Step aside Kiper, FSB's NFL Mock Draft 2012

1. Colts-Andrew Luck QB Stanford.-Andrew Luck has pretty much been locked into this spot for quite some time. Luck is not only the top prospect in this draft, but perhaps the best prospect in the decade. He is believed to be a once in a lifetime Quarterback that has a high ceiling.  His ability to run an NFL type offense in college, and run it very well makes Luck all the more intriguing. This pick will be either celebrated or scrutinized for the rest of time. Luck is the reason Manning is in Denver. They believe he is worth it, we shall see if he truly is. Can he win right away in Indy?  That seems unlikely, but they will improve slowly but surely.

2. Redskins-Robert Griffin III QB Baylor-The Redskins gave up an arm and a leg for RG3. Griffin's speed, arm strength, and abilities have had scouts drooling over the Heisman winner all year. On most years Griffin's talent would make him a no brainer number 1 pick, but Luck has stolen that nod.  Griffin's main knock is that he comes from a spread offense that did not function under center.  His intangibles and smarts should erase any doubts.  Griffin may be the league's most intriguing scrambling Quarterback since Mike Vick came into the league. Griffin certainly has the talent to electrify crowds for years to come. Will he turn things around? I don't think he can come in and make any noise towards the playoffs. Just look at Cam Newton, he made Carolina better but not a good team. The Skins are well behind their rivals in the NFC East.

3. Vikings-Matt Kalil OT USC-Kalil is a very large imposing force on the offensive front, just exactly what they need to protect last year's top pick, Christian Ponder. Kalil is your prototypical franchise linemen that can start and be a factor from Day one until he retires. He can sure up plenty of questions for Minnesota and help the team grow offensively. Adrian Petersen is an elite Running Back and will appreciate having an elite linemen to open up some lanes. He will be a big impact player and will start right away. Minnesota is a few bounces here and there from competing in the North division. Green Bay is far off, but they can gain ground on Detroit.

4. Browns-Trent Richardson RB Alabama-The Browns have plenty of holes to sure up and have to play in one of the league's best divisions. The quarterback situation is far from being stable, but there is not a player that is worthy of this number four pick with Luck and Griffin off the board.  They could certainly lean in the way of Justin Blackmon, but I think Richardson is the guy they need.  He can be a workhorse back and solidify a struggling offense. McCoy will get more chances to play, and he will need a back to alleviate the pressure.  Hillis did not help matters in 2011 being 'Hurt". Richardson is a back that has a good skill set of strength and speed. He will be a big impact player that should see plenty of action in the physical AFC North.

5. Buccaneers-Morris Claiborne CB LSU-The Tampa Bay Bucs had a big step back after a successful 2010 campaign.  They have an impressive arsenal on offense that is still fairly young. They desperately need a good Running Back, and they may need to make a push to get Richardson or wait things out until the second round.  The Bucs still need help elsewhere, and Corner is a good place to start.  Ronde Barber is not getting any younger, and Aqib Talib always has trouble following him.  Morris Claiborne is an elite prospect that can come in and play right away.  Claiborne has played next to Patrick Petersen and Tyrann Mathieu in his days as a Tiger, and was never talked about as much as the aforementioned. That is not necessarily a bad thing, Claiborne goes out and does his job and takes care of his side of the field. He can come right in and play one side of the field.  He was a consensus All American and a winner of the Thore Award, this guy can play.

6. Rams-Justin Blackmon WR Oklahoma State-This pick is a match made in heaven.  The Rams have a young and promising franchise Quarterback in Sam Bradford, and he really needs a go to target.  This could be a Stafford-Johnson connection instantly.  Blackmon is not the most athletic receiver out there, but he is a gamer and play maker. He will catch everything thrown his way.  He should help make the Rams a better contender in the usually wide open NFC West.



7. Jaguars-Michael Floyd WR Notre Dame-The Jaguars are in a tough spot. They missed an opportunity to add a ticket selling miracle in the way of Tim Tebow. They also do not have a high enough pick to cause a stir.  Jacksonville has a young quarterback in Blaine Gabbert, and a stop gap in Chad Henne.  They lack a true top target.  Maurice Jones-Drew is a good asset, but the offense needs more of a punch.  They will almost assuredly take Blackmon if he falls here, but won't be terribly upset about reaching on Michael Floyd.  Floyd is a game breaker that can be a solid Number one option for years to come. His size and athleticism can cause fits for defenses. He may be better suited going to a more veteran team because he may have some maturity issues, but Jacksonville really needs his ability. He will make Henne or Gabbert's job much easier.

8. Dolphins-Riley Reiff OT Iowa-The Dolphins need a quarterback. Plain and simple. They will not be getting Luck or Griffin. They failed to add Peyton Manning and Matt Flynn. They have David Garrard as their best option to date.  This will not be a very bright year for the Dolphins.  Could they stretch and grab a Ryan Tannehill or Brandon Weeden? Its always possible, like the Vikings getting Christian Ponder last year.  Or Miami can hope they get Weeden later on. Either way, that needs to be addressed one way or another. More than likely they will be in a position to be drafting near the top of next year's draft and Matt Barkley will likely be next year's prize.  I think Miami adds Reiff to sure up the line. Long is a solid piece and Reiff can come in and take the other tackle spot. That will help down the line whenever they do add their quarterback.

9. Panthers-Quinton Cople DE North Carolina-Carolina has a very promising future behind Cam Newton. He is a special talent and will be the face of the franchise for years to come.  They have weapons around him for them to compete next season. The Panthers need to start concerning themselves with defense. They finished 24th in the league in pass defense. That can certainly be attributed to the lack of a solid pass rush.  Quinton Coples can come in and make a big impact.  He has size(6-5,284) and speed(4.7) to be a pretty effective NFL pass rusher. The Panthers invested in a UNC Defensive End before and things worked out, Coples could be a very good pro for years to come.

