Mad Crazy March...Madness

This weekend was full of great games, and if you missed them, kick yourself in the face! March is definitely off to a crazy start with some exciting comebacks and shocking upsets. Man I love college basketball. If this weekend's games are any indication of how sick nasty this year's tourney will be, then bring it on!

(6) Duke comeback victory over NC State, 87-86

Coach K almost had to wait another day for his 800th win, but never count out Duke. Doesn't matter th deficit or how sloppy they seem to be playing. A team like that seems to be able to turn it on at the drop of a dime, and that's exactly what they did when they came back to beat the Wolfpack. Down by 13 midway through the 2nd half, Jon Sheyer, DeMarcus Nelson and Kyle Singler came alive and eeked out the win. Congrats to

(2) UNC comeback win over Boston College, 90-80
BC Junior guard Tyrese Rice finished the game with a career high 46 points (34 in the 1st half), the 3rd most points an individual has scored against UNC - ever! But that wasn't enough - never underestimate the power of the Tar Heels! Tyler Hansbrough, in the running for player of the year, Wayne Ellington and Danny Green came up big. Both teams were amazing from the free throw line, a lost art form, and several teams could take some notes on how it's done. UNC shot 88%, hitting 23-26 and BC hit 17-23.

(1) Tennessee barely beat Kentucky, 63-60
Technically they're still the top team, but come Monday they will be #1 no more! But thanks to this won over Kentucky, they won't fall too far. Tennessee has a great starting lineup with Chris Lofton, Wayne Chism and the Smiths, JaJuan, Tyler and Ramar. Kentucky looked good after losing their 6'8" star freshman, Patrick Patterson, to a stress fracture in his ankle. Patterson averaged 16.4 points and 7.7 assists. You wouldn't have known it the way Kentucky played. They were down in the first half and even took a lead in the 2nd, but they couldn't hold off one of the top teams in the country.

(15) Michigan State stomped (12) Indiana, 103-74

And I mean STOMPED! The score was 59-31 at the half with Michigan State shooting 78%. It was one of those games where everything seemed to favor the Spartans who drained 9 threes in the 1st half. The Hoosiers could barely find the basket, and they had way too many turnovers. They won their first 2 games since losing head coach Kelvin Sampson but got whipped (pronounce the h) by the boys in green. This was MSU's last home game and they finished the season undefeated in East Lansing. Drew Neitzel, one of 2 seniors on the team, had 17 in his final home game. Even the fans scored a victory, with them all getting free tacos since MSU scored at least 70 points.

(5) Texas lost @ Texas Tech, 83-80

Ooh, talk about an upset! 16-12 Texas Tech beat 24-5 Texas in one of the biggest shockers of the weekend. I must say though, I'm happy for TTech's head coach, Pat Knight. He has some humungous shoes to fill since replacing his father Bob, who retired in February. People were skeptical of the younger Knight's decision to sign Alan Voskuil, a 6-3, 175 guard, but boy have they been surprised this season. Voskuil had 18 points in this . And the best player for Texas, DJ Augustin put up some major numbers, with 30 pts and 13 rebs, but that just wasn't enough. The Longhorns were on a roll, winning 8 straight before this loss to the Red Raiders. At one point, Texas was down by 13 points. The game was down to the wire in the final minutes, with the Longhorns down by 1 with mere seconds on the clock. But Tech held on for the win, and their fans rushed onto the court after the win. It was awesome to see.

Kansas State lost in (7) Kansas, 88-74

K-State handed the Jawhawks, then 20-0, their first loss of the season. Everyone was talking about Michael Beasley's comments about beating about beating Kansas again, and anywhere in the world. I know he's one of the top players in the NCAA, but he's still 19 years old! I thought he was joking around when he said the Wildcats would beat Kansas "in Africa" but as usual, most people in the media took the lines and ran far, far away with them. Instead, Beasley got in very early foul trouble, 2 in the first 2 minutes, and spent the rest of the game going in during K-State's offensive possessions, and back to the bench during the defensive possessions. I understand Coach Frank Martin not wanting Beasley to get into too much trouble and be limited come crunch time, but come on! Beasley is one of the top candidates for player of the year, and he proved why in a salty loss like this one. He finished strong with 39 points and 11 rebs, his 25th double-double of his freshman season. The kid is amazing, but the Wildcats have lost 4 in a row; they went from a top 25 ranking to a barely there bubble team. They need to get it together - fast. Relying solely on Beasley and sophomore standout Bill Walker has proved it can only take the Wildcats but so far.

