Vick vs. McCoy

Is the fact that Michael Vick beat LeSean McCoy in a race today more of a win for Vick or a loss for McCoy? To be honest with you, I'm torn on this one. As a Dallas Cowboys fan (I know everybody hates the Cowboys so save your ridicule), I want the Eagles to lose at everything. It is for this reason that I'm leaning towards it being a loss for McCoy. On the other hand, I have to give some props to Vick, because I would never have picked him in a race over LeSean, who has proven to be one of the more dominant running backs in the National Football League. On the other other hand, Michael Vick beats dogs. DOGS! I don't care how many years go by, that is one of those unforgivable crimes. I've never even had a dog, but I simply can't imagine hitting one. Sickening.

Final Decision: Loss for LeSean McCoy. He's got 10 years on you LeSean! You should smoke him!

Boston Bruins vs. Toronto Maple Leafs Playoff Series Preview

Tonight marks the first game of the postseason for the Boston Bruins, and Bs fans everywhere are gearing up for a long, grueling series with the Toronto Maple Leafs. The Bruins, who started the season with an impressive 19-4-3 record, saw a fairly severe collapse as the regular season came to a close. After March 16th, the Bruins posted an overall record of 9-13, finishing their last ten games with a record of three wins and seven losses.

The 2013 season has truly been a tale of two teams in Boston. When the Bruins are hot, there are very few teams that can match their offensive and defensive ability. When they're cold, they can make push overs look like the greatest teams in the league. That being said, the Maple Leafs are anything but push overs. With one of the best penalty kills in the NHL, the Bruins struggling power play is in for a steep challenge. Will the Bruins be able to right the ship and pull out a big series win against their fellow 'original six' member? Here are the keys to tonight's game:

1. Turn up the toughness:

The Boston Bruins are historically famous for their unrelenting toughness on the ice. One of the main reasons the Bruins have been such an streaky team this year is their apparent lack of hustle and physicality. The Bruins need to establish a clear and consistent physical presence on the forecheck and in their own defensive zone in order to gain an edge against a talented Toronto squad.

2. Production from the 2nd line:

The Bruins' second line has serious potential for post season greatness. With the superstar veteran/team leader in Patrice Bergeron at center and two of the more promising youngsters in Brad Marchand and Tyler Seguin on the wings, this line combines speed and finesse with a undeniable passion for winning. In the NHL playoffs, where hustle outweighs all else, these will be the line to watch in this series. Mark my words.

3. Tuuuuuuuukka Rask:

Tuukka Rask has been a consistent dominating force in the net for Boston. With an impressive 2.0 goals against average, Rask has been doing all the right things for the Bruins this year. He needs to carry these numbers into the post season in order to take some of the pressure off of the Bruins scorers.

Enosch Off The Hook

According to reports, prosecutors have dropped their case against UConn's 7'1" center Enosch Wolf. Wolf was arrested in February for a confrontation with a female UConn student. The incident began when Enosch refused to leave an on-campus apartment, leading to a physical altercation with the young woman. The list of charges included third-degree burglary, criminal trespassing, and disorderly conduct.

Wolf was sentenced to personal counseling while he awaited a secondary sentencing. According to Wolf's attorney, the results of the counseling were satisfying enough for prosecutors to drop all charges against the German big man. He still remains suspended from the UConn team, however I expect that suspension to be lifted soon as well.

While there will no doubt be some people who disagree with the decision to let Enosch off the hook, the fact of the matter is that we don't know what happened in that dorm room. All we can do is trust that the United States court system did its job and gave Wolf a punishment that fit the crime.

From a basketball standpoint, this is all good news for the Huskies. Enosch started to emerge as a reliable option in the front court before his season was cut short. After signing 6'11" Amida Brimah, the return of Wolf should give UConn a very intimidating front court next season.

Enosch has decided to continue with personal counseling on his own. He has also decided that he is going to focus on Final Exams, which are coming up in just two weeks. Unfortunately, that also means UConn's famed Spring Weekend is coming up in a few days. As a UConn fan, I really hope I don't come across Enosch doing anything he shouldn't be doing. Fingers crossed!

Husky History Countdown

I've spent the past month covering March Madness for On Campus Sports as a beat writer. It was difficult to write about the Big East Tournament and the field of 68, knowing that UConn wasn't a part of the discussion. To make things worse, I was selected as one of the top writers and assigned to provide exclusive Final Four coverage for the site. Guess which team I got stuck with. I felt as if I was selling my soul with every stat I researched and every compliment I paid to the dreaded Orange. All jokes aside, it was a great experience and I'm thankful for the opportunity.