10. Bills-David DeCastro OG Stanford-The Bills have added some serious talent on the defensive end of the ball in the past few years. Shawne Merriman, Marcell Dareus, and now Mario Williams have really made things on that side the ball significantly better. The Bills on offense have made strides with Fitzpatrick, Jackson,Spiller, and Stevie Johnson leading the way.  This team is in better shape than they have ever been.  They can seriously make push in the AFC East, last year's start was a breathe of fresh air in upstate New York.  They need some help on the line, and DeCastro spent his career blocking for Andrew Luck.  He is a solid football player and should be able to start for the Bills.

11. Chiefs-Fletcher Cox DT Mississippi State-The Kansas City Chiefs had a rough season.  They experienced all kinds of injuries. They can win the division this season if everyone is healthy.  This same group did it in 2010.  They need defensive help though.  Fletcher Cox is an athletic, big defensive tackle.  He and Dontari Poe are the consensus 1-2 in the draft at this position.  I give the slight edge to Cox.  He isn't the typical space eater, and is athletic enough to make some plays. KC needs some playmakers, and Cox can provide one at a position where you usually don't have one.

12. Seahawks-Luke Kuechly LB Boston College- Boston College has not had much success lately. That is why you may not even know who Luke Kuechly is. He may be a top 5 prospect had he played for a high profile team.  He is a ball hawk, and a tackling machine. This is exactly what Seattle needs. He can have a defense built around him, and he is a strong presence on the field. Seattle's defense needs a punch.  The offense may be looking at a Quarterback in the near future. Yes, Seattle signed Matt Flynn, but how good is he?  Arizona signed Kevin Kolb in the same type of situation and it has yet to work out. Ryan Tannehill is still available at this point.

13. Cardinals-Ryan Tannehill QB Texas A&M-This is a must need pick.  Arizona's Quarterback situation is grim.  Kolb has not been what they thought he would be.  Arizona has one of the best receivers in the league in Larry Fitzgerald, yet he does not have a serviceable guy to get him the ball. Tannehill put up two great seasons at QB, after spending time at receiver earlier in his career.  He is an athlete obviously, and may not starts for a few seasons.  They Cardinals will have to go on with Kolb, or find a stop gap. Tannehill can be very good in this league and should be a good project going forward in Arizona.

14. Cowboys-Mark Barron S Alabama-Dallas needs some help on Defense.  They could go defensive line or Safety.  Mark Barron is the best in those categories.  He is a winner coming from Alabama.  He has been an elite college player for a few years now, and should be an immediate impact for a Cowboys team that needs to stay competitive in the NFC East. Barron's athleticism should help an aging secondary for Dallas.

15. Eagles-Dontari Poe DT Memphis- Poe is not supposed to fall this far, but is he does, Philly lucks out.  Poe is a mammoth hole filler that can be in the rotation right away. He is huge and strong and should help free linebackers to make plenty of plays.  The "Dream Team" has a lot of talent, there is no question about it.  They need some pieces still, and defense should be a priority.

16. Jets-Cordy Glenn OT Georgia-The New York Jets have made some interesting decisions recently, you may have heard they brough in this Tebow guy from Denver.  The teams have two quarterbacks that started last year, but it is not a stable situation. The Jets need some offensive help, and perhaps a big tackle may be the best option.  The Defense under achieved last season, but they still possesssome key players that will have it together this season. Sanchez and Tebow is going to be a mess all season long, and it will bring out all the troubles in this organization. I do not envision the Jets having a good year, and they may be drafting in the Top 10 next year. The team has good talent, but lacks the QB to get them where they need to be. Glenn should provide stability on the Line for years to come, and may good enough to be drafted sooner.

17. Bengals-Stephon Gilmore CB South Carolina-The Bengals need some defensive help, and Stephon Gilmore could be the answer. Gilmore has the size and athletic tolls to be a very successful corner in the league for years to come.  His popularity has grown of late, and Cincinnati may have their sights set on some other corners in the draft, but after Claiborne, he is the best on the board.  The Bengals will be factor again in 2012, and adding some weapons around Andy Dalton may be a good idea, but they are young on that side of the ball and some new guys may emerge.

18.Chargers-Kevin Zeitler OG Wisconsin-The Chargers have seemingly underachieved for years. Philip Rivers has always been an elite talent, but has not been able to win the big game. They have backs and receivers, and a fairly steady defense. They just do not play well together at the right times.  Zeitler is a big presence that should make an impact right away. This is a very, very deep class for offensive linemen. Zeitler comes from a good program and should be able to play instantly.

19. Bears-Dre Kirkpatrick CB Alabama-The Bears have improved their offensive game by adding Brandon Marshall and Michael Bush to a pretty good group already.  Jay Cutler has no excuses not to compete at the highest level. The Defense does need to get younger in some spots.  The defensive backfield is a good place to start, although any level of the defense is getting older. Kirkpatrick is a physical corner that should fit right into Chicago's scheme. He is not the best athlete available, yet he is still a competitor that is coming from a national champion defense.

20. Titans-Janoris Jenkins CB North Alabama-The Titans have recently lost Cortland Finnegan, and a replacement should be in order. Jenkins is a former Florida Gator that has plenty of potential if he gets his head on right.  His character issues and there, and they definitely hold him back.  If you look at his talent and if he stays at Florida, he is certainly a top 10 player. The Titans drafted a questionable corner(Pacman) before, so they may be skeptical. If Kirkpatrick or Gilmore happen to be here, I would imagine they would take them instead.

21. Bengals-Jonathon Martin OT Stanford-Cincinnati is already adding a quality player in Stephon Gilmore with the 17th pick.  The Bengals should now focus on beefing up the offensive line.  Jonathon Martin comes from a respected program and had the duty of blocking for Andrew Luck the past few seasons.  He is a smart player with great size and should be a great player down the road. The Bengals are an up and coming franchise that will be around for a while, and Martin fits the mold into what they are building.

