The past is the past. The real question now is who’s got next for the Patriots? The problem is…well…the cupboard is completely bare.

Chris Baker? Gone. Plus, he was a non-factor this past season, basically serving as a slower, less-reliable version of the already extremely unreliable Watson. So no real loss there.

David Thomas? Oh wait…we drafted him three years ago, then traded him this past offseason, and he just won a Super Bowl ring with the Saints. Too bad, he had potential in Foxboro.

The loss of Benjamin Watson gives the Patriots limited options at tight end. // Image courtesy of bostonherald.com.

Who else is there? I honestly don’t know. Michael Matthews? Alex Smith? That is exactly the problem; the Patriots are currently carrying a whopping ZERO tight ends on their roster. Zilch. Zip. Nada.

That’s a problem. And with all of the other needs that this team has to fill, tight end is one of those positions that, at the most infuriating times, tends to take precedence for Bill Belichick.

It is an amazing paradox. The tight end position is remarkably underutilized in the Patriots offense, at least from my perspective. Going back to Watson, he reputably ran a 4.3 40 time coming out of Georgia. He is a big target and, it seems, would be able to stretch the field as another component to the Patriots offense. However, he never lived up to that potential. Some of the blame could go to Watson’s lack of development as a receiver, but I also think that Coach Belichick’s aversion of using seam routes also has to come into play when evaluating his career in Foxboro. It seemed that whenever Watson would run a route down the seam, it would create instant offense for the Patriots. Case in point; the Buffalo Bills game. Two touchdowns in around a minute, both of them on seam routes. It just seemed to me (though I could certainly be wrong) that the Patriots offensive system simply does not revolve around tight ends, and Watson’s skills were never fully utilized here.

Of course, for a system that does not seem to focus on the position, the Patriots have drafted a few tight ends highly over the years. Watson, of course, is one example. Before him, the team traded up in the first round to snag Daniel Graham in the 2002 NFL Draft. Both were decent in New England, but neither sparkled like one would expect out of a first round pick.

This year will be just as interesting as those in the past when it comes to the tight end position. The Patriots have already brought in two tight ends for workouts; 290-pound Alge Crumpler, who would almost certainly be a pure blocker at this point in his career, and Daniel Fells, who actually recently resigned with the Rams after meeting with Patriot brass. So, once again, I reiterate: the pickings are slim. However, the draft class is not horrible, and there even could be some gems primed for a team to unearth.

Tight Ends:

1. Jermaine Gresham, Oklahoma

2. Rob Gronkowski, Arizona

3. Aaron Hernandez, Florida

4. Dennis Pitta, BYU

5. Ed Dickson, Oregon

6. Anthony McCoy, USC

7. Tony Moeaki, Iowa

8. Dorin Dickerson, Pittsburgh

9. Andrew Quarless, Penn State

10. Jimmy Graham, Miami (FL)

11. Clay Harbour, Missouri State

12. Garrett Graham, Wisconsin

13. Jeron Mastrud, Kansas State

14. Jeff Cumberland, Illinois

15. Nathan Overbay, Eastern Washington

There are no household names on this list, but there is a good deal of depth this draft at the tight end position, and I think the Patriots could take more than one to fill their gaping need.

Jermaine Gresham is a risky pick that the Patriots might be willing to make. // Image courtesy of The Oklahoman.

My number one tight end is Jermaine Gresham, even though he did not test amazingly well and had an injury that killed his entire senior season. Watch any tape from his junior year and you will understand why numbers matter less when it comes to this ex-Sooner. He has an amazing knack for coming down with the ball, great hands, and is, for my money, a willing blocker. I would love for the Patriots to pull the trigger on Gresham if the doctors give the go-ahead. When it comes to great collegiate tight ends, Belichick has no bones about trading up for the man he wants. See: Daniel Graham. Gresham is more talented and will go later in the draft than Graham did. That makes for tantalizing possibilities.

Gronkowski is similar to Gresham except a slightly better blocker. I would not be surprised if we drafted him in the mid-second round either. Hernandez is more of an H-back, but the Patriots did have high hopes for Garrett Mills in 2007; maybe Hernandez could turn into a pet project like Mills did before he was cut.

To be completely honest, all of the other tight ends are relatively similar to each other. Most are big bodied brutes who are average (or slightly faster than average) speed-wise and would probably be good fits for the Patriots system. The one notable exception to this rule is Pitt’s Dorin Dickerson, who is small and fast. He has 4.4 speed and decent hands, but he disappears from games at times and is extremely one-dimensional. I don’t think he’ll end up in Foxboro, but he could succeed in a system tailored to his strengths.

Late in the draft, here are some names to keep an eye on: Dennis Pitta, Tony Moeaki, Jimmy Graham and Nathan Overbay. All of these guys would add depth and possibly contribute in a greater capacity down the road for the Patriots. I am especially high on Pitta, who is athletic, smart and tough as they come. He’ll be a stud in the NFL because he has the heart and will to make it happen.

Most likely Patriot? Honestly, you could probably put all of these guys in a hat, pick one out and call his name come draft day. Tight end will definitely be a position of need, and I see us grabbing two, at least one in the first three rounds (even if we trade back into the third.) The two guys Patriots fans should keep an eye on are Jermaine Gresham and Jimmy Graham. I think the Patriots jump at the chance to add a talent like Gresham if the doctors give them the go-ahead. They certainly weren’t averse to doing so with an inferior talent last year (Brandon Tate). Graham or Tony Moeaki could go to the Patriots late, but I like Graham slightly more in the long-term. He’s a former basketball player and has abundant athletic gifts.

The Patriots need an overhaul at the tight end position, that is for sure. Luckily for them, this is the draft to do it. This year’s class is filled with big, burly guys who could make immediate impacts for the team.

The Ben Watson era is over, but hopefully whomever the new Patriots starting tight end will be can evoke memories of another former Ben with his play next season. Ben Coates.

- Ethan Hammerman

            First off, URI is headed to New York City’s Madison Square Garden, a historic sports locale. That site is the location of each year’s National Invitational Tournament, an event for college basketball teams that may have had solid years…but were not quite good enough to reach the NCAAs.

Gotta love the Shockers. Courtesy of cnnsi.com.

            While some look at a bid to the NIT as a back-handed compliment, it does reflect positively on the Rams’ season. They received a number two seed in the tournament, meaning that the NIT selection committee saw them as one of the top teams not to attain inclusion in the NCAA tournament. They will take on Northwestern in their first round game this Wednesday at 7:00. Should they win, they would face the winner of the match-up between the Wichita State Shockers (one of my favorite mascot names in all of college sports) and the Nevada Wolfpack.

