#1: Gonzaga (61) V. West Virginia (58) (Sweet 16)

One of my three brackets had those dang Mountaineers winning the whole thing. And If they would have, I would have looked like an NCAA genius. Alas, the term “Would have” was used twice in that last sentence. A defensive battle through and through, these two teams relied on their ability to create turnovers and hit shots from outside the paint. The Bulldogs started to pull away midway through the second half, but Jevon Carter hit crucial shots to pull the Mountaineers close,

and even in the lead late. Gonzaga remained unfazed as they have been the whole year under Head Coach Mark Few, and Jordan Mathews hit the dagger 3 in the end. It was so refreshing to watch a college basketball game that relied so heavily on defense yet remained so close. Even though West Virginia out rebounded Gonzaga 41-34, They only shot 27% from the field. Yikes. That’s not a winning formula. Yet, they remained close the whole game. This was a classic nail-biter the whole way, and a true test for the Bulldogs.

#2 South Carolina (88) V. Duke (81) (Round of 32)

The surprise team of the bracket, South Carolina, started paving their road to the final four with this win against ACC champions, Duke. This game was all about momentum. Duke had a 30-23 lead at halftime. Grayson Allen was leading his Blue Devils as to what seemed like a certain sweet sixteen bid, until Sindarius Thornwell got hot in the second half, leading a 65 point surge against the Blue Devils with 19 points of his own. Which, is the most points allowed in a single half by a Mike Krzyzewski-led team. The swing of momentum and shooting in the second half led to a fall from grace for Duke, who had an impressive end of the season. And although the Gamecocks fell to the aforementioned Bulldogs, their run was a true testament as to how unexpected the month of March can really be.

#3 Xavier (73) V. Arizona (71) (Sweet 16)

The #11 Musketeers were the cinderella story of this year. They beat #6 Maryland and then went on to vaporize #3 Florida State. After those two tests of strength, Xavier met against the #2 Wildcats, who were favorites to not only win the game, but make it to the final four. This game, like most on this list, was close until the bitter end. Trevon Bluiett led Xavier with 25 points and was 9/17 from the field. But what made this game so interesting to watch were the final 45 seconds. Where Sean O’mara got one of the most beautiful passes I have ever seen to score down low to put the Musketeers up by two. After a missed shot and 20 seconds off the clock, O’Mara had the chance to be the hero once more, by

going to the line to put Xavier up by 4 and end the game. He, however, failed to make his first and only free throw, giving Arizona a chance to score. After passes galore from the Wildcats, Allonzo Trier missed his last shot of the tournament, propelling #11 Xavier to the Elite Eight. It was a crazy one to watch, and a bracket-buster for sure.

Honorable Mentions:

Oregon (69) V. Michigan (68) (Sweet 16)

North Carolina (75) V. Kentucky (73) (Elite Eight)

Wisconsin (65) V. Villanova (62) (Round of 32)

#4 Florida (84) V. Wisconsin (83) ( Sweet 16)

It what was arguably the most exciting last 3 minutes of the tournament, the Wisconsin Badgers and Florida Gators matched up in a sweet sixteen game that will not be soon forgotten. After a pretty even 1st half, both teams seemed to be in a good position to take the reins and lead the game away from the other team. Florida was that team. They came out with a high-energy attack that left Virginia in the dust in their Round of 32 victory. Playing fast, smart basketball is what Florida does best. Up 68-56 with 5 minutes to go is almost always a death sentence. Not for the Badgers. Creating turnovers and capitalizing on them was Wisconsin’s way of letting the world that they’re still kicking, and not going down without a fight. Zak Showalter became the hero for the entire state of Wisconsin after his incredibly awkward 3-point shot with 3 seconds left in the game. Sending the what was sure to be over game into overtime.

There, Wisconsin rode the momentum given to them by Showalter and jumped ahead. With the score being 80-75 with one minute left, the Gators seemed all but finished. But, they call it March Madness for a reason. Just like the Badgers before them, the Gators capitalized on Badger mistakes, bringing the game within 2 with a few seconds to go. And, like Zak Showalter before him, Chris Chiozza hit his mark at the buzzer. Forever enshrining himself in Gainesville basketball legend.