22. Browns-Stephen Hill WR Georgia Tech-The Browns have added Trent Richardson earlier in the draft and this is just a gravy pick.  The team needs plenty of skill and talent on offense, and adding a top flight Running Back and now a potential number one type receiver.  Colt McCoy may not be the long time option for Cleveland, but when they find that option the offense should have a good supporting cast.  Hill does not come from a big time passing offense, to say the least.  He was mainly the only target in the Yellow Jacket option offense and still got open. His size should get him on the field right away.

23. Lions-Mike Adams OT Ohio State-The Lions need offensive line help to keep Matthew Stafford safe. Mike Adams of Ohio State should fit the bill. He is a mammoth up front standing 6-7 tall and weighing 320. He should sure up a very unsteady line in Detroit. It is amazing to think that the Lions have so few holes on their team. They are a legit contender and will be around again for years to come.

24. Steelers-Amini Silatolu OG Midwestern State-Pittsburgh is starting to get old. There are holes opening up all over the board, and many reasonable players could be drafted here.  Silatolu is a perfect match. He hails from a DII school, but has been considered a first round prospect by many.  The offensive line has been a patched by stop gaps for years, and now they need to build it up as Roethlisberger ages. Maurkice Pouncey is locked in at Center for years to come, and Silatolu should sure up a guard spot almost instantly. The Steelers will still be around next season, but this pick needs to be productive.

25. Broncos-Michael Brockers DT LSU-The Broncos are in need of a presence on the Defensive Line, and Brockers is certainly a presence. Brockers anchored the fierce LSU defense standing tall at 6-5 322. He will make an impact right away and sure up the trenches.  He is a physical specimen with his size and is pretty skilled too. He had 10 tackles for loss this past season, and he will make plays aside from taking on blockers. This pick makes a lot of sense for Denver.

26. Texans-Dont'a Hightower LB Alabama-Houston is really close from going to a good team to an elite team.  They have a very good offense with weapons across the board, and a Defense that has some play makers.  They lose Mario Williams and he leaves a big void. That is why Hightower is a great pick. He is from a top notch college defense and is a very smart player. He is the presence the Texans will need to help anchor the defense.  Hightower is a quality player that will get drafted a bit late, but he can provide plenty of help right away.

27. Patriots-David Wilson RB Virginia Tech-The Patriots are a veteran team that could use some talent all over the place. The Patriots have a pretty glaring need at Running Back with the departure of Benjarvus Green-Ellis, and basically Danny Woodhead is the only option left.  Woodhead isn't capable of supporting a whole running game, but David Wilson is big league ready. He is physical back with great feet. Wilson will be a capable back for years to come and should get carries right off the bat.

28. Packers-Courtney Upshaw LB Alabama-Upshaw will be the fourth member from the Crimson Tide defense to be drafted in the first round.  Upshaw is perhaps the best Outside Linebacker in the whole draft, and will be too good for the Packers to pass up.  The Green Bay defense isn't anything to write home about, but they are opportunistic. Clay Mathews is a dynamic player on edge already, while Upshaw can sure up the other side of the field.

29. Ravens-Harrison Smith S Notre Dame-This is a position of great need for Baltimore. Zbikowski and Nakamura are gone after leaving through free agency, and Ed Reed isn't getting any younger.  Smith may be a bit of a reach, but he is a good player. Smith won't wow anyone with athletic ability but he will be a solid player that will make the play. He is physical and will fit in well in the hard hitting AFC North.

30. 49ers-Jerrel Worthy DT Michigan State-This is a pick for depth and the future. Worthy is a steady defensive tackle that has been very disruptive throughout his Michigan State career. He is mobile and isn't a giant stop gap tackle. He is Harbaugh's kind of guy that will work and get better throughout his career.

31. Patriots-Lavonte Davis OLB Nebraska-David is an athletic linebacker and should bring youth to an aging defense.  The Patriots are drafting for the second time towards the back end of the first round, so they possibly could trade something away.  That will remain to be seen, but adding David would be a nice addition.



32. Giants-Kendall Wright WR Baylor-The Giants appear in good shape with Victor Cruz and Hakeem Nicks. Now if you throw Kendall Wright into the mix and it could be a deadly trio in New York. Wright is a speedster and can add another element for the world champs. He has elite speed and quickness and reminds many of Mike Wallace.  The Giants are in good shape for next season, and anyone they add won't make or break this team.

Penguins 2012, failure?