            Rhode Island will be seen more publicly through its hosting of the NCAA tournament at the Dunk. On Thursday, four first-round games will be played there, and two days later there will be two second-round match-ups. The participating teams should provide some entertaining games for the fans. In one quadrant, we have 3^rd-seeded Georgetown taking on 14^th-seed Ohio. Georgetown is a familiar guest at the Dunkin Donuts Center as they are a member of PC’s Big East Conference. In that quadrant’s other game, 6^th-seeded Tennessee will take on 11^th-seeded San Diego State. Six versus eleven games generally provide at least one upset per tournament, so be on the lookout for a San Diego State win.

The Richmond Spiders will be ready to play this Thursday. Courtesy of timesdispatch.com.

            Also playing here in Providence will be 2^nd-seed Villanova, facing off against 15^th-seed Robert Morriss, and 7^th-seed Richmond will play 10^th-seed St. Mary’s. The Richmond vs. St. Mary’s game is intriguing, as two high-quality teams from mid-major conferences on opposite coasts will take each other on for the first time this season.

            So, Rhode Islanders, what I’m trying to say is….don’t despair! There’s still tons of fun to be had with the remainder of our college basketball year. Providence does not get to host the NCAA tournament every year, and this is an opportunity for our state to enjoy March Madness to the fullest. Get ready for the Big Dance, folks. It should be a fun ride!

This guy (Dick Vitale) will likely be upset about something later tonight. Check out ESPN's coverage to see what is irritating him. Courtesy of deadspin.com.

The day has come, sports fans. It’s time for bracketologists around the country to put together their final bracket projections and then tune in to CBS at 6:00 tonight to watch the unveiling of our 2010 field of 65. Today marks the beginning of a three-week process that will end in one team winning the national championship. So for one last time…who’s going to be in? Who’s going to be left shaking their heads and muttering “what-if”s? Here’s my final diagnosis:

1: Kansas, Kentucky, Syracuse, Duke

2: Ohio State, Kansas State, West Virginia, Villanova

3: Purdue, Pittsburgh, Michigan State, Wisconsin

4: New Mexico, Temple, Baylor, Georgetown

5: Maryland, Tennessee, Vanderbilt, Butler

6: Gonzaga, Richmond, Texas A&M, BYU

7: Xavier, Texas, UNI, UNLV

8: UTEP, Clemson, Cal, Marquette

9: St. Mary’s, Oklahoma State, Old Dominion, Notre Dame

10: Louisville, Florida State, Mizzou, San Diego State

11: Wake, Georgia Tech, Virginia Tech, Washington

12: Cornell, Siena, Minnesota, Florida

13: Murray State, New Mexico State, Oakland, Ohio

14: Houston, Wofford, Sam Houston State, Montana

15: UC Santa Barbara, Morgan State, North Texas, Vermont

16: Arkansas Pine-Bluff, Winthrop, Lehigh, Robert Morris, East Tennessee State

Underlined = Automatic Bid

First Four Out: Mississippi State, Utah State, Illinois, Ole Miss

Others Outside Looking In: URI, Arizona State, Seton Hall

By Conference:

-          Big East (8)

-          Big Twelve (7)

-          ACC (7)

-          Big Ten

-          Mountain West (4)

-          SEC

-          Atlantic Ten (3)

-          Conference USA (2)

-          Pac Ten (2)

-          WCC (2)

-          WAC

-          All others (1)

Now it’s my responsibility to explain some of my decisions. I’ll answer four major questions that you bracketologists out there may want to ask me.

1. Why is Duke my 4^th number one seed as opposed to teams like Ohio State or West Virginia?

It’s a very close call, but the blue devils deserve the designation. First, I think that often we think a little bit too much about the number one seeds, as there is very little difference in the quality of competition they will have to face when compared to a two seed. That said, Duke’s overall body of work is best. To me, the seven losses that Ohio State has garnered is too many for a team that is being designated a top four team in the country. While some may argue that a few of those losses came while star Evan Turner was injured, every game must be taken into account. When looking at West Virginia, it is necessary to recognize that they did not even win their own conference’s regular season title, finishing two games behind Syracuse. That would be forgivable if their non-conference schedule was particularly impressive, but it is not. Their only victories of note outside of Big East play were against Texas A&M (good win) and Ole Miss (probably not even a tournament team).

2. Why did I leave Utah State out?

Utah State’s strength of schedule is atrocious. Their Western Athletic Conference is embarrassingly bad, and they couldn’t even get through its postseason tournament successfully (they lost to New Mexico State). If they had put together a solid non-conference schedule, complete with a few signature victories, they would be in. However, their only really strong win was against BYU. Additionally, six of their seven losses came in games against sub-par teams, and a couple of them were not even close contests. The Aggies had an okay year, but in my mind, they fall just short.

The Golden Gophers of Minnesota should be smiling tonight. Courtesy of sportslogos.net.

3. Why did you put Minnesota in but leave Mississippi State out?

As many of you may know, both Minnesota and Mississippi State had the chance to clinch automatic bids today in conference tournament finals. Mississippi State lost a heartbreaker to likely number-one seed Kentucky in overtime, while Minnesota was blown out by Ohio State. Many will, therefore, say that Mississippi State played hard “when it counted” while Minnesota “ran out of gas.” What those people fail to remember is that the NCAA basketball season is almost five months. It does not come down to one day. Minnesota’s overall package is significantly stronger than Mississippi State’s. They have signature victories against Butler ,Wisconsin, Ohio State, Michigan State, and Purdue (all possible top-five seeded teams), while Mississippi State’s can only similar victory came against Vanderbilt. To me, Minnesota’s argument for tournament inclusion is way stronger than that of Mississippi State.

4. Where’s URI?

In the end, I don’t think URI put together a strong enough package to be included by the selection committee. Though they looked like a solid pick a few short weeks ago, their late-season swoon proved to be too much. As Providence is definitely on the outside looking in, it appears that the state of Rhode Island will once again be without a tournament representative.



The Portsmouth native batted .296 with 7 home runs in Lowell last year.

19-year-old top Red Sox prospect Ryan Westmoreland was diagnosed with a “cavernous malformation of the brain” earlier this week at Massachusetts General Hospital and is currently in Phoenix, Arizona, where he will undergo surgery on the malformation. Westmoreland left spring training on March 4 to get a diagnosis at Mass General, then was flown around the country to speak with three specialists before it was determined that the procedure would be performed by Dr. Robert Spetzler of the Barrow Neurological Institute in Phoenix. According to ESPN.com, the procedure “carries significant risk of neurological damage and is potentially life-threatening.”