Excitement comes in the strangest of forms

Thinking about March Madness is well, maddening. The odds of a perfect bracket are so astronomically improbable, you might as well figure yourself a football playing king in space. With a mustache. Picking teams that you are likely not connected to in any way aside from, “I need the Tar Heels to win because Janice from Accounting has the Wildcats winning. And I want Janice’s money.” The typical affair. And these picks make our heads hurt when they lose, or our hearts light when the win. It’s all about being alive and experiencing the wonder of sport. Being a fan even if it is only for one month. And if this year taught us anything, the Madness won’t stop anytime soon.

The post After the Madness: A Story of Broken Brackets appeared first on KRUI Radio.

1. A dark horse has to have better odds than slim-to-none
2. Must have a winnable path to the title
3. Under the radar
4. Irrelevant from the past 5 years, yet prevalent and “good” today

With all of these Criteria, there is a team in each conference that would fit perfectly into the dark horse category.

Like Louis Armstrong, I’m going with the Jazz

Back in the heyday of Salt Lake City basketball, there were two men who led the charge against a great Bulls Dynasty. Karl Malone and John Stockton were at the epoch of basketball in the western conference in the mid-90’s. Now, great basketball has returned to the Beehive state, and the Vivint Smart Home Arena couldn’t be happier. The Jazz have had an awakening of sorts this year. Jumping from 9th in the west to now 4th today is no easy task. To surpass teams like the Clippers, Thunder and Grizzlies is remarkable, to say the least. Their big “Crutch” is their defense. Currently ranked 3rd in the NBA in efficiency and 1st in total points scored against them (96.4), The Jazz have their defense to thank. In a Western Conference where offensive battles rage between teams like Houston, Golden State and OKC, Utah can suppress and contain these high octane teams like no other team in the west.

The probable path for the Utah Jazz is as follows: Vs. #5 Clippers Vs. #1 Warriors Vs. #2 Spurs Vs. #1 Cavaliers. Taking this one series at a time, The Utah Jazz have struggled mightily with the Clippers. Only winning one of 4 matchups. However, the answer to beating them is clear-cut and very achievable. The Jazz have only scored 95 points or less in the three losses (two games with only 73). Their win had them posting a cool 114. If Utah’s offense can be as potent as their defense, The Clippers don’t have enough help on the defensive end of the court to beat the Jazz. The

Warriors, however, seem to have it all. Superstars, Offense, Defense, Coaching. It’s seriously going to be a handful. The Warriors have so far won all of the games of this season series. Winning one in overtime, they have held the Jazz to under 100 each game. However, Kevin Durant was healthy and a huge factor in each of those games. If the Jazz catch a banged up Warriors and continue their offensive momentum from the Clippers series, We could see the former western conference champions fall. Finally, the San Antonio Spurs. Gregg Popovich is no stranger to the NBA playoffs. His coaching style as well as respect earned over the years is unmatched by anyone in the NBA today. This year was another testament to how well the Spurs are as a franchise. Bringing San Antonio a trophy every so often makes being a Spurs fan all the easier. The Utah Jazz are in a Western Conference that is jam-packed with talent and great teams, but if they can beat the Clippers and Warriors, the Spurs are just another rock in the road. The Jazz and spurs split the two games they’ve played this season, and they have two more. The style of play for these two teams is similar, protect the rim and don’t forget the fundamentals. With both teams ranking high in defensive efficiency, it will come down to if Rudy Gobert can win his matchup versus Pau Gasol and LaMarcus Aldridge.  The games between these two teams will be won and lost in the paint.

David Vs. Goliath

In the case of the Jazz versus the probable eastern conference champions, Cleveland Cavaliers, no odds are greater than these. LeBron James with his merry band of players are the biggest powerhouse in the east. And probably, in the NBA. The Cavs have had a rough stretch as of late. Losing to Washington last night and an odd tailspin in the past 5 games, losing 3 and allowing 100+ points in every game. Utah’s defense is the clear-cut crutch for their team, and if LeBron and the Cavs can’t hold a mediocre offense under 100, they won’t be able to score a ridiculous amount on the Utah defense. Not to mention LeBron has not won in Utah since 2011.