           Pittsburgh's 5-1 defeat in Game Six was an unexciting, boring game that pretty much summed up the whole series.  The Penguins entered the playoffs second in the Eastern Conference, yet with the current playoff formatting entered as a four seed. This ultimately set up a date with the hated cross-state rival, Philadelphia Flyers. Philadelphia has undoubtedly had the Penguins' number the past two seasons and has owned Pittsburgh in their new digs, the Consol Energy Center.  Still with all these factors, Pittsburgh came reeling into the playoffs with a modest three game winning streak against the Eastern Conference elite, Boston, New York, and Philadelphia.  The Penguins seemingly had all the tools necessary to make a run at the Cup.  The Defense seemed to be sure, and a healthy Kris Letang made everyone feel pretty comfortable about the situation.  Marc-Andre Fleury posted 42 wins in the regular season and had to be a workhorse with Brent Johnson's injuries, so goal-tending also seemed to be right on par. The offense, obviously is the strength.  The Penguins have the ability to score eight goals a game and think nothing of it.  Evgeni Malkin put up an MVP type season, James Neal looked to be the power forward Pittsburgh has coveted all along, and well Sidney Crosby was back and playing fairly well. This team had it all on the outside, yet did they have it altogether as it seemed?
         Pittsburgh's issues were clearly evident throughout the series.  Pittsburgh made too many mental mistakes. Penalties doomed this team from the onset.  It came full circle when Matt Cooke took an interference penalty in the first period in Sunday's 5-1 defeat and allowed Philadelphia to take a 2-0 advantage, something they never looked back from. Pittsburgh was playing fine to that point despite the early Flyer goal, but the 2-0 deficit seemed greater than it really was. With many mental mistake (not counting the Game 3 debacle), the Penguins were put in uncomfortable situations all series long. The penalty kill was very flat and passive.  The Flyers were able to fire shots away and find the right angles all series long, and finished with twelve goals with a man advantage to Pittsburgh's nine. Pittsburgh actually had more chances on the power play, very much aided by the nine chances in game 4, but with all that talent on the Pittsburgh power play, they posted a 31% conversion rate.  Usually that number would be just fine, but the way the defense was playing it was imperative for Pittsburgh to take any chance they got, and they failed to do so.
            So with everything considered, did the Penguins flop this season?  Pittsburgh blew a 3-0 lead in Game One. They gave up lead after lead in Game Two losing 8-5, and took out their frustrations in an embarrassing 8-4 loss in Game three.  Pittsburgh did something right in Game 4 with an impressive, record tying 10 goals in a postseason game, and put off elimination in Game Five, but the same problems arose in Game Six. Fleury looked overwhelmed, the defense stayed passive, and the offense got bullied all over the ice.  Pittsburgh's run in 2012 was amazing. A Six Game losing streak in late December and early January had the city in panic, yet the Penguins followed that up with an eight game winning streak. The team rallied from the middle of the pack to nearly catch the New York Rangers during a magical 11 game winning streak down the stretch.  The second most points in the league, the league's best player this season in Evgeni Malkin, and the return of Sidney Crosby gave everyone hope that the cup may come back to Pittsburgh this summer. The Flyers put that notion to rest early. The Penguins did not play the same brand of Hockey they did the previous two months. I think with the talent they have, the series should not have gone the way it did. The Flyers deserve a lot of credit, but the more talented team did not come out on top. Dan Bylsma brought a Cup to Pittsburgh in 2009. His team has won lots and lots of games, but it is what it is. The Penguins have gotten out of the first round only once since the Stanley Cup season. The 2010 Penguins fell to Eighth seeded Montreal in the second round, The Cosby-less and Malkin-less Penguins squandered a 3-1 lead to Tampa Bay Lightning last year, and the heavily champion favorite 2012 bunch fell to the Flyers in Six.  These have not been ideal postseason runs, especially for a franchise that should expect better.  The Penguins arguably have the best players in the league when both are healthy and at full strength, and a slew of guys that hoisted the Cup not long ago. I do not know what the problem is, but Dan Bylsma is officially on the hot seat for 2012. Also with the way Hockey teams manage themselves, he may have a real short leash going forward. This team is more than capable of hoisting the cup next season, but they also were able to do the same this season. Changes in some form will be coming, they have to.

Ferndale at Conemaugh Valley April 17.

        Pitching and defense are usually a good recipe for success in High School Baseball.  The Ferndale Yellow Jackets got just that in their 3-2 road victory at rival Conemaugh Valley Tuesday afternoon. The Yellow Jacket's Senior pitcher, Ian Helsel pitched a gem and sparked his team to a hard fought conference victory on the road.  Helsel dominated early by striking out six of the first seven batters he faced en route to his ten strikeout performance. When asked about his key to the game Helsel replied, "Keeping the ball down and not giving them anything good to hit." Helsel's strategy proved to be true as Conemaugh Valley mustered just five hits throughout the game.  The defensive play that saved the game came from an unsuspecting player as reserve freshmen outfielder Mike Hockensmith caught a fly ball and gunned out the potential winning run at third.

       

         The game saw quite the pitchers dual as Conemaugh Valley's starter Chris Horten also went the distance and racked up twelve strikeouts himself.  The game started out slow as the teams combined for only one hit through three innings.  The offense got going in the top half of the fourth inning when Ian Helsel started the Yellow Jacket rally with a single and a stolen base. Cody Berkebile plated him with a single and later scored on a Nate Hoffman single to set the score at 2-0.  The Blue Jays answered in the bottom of the inning with a two run double by Damon Markiewicz. The score remained the same until the top of seventh. A rare catchers interference call gave Ferndale a base runner. Following the strange play, Freshmen pinch hitter Zach Beneke came through in the clutch with an RBI single to give Ferndale the 3-2 lead, and ultimately the victory. The Blue Jays went down in order in the seventh capped off with Helsel's tenth strikeout.  The win improves Ferndale to 3-4, as Conemaugh Valley drops to 6-3.


Top Performer- Ian Helsel (Mt Aloysius recruit) 7.0 IP. 5 Hits. 2 Earned Runs. 0 Walks. 10 Strikeouts. 1-3 Stolen Base. One run scored.

2012-13 Way too early College Basketball Top 25.

Well I tried last year, and my picks were awful. So how do I make it better? I did some research this time and waited until the top recruits made their decisions. This will be a lot more embarrassing next April after a Champion is crowned and I'm way off because I put some time into it.  There are still some top recruits available, most notably Anthony Bennett (#7 overall), Devonta Pollard (#22 overall), and Tony Parker (#27).  These guys should all make immediate impacts to a college program. It is sad we live in a time where one recruit may change the whole landscape, but it does happen.  Kentucky assembled an all star recruiting class and won it all. They have another one lined up, and some other teams are following suit. The major pieces have decided where to go, but these three players will make a difference.

1. Indiana-The Hoosiers are back. The 2011 campaign brought a revival to Bloomington, and it was only a preview of things to come. Indiana should be one of the favorites to bring home the National Championship. Cody Zeller recently chose not to be a one and done type guy, and his return may lead to big things. The 6-11 crafty big man went toe to toe with every good post player he faced in 2011-12 . The Hoosiers bring back four other starters as well. Christian Watford will be a big factor in the post. This team has experience and brings in a talented recruiting class highlighted by Point Guard Kevin Farrell, the nations 19th rated recruit.  The Hoosiers blend of experience and gifted freshmen should be enough to carry them to a Final 4 in Atlanta.