Nevertheless, I feel like I need to balance the yin with the yang and correct the order of things by doing a good old fashioned Huskies post to purge myself of this Syracuse business. Much like I did for the OCS post, entitled "Getting to know the Final Four: Syracuse," I will do the same for UConn. That means ranking the top five teams and the top five players in Husky history. If I learned anything from the 'Cuse post it's that people are going to disagree with my list; quite passionately actually. There are so many players and teams to chose from that there is no way I won't leave someone off or put someone in the 'wrong' spot, by your standards. That being said, I can take a little negative feedback, so if you agree or disagree, feel free to voice your feelings in the comment section. As long as you're reading, I'm happy.


NCAA Tournament History

Overall record: 52-29 (31 appearances)

Sweet 16 appearances: 16 (1956, 1964, 1976, 1990, 1991, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1998, 1999, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2006, 2009 and 2011)

Final Four appearances: 4 (1999, 2004, 2009 and 2011)

National titles: 3 (1999, 2004 and 2011)


Five Greatest Teams

5. 2008-2009 Huskies (31-5 Final Four)

With arguably the best front court, back court pairing in UConn history, the '08-'09 Huskies can be counted among the top five teams of all time. While the rest of the country might not remember Jeff Adrien, UConn fans will never forget him. The perfect combination of power and enthusiasm, Adrien provided fans with excitement and statistical feats, alike. Hasheem Thabeet was the most dominant big man in the country, averaging an impressive 4.2 blocks per game. Together, Thabeet and Adrien averaged 13.6 PPG each and 10.8 and 9.8 rebounds, respectively. A.J. Price and Jerome Dyson provided 14.7 and 13.2 PPG, respectively. Add some solid minutes by Craig Austrie, Stanley Robinson, and a young Kemba Walker, and you're looking at a heck of a team. Did I mention the fact that they made it to the Final Four?

4. 1995-1996 Huskies (32-3 Sweet 16)

If the '08-'09 squad had the best front court, back court pairing in UConn history, then the 95-96 Huskies had the best pure back court of all time. Between averaging 23.4 and 16.0 PPG and shooting 46.6% and 40.6% from beyond the arch respectively, Ray Allen and Doron Sheffer struck fear into the hearts of opposing guards everywhere. Ray Allen's talent speaks for itself; well-remembered by UConn fans forevermore. Doron Sheffer was arguably more important to the talented '96 team than Ray, however. He averaged 1.86 steals and 6.06 assists per game. The '96 Huskies won the Big East Tournament and made it to the Sweet 16 before falling to #5 Mississippi State.

3. 1989-1990 Huskies (31-6 Elite Eight)

By all statistical accounts, the '89-'90 season is well-deserving of top five honors. Chris Smith, Nadav Henefeld, and Tate George were at their very best, averaging 17.2, 11.6, and 11.5 points respectively. The Huskies won 31 games leading to their first Big East regular season title and first Big East Tournament championship. The true significance of this season was the statement it made about the Jim Calhoun era. In Calhoun's first NCAA Tournament appearance, he made a dream run to the Elite Eight. The run featured one of the most memorable shots in UConn history, when Tate George hit a miraculous buzzer beater against Clemson. Due to its influence on the recruiting process, the '89-'90 season has a hand in every great season that followed.

2. 1998-1999 Huskies (34-2 National Champions)

1999 was certainly a year to remember in Storrs, CT. With the exception of two losses in February, the Huskies went undefeated. That includes a Big East regular season title and a Big East tournament championship. Most importantly, the Huskies won their first ever National Title, putting their mark on the history books forever. Richard Hamilton led the team in scoring. Kevin Freeman and Jake Voskuhl provided a strong presence down low. Khalid El-Amin served as a floor general, leading the team in assists. Ricky Moore provided productive minutes as well. Jim Calhoun won his first National Title, but it would not be his last.

