Uconn's star

Shabazz Napier was instrumental in leading Uconn to the men's college basketball national title over a run-and-gun Kentucky squad. He became the first player in NCAA history to cut down the nets as both a freshman AND a senior. And while Kemba Walker carried that 2011 title team to an improbable tournament victory, Napier learned from Walker and has developed his game to be much like that of former teammate Walker. 

He has the automatic jump-shot that other Division I players can only dream of. And he's not just about scoring, he's constantly looking for an open man and/or an easy bucket. Napier will just randomly pull up from 30 feet away and effortlessly knock down a shot that not even Lebron James can hit %50 if the time.

 He's also actively involved on the defensive end. He has quick hands that make him excellent at pick-pocketing an unsuspecting ball-handler and getting an easy bucket. When it comes to who will be the best player out of this year's highly-anticipated NBA Draft, I've been riding the bandwagon of Syracuse freshman Point Guard Tyler Ennis all year. I'm also pretty high on Australian Point Guard Dante Exum. But when I watch Shabazz Napier play I see Stephen Curry. (Curry is the best-shooter in today's game for those of you who don't know.) 

Curry could also shoot from multiple feet behind the three-point line, and they both share a gift that cannot be taught: the ability to get the ball into the hands of an open man. Although Napier is currently projected to be a lottery pick, I'm hoping he'll miraculously slip down to my Pacers. But Napier hasn't always resembled Curry. 

In his freshman year, he averaged just 7.8 points per game. However, that same year he had an above-average 50.7 true-shooting percentage (which factors in two-pointers, three-pointers, and free throws.) That total increased over his sophomore and junior years and this year he is having a career year with a true-shooting percentage of 59.1 percent and a career-high 18 points per game. 

And another thing that he's benefited from is staying in college all four years. It's developed him into a much smarter, well-rounded player than he would have been if he'd left after his sophomore year. 

The bottom line is: forget about Jabari Parker. This guy is the most NBA-ready player in the draft. He could be the next Stephen Curry, and if not, he still looks like a safe bet to be a strong 6th man. 

In totally unrelated news: 

The Indiana Pacers have regained the lead over the Miami Heat for the East's coveted #1 seed  with just a few days left in the season.

What's this strange sensation I'm feeling? 

Is this...hope?!?! 

As excited as I am for my Pacers, with upcoming games @ Miami and vs. the Oklahoma City Thunder, they'll need to be at the top of their game to get home-court advantage throughout the Eastern Conference Playoffs. But  Coach Frank Vogel hasn't been able to find a way to get his team to play good basketball with any kind of consistency recently. He better figure something out before Friday night's clash with Miami, or it'll be another season down the drain in Indy. 

What are your thoughts on the article? Do you have any questions? Post your comments and/or questions!

News

NBA 

What's wrong with Indiana?

The Pacers were a seemingly insurmountable 3 games ahead of rival Miami Heat with 12 games to go and they led the tiebreaker as well. Then they lost to the Wizards in Washington, and the Heat easily handled the league-worst Bucks. Alright, I thought at the time, at least we still have a 2-game lead. I then wrote the article that I recently published about the game being on in the NBA between the two archenemies. Then Indiana dropped a third straight game to Cleveland (!), without star (and only All-Star) Kyrie Irving (!!!). Of course Miami responded by defeating the Raptors in Toronto. The Pacers then lost 101-77 to the San Antonio Spurs at home! As if on cue, Miami won again! After another Pacers loss was coupled with a Miami win, the Heat lead Indiana by 1-game going into the season's final week! And with upcoming games against the Thunder, and @ the Heat, the Pacers are in no condition to get back atop the East standings and snatch the #1 seed before the playoffs start. There's no way this Pacers team, especially in its current state, can BEAT THE HEAT in a best-of-seven playoff-series WITHOUT home-court advantage. (Sigh.) Goodbye season, goodbye...

NFL

The Houston Texans signed injury-prone former New York Giants Running Back to a 1-year deal. Brown should be a nice complimentary back to aging-star Arian Foster, who missed a large chunk of last season with a nagging knee-injury. The Giants opted not to re-sign Brown after they signed journeyman Rashad Jennings, who played solid last year for the Raiders when starter Darren McFadden, in a hope to solidify last years mediocre-is-an-overstatement running game along with David Wilson, who struggled with fumble-issues when he was healthy, and missed a lot of the season from a neck injury that team doctors say could come back to him at any given time. 