2. Kentucky- Big Blue Nation and Coach Calipari finally broke through and won a National Championship in 2012.  The one and done freshmen technique finally paid off, so can they do it again?  I think that is certainly a possibility.  The Cats lose Anthiny Davis,Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, and Terrence Jones for sure. Doron Lamb and Marquis Teague should be gone too. Kentucky still will be very, very good. Nerlens Noel should fill right in for Anthony Davis. Noel is the nation's 2nd rated recruit. His running mates are Alex Poythress(#8) and Archie Goodwin(#14). The threesome may be joined by Anthony Bennett also. John Calipari is a really good coach and is able to get superstars to play together really well for a one year stretch. This team may not be as good last year, but Calipari can get teams to grow. Talent is a big factor these days, and Kentucky is not short on that.

3. UCLA-Thing is Westwood looked really bleak this season. The Bruins had a bad year on the court and received some bad press from Sports Illustrated. So how did Ben Howland still attract two of the top three recruits in the country?  Kyle Anderson's game is mentioned in the same sentence as Magic Johnson, that should say a lot. Shabazz Muhammed was the nation's most coveted prep star, and he chose to stay on the West Coast. Those two should form a lethal combination and restore pride to the Pac 12, and more importantly to the UCLA program. UCLA has some big returnees also.  The Wear twins are 6-10 and both averaged double figures last season. Tyler Lamb is an athletic scoring wing, and UNC transfer Larry Drew Jr. should help make the backcourt solid.  The Bruins will be long and athletic this season and the two superstar freshmen can carry the Bruins back to the National spotlight.

4. Baylor-The Baylor teams are facing an NCAA investigation. It may take a while for things to process, so the Bears should be ready to contend again next year.  Baylor loses some talented big men in Quincy Acy and Perry Jones, but they won't be short on size.  Quincy Miller has decided to stay in school, and Brandon Austin is a seven footer that was a highly touted recruit. The length of Baylor is becoming a trademark. Baylor's backcourt is lethal. Pierre Jackson is a hard nosed point guard, and Brady Heslip is a dead eye shooter. Baylor has all the talent in the country, they seemed to falter against top tier talent.  The Bears need to match up better with good teams. The Bears should win the Big 12, and will make a good effort to break through to the Final Four.

5. Duke-This may be a little higher than the Devils have getting, but I do not understand why.  Duke has the iconic coach of this generation, and they bring back four senior starters.  Ryan Kelly, Marshall, and Mason Plumlee should be good size and tough for anyone to deal with.  Seth Curry is a big time shooter and Andrew Dawkins is a smart player that has been around.  Coach K can win titles with lesser talent because of his abilities, but this team has some skill. Throw in Rasheed Sulaimon a top flight recruit, and you have another weapon.  They Devils are waiting on Amille Jefferson to commit as well. Duke has size, shooters, and coaching.  I will not be shocked to see Duke have a great year.

6. Michigan-Michigan enjoyed a successful campaign in 2012.  John Beilein finally has hit his stride as a coach in Ann Arbor.  Michigan is bringing in a very touted recruiting class to add to a talented returning group. These Wolverines can give Indiana a run for their money in the Big Ten. Trey Burke's return sets up the high ranking.  He is a talented guard that may be the best Point Guard in the country. Tim Hardaway Jr. is a good running mate standing at 6-6. The recruits should bring a new flair. Mitch McGary is a 6-10 post player that is expected to start right away.Glenn Robinson III is the prize of the class, and may end up starting as well.  Michigan isn't terribly deep, but they are talented.  Michigan should finally see some tournament success under Coach Beilein.

7. Syracuse-The Orange had one of the best teams in the country in 2012, and were set for a Final Four birth. That was until Fab Melo got suspended and took away a big seven foot presence in the middle of the Orange 2-3 Zone.  Syracuse loses a lot of key pieces, but being the deepest team in the country leaves you with some pretty good ones. Brandon Triche and CJ Fair should be the leaders of this squad.  The Orange have two talented big men, sophomore Rakeem Christmas and freshmen, DeJuan Coleman. Michael Carter-Williams is a former All American in High School, but was deep in the depth chart behind some upper classmen. Jim Boeheim has been doing very well in the regular season lately, but it has not necessarily meant deep tournament runs. This team will have a nice blend of experience and young talent. Syracuse is capable of running up another big record.

8. Louisville-The Louisville Cardinals surprised a lot of people and earned a Final Four birth in 2012. The scrappy bunch is a typical Rick Pitino team, and they may be even better in 2013. The floor general Peyton Siva should be returning for his senior season. His defensive play sets the tone for the rest of the team. Russ Smith is a solid off guard and should improve being a more featured player this year.Behannan and Dieng are back in the front court. There is no big recruiting class coming in, just three players that will be healthy for a full season. Jared Swopshire,Rakeem Buckles, and especially Wayne Blackshear should add depth and skill to Louisville. Pitino's teams often run deep, and this one should be no different.

9. North Carolina-The Tar Heels essentially lose everything, but in typical Carolina fashion, they simply reload.  Reggie Bullock and Dexter Strickland will man the guard positions.  Strickland's presence may have secured a Final 4 birth, but was out on injury for most of the season.  James Michael McAdoo decided to stay.  He was a reserve for Henson and Zeller, and did not show all of his skill.  This guy is very good, and may have a Thomas Robinson type season and totally break out.  The Tar Heels didn't add a top flight recruit, but they are bringing in four top 65 players to the program.  The Heels have talent at every position and should be in the thick of the ACC race.

10. Ohio State-The Buckeyes lost big man Jared Sullinger. They still return three starters back from a Final Four team. Aaron Craft could possibly be the best,smartest, and toughest all around guard in the country. He will win Ohio State to a lot of wins this season. DeShaun Thomas will be back and will flourish in an expanded role.Coach Thad Matta has totally revived this program and has made it a national presence since his arrival.  The Buckeyes have room to add some recruits, and there are a few left on the board. I would not be surprised to see the Buckeyes add some more talent, even though they will be fine without it.