Dr. Joseph Maroon, the vice chairman of the Department of Neurosurgery at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, spoke to ESPN.com about the condition earlier today. According to Maroon, the cavernous malformation “is a congenital abnormality of small abnormal capillaries [tiny blood vessels] that are connecting vessels between the arteries and veins.

“These capillaries have very thin, weak walls and are susceptible to bleeding because of their thin walls. And the cortex, or brain stem, is an extremely sensitive area from which to remove [the malformation]. It’s very unusual to find these abnormalities in the brain stem.”

Maroon also mentioned that Dr. Spetzler “has as much experience with this as anybody in the world. His results with this overall are very good. He is who I would go to if I needed this surgery.”

Westmoreland attended Portsmouth High School in Rhode Island and was selected by the Red Sox in the 5th round of the 2008 draft, signing a $2 million bonus with the team, passing up a scholarship to top baseball school Vanderbilt University. Last year in Single-A Lowell, he batted .296 with 7 home runs in 60 games, missing the end of the season with a broken collarbone after running into an outfield wall.

Do you dare? I warn you, this blog will amaze you, disgust you, and maybe even make you cry (okay, so hopefully not that last one). But! Consider yourself warned…and make sure to stop by next week…if, of course, you can handle it!

March 7 – March 13, 2010:

In a week that sees teams fight for that desperate eighth spot at the same time as teams already clinching their division, you know it’s going to be a thrilling week. And that’s what we have for you today. We’ve got everything from must-see hockey fights, to a campaign against Barack Obama, to the most yummy rendition of the Stanley Cup…ever.  Enjoy.

THE GOOD:

Gold- The Bruins did it again. And no, I don’t mean give up yet another lead in their typical heartbreaking fashion. This, my friends, is the next piece to what is quite possibly the single greatest video series in the NHL: Bruins Hockey Rules. The Bruins Bear does it once again—check out his thoughts on ‘beating the traffic’ at the game:

Silver- With a mere 2.1 seconds left, Chris Pronger shocks the world. Er, at least the Chicago Blackhawks and the hockey world. After finding themselves down 2-1 late into the 3^rd period, Philly tied it up with 2:04 left in the game, and this game looked like it was destined for overtime. But Pronger had other plans. Like scoring this fantastic goal to steal that coveted extra point:

Bronze- Canucks’ goaltender Andrew Raycroft simply makes a miraculous save. Enjoy it folks, because this save only comes once in a very, very long time:

Oh yeah, and Raycroft is a backup. Wow.

Honorable Mention- Sharks’ Joe Pavelski scores a goal, but this one should count for about 5, it’s so damn good:

THE BAD:

Gold- The NHL GM’s finally agree to ban hits to the head. It’s about time. Why is this bad, you may ask? Well, just check out this next one and you’ll see exactly why…

Silver- Penguins’ Matt Cooke has just a disgusting hit on Bruins’ superstar Marc Savard….and doesn’t get suspended. That’s right, just hours after the GM’s agreed to ban hits to the head, the NHL announced that it wasn’t going to suspend Cooke. Seriously…are you kidding me? Check out this hit, and you tell me what should have gone down:

Oh, and it only gets worse Bruins fans, for it looks like this one will take him Savard for the season too.

Bronze- U.S. and Buffalo goaltender Ryan Miller and the hockey gods just can’t seem to patch up their friendship. In his return to Buffalo after the heartbreaking silver medal at the Olympics, Miller put up a fantastic 34-save performance…but still lost. Ya gotta feel it for this guy. To continue putting up stunning performances like these—and still lose—well, this guy deserves a lot of credit. But c’mon…how can anyone, even the best goaltender in the world, save a beauty like this one:

Honorable Mention- Okay, forget the Health Care bill…this should be priority #1—President Barack Obama has to become a Capitals fan. In a campaign to “Barack the Red” (a parody on the Caps’ “Rock the Red”), the Capitals have seen Obama don the White Sox hats, throw out first pitches, draw up an NCAA bracket, and even design an NFL commercial. But it’s about time for that to change. Change we can believe in, you say? Come on, Mr. President…it’s hockey time.

THE UGLY:

Gold- Now this is just sick. The Caps clinched the division this week…the division! Yes, with about a month left to play, the Caps don’t really have to play for much, now do they? And you wonder why the East is so bad this year…Exhibit A: the Southeast division. Oh yeah, and Ovi got a game misconduct…AGAIN:

Don’t look now, but it’s his third of the year. Oh by the way—no one else in the league has more than one. Some Olympic frustation maybe, Ovi?

Silver- Your fight of the week:

Bronze- If you think the Super Bowl is big in America, check out how popular hockey truly is in Canada. The Super Bowl pails in comparison to the Gold Medal Olympic Game. Here’s the water usage in Edmonton during the game. Apparently nobody went to the bathroom…until the period was over. Brace yourselves.

Honorable Mention- Now this is just really funny. Poor kid.

POLL OF THE WEEK:

Q: Do you see the Bruins making the playoffs this season?

A: For sure. It won’t be easy, but it’s gonna happen.

B: No way. Matt Cooke just ended our season.

C: It doesn’t matter. I have Versus and can’t see them in the playoffs anyway!

Have an opinion? Did I miss something? Think you know better than sidthekid? Well, drop a comment and we’ll see for ourselves, now won’t we!

-Sidney Kushner

Nomahhhhhhhhh!!!!! (Courtesy of Sports Illustrated)

This week on the one and only Sports Rundown, Gabe and JLoad tackle all sorts of ideas and interns, including:

1. PC is involved in the worst defensive game in the history of the Big East tournament, scores 106 points, and LOSES. What the what?

2. Jamine Peterson is a beast. What are the Friar’s chances next season?

3. URI is in the A-10 tournament SEMIFINALS! BOOYAH!

4. Nomar… we hardly knew you. Seriously, you never spoke to the press in Boston. But… welcome back?

5. Josh Beckett is involved in serious contract negotiations with the Sox. Is that good or bad for the future of the team?

6. Detroit Lions coach Jim Schwartz sat outside a prospective player’s house and texted him a minute after free agency began. And he signed with the Lions.

The Patriots need to bounce back from Welker's devastating injury if they want to be Super Bowl contenders next season. // Image courtesy of The Boston Herald.

First of all, I have to apologize for getting this update up a bit late. It was a busy weekend due to the MIT Sloan Sports Analytics Conference, but now I am rested, refreshed and ready to tackle a need that, for some, is extremely pressing. A wide receiver.

But not just any wide receiver. A very specific type.

The Patriots run a spread offense, which means that each wide receiver is responsible for holding up their end of the bargain. Three starters, not to mention as much depth as necessary, have to contribute, and this become much more important when one of the top two options is injured.