**Note: These were the teams rankings going into these games. This weeks rankings were released today and several teams have shifted.

VOLUNTEEERing for that Number 1 Spot!

CONGRATS TO THE TENNESSEE VOLUNTEERS!!

If you haven't been watching much college basketball this season then you're kinda like me. I was engrossed, I mean LITERALLY enGROSSed in the NCAAF and NFL. I watched some basketball games here and there, but now that football season is over I have more time to focus. And at the perfect time if you ask me. The schedule has really heated up over the past month or two with the big dance just around the corner. Surprise teams excel atop the leader board, while some big names struggle to stay on the bubble.

Just in case you missed it, Memphis been ranked in the top 3 since the preseason, and #1 since the 11th week of the regular season. The Tigers reeled off 26 straight wins, the only undefeated left, and was looking to head into March Madness without a single loss. Instead, this past Saturday, Memphis suffered their first beating at the hands of then #2 Tennessee Volunteers. With a 25-2 record, Tennessee is now the unanimous #1 in all the polls. This is the first time in the schools history that they have ever held the top spot. Keep in mind the Vols haven't beaten a number one seed since 1969. Yeah folks, this is kind of a big deal.

See, this is why when I tell you guys about something you should just go with me. I wasn't home to watch the game, but I saw it in its ENTIRETY (including commercials - that you can fast forward through like TiVo) on ESPN 360. I know I talk about this a lot, but I know a great thing when I see one! The game will probably be on there for a few more days, so if you haven't seen the game, go...NOW!!

Back to the game! It started off like several other college games I've seen lately with both teams launching, and hitting, threes. I understand that the 3-point line in college is not as deep as in the NBA, but a lot of these college cats throw it up from damn near half-court. Don't sleep on the college trey game! These guys are pretty serious from behind the arc. The game went back and forth in the first half, but Tennessee really turned it on in the 2nd. The final minutes were tight, as you can tell by the final score 66-62 Volunteers.

Sure Memphis fell to Tennessee but it's only 1 loss. They went from #1 to #2, but there are only 4 games left in the season, vs. Tulsa, USM, SMU and UAB. With a 26-1 record, the Tigers can easily finish in second place barring any more losses.

And don't get it twisted, Tennessee is ballin in that number one spot right now, but the Vols still have 4 tough games left including Kentucky, Florida and USC. Actually, tonight they play 18th ranked Vanderbilt who is holding steady at 23-4. And Vandy's a tough place to play! The crowd is crazy and they've beaten the last 3 #1 teams that have come to Nashville. It ain't over yet!!

Let's not completely forget the other basketball team at Tennessee, the Lady Volunteers!! They've been dominant in women's basketball over the past few seasons. The Lady Vols share the same record, 25-2, and are ranked 3rd behind #1 UConn (26-1) and #2 UNC (25-2). They really seem to have a lot of fun there in Tenn. Maybe you guys remember Bruce Pearl, the head coach of the men's team, at a Lady Vols game shirtless and going crazy with the other student fans. The women's head coach Pat Summit also attended a men's game dressed as a cheerleader! Oh, those Volunteers...

I saw Memphis play LIVE back in November here in the City. They came to The Garden and played in the College Hoops Classic, Coaches vs. Cancer tournament. This was erie timing too, because at the same time freshman phenom Derrick Rose was on the cover of the latest ESPN Mag. Chris Douglas-Roberts, Robert Dozier, the whole crew. The Tigers had some key wins against Oklahoma (currently on the bubble @ 18-9) and Connecticut (now #15 @ 21-6) to win the tourney.

