch of sports in the coming months....The Madness, NBA and NHL races heat up, Opening Day for Baseball, and the Masters. Buckle up, its the best time of the year for sports.

10. New Jersey Devils at New York Rangers Monday 7:30 NBC Sports

Always interesting when the Devils cross the river into New York.  The Garden has been buzzed lately captivated by the Knicks star, Jeremy Lin, But the NHL Rangers are not having a quiet season. In fact they have been in complete control of the Eastern Conference for weeks now. The Devils are firmly in the playoff race, but still are juggling for position with roughly 20 games left in the season for everyone. These teams are in close proximity to each other and you will always see rival fans in the stands, maybe you will catch this guy.... 

9. Michigan State at Indiana Tuesday 7:00 ESPN

Indiana has had a season to remember after a shameless few campaigns in Bloomington, respectability has been restored. Actually more then that, The Hoosiers have been ranked for weeks and have already knocked off the number 1 and number 2 ranked teams at the time. Assembly Hall is a true cathedral to the game of Basketball and it has been rocking this season, so perhaps there is still magic to beat another top 10 team. Sparty has had a much better season then expected. Tom Izzo is a true winner and thrives in this time of the season. This will be a true battle, as the Big Ten has been all season long. 

8. Chicago Bulls at San Antonio Spurs Wednesday 9:00 ESPN

Well a nationally televised NBA game featuring the #2 ranked team in each conference. Both teams are serious title contenders, well at least to this point they look like it. The Spurs are old, like really old. That makes it all the more shocking to see them doing so well. The Spurs are currently 11-1 in the month of February, an incredible streak, especially without Mannu Ginobli.  The Bulls have been hot all year long and are as dangerous as anyone in the East.  They will continue to have a back and forth battle with Miami for the top spot in the East. 

7. Boston Bruins at New York Rangers Sunday 12:30 NBC

Well the NHL Trade deadline is on Moday, will the Rangers have acquired Rick Nash from Columbus for this game? He could be in New York, but if not the Rangers will still be sitting pretty the rest of the way. The Bruins may be their toughest competitor the rest of the way. The defending champs are playing well, and definitely have repeat on their minds. The Rangers hold a 2-0 record against Boston so far, big game for both teams. The Bruins will need a lights out stretch to steal the number one seed away from New York. 

6. Kentucky at Florida Sunday 12:00 CBS

The Wildcats embarrassed the Gators in Rupp Arena only a few weeks prior. And well, thats understandable.  Kentucky is loaded once again under John Calipari. They have a projected 5 first round picks, possibly 6. Florida is a nice team but definitely under matched against the big blue machine. Bradley Beal is a top flight future NBA star for the Gators, actually reminds me a little of Dwayne Wade.  Anthony Davis of Kentucky is all but assured to be the number 1 pick in the draft, and is being billed as the National Player of the Year. At the very least, if you want to watch this game, you will be seeing plenty of future pros.  

5. Louisville at Syracuse Saturday 4:00 CBS

Nothing better than a Big East Brawl.  Pitino-Boeheim. Cardinal Red and the Orange.  The Carrier Dome will be rocking. Pitino wasn't too shy about ripping on the departing Big East teams, maybe the Orange student section hasn't forgotten. The side stories will be good, but the game will be really good too. Louisville runs a pretty successful zone, nothing like the Syracuse zone, but the teams are both deep and talented.  Syracuse has a little more firepower, but the Cards aren't too far off. The Orange are all but locked in as a number 1 seed, Louisville can make a push to be in the 3 seed range, and a win here would be a good start.

4. Ohio State at Michigan State Sunday 4:00 CBS

The best league's two best teams will be ready to go at it to cap off the regular season, What is better than that? The first meeting saw the Spartans go into Columbus and win by a convincing 10 point margin.  Ohio State has revenge on their minds. Both teams are legitimate candidates to be playing in the Final 4 and feature some of the country's most talented and valuable players. Michigan State's Draymond Green is a do everything forward that has willed this team into the top 10. Jared Sullinger is a lottery pick waiting to happen for the Buckeyes. He is a poised big man that teams build Final 4 runs around. This game will be good, not high scoring, but good. 