Nothing Short of a Miracle

Not since the 1994 Houston Rockets with Hakeem Olajuwon has a team lower than a third seed win the NBA Championship. And really, to be

honest, there is a great chance that we will have a Golden State-Cleveland championship once again. That’s just what the league has been trending towards. It’s exhilarating, however, to see a team like the Utah Jazz, who have not been a serious playoff contender since the days of the Mailman Karl Malone. Utah is the one team I would hitch my wagon to if not Cleveland or Golden State. These playoffs will be fun to watch, and if Katy Perry tells us anything, don’t underestimate that dark horse.  

The post My Dark Horse for the 2016-17 NBA Playoffs appeared first on KRUI Radio.

#1: Leonard Fournette (LSU)- Pete Wheeler 

Leonard Fournette wowed us all with his amazing rushing title in 2015. His speed and ability to maneuver around blockers should not and will not go unnoticed by teams this year. His 6.5 YPC is an amazing tool for teams to have. 1st down carries for chunk yardage are omni-important if a team is looking to come out on top. Well, LeonardFournette reminds me of a young man from the video game named Pete Wheeler. A dominant running back with lightning-quick speed and moves that can turn heads and break ankles, Wheeler is the best running back in the game. His legs churn and churn for every yard he can muster. He gives his team his all, and I’m all but certain Leonard Fournette will do the same.

#2: Malik Hooker (OSU)- Lisa Crockett

Easy, the top-ranked safety according to CBS.com has to be paired with the best safety in Backyard Football. With 7 interceptions (including one against Clemson in the CFP Semi-Final), Malik Hooker is a shark in the deep blue ocean

that is the Secondary. His decision-making, as well as his vision of the field, makes him a looming threat. Instinctual and hard-hitting, Hooker will make any defensive coordinator sweat a little less. As I begin to write about his comparison, my heart beats a little faster, my hair starts to stand on end, my legs begin to tremble. Lisa “show me the money” Crockett is not just a force to be reckoned with. She is THE force. Offenses have reported punting on first down. Only as to not further her already tremendous power. Every step she takes is an earthquake in the neighborhood. Every time she breathes, a tornado begins to whirl in the skies above. Malik Hooker is a great safety, but making a comparison to Lisa “dead or alive” Crockett is foolish, to say the least.

#3 C.J. Beathard (Iowa)- Tony Delvecchio

 Two guys that are all about heart and have cannon arms. C.J. and Tony are truly two guys cut from the same cloth. C.J. is an Iowa boy who just loves to play football. His 2015 campaign at Iowa was nothing short of Magical. With 17 touchdowns and only 5 INT’s, it was the best season for a quarterback in recent Iowa memory. His ability to find the open receiver well outside the pocket. 57% of the time, in fact. He is also a team leader in the locker room and on the field. Just like his counterpart, Tony. Tony is one of the better Quarterbacks in the game. His speed isn’t his greatest strength, but it is made up for in accuracy and power of his arm. Tony doesn’t take too kindly to rowdy teammates. He runs a well-disciplined team with only the coolest kids on the block.

#4 Jabrill Peppers (Michigan)- Pablo Sanchez

Jack of all trades. Swiss Army Knife. Superman. All of these descriptors can apply to Jabrill Peppers and Pablo Sanchez. Jabrill Peppers was a Wolverine who could do it all. Cover, Rush, Run, Return, Catch, Pass, Block, And much much more, he was a fiend on the field. His greatest asset is his speed. The ability to dart around the field and make plays is undoubtedly one of the best a player can have. Peppers also leaves it all on the field. The way he makes hits reminds me of Jadeveon Clowney on the Houston Texans. But Peppers has the body of a safety. Which brings me to the franchise staple of all the “Backyard” games. Pablo Sanchez. With great all-around potential, Sanchez is an essential part to any team. He can do it all. It’s just up to the player to mold him into a more refined version of himself. He needs direction. Needs a leader. Give him a path and he will follow, with all of his production following close behind.

From the Backyard to the Big Stage

These young men are about to embark on a journey very few make it on. Their skills, work ethic, and support brought them to the NFL Draft. And they all have something different to prove. Whether it is bringing your eventual team a Lombardi Trophy, or an MVP plaque in their trophy case, each person has their goals. But one thing that these players and those in our virtual world have in common is that they need guidance. They’ve had great coaching in their schools, but the coaching staffs will need to take these players to that next level. And just like in Backyard Football, the kids cannot do it themselves.