Troy Smith IS the Future!

You already know I'm a huge NCAAF fan. The colleges I applied to had to have 2 things; a good communications program and great Division I athletics. I ended up going to Northwestern University in Evanston, IL. Yes, I know, the athletics are not the highlight of the school, the academics are. But NU has one of the top communications programs in the country, and it's also a Big 10 school. So I was able to get the best of both worlds. Northwestern's football team is nicknamed the "Cardiac 'Cats," either because we win by the skin of our teeth, lose games in historic fashion or take games into OT. The Wildcats aren't all bad, but other Big 10 schools like Michigan and Ohio State have some great talent. I got to see several NFL players in the making first hand such as Chad Henne, Santonio Holmes, Luis Castillo, James Laurinaitis, Troy Smith, Tony Hunt, AJ Hawk, Braylon Edwards, Nick Mangold, Noah Herron, Paul Posluszny, Mike Nugent, Ted Ginn Jr., Steve Breaston, LaMarr Woodley, Erasmus James, Tamba Hali, Barry Cofield, Anthony Gonzalez, and many more.

Troy Smith was the outstanding QB behind led Ohio State's 12-0 record. During his senior season he completed 203 of 311 passes for 2542 yards and 30 TDs. He won the the Heisman in 2006, and also the Davey O'Brien Award which is given to the best college quarterback. He took OSU all the way to the end, but lost the BCS Championship game to Florida 41-14. Well, for various reasons, including the beating the Gators put on him, his stock plummeted before the draft and he went at the end of the 5th round. The Baltimore Ravens picked him up, and if you ask me, they got a steal. His only drawback is that he's kinda short at 6 feet, but at 225 lbs he's an elusive power runner with a great arm.

At the beginning of the season, he was the 3rd string QB, behind Steve McNair and Kyle Boller. Steve McNair was knocked out for the season with shoulder injuries, and Smith moved up to backup. Now Boller is still reeling from the effects of a concussion, so my main man TROY SMITH will be starting Sunday vs. the Seattle Seahawks. Troy Smith has only played in the last 2 games, and a limited number of plays. In total, he was 8-16 for 82 yards and 1 rushing TD. He picked up his 1st career TD in his 1st game vs. the Colts on Dec. 9, and set up a game-tying drive to send the game vs. the Dolphins into overtime.

I think he has the potential to become a franchise QB, and I'm excited for a good showing. He'll definitely put up some nice numbers, in the air AND on the ground. I think he should be the starter in Baltimore, and with more reps during practice he'll have a better relationship with his offense, and he'll be more confident and comfortable on the field.

**BIG 10 LOVE**

CAP & JAP!! USC's Brinkley Twins

I read an article in ESPN Magazine (Double Takes, Sept. 24) about the Brinkley twins. 6'2", 257 LB Jasper (pictured right) and DE Casper, 6'2", 262 and older by one minute, play football for the University of South Carolina. The article was pretty standard, the bond twins share and quizzed them on how well they know each other. Each twin was asked questions separately and then they were brought back together compare answers. For the most part the guys were pretty accurate about surface stuff like favorite actor and dream date. There were 2 questions, however, that really got me. The first one was, What's the best thing your brother ever did for you? I guess it would be easy to talk about a great birthday present, or one pretending to be the other so he could make it with the other's girlfriend. (Yes I know, mind out of the gutter. But tell me you wouldn't try some very, very, very funny business if you had an identical twin!!) Instead, their answers were each about saving each other's lives. When they were younger, Jasper fell into a well and miraculously Casper came to his rescue and pulled him out. "Cap came and grabbed me and saved me. I would've died if it weren't for him." In their teens, Casper had a car battery explode on him, spraying all over his face. Jap sprang to his aid putting water on his face wiping the acid from his eyes. AAAAWWWW, how cute are they!!