11. NC State-Yes, you read correctly.  The NC State Wolfpack under coach Mark Gottfried are ready to factors nationally in 2013. The Pack added three McDonald's All Americans to a pretty solid roster already. Star Forward, CJ Leslie has yet to make a choice on whether to enter the draft, but if he returns the Wolfpack may move up a little.  Lorenzo Brown and Scott Wood are two solid guards that can score. Howell and Painter are good veteran big men that should provide size.  The young guys should infuse some talent that has not been in Raleigh for some time. Rodney Purvis and Ty Warren are athletic wings that will be hard matchups for ACC opponents. Tyler Lewis may be in line to take over point guard responsibilities right away.  Its hard to imagine NC State to make such a jump so soon, but the talent is there.The Wolfpack will expand on the Sweet 16 appearance in 2012 and see if they can turn that into something more.

12. Kansas-The Jayhawks made a memorable run all the way to the finals, after nobody expected them to be there. It may have been Coach Bill Self's best job ever. The Jayhawks bring back three starters from the National Title game. Elijah Johnson and Jeff Withey remained in school and they put KU on the map for 2013.  Tyler Releford also comes back for Kansas.  Those three should carry KU for a lot of wins, but it is concerning they do not have a tru guard lined up for next season.  Perry Ellis may have to fill the void left by Thomas Robinson right away. He is a special recruit and was highly sought after.  Kansas brings in a few other talented freshmen to the mix.  Bill Self proved he can win with a group that isn't overly talented, this time he has a group with some proven talent, Will he be able to top last year?

13. Arizona-Sean Miller is bringing in the most talented recruiting class in the country.  The Wildcats will be the biggest threat to UCLA's Pac 12 Title. Arizona's success should start with Solomon Hill, who is forgoing the draft to remain in Tuscan.  After that, it should be a show of Freshmen.  Kaleb Tarczewski may be the Pac 12's most talented Big man instantly. Brandon Ashley and Grant Jarrett are two other talented post players that should give Arizona a dominating inside presence. All three players are among the nation's top 25 recruits.  Gabe York is a top 50 recruit that should help right away at guard.  The Pac 12 is a freshmen dominated league for 2013.  Arizona and UCLA's freshmen will be battling out all season  long for conference supremecy, and it should give the league a breathe of much needed fresh air.

14. Michigan State-Tom Izzo got his team to play extraordinarily well last season.  The Spartans lose their heart and soul in Draymond Green, but his work ethic should rub off on the program.  Keith Appling is a good lead guard for Spartans going into next season.  They are not short on veteran big man either.Derrick Nix and Adreian Payne should big a large inside presence. The health of Brenden Dawson will be a welcomed addition. The talented swingman will be a difference maker for the Spartans.  Tom Izzo always reels in good recruits, and he has done it yet again. Gary Harris is a very highly touted guard that will help the Spartans backcourt.  Michigan State was not on the radar last season and earned a 1 seed in the NCAA's, this year they are on the radar, so how will things shape up?

15. Florida-The Gators are talented enough to compete at the highest level, but it depends on one things. Does Bradley Beal return to school or not?  If he does, the Gators are a top 10 team, if not they stay a top 25 team. Kenyon Boyton is as good as guard in the SEC and will lead the Gators to a successful campaign.  Erik Murphy and Patric Young are two formidable big men that can take on Kentucky in the SEC race.  Mike Rosario is the wild card?  Can he be a factor like he was for Rutgers, or will he remain a role guy?  He has a good shooting stroke and can light up the scoreboard. Bradley Beal is a sure fire team All American if he returns, and can lead Florida to the Final 4.

16. Memphis-Memphis has taken a bit of slide since Coach Calipari has left, but 2013 could be a coming out party.  Memphis will lose Will Barton but returns plenty of talent. The group will be lead by the junior class of Joe Jackson,Antonio Barton,Chris Crawford, and Tarik Black. The group had high expectations coming in, and they have not met them.  This is the year the team needs to prove their worth. The Tigers bring on freshmen, Shaquille Goodwin to add depth down low.  Memphis is playing its final year in Conference USA, as always they should dominate, but can they take it to the next level in the postseason?

17. Texas-Texas had an up and down season. They appeared as though they would miss the NCAA tournament and found themselves on the right side of the bubble as it turned out.  Texas is young and they lose star guard, J'Covan Brown to the NBA.  Myck Kabongo should emerge as a star. He led the team in assists, and will see his scoring go up.  Sheldon McClellan had a great freshmen season, and will be counted on to score plenty of points this time around. The Longhorns issue will be inside play, but their two best incoming recruits are post players. Price Ibeh and and Cameron Ridley will play big factors right away.  Texas should be better than last year, but they may struggle to compete with Kansas and Baylor in the Big 12.

18. Notre Dame-The Irish were an upstart team in 2012. They were picked in the bottom half in the Big East, yet they ended up winning 22 games. The Irish have the chance of being really, really good in 2013. Tim Abromaitis and Scott martin are unsure if they will be eligible, but if so the Irish will play a bigger factor in the Big East.  Jack Cooley was the league's most improved player, and will be even better next season.  Jerian Grant and Eric Atkins will man the backcourt.  Cameron Biedscheid is a very heralded recruit and will make an impact.  Notre Dame can be really tough without Martin and Abromaitis, but they will be much better with them.  Could be a good year in South Bend next season.

19. Gonzaga-The Zags gave Ohio State everything they could handle in the NCAA's.  That could be a telling sign for things to come.  Elias Harris has yet to decided his future next season, but he would be a welcomed addition back in Spokane.  Kevin Pangos and Gary Bell Jr. are two guards that are capable of scoring a lot of points, and David Stockton can give good minutes. Guard play should certainly be a strength.  Sam Downer will be counted on to play a bigger role down low.  Gonzaga always fields a strong team, they always play a deadly schedule, and they are a tough out come March.  2013 should not be any different.

20. San Diego State-The Aztecs could be really dangerous in 2012.  They had a magical run in 2011 by winning 34 games and followed up with a solid 26 win campaign last year.  This could be their best run yet. Jamal Franklin, Chase Tapley, and Xavier Thames are all guards that averaged in double figures last year.  They should have one of the best backcourts out there.  They also add some impact transfers, most notably would be Dwayne Polee from Saint Johns.  The 6-7 swingman should add athleticism as should five star recruit Winston Sheppherd.  This is a real sleeper team. They can find themselves in the Top 10 early on, and they could be there for a while.

