Hoops and Stuff

The First Round of the 2025 NCAAM Tournament has officially come to a close. We did not see a ton of upsets or drama but it was still an entertaining first two days! Here are some of my picks for the best performances of Thursday and Friday. Comment which teams and players impressed you and what you look forward to for the Round of 32! SOUTH REGION Best Team Performance Iowa State: The Cyclones suffocated the Lipscomb Bisons in their first round matchup, looking like the dominant team we saw early in the season. If Milan Momcilivic continues to play like this throughout the tournament, Iowa State is without a doubt a championship contender. Best Individual Performance Jamiya Neal , G, Creighton: 29pts, 12reb, 6ast, 68% FG Best Game Michigan (68) vs UC San Diego (65) Most Disappointing Performance Aniwaniwa Tait-Jones, G, UCSD:   The Big West Player of the Year simply could not figure out how to handle to size and physicality of the Wolverines. The 6'6" senior fouled out in 24...

 It's the best time of the year! We are hours removed from Selection Sunday and now have had some time to sit and think about the bracket and what some of the things that the committee revealed they valued are. In this post I am going to do a breakdown of each region and some of my initial thoughts and predictions about the bracket. Comment your thoughts, matchups you are looking forward to, and what players you are excited to watch!  It's March! SOUTH REGION OVERALL THOUGHTS The path to the Final Four seems to be relatively easy for the top two seeds, Auburn and Michigan State. I do not see many teams being a true threat to either of those teams right now. Some people worry about Auburn dropping 3 of their last 4, but those are all losses to other Sweet 16 type teams and it is never a good idea to bet against Izzo in March. North Carolina does not deserve to be in the tournament. Simply put their resume was not good enough with a 1-12 Q1 record. However, I do actually see a p...

The 2024-25 NFL Season has officially come to an end, which means it is time for the offseason talks to begin! Over the coming months we will know what teams will be targeting in the draft more and more, but here is my very first mock draft of the offseason! Let me know who you want your team to target in the draft! 2025 NFL FIRST ROUND Tennessee Titans: Cam Ward, QB, Miami Cleveland Browns: Abdul Carter, EDGE, Penn State New York Giants: Shedeur Sanders, QB, Colorado New England Patriots: Travis Hunter, CB/WR, Colorado Jacksonville Jaguars: Mason Graham, DT, Michigan Las Vegas Raiders: Ashton Jeanty, RB, Boise State New York Jets: Will Johnson, CB, Michigan Carolina Panthers: Tetairoa McMillan, WR, Arizona New Orleans Saints: Mykel Williams, EDGE, Georgia Chicago Bears: Will Campbell, OL, LSU San Francisco 49ers: Walter Nolen, DT, Ole Miss Dallas Cowboys: Mike Green, EDGE, Marshall Miami Dolphins:  Malaki Starks, S, Georgia Indianapolis Colts: James Pearce Jr, EDGE, Tennessee Atla...

 The unthinkable has just happened! The Dallas Mavericks have traded their potentially generational superstar, Luka Doncic, just half a season after he led them to the NBA Finals. I do not believe it is hyperbolic to say this is the most surprising and shocking sports news of my lifetime. I will be breaking down my thoughts on both sides of this trade. For there to be no rumors or mention of this happening is absolutely absurd! As more time passes I am sure I will have more (and more cohesive) thoughts but these are my pure and raw first reactions to the trade of a lifetime. Please comment your thoughts on this blockbuster down below! FULL TRADE DETAILS Los Angeles Lakers receive: Luka Doncic, Maxi Kleber, Markieff Morris Dallas Mavericks receive: Anthony Davis, Max Christie, 2029 1st Utah Jazz receive: Jalen Hood-Schifino, LAC 2025 2nd, DAL 2025 2nd DALLAS MAVERICKS      The most shocking thing here is that the Mavs APPROACHED the Lakers about trading Luka Doncic. O...

 Lottery odds simulated via Tankathon* Portland Trail Blazers: Cooper Flagg, F, Duke Utah Jazz: Dylan Harper, PG, Rutgers New Orleans Pelicans: Kasparas Jakucionis, G, Illinois Charlotte Hornets: Ace Bailey, W, Rutgers Washington Wizards: VJ Edgecombe, G/W, Baylor Toronto Raptors: Khaman Maluach, C, Duke Brooklyn Nets: Jeremiah Fears, PG, Oklahoma Oklahoma City Thunder: Asa Newell, F/C, Georgia Chicago Bulls: Tre Johnson, G, Texas San Antonio Spurs: Kon Knueppel, W, Duke Miami Heat: Labaron Philon, G, Alabama Golden State Warriors: Ben Saraf, G/W, Germany Houston Rockets: Derik Queen, C, Maryland Atlanta Hawks: Liam McNeeley, W, UConn Orlando Magic: Egor Demin, G/W, BYU San Antonio Spurs: Nolan Traore, PG, France Minnesota Timberwolves: Rasheer Fleming, W/F, Saint Joseph's Dallas Mavericks: Collin Murray-Boyles, F, South Carolina Utah Jazz: Danny Wolf, C, Michigan Indiana Pacers: Boogie Fland, G, Arkansas Oklahoma City Thunder: Noa Essengue, W/F, France Atlanta Hawks: Rocco Zikarsk...

The end of the regular season is here! It has been 18 weeks of thrilling storylines and tantalizing matchups! Rather than a typical weekly "Tuesday Takeaway" write up, this week we are doing something a little bit different. I have submitted my final power rankings for teams and positions, but more excitingly I have dropped what I would have voted for if I had any say for awards and the All-Pro team. (While I try my best to learn and am learning more about the positions weekly, I do not think I am knowledgable to accurately say which offensive lineman deserve the honor, which is why I opted to leave them off this post). I would love to hear what you guys think! Who would you vote for? Who got snubbed? What are some of your predictions for the playoffs? Please comment and let me know! Most Valuable Player:   Lamar Jackson, QB, Baltimore Offensive Player of the Year:  Ja'Marr Chase, WR, Cincinnati Defensive Player of the Year:  Pat Surtain II, CB, Denver Offensive Rookie of...