Like, say, right now.

By my personal receiving metric ((yards/16)+yards per catch)/(drops+drop percentage+fumbles+(snaps/throwing attempts)), Welker was the number one receiver in the NFL this past season, and it wasn’t close. He beat his second place competition, Miles Austin, by almost .7 units, a huge margin. Welker is absolutely devastating in the slot, and is a perfect fit for the Patriots system. All he does is make plays. He is so solid at what he does that he actually hindered a future Hall of Fame quarterback, Tom Brady, by causing him to become too dependent on the short routes and quick throws. This was evident in the action Welker missed; Brady just never looked comfortable in those games. Welker will probably be back sometime in October, hopefully earlier. Regardless, the Patriots need someone to fill the void.

Julian Edelman was a pleasant surprise this past season after transferring from QB to WR. // Image courtesy of media.pennlive.com

Enter Julian Edelman. When he was drafted last year out of Kent State, it seemed that he would just be another flyer type who might make an impact in a couple of years. Then, I saw his short shuttle time. 3.92. For comparison’s sake, the fastest short shuttle at this year’s NFL Combine was a 4.00 by Fresno State cornerback A.J. Jefferson. Edelman blasted by that and then some. The short shuttle is a great predictor of slot success in the NFL. One needs not look further than Wes Welker, who may not have been too fast in the 40 coming out of Texas Tech but blazed a 3.90 short shuttle at his Pro Day. That is the key drill when looking at a possible slot receiver, and it bears watching for the future.

Anyway, back to Edelman. He came in and just blew Gillette Stadium up. He wowed fans in the first preseason game, when he returned a punt for a touchdown against the Philadelphia Eagles. He kept up the pace, eventually earning a roster spot. In just his second regular season game (and the first game where he actually really played wide receiver) he was called into starting duty against the New York Jets. The Patriots lost, but Edelman had nine catches for 98 yards. Not bad considering he had barely played the position before. This upward trend continued all season, and in the Ravens game he was one of three Patriots (along with Kevin Faulk and, I suppose, Tom Brady) who didn’t completely mail the season in once a loss looked inevitable. Now he will have another offseason to learn the position and gain a stronger rapport with Brady. Edelman’s hands aren’t amazingly strong yet, but they will improve over time. I see Edelman really doing well next year as he continues to learn the nuances of the Patriot slot wide receiver position.

Of course, I have yet to mention one looming elephant in the room; Randy Moss. I had him 14th in my metrics this past season, so while he didn’t completely screw the pooch, he wasn’t his usual larger than life self. I’ve heard many excuses for Randy; injuries, focus, a still tentative Brady underthrowing passes among them. I’d tend to buy these rational excuses, but at the end of the day the big guy has to take responsibility. He was a non-factor in the playoff game against the Ravens; he simply wasn’t there. His best game all year was in the preseason against the Redskins. That simply is not acceptable. I think that Moss’ slight drop in statistics actually shows the importance of having a third receiver in this Patriots system. In 2007, Donte Stallworth would stretch out coverages. In 2008, Jabar Gaffney served as a capable possession guy. In 2009, Moss had Joey Galloway and Sam Aiken, neither of whom were so inspiring. I think that Moss’ success could hinge on who the Patriots bring in as a third guy. If he is a success, Moss will put up better numbers. There is still talent, but he needs a little more help than in the past.

Randy Moss was not as effective last year, but he could improve if Brady gets a viable third option to throw to. // Image courtesy of boston.com

Now for the million dollar question; who will be that third receiver? Currently the Patriots have Brandon Tate and the aforementioned Aiken as options on their roster. Last year, I think it became apparent that Aiken should stick with the special teams. He had flashes, but was uninspiring. He also dropped two interceptions in the playoff game against the Ravens which really left a bitter taste in my mouth. Tate is a more interesting story. He was drafted in the third round due to an ACL tear and being apprehended for smoking marijuana, though many felt he was a first round talent. He played sparingly against the Buccaneers and then was soon shelved in order to let his knee completely heal. What I saw I didn’t love, but I need to withhold judgment because he was still just coming off of the injury. I think he could be a factor eventually, but I’m not holding my breath. He looked much slower than I remembered from watching him at North Carolina. Hopefully he can regain the elite speed he once had.

Josh Reed is the free agent du-jour that many feel the Patriots could go for. He has already met with the team and fits the mold well; good hands, good route-runner and can move the chains. He reminds me a bit of Jabar Gaffney, which is definitely a compliment. He was pretty stellar for the Bills last season as well, accruing 291 yards on 27 receptions. I would not mind bringing him in, though I think a legitimate deep threat would be all the more effective at taking pressure off of Randy Moss.

Now, it is time to look at the rookie crop. This is a good year for wide receivers (though next year is going to be even better) so options abound for the Patriots. It will be interesting to see who they go after. Here are your rankings:

1. Dez Bryant, Oklahoma State

2. Golden Tate, Notre Dame

3. Damian Williams, USC

4. Arrelious Benn, Illinois

5. Taylor Price, Ohio

6. Demaryius Thomas, Georgia Tech

7. Mike Williams, Syracuse

8. Riley Cooper, Florida

9. Mardy Gilyard, Cincinnati

10. Andre Roberts, The Citadel

11. Brandon LaFell, LSU

12. Jacoby Ford, Clemson

13. Marcus Easley, Connecticut

14. Carlton Mitchell, South Florida

15. Jordan Shipley, Texas

16. Dezmon Briscoe, Kansas

17. Stephen Williams, Toledo

18. Emmanuel Sanders, SMU

19. Blair White, Michigan State

20. Jeremy Williams, Tulane

21. Danario Alexander, Missouri

22. Chris McGaha, Arizona State

23. David Gettis, Baylor

24. Scott Long, Louisville

25. Kelton Tindal, Newberry

26. Alric Arnett, West Virginia

27. Eric Decker, Minnesota

28. Seyi Ajirotutu, Fresno State

29. Kyle Williams, Arizona State

30. Freddie Barnes, Bowling Green

This may be the deepest draft class for wide receivers in the past five years. There are least 7 more guys (Antonio Brown, Naaman Roosevelt, Bryan Anderson, Shay Hodge, Donald Jones, Brandon Banks and Jared Perry) that I think should be able to find a niche in the NFL should they get placed in the right system. However, that’s what happens sometimes: positions are deep some years and shallow other years.