The post Comparing the 2017 NFL Draft Class to 2002 Backyard Football Players appeared first on KRUI Radio.

Discipline

Here’s that pesky word again. Discipline. I’m going to avoid the tacky trope of putting an Oxford Dictionary definition of “Discipline”. Instead, numbers will do the defining. The Patriots had 4 penalties for 23 yards. Falcons had 9 for 65. And, arguably, the two biggest penalties of the game were committed by the Falcons on both sides of the ball. Remember the holding call after the 3rd and 23? Falcons were still well within Matt Bryant’s range, and they had a chance to inch closer for a more manageable Field Goal. Oops. Holding. 10 yards back and an incompletion later, the game is all but tied in Red-Hot Tom Brady’s hands. After the inevitable tying of the game, Atlanta gives Brady free yards with a long pass interference call. The pass was probably catchable and Bennett is a great tight end, but the foul cemented the game in New England’s favor. It isn’t about how the Referees missed calls, or made them in New England’s favor, It’s all about how the Falcons hold themselves as a team. Mistakes are critical, and they fell victim to their own miscues and fouls.

Time of Possession

A good formula to beating the Atlanta Falcons is to keep their offense off the field. New England did that and then some.

Time of possession wasn’t just tilted in the Patriots favor, it was the Patriots show for two-thirds of the game. With a 40:31-23.27 advantage, The Falcons can’t do as much damage as they did against the Packers or Seahawks. And it showed. The defense became tired and slow. Brady was able to hit 5 different targets on the game-tying drive and the Falcons defensive unit just had to endure it. When you’re going toe to toe with one of the greatest quarterbacks of all time, you need to make stops just often enough to give the MVP enough time to take his high-caliber offense up and down the field. And they came just short of that required time for Matt Ryan.

A Flip of a Coin

For those of you that have seen the movie “No Country for Old Men,” you understand the importance of the coin toss. I would have loved if Carl Cheffers looked at the Patriots and just said: “Call it.”

And in this case, it was also almost as if Matthew Slater had been “putting it forward” his entire life for this call. “Heads”. He had gotten it wrong at the beginning of the game. It didn’t matter, though. He got it right that time and so the Patriots were given an opportunity the Falcons weren’t. The Patriots defense had been stifling the best offense in the league for the better part of 2 quarters, but Matt Ryan would have gotten the ball and the chance to become immortalized. Do I think the Falcons would have done it? Possibly. But fate had it’s own path to follow. And it followed James White into the endzone to end the game.

No Conspiracies, Just Greatness

Tom Brady was handed the Lombardi Trophy by Commissioner Roger Goodell, and the world couldn’t be more right. I mean, the Atlanta Falcons were almost Super Bowl Champions! My absolute worst nightmare had almost become a reality. To agree with my “super smart analogy” that I started with, the Empire won. Matt Ryan flew into the trenches of the Death Star after the rebellion had had many victories before it, but then his supporting squadron was shot down by TIE Fighters due to their lack of discipline. Finally,

Tom Brady, the apprentice under Emperor Belichick, shot down the ship Matt was piloting and the rebellion was crushed. The Falcons will have another chance next year, but if I had a guess, the Empire will be here for as long as the chosen one is still there. And that’s okay.

The post Sometimes the Empire Wins, and that’s okay appeared first on KRUI Radio.

New England Patriots

Defense

I will begin with a basic fact. By the numbers, the Patriots have the best defense in the NFL. Only 15.6 pts/gm. A number that doesn’t stack up to all time great defenses, but still gives the high-octane offense enough breathing room to comfortably operate. With big names such as Malcolm Butler, Rob Ninkovich, and Patrick Chung, the Falcons are in for their toughest test yet. The matchup to watch is Julio Jones and Malcolm Butler. The high-flying Falcon versus the show-stopping Patriot. Sure, if Matt Patricia wants to play it safe, he will give Butler help in the secondary to cushion the impact of #11. This, however, may not be enough to stop Jones. The battle will be won and lost in the Patriots ability to get to Matt Ryan and stop the dynamic duo in the backfield. Pressures on, Patriots D.