21. Missouri-Missouri had an embarrassing end to a memorable season. The Tigers were a marquee team all year long and lost to lowly Norfolk State.  The Tigers lose a ton.  They should still be alright.  Phil Pressey will return and be one of the better lead guards in the country. Michael Dixon is a good running mate and the two will be the key to Mizzou's success.  The Tigers have also landed a pleasant surprise. Alex Oriakhi will be transferring to Mizzou and will be eligible immediately.  The talented big man has won a National Championship at UConn and will add a big presence that Missouri lacked last season.  This is a fun team to watch, and the run and gun offense now has a big man to solidify things.  The Tigers may make a run in the deep Big 12.

22. Wisconsin-Wisconsin is a veteran bunch.  Bo Ryan does as good of a job as anyone at getting his team ready to play.  The Badgers play knock out defense and low scoring basketball, and they will be able to play with anyone in the Big Ten yet again.  Jordan Taylor is gone, and a new lead guard must emerge. Josh Gasser and Ben Brust are both deadly shooters, but lack true Point Guard skills.  They will have to adapt.  Ryan Evans, Mike Bruesewitz, and Jared Berggren should man the inside. That is three seniors and two juniors. They will be ready to play, and ready to defend.   Sam Dekker is a highly touted player out of Wisconsin and he will help instantly. This team can shoot it, and they will be a tough out.

23. UNLV-The Runnin' Rebels ran off some impressive wins in the 2012 campaign. They beat North Carolina in the early season that helped raise the profile.  Dave Rice had a very successful rookie season as a coach and brings back a pretty good group for this year. Mike Moser is back after leading the team in scoring and rebounding.  He may be the best and most valuable player in the Mountain West conference. Anthony Marshall and Justin Hawkins are back to handle the guard situation. This UNLV team is going to run and gun. Rice handles the team well and Moser can carry them pretty far, they will have some epic battles with San Diego State.

24. Creighton- Creighton had a very successful season in 2012 by compiling a 29-6 record. Doug McDermott will come back off an incredible Sophomore season. The crafty forward averaged 22 points and 8 rebounds and will likely do it again.  McDermott is good enough to carry a team to the Sweet 16, but the Jays return a few pieces yet. Gregory Echinique is a solid post threat and Grant Gibbs is a good guard, but they will need to bring some more scoring to the table.  Ethan Wragge as a small forward will see an expanded role also.  The Bluejays will score plenty of points and pull off some wins they are not supposed to get, and will be a threat in March.

25. Pittsburgh-The Panthers had a forgettable 2012, but will see better days in 2013.  Tray Woodall will be back and healthy for his senior season.  Pitt also returns wings Lamar Patterson and JJ Moore and big things are expected for both.  Dante Taylor and Talib Zanna are also back in the post.  This team gained valuable experience and should be better for next year.  That also will stem with the nation's number five recruit, Steven Adams.  The 7 footer will make an impact right away in the Big East. Pitt may also be adding a talented transfer from Central Michigan, Trey Zeigler for next year barring a waiver.  Zeigler is a former top 30 recruit and will add a much needed presence at Shooting Guard for the Panthers.  Pitt will get back to the tournament this time around, and depending on how the newcomers play, they may win a lot of games with it.

Opening Day with D6 Sports Network

The great American spectacle that is Opening Day has come and gone.  The D6 Sports Network took our traveling caravan down to the lots of PNC Park to behold the pregame festivities. Here is what we saw.

Pittsburgh is a Baseball town-  There is plenty that can be contested with that statement, but I think there is finally proof.  Pittsburgh is a sports crazed town, to say the least. The ultra popular Steelers are a hit from coast to coast, and the Penguins are the NHL's showcase team. That often puts the Pirates in the shadows and in a really tough spot.  They are labeled "The City of Champions...and The Pirates." The Pirates have 19 consecutive losing seasons, it iss not an ideal way to draw in fans, yet on a day in early April the largest crowd ever in PNC Park's history commenced.  The buzz around town was real and positive. The younger generation of Pirate fans have yet to see a winner, but they saw four months with a rag tag group last summer. The Pirates may not compete this year, they may not duplicate next year's success, they can be out of it by May, BUT nobody is thinking that way.  The Pirate fan base is alive and kicking. It is a new era, and a new way to watch the Bucs. The emergence of twitter is a new way to watch the games with Pirate fans and is a great way to stay informed with some good sarcasm. The party atmosphere of Pittsburgh brings a unique feel that other teams may not see.  Pittsburgh Baseball is an event every weekend from here until late September, make an appearance.  You will not regret it.

There is a Rivalry- The Phillies have been one of the most successful teams in baseball in recent memory.  They have a payroll that drowns out that of Pittsburgh. Philadelphia has a dedicated fan base, and the Phillies have that town captivated all Summer long.  They also travel well, really well.  Philadelphia fans were all over Pittsburgh this weekend.  Although it was not like year's past. The Pittsburgh Pirate nation has a new found sense of confidence.  The parking lots were filled with Pittsburgh fans not donning Steeler jerseys or Clemente jerseys, but rather McCutchen, Walker, Tabata, and Hanrahan jerseys. The Pirate "P" was prominent everywhere you looked. The neighbors from the East were not a dominating force as they were in the past years.  The Pirates went neck and neck with Doc Halladay and the Phillies on Opening Day, and used dramatic fashion to take two from Philadelphia the rest of the weekend. The Pirates do not have the star power, the payroll, or playoff experience but they have grit to hang. Pittsburgh fans do not have bragging rights just yet, but as of now they lead the season series 2-1.