Dez Bryant is the consensus number one wide receiver in this year's draft. // Image courtesy of Athlon Sports

Dez Bryant, my number one wide receiver, has everything Andre Johnson has. The speed. The hands. The ball skills. The strength. However, I’m shocked he is not running at his Pro Day, especially after skipping the Combine. I hate when players do this; it makes me question their dedication. This is the most important job interview of your life; you need to be as well-trained as possible. It’s not an excuse. Bryant is a special talent, and I think he’s a top 10 to 15 pick based on that. However, he needs to get his act together a little bit; hopefully he doesn’t take a page from Michael Crabtree’s book and hold out. Though Crabtree also didn’t run at the Combine, so Bryant may be playing copycat. Who knows.

Golden Tate is more impressive in shoulder pads than he is in shorts and a T-shirt (or, in his case, a ridiculous long sleeve skin-tight monstrosity that made him look like he was at least 15 pounds heavier than his actual weigh-in.) He does everything one would want out of a wide receiver, and if he falls to 22 I would not be averse to jumping on him. He reminds me a lot of Steve Smith with his compact frame, ability to get yards after the catch and speed, both deep and laterally. I think the Bengals could take him as well; I don’t see him slipping out of the first round.

The next two guys have very different strengths and weaknesses. Damian Williams is the safest bet in this draft. He runs crisp routes and has great hands. Also, he ran a lot better than expected in Indianapolis. However, there are doubts whether he can be a true number one receiver. Arrelious Benn, on the other hand, has the athletic ability to be a superstar. He just doesn’t understand the route tree and is lacking a little in the hands department. I have Williams over him by a little just because I think that Williams, if drafted late in the first round by a playoff team, could contribute right away as a number two and eventually become a number one wide receivers, a la Reggie Wayne. Both of these guys are good picks late in the first round, but Williams is slightly safer.

Taylor Price has the speed and the skillset to be a Patriot come April. // Image courtesy of saturdaysoundoff.blogspot.com

Taylor Price has been one of my three man-crushes in this year’s wide receiver class, the other two being Marcus Easley and Kelton Tindal. He is a potential number one receiver with good size, speed and hands. I’m smitten with his football sense, as well. I actually have him over the object of everyone else’s attention, Demaryius Thomas, for this very reason. Thomas is athletic, but raw as heck. I see Ashley Lelie/Rod Gardner/James Hardy/name big, fast receiver bust here. His hands are shaky and I’m not sure he can handle the mental part of the game. He’s certainly worth the risk if a team thinks they can develop him, but I wouldn’t expect any sort of instant impact from Thomas. He’ll fester on the bench for a few years and then maybe make his move.

Other Patriot-type prospects abound in this class. Andre Roberts, a little-known guy from The Citadel, is a Deion Branch-type. He has good speed, hands, and football sense. I could see the Patriots using a Round 2 or, maybe if he slips, a Round 4 pick on him. Marcus Easley is one of my favorite prospects this year. He only had one year of production at UCONN, but that was because the Huskies switched to a spread last season and were only able to truly utilize him once they got a new offensive coordinator. He is big (6′2) and fast (4.4 40). He was the leading receiver in Big East play this past season, and is a master of getting yards after the catch despite his size. The one area which may make him more tantalizing to the Patriots than other teams is his blocking ability. He reminds me of Hines Ward in this facet of the game. His hands need a little work, but for a fourth round flyer, the team could do much, much worse.

There are two other late draft sleepers to keep an eye on: David Gettis and Kelton Tindal. Both of these guys are here for one reason. They are fast as heck. Gettis is a former track star and Tindal is reputed to run a 4.2 40 at 6 foot 2. I think that, with one of the many seventh-round compensatory picks the Patriots may receive, a fast wide receiver could be a worthy risk.

So…who is the most likely Patriots prospect? I personally think that we hold off on going for a wide receiver in the first round, just because Tate and Bryant will not fall to 22. Therefore, I have my eyes on the third second round selection and Taylor Price out of Ohio. He seems like an ideal complement to Randy Moss and will allow the Patriots to stretch the field in ways that they have not done since 2007.

Imagine this five wide receiver set…Price is lined up on the far left, next to Welker. Reed/Tate, Edelman and Moss are on the other side. Who do you cover? To whom do you let Tom Brady throw the ball? The possibilities are endless.

The wide receiving core got a nice injection of youth last draft with Edelman and Tate. Here’s hoping they get another vaccine this year, except this time the result is a Super Bowl win.

- Ethan Hammerman

Jonathan Papelbon will be back in the closer spot this season, but the rest of the bullpen spots are still up for grabs. (Adam Weinrib/WBRU)

A slight chill whips around the cozy dimensions of Fenway Park. As evening creeps into night, the top of the 9^th is upon us in a tight game. Jogging in from right field to the strains of the Dropkick Murphys, with the same intense gaze he always sports, is Jonathan Papelbon to shut the door.

And that’s pretty much all we know for sure about the bullpen this year.

While the Red Sox bullpen is as stocked as ever with talented, electric arms, it’s hard to place each candidate in a specific role. You’ve got your fireballers, your young guns, and your crafty lefties. When all is said and done, however, this is how I believe it will all shake out (Pitchers listed in order of relevance; who would you go to first in an important situation before the ninth?).

Eighth-Inning Set-Up Man: Daniel Bard

I just don’t see it any other way. Bard has been too impressive so far in his young major league career to relegate to a less important role. He has also quickly made believers out of his coaching staff. Pitching coach John Farrell spoke with us at Spring Training about the differences between this year’s model, and the 2009 version of Daniel Bard:

He ended 2009 with a 3.65 ERA, to go with a sterling 63 strikeouts in only 49 innings. With Bard, there’s a chance you’ll see a 100 mph fastball leave his hand every time he rears back. There’s also a chance you’ll be completely fooled by his power slider in the dirt. That’s why he’s my eighth-inning guy this season, and my number one closer-of-the-future candidate.

While the Sox coaching staff is downplaying that notion with incumbent Jonathan Papelbon still around, Pap’s contract is up after this season, and he’s blatantly stated that, while he likes Boston, he’ll follow the money (maybe even to New York). Bard could step in next year with minimal adjustments necessary; he may have better raw stuff than Papelbon. However, a year as the set-up man will do wonders for him.

Seventh-Inning Arm: Hideki Okajima

Say what you will about Okie- he gets hitters out. It’s that simple. Whether it’s the element of deception he employs, as he whips his head towards third base, or his nasty change of pace, he gets the job done. That’s why he sticks in the seventh.

Manny Delcarmen is hopeful that he can establish himself in the Red Sox bullpen this season after a difficult 2009 campaign. (Courtesy of Providence Journal)

Manny Delcarmen:

Manny admits it- he hid an injury last year. He ended the season in godawful form, sporting an ERA over 14.00 in September. But he’s back now, and his fastball still lights up the charts. I pick him to be back on track this season. He’s straightened out his attitude, and he wants to grab this role. He’s got the inside track.