1. 2003-2004 Huskies (33-6 National Champions)

The '03-'04 UConn squad is, in my opinion, the most talented group of Huskies to ever grace the court. Just look at the number of players that went on to play in the NBA. Seven of the fourteen players on the '04 roster moved on to the next level. The list of names hardly seems real. Emeka Okafor, Ben Gordon, Charlie Villanueva, Hilton Armstrong, Josh Boone, Denham Brown and Marcus Williams. Considering the fact that the third highest scorer on the team Rashad Anderson and assist leader Taliek Brown didn't go pro, the depth on this team was remarkable. With the exception of a 1 point Final Four victory over Duke, the '04 Huskies easily marched their way through their opponents, winning by an average of 13.3 PPG. Absolutely dominant. It's worth noting that the UConn Women won that year as well, making 2004 the only year that both the Men and Women's basketball teams from the same school have won a National Title.


Five Greatest Players

5. Kemba Walker, Guard, 2008-2011

Kemba Walker will forever be my favorite player in UConn history. I entered my freshman year of college the same time that Kemba did. My junior year, Kemba had the best individual season a
UConn player has ever had. I'll argue this one with anybody. Let's start with the stats, since they're the easiest to break down. Over his three years with UConn, Kemba improved from 8.9 PPG to 14.6 PPG to an impressive 23.5 PPG his junior year. He averaged 4.1 assists and 1.7 steals per game over the course of his career. He helped the Huskies to two Final Fours, winning it all in 2011. The intangibles are what make Kemba a shoe-in top five selection. Sure he won games, but it's all about how he won games. From countless buzzer beaters and end-of-game heroics to the idea that he was a clear leader on a team full of underclassmen, Kemba had more of an individual impact on his team than any other Husky, ever.

4. Chris Smith, Guard, 1988-1992

Chris Smith remains to be the Huskies' all time leading scorer with 2,145 career points. After averaging 9.9 PPG his Freshman year, Chris exploded with 17.2 PPG, 18.9 PPG and 21.2 PPG each year that followed. Smith's real impact on the Huskies, however, was his decision to come to Storrs in the first place. The outstanding performance by in-state recruits like Chris Smith and Scott Burrell allowed Calhoun to start going after top level out-of-state recruits. If it wasn't for Smith, we may never have gotten our next Husky on the list; an army brat with a particular knack for peeling off of a screen.

3. Ray Allen, Guard, 1993-1996

Ray Allen was an absolute beast at UConn. After only three years with the Huskies, Allen became the fourth highest scorer in program history. His freshman 12.6 PPG average jumped up to 21.1 and then 23.4 PPG his sophomore and junior year, respectively. He was a well rounded player, averaging 6.0 RPG, 2.4 APG, and 1.7 SPG. His true claim to fame, however, was his lights out three point shooting. His near perfect form is used as the textbook example of 'how you should shoot' a three. His career three point percentage of 44.8% is a school record, and he shot as well as 46.6% during his final season with the Huskies. Just like Chris Smith paved the way for Ray Allen, Ray Allen paved the way for the players who came after.

2. Richard Hamilton, Guard/Forward, 1996-1999

Ray Allen and Richard Hamilton are comparable on the stat sheet. His stats dip a bit in RPG (4.5) and SPG (1.3), compared to Allen, while his APG (2.6) are slightly higher. Hamilton is arguably the best scoring threat UConn has ever seen. His 2,036 career points rank him 2nd of all time, behind Chris Smith's 2,145 points. The craziest part is that Hamilton did it in three years versus Chris Smith's four. Hamilton put his greatest mark on UConn when he led them to their first National Championship in 1999. Jim Calhoun would go on to win two more in his tenure with the Huskies, but it all started with the Hamilton-led Huskies. If Rip is number 2, then who could be number 1?

1. Emeka Okafor, Center, 2001-2004

Emeka Okafor, of course! Granted, the 2012-2013 squad isn't the best example of such, but UConn is perhaps best known for their dominant big men. The list of great centers in Storrs starts and ends with the 6'10" Emeka Okafor. Okafor epitomizes what it means to be a Husky, graduating in three years with a degree in Accounting/Finance. Okafor averaged a double double over the course of his career with 13.8PPG and 10.6 RPG. He is the Huskies' all-time blocks leader with a career average of 4.3 BPG. Even the 7'3" Hasheem Thabeet, one of the Huskies greatest defensive Centers of all time, couldn't come close to Emeka's number with just 417 career blocks versus Okafor's 441. Okafor was the emotional leader for the Huskies in 2004, leading them to their second National Championship. Okafor was the best player on the best Huskies team. His rank at number 1 is an absolute no-brainer. Disagree? Give us your list below.