3. New York Knicks at Boston Celtics Sunday 1:00 ABC

Is Linsanity for real? Well for a few weeks, it has been as real as real can be. People cut down on his turnover production, but it all depends on how you judge a Point Guard. Hey the guy wins and makes his teammates better. And the Knicks are 9-3 in the 12 games Lin has played significant minutes. Keep doubting, and the guy just might keep winning. The game is big because the two teams find themselves in 7th and 8th place in the conference. Both teams needs to make a push to get any further than that.  The Lin-Rondo matchup will certainly be worth watching, and hey its a New York-Boston day all around, see # 7. And the real question can Jeremy Lin make three straight appearances on Sports Illustrated's cover? 

2. Miami Heat at Los Angeles Lakers Sunday 1:00 ABC

As much as it pains me to say, LeBron James is the best player in the league. Kobe Bryant is still the better player of the generation, though. Kobe has the hardware to prove it. The game has big implications as it could prove to be a Finals preview. Will the Lakers somehow land Dwight Howard? Will Pau Gasol be around much longer? Will the loaded Heat break through with a championship this year?  Can LeBron get that elephant off his back? These games are always fun to watch, and they are really fun to watch while on Twitter. I can't stress it enough, add twitter to your sport watching experience, its a nice addition. 

1. North Carolina at Duke Saturday 7:00 ESPN

Well here it is, the ESPN made rivalry itself. Don't get me wrong, its a great game, but ESPN never lets you forget how great it is.  Austin Rivers shot still may be the highlight of the year. Duke-Carolina are both capable of winning it all. Roy Williams and Coach K are two of the best in the business. There may be over 10 future NBA players involved in this one. Just another typical UNC-Duke battle. The top ranked recruit of 2010 Harrison Barnes will look to out duel this year's top recruit, Austin Rivers. The battle of Tobacco Road takes center stage on Saturday night primetime, so if you only can catch one game this week, you might as well watch Duke....I mean Dick Vitale in his home environment.  

Paul Chryst's 1st Recruiting Class.

Paul Chryst will have his Panthers suited up and ready to go against Youngstown State in a mere 213 days. There is plenty of work for him in the coming months before anyone can start thinking about that game. The Spring practice is there to install a system for the players(their third in as many seasons) and to get a feel for the staff and how they will work together.  He also has to make a decision regarding the quarterback "situation" Pitt currently faces. Chryst also has to sure up this recruiting class and get some of these talented players ready to contribute right away.  He has had a little over a month to make this thing work. The core of the recruiting class stayed together while he was adding and dropping some stragglers and weeding out the guys not fit for his style of play. Chryst handled the job very well and was able to land a few players of his own, and keep the blue chippers already there. Here is a ranking, and preview of what there is to look ahead for the Panthers.

1. Rushel Shell. Running Back Aliquippa, PA. 4 Star Rivals 5 Star Scout.

Rushel is the most elite player Pitt has brought into the program since perhaps, LeSean McCoy. McCoy was a dominant force from day one, and Shell has that type of ability. He is a 6-0 210 physical runner, that has a good burst. His services were courted by just about every elite program in the country. Alabama, Auburn, Florida, Georgia, Ohio State, Oregon, Penn State, and West Virginia were among the teams out for Shell. Chryst's offenses in Wisconsin were run heavy that featured multiple backs. Shell will fit right into what Chryst likes to do. He can come in and take some carries alongside Ray Graham right away, and likely be the full time starter by his sophomore season.  Running Back is a position that is always an easier transition then most, and Shell seems college ready. 

2. Chad Voytik. Quarterback. Cleveland, Tennessee. 4 Star Scout 4 Star Rivals.

Voytik is a talented quarterback that is coming into a program in desperate need of one. He is not the traditional 6-5 drop back passer, but is more of a scrambling threat. He is generously listed at 6-1, but looks closer to 5-11. That is not the world thing in the world, as you may have seen shorter guys have tons of success in college, most notably and recently, Russell Wilson.  He is noted for being a competitor, and was one of the standouts at the Elite 11 quarterback camps in the summer. His size scared off some bigger programs, but he still received offers from Penn State, Clemson, Louisville, Virginia, and Vanderbilt among a number of other schools. He will at least be considered in the open quarterback debate in the Fall.  He may not start, but may get the support of an anxious fan base looking for a quarterback. 