Ramon Ramirez (The one who was here last year):

Yes, it’s ridiculous to have to differentiate between Ramon Ramirez’, but this guy has an electric fastball and a mean streak. However, he doesn’t get the nod over Delcarmen, simply because Delcarmen is more polished. He sometimes has trouble finding the strike zone in key spots, like in Los Angeles during last year’s Division Series sweep. Ramirez posted a sterling 2.84 ERA last season, but his WHIP increased from 2008-09, meaning his control didn’t get any better. If he can harness his wild side, he’s a serious mound presence. Until then, he’s mired somewhere in the middle of the ‘pen.

Long Man: Tim Wakefield

This was my hardest decision to make, weighing the pros and cons of who would be more effective out of the pen, instead of in the rotation. Ultimately, I settled on Wakefield, even though he seems to think he’s definitely in the rotation. Also, he’s only a few wins away from the Red Sox’ all-time franchise wins record (currently held by Cy Young), so those of us who are sentimental want him in the rotation. However, think of the possibilities of Wakefield as the long man out of the ‘pen. The man, even at his advanced age (43 as the season begins) can still throw for days, and can quickly counteract a bad start by any other member of the rotation by throwing 4 or 5 innings, and saving the rest of the bullpen. I just don’t think Clay Buchholz brings the same swingman ability to the table.

The Rest of the ‘Pen:

Some changes have to be made here. Last year’s Sox rounded out the bullpen with two former closers, in nasty lefty Billy Wagner and former Dodger Takashi Saito. Now, with both of those guys headed to Atlanta, some space opens up for either some prospects, or vets trying to make a final impression.

Some of the candidates have serious major league experience, but I send a guy like Boof Bonser to Pawtucket and don’t even think twice about it. He’s a very good pitcher who the Twins should have considered giving a second chance to, but his value is in starting; send him down, and keep him in reserves for a midseason, fill-in start.

Some of the others need more minor league seasoning. Kyle Weiland out of Notre Dame is a guy with a whiplash-like release that I see being a nasty bullpen component someday, but not right now. Felix Doubront is close. For those of you who want Casey Kelly in the ‘pen right now (both of you), I say nay.

As of now, I’d give the final two spots in the bullpen to these guys:

Michael Bowden:

You heard me right. He’s proven he can start at the AAA level. He’s proven he can struggle in the majors. I know this. However, he’s changed his delivery this offseason. He’s coming at the hitter faster, and more deliberately, and I liked what I saw. He’s got the bulldog mentality that could prosper out of the bullpen, when asked to tackle tough situations. At least give him a chance.

Brian Shouse:

A second lefty! This gives him the inside track, in my opinion. He’s been effective over the course of his career with mostly Texas, and is an interesting pickup as a non-roster invitee. He’s been in the bigs for a while now, and he’s ready to step right in. Heck, he’s even pitched in Boston before (1998). If it doesn’t work out, there are always more lefties. This is just a start.

Randor!

Well, that’s it for now. But the bullpen is constantly changing. In fact, I’ve never seen a bullpen out of Spring Training that was the same even one month into the season, so don’t give up hope. If you want to see Randor Bierd in the mix because of his funny name, it could happen. If you want to see the other Ramon Ramirez in there just to confuse the heck out of PA announcers everywhere, so be it. This is what I think we’ll see, and every person I just mentioned is going to work their hardest over the course of the next month to prove that they belong. Only time will tell if I have any idea what I’m talking about or not.

Randor!

Providence's Jamine Peterson scores two of his game high 38 points on Seton Hall's Jordan Theodore. (AP Photo/Henny Ray Abrams)

Whoa. That finish was unexpected. Written off after a 16 point deficit heading into the first half, the PC Friars stormed back late in the second half, finishing the game just three points short of overtime. And they had the chance to tie it as Duke Mondy sprinted down the court with 7 seconds left down 109-106. All that coming after an unbelievable final minute in which the Friars crawled back thanks to missed free throw after missed throw for Seton Hall and aggressive drives by the PC gang. Alas, Mondy’s shot went long and the Friars will go home, while Seton Hall gets a chance to grab a final spot in the NCAA tournament. I’m still catching my breath. Here are your Friar Five Points:

[“Whoa ho ho. I don’t play defense.”] A classic Bill Murray line from the hit film Space Jam, and an even more relevant quote for the monstrosity of a game we just witnessed. These two teams broke all sorts of records with their outright refusal to play defense. With a final score of 109-106, Seton Hall and Providence crushed the previous Big East tournament record for most combined points in a non-overtime game (215). The previous record was 186, set in a 94-92 Boston College victory over Syracuse in the 1982 tournament. Neither of those teams even broke the century mark. Come on. PC’s 106 points were also the most by a losing team in a Big East Conference regulation game. And all 10 starters scored at least 12 points. To put that final score in perspective, it should be noted that earlier today, South Florida defeated DePaul by a score of 58-49 for a total of 107 points, less than HALF the total points scored in this game.
I do think everybody expected a game like this. Seton Hall and PC rank dead last in the Big East in scoring defense, with PC tearing up the competition with an average of 81.3 points allowed per game, and Seton Hall the runner up with 74.2. But those averages add up to total 155.5 points. This game eclipsed that average by 60 POINTS. Doesn’t hurt that Providence also ranks second in the Big East in scoring offense (81.6 PPG) with Seton Hall close behind in fourth (80.3 PPG).

[That’s just Greedy being Greedy] We knew there would be a lot of offense and we knew that Jamine Peterson would play a big role in creating that offense. Greedy has been flying under the radar on a weak team for the entirety of the season- barring a few appearances on Sportscenter Top Plays- but PC fans knew he wouldn’t pass up an opportunity to show off his abilities on a national stage in Madison Square Garden. Oh boy were we right. Mr. Double Double finished the game with an absurd 38 points and 16 rebounds (10 on the offensive side) before fouling out in the final minute. That’s the most ever points scored by a Friar in Big East tournament game, breaking the previous record of 34 by Friar legend Billy Donovan in the quarterfinal round of the 1987 tournament. It was also his 16th double-double of the season, more than any other Big East player. Greedy has been dominating the competition all season long, averaging 19.8 PPG (4th in the Big East) and 9.3 RPG (2nd in the Big East) against Big East competition, but this was without question his coming out party. Unfortunately, Greedy was going up against a formidable opponent in Seton Hall big man Herb Pope, who finished the game with 27 points and 11 rebounds, enough to lead the Pirates to victory.