History

As long as the opposing quarterback in the Super Bowl is not named “Eli Manning”, then the Belichick Patriots have done fairly well. Actually, really well. Perfect, that’s the word I was looking for. Beating teams spanning from Seattle to Charlotte, Belichick has ran the table. Atlanta could be that jewel in the south that he will add to his trophy case. Last year we were met with a similar situation; A surprise team from the NFC South with a surging offense go up against a team who has done it all before with a wily, declining quarterback who has done it all before. A team that had a sensational quarterback playing against an immovable defense. We all saw the MVP go down with a couple of blitzes and a couple of turnovers. If the Kubiak-led Broncos could do it, Belichick could do it and then some.

Discipline

Saying Bill Belichick is a disciplined coach would be a wild understatement. According to Footballdb.com, The Patriots are ranked 5th in total penalties this year. Falcons are ranked 12th. With a difference in 10 penalties on the year, that could be a make or break statistic in the end of the game. Looking at false starts, the Patriots have 17 to the Falcons 19.

That’s a whole 10 yards; Or maybe, a key 1st down. Last week against Green Bay, Atlanta had 2 red zone false starts. Patriots had none. This may seem like a nit-picky stat, however, the NFL puts forth the best Referees in the league. Referees with a trained eye and a hand on the flag. Maybe I’m over-exaggerating, but Seahawks fans remember how referees in a Super Bowl can change the tide. The Patriots have a great locker room culture and a discipline unmatched by any team in the NFL.

Atlanta Falcons

Julio Jones

Here is a list I compiled of all the receivers this year who have tallied over 300 yards in one game:

1. Julio Jones

   

Early Leads

One of the many things the Falcons have been known for this year is their ability to pounce ahead and take a lead. In 10 of their 13 wins, they have been able to jump ahead by 10 points or more. That’s domination. With their powerful offense never taking their foot off the throttle, they can use their multiple weapons to burn you with every play in their playbook. Kyle Shanahan has been able to use Matt Ryan and his accuracy in the playoffs so effectively, it is scary. After Jumping ahead 17-0 against Green Bay, I realized this offense operates with lightning-quick speeds and plays that are simple, yet effective.

The Man with the most ice in his veins since Mr. Freeze in Batman in Robin

Matty Ice. I never really liked that nickname. Or the phrase “Ice in his/her veins”. The phrase makes the person being discussed is cold, a loser, and doesn’t have a winning bone in their body. None of these, of course, describe Matt Ryan.

The odds on favorite to win MVP this year (#notmymvp) and NFC Champion, Ryan has certainly proved the critics wrong this year by finally winning more than one playoff game. He has been doing it in wonderful fashion as well. 117.3 rating 70% completion, 4944 Yards, 38 TDs and only 7 INTs! Hey, that’s pretty good! Not to mention he has yet to turn the ball over in the playoffs. Brady has twice. It will be a true test of character and skill for #2 going up against a defense that doesn’t bend or break. But with the help of one of an offense that could be described as a Swiss Army Knife, He has a good chance of getting his first ring

Tiebreaker

Running Backs: Advantage, Atlanta.

It’s rare to have two teams in the Super Bowl that have a pair of starting Running Backs each. Lewis and Blount lead New England’s rushing attack, while Freeman and Coleman run for Atlanta. While both sets of backs are incredible, the ability to catch out of the backfield that the Atlanta backs have is a substantial advantage. Both backs have over 400 yards of receiving. 400 Yards! That’s like having 2 Le’veon Bells on your roster! Not only that, Freeman has racked up 1079 rushing yards and Coleman has 520. On the New England offense, James White is the receiver out of the backfield. With 551 yards, he is someone to watch out for. Neither of the other two backs, however, have more than 100.

Another New Team in Canton

I cannot believe I am saying this, but the Atlanta Falcons will be Super Bowl 51 champions. For whoever listens to the NFL Rundown on KRUI, you know how much it hurts my heart to say this. For personal reasons and a sibling rivalry too long for a simple article, I cannot explain my dissatisfaction with the Falcons. They’re just too hot right now. Matt Ryan is playing on another level. Julio Jones is cementing his place in the HOF. The backfield of doom is playing up to immortal standards. And the defense is pulling together at the right time. Rise up, Atlanta.

Falcons 27, Patriots 23

Make sure to come back next week where I will recap my Superbowl picks!

The post Three Reasons Why Either Team Can Win The Super Bowl (And A Fourth For Who Will Win It) appeared first on KRUI Radio.