Optimism is Everything- Anything worth talking about has critics obviously.  The Pirates still have no guarantee that they will be anything worth talking about this year, and of course people know it.  The loyal fan base has seen everything crumble in their faces before.  The Pirates still do not have a payroll, a threatening line up, or rotation.  They still have better days ahead that might not be this season.   The Pirates are going to change the Pittsburgh sports landscape.  The success of the early 1990's will be duplicated again.  The best way to approach it is to be positive, and believe.  Clint Hurdle is a great manager. He is a winner, and is a character.  Andrew McCutchen is one of the best players in the league.  There are plenty of scrappy Pittsburgh players that are fun to root for.  It would be a great thing to see people take on supporting the Pirates the way the Penguins get supported.  The game is becoming youthful again.  It is trendy to watch the Bucs, and go to the games. Its an affordable night out with fellow Pittsburghers.  Pirates Baseball is turning into something that it has never been in my lifetime.  It is actually cool to be a Pirates fan these days, something that nobody could have dreamed of five years ago. Check out a game this year, and you will get the feeling too.

Best recruiting class ever?

Jamie Dixon has recruited the best recruiting class to enter the University of Pittsburgh since perhaps Bobby Martin, Brian Shorter, Jason Matthews, Darrell Porter, and Sean Miller stepped foot in Oakland.  Steven Adams, the 7-0 foot New Zealander is a coveted big man that has NBA written all over him. Trey Zeigler is a transfer from Central Michigan that was a former top 30 recruit that chose Pitt over UCLA and Duke.  James Robinson is a cool point guard from the storied program of DeMatha.  Those three should have Pitt ready to compete for an ACC Championship in 2013, assuming Adams sticks around for more than one season, and that is something you should not assume.  Oh yeah, the recruiting class might not be done. Pitt still seems to be pushing for top 60 Power Forward, Savon Goodman.  Pitt has also added fairly unknown Chris Jones out of New Jersey who seems to be a glue guy that could develop if given the chance. The new group of players seemingly will create a log jam at certain positions.  All in all, that is just a great problem to have. Pitt may now be athletic enough to go with anyone. The past decade has shown Pitt to be a hard nosed defensive minded team(I think the media exaggerates it to an extent) that has won with talented players, but not the best of the best. As any successful coach/program does, Dixon has doubters.  "He doesn't recruit well"  "He can't get past the Sweet 16"  "Why doesn't Pitt go after Sean Miller?"  "Fire Dixon" I have heard them all. I do not need to get into how ridiculous they all sound. It takes many coaches a while to get over the hump, and if that is the worst thing about Dixon.....Pitt fans should be happy.  He has maintained what Howland started, and has kept Pitt a perennially ranked team and a frequent on national television.  All you have to do is remember the 90's, and take a look now. Pitt's state of the program is in fine shape. So what does Pitt have to look forward in the near future, and beyond.

    The 2012-13 Panthers should be better than the year prior.  There are many variables that are still need to be settled.  Will Savon Goodman commit?  He is a 6-6 physical presence that could play the Power Forward position, and play it very well. The only problem is someone will need to go. Chris Jones could see he is one of five 6-5 wings and may choose to go elsewhere.  John Johnson, Cameron Wright, Durand Johnson are all possible transfer candidates. That is something that remains to be seen.  Also, will Trey Zeigler  play next year?  Depending on who you listen to, it does not seem to be a sure thing.  He may play, he may sit out. Regardless, Pitt should be ready to contend after a one year hiatus.  The sure things Pitt has, Tray Woodall will be healthy. This will be his fifth year in the program. Lamar Patterson and JJ Moore are two wings and both could start.  If the second half of this past season is and indication on how they will play, Pitt should be in fine shape. They both seemingly understand their roles now and can take their games to new heights.  Talib Zanna and Dante Taylor took turns playing well, but never put it together.  They should be better this time around as neither will be the feature big man. The new crop of players should help instantly. Steven Adams is talented enough to start on pretty much any program in the land.  He may not come in and dominate but his presence is something Pitt lacked in 2011-12.  James Robinson will certainly see minutes, he is a heady player that is a true point guard.  The Big East has plenty of uncertainties for next year, and Pitt can find themselves in the thick of the race.  The 2013 ACC transition seems more and more likely and Pitt will be ready to be a factor immediatley.  They are in the running for some high level prospects, most notably BeeJay Anya, and Pitt should establish themselves in the annual contenders with UNC,Duke, and Syracuse.  The prospects of a promising future should erase the one year hiccup that was 2011-12.

The Anticipation.....

The great day is almost upon us. The Day that we have all been waiting for since October.  The magical day that has shaped our country and captivated our imaginations for generations. Opening Day brings a sense that good weather is upon us, and hope that your team has a chance. The first day of the season sells out stadiums and brings people together. It is playoff atmosphere all over the country in April. There are many people that consider Baseball to have faded out as our pastime, and that may be true. Although, Baseball is the one game that you can take care of business everyday. It is a six month long march or struggle to the end. The game of baseball is unique, there is nothing quite like it. It is a game of numbers, that every pitch,inning,out,run, and game is factored into one big summation that we call the regular season.

     Opening Day gives a team like the Pirates a hope that their losing streak may end, or that the Cubs could possibly win the World Series. Opening Day is where a virtual nobody comes out and sets the tone for a Cy Young caliber season. Opening Day is where a bunch of rag tag teams can go toe to toe with the flashy Yankees. It is a day for the fans, but also for the players. The day is unlike any other opening for any other sport. Its hard to describe but the great Joe DiMaggio gave it a try before, "You always get a special kick on opening day, no matter how many you go through. You look forward to it like a birthday party when your a kid. You think something wonderful is going to happen."  That last sentence could not have said it any better, something wonderful might happen, and in all likeliness will happen. Sports are very hard to predict, you just never know what could happen. The Yankees can beat the Phillies like the salaries would suggest, but October is far,far away. This is the day where everyone has a chance. So whether or not you make it to an opening day anywhere across the country this weekend, here is one great Yogi Berra quote to remember, "A home opener is always exciting whether it's home or on the road."  On Opening Day every fan and every player can still dream.  Cheers to six months of Baseball ahead.