[Comeback almost-kings] The Friars were down 16 points at halftime. They were down 29 points with 13:36 left in the game, and 17 with under 4 minutes left in the game. I think you’ll have to forgive some people if they headed for the subway early. But those final four minutes saw an extraordinary and entirely unlikely 23-9 run, complete with 3 Seton Hall turnovers in a span of 23 seconds, and 7 missed Pirate free throws, most notably the two missed by Jeff Robinson with 7 seconds left to give the Friars a chance. Seton Hall coach Bobby Gonzalez talked about the collapse after the game:

“You know, obviously we got out and played great. Believe it or not, and I know this is kind of a funny statement, you would rather by up 29 than down 29, but sometimes when you get up like that, it’s not easy to stay ahead in a game that long. “
While the comeback was improbable, this Friars team has shown time and time again that it can be capable of scoring at will when all is going according to plan. They’ve staged a number of incredible comebacks this season, albeit not in these circumstances and with such little time left to play. Coach Keno had never seen anything like it.

“No, I don’t. I’ve seen it on TV, though. I can remember a couple of games that you think of as your biggest comebacks. And usually those are teams on home courts where they are able to get it going. But I think that it says a lot about our team going forward and why a lot of the Providence fans have been so optimistic about our future.”

Head coach Keno Davis has had a rough season, but demonstrated confidence in his team and optimism for next season. (AP Photo/Henny Ray Abrams)

[Optimism] I’m optimistic about PC’s future. This game went from an embarrassment to the program to a moral victory and a message to the league. Providence is young and they’re only getting better. Sharaud Curry has played his last game in a Friar uniform, but Greedy Peterson is ready to take control in this league and Vincent Council was just named to the Big East All-Rookie team. Despair not, Friar faithful. This season was never intended to be one of Providence’s finest. The Friars will compete next year with junior Greedy, senior Marshon Brooks, sophomore  Council, sophomore Bilal Dixon, and possibly sophomore Duke Mondy. This team is only getting better and more experienced. Back me up, Keno.

“How are we the number one offensive rebounding team in the Big East? Because it’s all about effort. It’s about just go get the ball. Now, we’re not as good on the defensive end. We’re not as good on the defensive rebounding end. And because those things you have to learn. You have to learn positioning, you have to learn your weak-side help. Those things take time. And usually freshmen and sophomores in the Big East they learn from practice. They learn from watching the veterans do it. And they wait their time until they’re a junior or senior. The great thing for our young men is right now we’re at the program they’ve been able to jump right in and get first-hand experience. And I think if anything motivates players going in to an off-season, it’s getting a little bit of taste of success. A little bit of taste of the Big East Tournament of Madison Square Garden, about going up against the nation’s best and seeing what they can do to become one of the nation’s best.”

Dixon finished the game with a double-double of his own, totaling 16 points and 12 rebounds. And it seems he believes in this team as well.

“I always knew we had to play with effort. I just knew– I didn’t know we were going to show it. It took us a long time to show– to start playing hard. But when we did, look what happened. We cut a 30-point lead to three.”

[Fin] The Friars will not advance past the first round of the Big East tournament which they entered as the 15th seed, and they close the season on a disgraceful 11 game losing streak. A disappointing season by any standard. When Providence trailed by 27 in the second half, I was almost ready to say that Coach Keno was not the man to lead this team as it progresses and matures and likely turns into a contender in the Big East. But he says the right things and motivates his team to overcome the odds and fight back, as we saw tonight.

“These guys, I told them at halftime there would be nothing better for us to end our season or to make it go another year. Everything we’ve been through with the top teams, with tough shots that have gone against us, than to come back when there’s no pressure on us. Just play as hard as we can. And I think we did that.”
Keno clearly deserved that 2008 AP Basketball Coach of the Year award and with the right talent and an older team, he just might be able to lead this Providence team to great things. Let’s hope so.

Here’s to next year.

Courtesy of College Hoops Journal.

Few college basketball tournaments can claim the same type of history that the Big East tournament has. It first took place at Providence’s own Civic Center in 1980, but every year since 1983, it has taken place in early March in Madison Square Garden, one of the most historic locations in all of American sports. It is the longest running college basketball tournament at any one site in college basketball, at 27 years.

This year the tournament should provide a new chapter in this event’s storied past. In fact, this year the Big East is considered by many to be the most competitive conference in the country. Let’s start by looking at the top seeds in the bracket. With a 15-3 record in conference play, the Syracuse Orange are likely to receive a number one seed in the NCAA tournament next week. They were the clear top performer over the course of the Big East season, and they have to be the favorite in this tournament.

There are quite a few other contenders, though. West Virginia, Pittsburgh, and Villanova all finished the Big East regular season with 13-5 records and are looking to improve their NCAA seeding with championship performances in this tournament. West Virginia has looked especially strong as of late, with victories over ranked opponents Villanova and Georgetown. These three teams, along with the aforementioned Syracuse Orange will receive automatic bids to the quarterfinals of the tournament. They have the luxury of watching what will assuredly be an exciting first few rounds of play without feeling any pressure themselves.

Four other teams received byes through the first round but will have to play their way into the quarterfinals. Those teams are the 5^th-seeded Marquette Golden Eagles, 6^th-seeded Louisville Cardinals, 7^th-seeded Notre Dame Fightin’ Irish, and the 8^th-seeded Georgetown Hoyas. While these four teams may not be favorites in this tournament, it would not be too big a surprise to see them make runs to the finals. Notre Dame has been especially hot as of late. They were once consider a long shot to make the NCAA tournament, but with a string of four consecutive victories against solid Big East opponents, they will likely have a bid in their hands on selection Sunday.

The remaining eight teams in the Big East are by no means pushovers, but any run past the quarterfinals for them would be a surprise. The first round games match up 9-seed South Florida against 16-seed Depaul, 10-seed Seton Hall against 15-seed Providence, 11-seed Cincinnati against 14-seed Rutgers, and 12-seed UConn against 13-seed St. John’s.

To me, the most exciting game of those four is that between the Seton Hall Pirates and PC. They played in a recent game at the Dunkin Donuts Center, and PC was simply out-classed. However, I think that the Friars will be looking for revenge in this game. Additionally, Seton Hall feels a great deal of pressure to put together a deep tournament run and perhaps salvage a last-ditch chance to gain a berth in the big dance.

Another team to watch is UConn. Though they are seeded 12^th, they are likely a more legitimate threat than seeds nine through eleven. Their 7-11 record in Big East play is pretty abysmal, but recent victories over stalwarts West Virginia and Villanova have proven that they can play with anybody in this league. Plus, in their only encounter with St. John’s this year, they walked away with a 16-point victory. Without further ado, I will give you my players to watch in the Big East tournament, and I will make some educated guesses about the end result.