Sweet 16 Mortal Locks: Friday Night

Okay, so last night I offered some predictions that turned out to be not-so-accurate. Then again, going two for four in this bizzaro world that is the 2013 NCAA Tournament isn't all that bad. That being said, tonight is a completely different story. I am absolutely, 100% positive that every one of the following predictions is correct. I've personally spoke with each team, each coach, and even the allegedly racist Doug Gottlieb, in order to ensure that I am the most qualified person on the planet, to make these predictions. Go ahead and bet your children's college fund, your house, and whatever else you can gather up, because these picks are the definition of mortal locks! And if I'm wrong, you need to seriously reevaluate your life. I mean you're kid's tuition money? What's that about? You need help, man... Here are the picks!


Game 1: #12 Oregon vs. #1 Louisville

Game Time: 7:15
Winner: Louisville
Final Score: 78 - 63


Game 2: #4 Michigan vs. #1 Kansas

Game Time: 7:37
Winner: Michigan
Final Score 67 - 61


Game 3: #3 Michigan State vs. #2 Duke

Game Time: 9:45
Winner: Michigan State
Final Score: 74 - 72


Game 4: #15 FGCU vs. #3 Florida

Game Time: 9:57
Winner: FGCU
Final Score: 80 - 78


P.S. I hate Doug Gottlieb and absolutely hope he gets fired for reasons I will not get into right now. However, despite his comment being weird and awkward like the weird little awkward guy he is; it was is no way racist. Check the video below if you missed his comment.

(The White Man's Perspective)

Sweet 16 Mortal Locks: Thursday Night

For the sweet 16 and the elite 8, I will be providing predictions for each and every game. These are not guesses; these are answers. I assure you that every one of these picks will be correct! And if they're not, I reserve the right to edit the post, after the fact, so that you will never be able to prove it! Hahahahaha! Anyway, here goes.


Game 1: #3 Marquette vs. #2 Miami

Game Time: 7:15 ET
Winner: Miami Hurricanes
Final Score: 72 - 62


Game 2: #6 Arizona vs. #2 Ohio State

Game Time: 7:47 ET
Winner: Ohio State Buckeyes
Final Score: 80 - 78


Game 3: #4 Syracuse vs. #1 Indiana

Game Time: 9:45 ET
Winner: Syracuse Orange
Final Score: 76 - 70


Game 4: #13 La Salle vs. #9 Wichita State

Game Time: 10:17 ET
Winner: La Salle Explorers
Final Score: 77-74

Gavin Edwards - World Traveler (Interview)

With the first two play-in games over and done with, and the last two starting tonight at 6:40, the NCAA Tournament is officially under way. The 2012-2013 college basketball season is almost over and that means we'll be saying goodbye to the senior class and the student-athletes who have decided to leave early. For the players who declare for the NBA, we will see endless coverage on all media outlets over the next several months and throughout their careers. We also understand that most of the athletes will make a life for themselves doing something other than basketball and remain, in large part, out of the spotlight. But what about those former college players that have gone on to play the game they love professionally, but not in America?

If you're a UConn basketball fan, you no-doubt remember Gavin Edwards. The 6'10" Center from Gilbert, AZ served as the embodiment of Husky pride, using heart and hustle to improve from 6.5 minutes and 2.0 points per game to 30.4 minutes and 10.6 points per game. Since his UConn days, Edwards has traveled all over the world, playing everywhere from Korea to Greece. Gavin was nice enough to speak with Real Radio about what it was like to play for UConn and the various challenges that come with being an American basketball player over seas. Check it out!


What was it like playing under Hall of Fame coach, Jim Calhoun? What sort of relationship do you have with him now?

I will admit that I had a little bit of a tough time at first playing for Coach. I had heard all sorts of stories about how he was kind of crazy on the court during games and stuff, but nothing could really prepare me for how tough he was going to be on all his players. It took me a while to really realize that he doesn't do anything for no reason. Every time he yells at someone and looks like he is acting out, there is always some motive or reason for why he doing that. I think it was commonly known that I had a pretty short leash with him my first couple years, but I look back now and realize that he didn't really get the reaction that he wanted out of me when he would yell at me and pull me out of games after I had literally only been in a few seconds. Later in my career I found that I just had to play to make plays and not play to mess up, which is what I was doing in fear of him yanking me out of the game, which I think was one of the greatest things that I took away from playing at UConn. It kind of gives you a fearlessness that he kind of demands of his players. 


Kevin Ollie began coaching the year after you left. Based on what you've seen out of Ollie and what you know about Calhoun, how do you think this change in coaching style will pan out on the court?