3. Adam Bisnowaty. Offensive Linemen. Pittsburgh, PA. 4 Star Rivals 3 Star Scout.

Adam is a highly touted player in a position of great need for the Panthers. The hire of Chryst and Bostad to run Pitt's offense had to have been a nice solidifying key for Bisnowaty. Wisconsin's offensive success starts with their big and physical line play. A very ideal coaching situation for a young linemen. He is listed at 6-6 275, but appears to have the frame to hold more weight. He was offered to play at West Virginia, Purdue, Penn State, Michigan, Michigan State, and Florida. Its always good for a new coach to add top local talent right away, a good recruit anyway you look at it.

4. Deaysean Rippy. LineBacker. McKees Rocks, PA. 4 Star Rivals 4 Star Scout.

Daeysean turned into a nice signing day pick up. He likely was looking out of state if Todd Graham was still the coach for Pitt.  I guess he wasn't a fan.(Join the Club) He has quite an impressive offer sheet, and his four star rating seems warranted. The list of offers includes Alabama,Arizona, Colorado, Iowa, Michigan, Nebraska, Ohio State, and USC. He will project as an outside linebacker at Pitt, and should have all the physical tools to back them up.  Sometimes when coming from a "A" High School program, fundamentals are lacking. He may have a big learning curve ahead, but he obviously was rated to play at big time schools, and was offered to play at big time schools. He has the talent, but may need a year or two to develop.

5. JP Holtz. Tight End. Pittsburgh, PA. 4 Star Scout 3 Star Rivals.

JP Holtz currently will be the biggest recruit in Chryst's tenure. The guys above were committed throughout the Todd Graham regime, but Holtz was heavily recruited and won over by Paul Chryst.  This guy does not seemingly get the national respect, but he has an impressive offer sheet with teams like Arkansas,Penn State, Michigan State, Michigan, and Boston College along with many others. Chryst really went after Holtz, even bringing in the services of former Pitt legend, Mike Ditka, in the recruiting process. Holtz has ideal size to play Tight End at this level, standing at 6-4 240. He also has the athletic ability, as he played Quarterback and Running Back during his high school career.  There are not many Tight Ends in Pitt's system, and Holtz has the physical tools to play a role right away.

6. Demitrious Davis. Athlete. Austintown, Ohio. 3 Star Recruits 3 Star Scout.

Demitrious Davis came as a package deal with his twin brother, but he is touted a little bit higher. Demitrious played Quarterback in High School, but his speed and athletic ability projects him to be either a Wide Receiver or Cornerback in college. He is speedy and quick and garnered a slew of offers, most of which were shared with his brother. Although  he was offered by Oregon without his brother. You know if Oregon likes an athlete he has to be pretty fast and athletic, good sign for Chryst.

7. Bam Bradley. Safety. Trotwood, Ohio. 3 Star Rivals 3 Star Scout.

Bam Bradley was a late addition to the Pitt recruiting class, but certainly a welcomed one.  He is the ideal size for a safety at this level and will be an upgrade in size from the current Pitt Safety's.  He was courted by the former coaching staff, but still showed an interest in Pitt after Chryst was hired. He has a good list of offers from the likes of West Virginia, Tennessee, Stanford, Penn State,  and Ohio State.  He has great size and skills, and should be a factor in a few years. He may be looking at a redshirt, but could be looking at playing time the following season.

8. Darryl Render. Defensive End. Lakewood, Ohio. 3 Star Rivals. 3 Star Scout.

Darryl Render is a player of good stature in a position of need. Pitt is lacking in defensive linemen, and Render should provide some much needed depth to a depleted position. Render comes from a top notch program out of Cleveland in St. Ed's. He should be well prepared to play college football. Most of his offers come from the MAC, but still a few Big East schools pulled the trigger. Either way, 6-3 240 is good workable size at this level. 