Players to watch:

-          Luke Harangody, Notre Dame

There’s no doubt about it – when the Fighting Irish play, all offense goes through Mr. Harangody. When he’s on fire, the team does well. He came back from injury against Marquette and provided a much-needed lift in a 63-60 OT victory on Marquette’s home floor. If he gets in an offensive rhythm, Notre Dame could be a threat to make a deep run.

-          Jamine Peterson, PC

Jamine Peterson can jump. Courtesy of grfx.cstv.com.

This tournament could be Peterson’s coming-out party. His Big East foes know just how strong a player he is, but the national audience is not yet exposed to his sometimes eye-popping athletic abilities. If Peterson performs well against Seton Hall and leads the Friars to a second round encounter with Notre Dame, he could join the discussion of next year’s best all-around Big East players.

-          Scottie Reynolds, Villanova

Reynolds has already established himself as one of the nation’s best clutch players and truly great all-around players. His shooting prowess is nothing short of amazing, as he makes at least one of those “Did that actually just go in?” shots a game. Like Harangody, when Reynolds is feeling his shot, the Wildcats tend to do good things.

-          Austin Freeman, Georgetown

The Hoyas have put together a solid team this year, and there are many players that deserve credit for that. Greg Monroe, in my opinion, is the only one who has received enough attention. It seems that ESPN loves to cover big guys like Monroe, but they often forget about incredibly skilled guards like Freeman. Freeman is one of the best shooters in the league, with a 47.9% three-point percentage, and he is leading the Hoyas in scoring despite the presence of stars like Monroe and Chris Wright.

-          Darius Johnson-Odom, Marquette

DJO, as fans like to call him, was seen as a surprise by many basketball fans this season. This is his first year in Division One basketball, as he spent a year at Hutchinson community college. However, DJO has division one game. He has proven that by shooting 47.5% from the three-point line and helping Marquette become arguably the biggest surprise of the Big East season. If it weren’t for conference player of the year contender Wesley Johnson of Syracuse, he might be considered Newcomer of the Year in the conference.

Tournament Predictions:

First Round:

-          (9) South Florida vs. (16) Depaul

Depaul has only put one victory on the board the entire Big East conference season. I don’t see that changing. USF

-          (10) Seton Hall vs. (15) Providence

The Friars may have put together a less than stellar 4-14 mark in Big East play, but I think that Jamine Peterson steps up his game and puts together an upset victory for PC. Providence

-          (11) Cincinnati vs. (14) Rutgers

Cincinnati may no longer be in bubble discussions for the NCAA tournament, but I think that they put together a win against a sub-par Rutgers squad. Cincy

-          (12) UConn vs. (13) St. John’s

It’s amazing that a team with as much talent as UConn is the 12^th seed in this tournament. Look for them to win, but it will be a closer game than many think as St. John’s has the ability to keep games close. UConn

Second Round:

-          (5) Marquette vs. (12) UConn

This is one of the toughest games to call in the tournament. Both of these teams have a great deal to play for. MU may not be on the bubble, but they don’t want to make the selection committee’s decision difficult. Plus, they want to improve their seeding as much as possible. UConn, on the other hand, needs this win if they are to maintain any tournament hopes. In a down-to-the-wire game, I think Marquette walks away with another close victory to add to their three recent overtime wins. MU

-          (6) Louisville vs. (11) Cincinnati

Cincinnati does not have the firepower to stay in a game with Louisville. Louisville also is the defending champion of this tournament, and they know how to win under pressure. Louisville

-          (7) Notre Dame vs. (15) Providence

I was ambitious picking PC in an upset over Seton Hall, but I think their run ends here. Notre Dame is riding a hot streak, and the return of Luke Harangody is a development that will be vital to their postseason success. ND

-          (8) Georgetown vs. (9) South Florida

Georgetown finished the game in relatively poor fashion with double-digit losses to Notre Dame and South Florida before salvaging a win against Cincinnati. A win against South Florida would go a long way towards receiving a good seed in the NCAAs. USF has been a major positive surprise in the Big East this season. They had been a bottom-feeder since their inclusion in the league, but this year they put together a .500 record. I think they duplicate their win from earlier this season at Georgetown, with star Dominique Jones putting together a big night, in what many will consider a big upset for the Bulls. USF

Quarterfinals:

-          (1) Syracuse vs. (9) USF

Syracuse is one of the most purely talented teams in the country. They have firepower at virtually every position, plus the names of their players (Arinze…Scoop…need I say more?) are fantastic. Cuse

-          (2) Pittsburgh vs. (7) Notre Dame

Pittsburgh’s roster is not exactly loaded with experience, but Coach Jamie Dixon always finds a way to get his team ready around this time of year. Notre Dame’s hot streak ends here. Pitt

-          (3) West Virginia vs. (6) Louisville

On some nights, the West Virginia Mountaineers look like one of the top teams in the country. On others, like their startling double-digit loss to UConn in late February, they do not look like a title contender. This game could go either way, but I’m betting that Da’Sean Butler and Devin Ebanks combine to put together a winning effort for the Mountaineers. WVU

-          (4) Villanova vs. (5) Marquette

In a re-match of one of last year’s most memorable Big East Tournament games, these two teams will put together another barn-burner. Whether or not Marquette’s Lazar Hayward can get into a shooting rhythm will largely dictate the result, but I think the guard play of Villanova will be too much for the Golden Eagles. Nova

Semifinals:

-          (1) Syracuse vs. (4) Villanova

These two teams will provide a compelling match-up that will make an enormous difference with regard to tournament seeding for the Wildcats. I feel that the Orange’s lack of postseason experience may hurt them, and I feel that Villanova will find a way to come out on top. Nova

-          (2) Pittsburgh vs. (3) West Virginia

The coaching match-up between Pitt’s Jamie Dixon and WVU’s Bob Huggins is compelling. Both of these teams finished 13-5 in Big East play. The result will most likely come down to whether West Virginia finds their shooting touch. Mostly because of my random gut feeling, as there is little else to separate the two teams, I’m taking the Mountaineers. WVU

Finals:

Will this be the scene in Philly after the Big East Tournament Finals? Courtesy of VUhoops.com.

-          (4) Villanova vs. (3) West Virginia

In my mind, these are the two most enjoyable teams to watch in the Big East. They each have a variety of scorers that can make game-changing plays. The guard play of Scottie Reynolds for Villanova versus the forward play of Da’Sean Butler and Devin Ebanks will be a classic battle of small vs. tall. When all’s said and done, I think that the Villanova Wildcats walk away with the Big East Championship title, and perhaps a number two seed in the NCAA tournament as well. Nova

Lex