The second question that stood out to me was when they were asked their biggest fears. Cap said he had no fears, while Jap said messing up his knee was atop his list of worries. "It seems like every person in their senior year gets hurt, and it's always the ACL." As you already know, I also have F.O.K. Yeah that's right a Fear of Knees, so I definitely feel him on that. So as per my usual Saturday, I plop myself in front of the TV and watch copious amounts of NCAA football. This past Saturday I watched a now 3-1 SC lose their first game, 28-16, against #2 ranked LSU. I was happy to get a look at the twins in action. Low and behold, Jap hurt his knee! He suffered a severe sprain in his right knee early in the game. How sick is that!?! His nightmare became a reality! He was injured on the Gamecocks second offensive drive in the 1st quarter. He attempted to come back later in the game wearing a knee brace, but realizing that his production was limited and the pain being too severe he finally left the game for good. Cap said at first his brother only thought he had a "little bump on the knee. But after the game he was in so much pain, he knew it was serious."

Jasper had successful surgery on Wednesday to reattach the separated ligament, and rehab for this type of injury/surgery is about 3 months. So yes, Jap is done for the season. He is the premier linebacker for the Gamecocks, and led them last year with 107 tackles, more than twice as many as the next leading defender. So far this season he's had 21 tackles, 15 solo, with 2 interceptions. Not only that, but before the season started Jap's name was on the watch list for the Lombardi & Butkus awards which are given to the best collegiate LBs. He is also the only SC player named in the preseason to the All-SEC first-team. Both brothers have been praised for their leadership skills, on and off the field. The sad thing about this situation is that the twins and a few other seniors came back this season to help lead SC to a championship year. With his 2007 season over, Jap is focused on plans for next year. No longer contemplating the 2008 NFL Draft, he plans to petition for a medical redshirt, which will allow him to play for SC next year. Cap had this to say about his bro's 2008 season, "He's dead set on coming back next year, fulfilling his whole season. He's very excited about having another chance to come back and play his whole year." This redshirt will give him another year of NCAA Football to show scouts and teams that his knee injury has no long lasting effects and he can still be a force in the NFL.

I like these brothers. I wish Cap all the best in his senior year, and Jap all the best with rehabbing. They've spent their whole lives together, in the same place at the same time. It'll be interesting to see how they both get along being separated.

THE Best Weekend of the Summer!!

Starting today I'm back on my grind. This summer has been great, but for me it's pretty much over since I have to get back to work. But thank God for friends!! I've done more in the past 3 days than I have in the past 3 months! This was the best weekend I've had all summer, and the perfect way to send myself off into the real world. But trust me when I say, this weekend was a fairytale. All plans fell right into place and it was awesome!

Friday, 8.24 - The 2nd Annual Boost Mobile Elite 24 Hoops Classic at Rucker park in Harlem. Introducing us to the latest batch of talented ballers, and showin the youngins to how we do it at The Rucker! In a year or 2 all of these guys will be playing for top NCAA basketball teams, and rockin March Madness. HARD. BODY.

Saturday, 8.25 - Ball 4 Real block party and game at Madison Square Garden. They've branched off of AND 1, and these guys are still throwin it down. 1/2 Man, Main Event, Special FX, Spyda, AO, Pharmacist & Mr. 720! The flashiest, craziest, sexiest high-flying dunks and alley oops you'll ever see! Congratulations to Pat Da Rock on becoming the newest addition to the Ball 4 Real roster, and winning $100,000. #27 baby, gotta love it!

Sunday, 8.26 - The 10th Annual Black August concert @ The Nokia Theatre in Times Square. Common, Mos Def, Talib Kweli, Dead Prez, DJ Evil Dee & DJ D-Nice, M1 Hosting. Malcolm X Grassroots Movement, Hands Off Assata Shakur. Raising social consciousness and awareness to the struggles we still face in this world. The next phase of the revolution. And the after party at Arena?! Bananas!

I would like to thank everyone who came together and helped make this amazing weekend possible. Shout out to my girl Skrilla!! Always in the mix! Jay-Vo, girl you held me DOWN! Ride or die homie! Big Cease stay openin doors!! Al, even though you did me dirty in the end you got me right.