9.  Terrell Jackson. Defensive Tackle. Columbus, Ohio. 3 Star Rivals. 3 Star Scout. 

Jackson was another signing day decision for Pitt. He is 1 of 5 Ohio recruits for the class of 2012.  That is a good start into a very talent rich state for Paul Chryst. He is the lone interior defensive linemen being added to the program. He has lots of MAC offers and a few Big Ten offers to his name. He is not overly big, but should fill out well in a college weight training program.  At 6-3 260, he is not too big to work with. He was not on the radar until recently.

10. Ryan Lewis.Corner Back. Redmond, Washington. 3 Star Rivals. 3 Star Scout. 

Ryan Lewis was another Chryst recruit. Lewis is somewhat of a Pitt legacy, as his Uncle Tim was a former Panther.  He visited Pitt in late January and committed days later. He seems like a late developer as his only offers are from Utah and Colorado. At least he was offered by two Pac 12 teams. It may take him some time to work his way into any sort of playing time, because there are plenty of corners in the system.  

11. Chris Davis. Athlete. Austintown, Ohio. 3 Star Rivals. 3 Star Scout.

Chris, along with his brother Demitrious, should bring speed and explosiveness to Pitt. They were a very dangerous duo in High School, and look to bring the same type of energy.  Chris is fast and athletic, but does not seem to have the same talent as his brother.  He and his brother got all the same offers, except the other one got an Oregon offer, showing he is a little bit better. Chris may be moved to defensive back, but could see time at receiver. He is not an immediate impact type of guy.

12. Trenton Coles, Wide Receiver. Clairton, Pennsylvania. 3 Star Rivals. 3 Star Scout.

Trenton Coles comes to Pitt off of one impressive High School career. He won three straight "A" Championships in Pennsylvania with the Clairton Bears. Coles was a big part of all three titles. He is a state sprinting champion and it never hurts to add that kind of speed to the football program. He did not garner a lot of offers, but Pitt appeared to be his choice before anyone else could get to him.  He is 6-3, giving Pitt a receiver with some size. Graham recruited many little speedy guys, giving them a lack in taller wideouts, Coles should fit that need.  He will not play at all next year, but could slowly work his way into playing time over the years.

13. Devon Porchia. Linebacker. Baltimore, Maryland.3 Star Rivals. 2 Star Scout.

Porchia was not a highly rated prospect, but should provide depth to an already deep Pitt Linebacking corps.  Porchia's commitment may open up a pipeline through Maryland.  Porchia did not have a real big list of offers, but Wake Forest and Cincinnati did give him an offer. 

14. Mike Caprara, Linebacker. Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. 2 Star Rivals. 2 Star Scout.

Caprara did not get any other offers besides Pitt, but some feel he could be a sleeper. He comes from one of the nation's most storied programs in Woodland Hills. He happens to be the all time leader in tackling at the school. At the very least he knows how to play the game, but its a question to be seen whether he has the physical ability to play.

15. Jahmahl Pardner.Defensive Back.Rochester, New York. 3 Star Rivals. 3 Star Scout.

Pardner will add depth at Corner or Safety, but in all reality seems like an oversign. Pardner's offers were from all MAC or D1-AA schools. He has good height, but has little bulk to his frame. His speed may help him, but it will take a lot of work for him to get on the field.

16. Gabe Roberts.Offensive Linemen.New London, Wisconsin.2 Star Rivals.2 Star Scout. 

Roberts did not have an offer from anywhere else. He was planning on being a preferred walk-on to play at Wisconsin. Chryst kept him in mind and is giving him a shot to play at Pitt.  The report is that he was hurt a lot and never got a chance to prove his ability, but standing at 6-4 280 pounds is not a bad thing.

Chryst's overall grade- B

His best moves were to weed out some of Graham's bad recruits, and keep his best ones interested in Pitt.  Shell and Voytik can be program changing players, and he kept them around.

Filling needs-   C-

Pitt needed linemen, and Chryst signed only two. They touched base everywhere else but Fullback, also a position of great need.

Talent added   B-

Shell, Voytik, Holtz, and Bisnowaty are all top notch, and a few others are second tier players that could develop.  Chryst should get credit for driving out some weak recruits.