Coach Calhoun and Coach Ollie's coaching styles are very different but they both demand the same thing of their players from what I have seen. Coach Calhoun is a very outspoken and in your face, no none sense type of coach. Where Coach Ollie is a little more nurturing. However, both coaches care deeply for their players and demand everything out of their players on the court. I think both coaches have been in situations where they have had all of the cards stacked against them but have still made best out of the situation and accomplished what most people outside the program didn't think was possible.


How closely did you follow the team this year (2012-2013)? What are your thoughts on the Big East realignment, the post-season ban, and how this team has responded to the various distractions put in front of them this season?

Being overseas I wasn't able to catch all of the games due to the time difference but I would watch games whenever I could. I thought this years team played hard every single game and had an unbelievable season considering all the odds that were against them. They were really a joy to watch, even I think most people really didn't expect much from them. It is really a shame that they had to serve the post season ban. I think they had a very good chance to make the tournament and make a great run. I don't think UConn was fairly punished with the post season ban at all. Although there may have been some academic shortcomings, I think that if every other University was investigated to the extent and prosecuted as UConn was, there would be a lot more major Universities hanging it up for the season before the tournament starts. Aside from all of the other distractions I think this years team fought hard every game and a lot of husky fans loved them for that and really enjoyed watching every game.


Can you give us a quick breakdown of where you have played basketball over the past few years?

My first year out of school I played in South Korea and the NBA D-League. My second year I played in Greece. This year I am playing in Malaysia. 


I assume that you are one of only a handful of Americans in all of these different countries. While I'm sure you love playing basketball for a living, are there any major difficulties with moving around so much and living over seas?

One of the hardest parts of playing overseas is pretty much just being away from your friends and family for so long. Most seasons players have to go through preseason on top of all of the games with whatever team they are playing for which adds a couple of months that you have to be gone. On average I would say most players are gone about 7-8 months out of the year. It is a lot easier now days with all of the technology, making it much easier to keep in touch with everyone but it still sucks not being able to be around for pretty much all of the major holidays and stuff. It is also hit and miss with the quality of life as well. Some countries are very westernized and have a good amount of "normal" food but other countries are very traditional and don't have a lot of food that we are used to eating.


I read in the Hartford Courant, that you came back to UConn to finish up your degree. Why did you feel it was important for you to do that?

I wanted to come back and get my degree because I really wanted to get my degree and the longer I put it off the less likely I was be motivated to come back and get it later on in life. One of the good things about being able to play still is that I pretty much have the whole summer to do whatever I want with, so that gives me a good chance to take the classes I need to graduate and still be able to workout for the upcoming season. 


In the same article, I read that due to the economic problems in Greece, you were at one point owed $30,000, but didn't expect to get it back anytime soon. Are you still waiting for that money, or has the problem resolved itself?

Yeah I am still waiting on that money. It is a pretty lengthy process in order to get the team to pay up. I basically have to take them to court with FIBA, which is governing body of basketball in the world. When the case is ruled in my favor, the team will have sanctions placed against them until they pay me all of the money that they owe me. That whole process can take years though so there is no telling when that could happen. 

I noticed, from your facebook, that you have very good taste in hip hop. As this is primarily a hip hop blog, what artists are you most high on recently, and what are your general feelings about the direction hip hop is heading lately?

The rappers that I have been listening to most recently are Kendrick Lamar, Joey Badass, Andre 3000, Action Bronson, Big K.R.I.T., Lupe Fiasco, Pusha T, Curren$y, Frank Ocean, Earl Sweatshirt, J. Cole, Jay Z, And Kanye. I think hip hop is headed in two very different directions. I think there are rappers who really take their craft seriously as musicians and artists, then there are the rappers that make music just for the money and fame. Unfortunately I think the rappers that most often go unnoticed are the rappers that are much nicer lyrically but don't have any big radio hits that gets them noticed by the casual fan that only knows someone if they are in the top 10 on iTunes. For Example I am a huge fan of Action Bronson but I think if you ask most people they would think Action Bronson was a 1970's movie star. There are rappers getting multimillion dollar record deals because they have one or two hot songs, when if you look at the body of work of some of the rappers I mentioned above, is in my opinion much better and more deserving of the money and help that is provided by the labels. I think there are without a doubt a good crop of artists that can take over and lead hip hop in a good direction, but I think a lot of that depends on whether a lot of them get the shine that they undoubtedly deserve.

(Edwards Dunking at the Greater Hartford Pro-Am)