The Raiders have traded for former Texans Quarterback Matt Schaub and the 49ers have traded for former Jaguars Quarterback Blaine Gabbert. 

The Colts have re-signed Cornerback Vontae Davis, but they lost Running Back Donald Brown to the Chargers and Pro Bowl Safety Antoine Bethea to the 49ers. 

MLB 

Who cares? 

Actually, I actually watched an ENTIRE baseball game the other night. And by entire I mean the 7th, 8th, and 9th innings. 

Soccer 

The World Cup (my favorite sporting event) is coming in June! I can't wait! I'll have you covered with a preview of it when the time comes. 

#belgiumalltheway

Golf 

If you are a golf fan, you are reading the wrong blog. But if you ARE a golf fan and you ARE reading this, Tiger Woods has withdrawn from the prestigious Masters with a back injury. 

College Basketball 

The Uconn Huskies won the men's National Championship Monday. They defeated the Kentucky Wildcats. 

Sophomore Oklahoma State Point Guard Marcus Smart, Freshman Syracuse Point Guard Tyler Ennis, and Freshman Kansas Shooting Guard Andrew Wiggins have all entered the NBA Draft. Fellow freshmen Jabari Parker and Joel Embiid are weighing whether or not to enter the draft. 

The Sports Kid's NCAA Tournament Guide

NCAA selection Sunday is in two weeks. That's the day when the NCAA selection committee decides who will be in the tourney, and who will be staying home. Although the field of teams have not yet been announced, here is my list of Top-5 championship-contenders in order of their chances of bringing home the storied title:

5. #2 Wichita State Shockers 30-0 

I had to include this season's only undefeated team on my list. Sure they play in a weak Missouri Valley Conference, but they also have another one of the nation's best teams in the form of Evansville [OK maybe that's not true but I do wish it was.] Anyway, although they've only beaten one ranked-team all year [St. Louis,] the Shockers could be a dark-horse. Under veteran coach Gregg Marshal the Shockers shocked the world last year, making the final four as a #9 seed and giving eventual-champion Louisville a run for it's money. Part of Wichita State's success is that while all the big-name schools have seen players come and go after just 1-2 years, the Shockers are made up of mostly Seniors and Juniors. In other words, they have great chemistry. It will be difficult to win against powerhouse schools since they are so used to playing [and winning against] mediocre ones, however don't be too quick to rule out another final four run. 

Prediction: Lose in Sweet 16

4. #5 Kansas Jayhawks 22-6 

I just could't do it. My preseason pick to win the title, I just couldn't leave Kansas off my list. Although it was a down regular season by Kansas' standards, they possess two players [Joel Embiid and Andrew Wiggins] who, if they catch fire, there is no stopping them. I foresee one of Kansas' two studs going a at least a semi-hot streak in the tournament and leading Kansas AT LEAST back to the Sweet 16 for a second consecutive year, and if Wiggins is hitting shot, and Embiid is manning the post like we know he can, then I would not be surprised at all to see coach Bill Self cutting the net in April. 

Prediction: Lose in Elite 8

3. #1 Florida Gators 26-2 

The Gators are back from an improbable Elite 8 run last year, the Gators appear poised for another deep playoff run. They're undefeated in conference play this year at 15-0, and they also swept rival Kentucky in the season-series. Many are hailing Florida the best team in the country, and while I don't quite buy ALL that, they are definitely one of the top contenders. 

Prediction: Lose in Final Four 

2. #18 Michigan State Spartans 22-6

Perhaps the most experienced and best overall team in the tournament, the Spartans are led by [in my opinion] the best coach in College Basketball in Tom Izzo. Michigan State showed flashes of greatness in the regular season, but those flashes came mostly when the team was fully-healthy, and it was not very often that they were fully-healthy. If they did have everyone at full-strength I believe they would win the National Championship with the guidance of Izzo and solid play of Adrien Payne and Gary Harris, however, it is unlikely that they are fully-healthy.

Prediction: Lose in Championship Game 

1. #4 Syracuse Orange 26-2 

The Orange began the season undefeated, and stayed that way a while before finally losing to Maryland. They have one of the best coaches in the game in Jim Boehim, the best player in the game in  Freshman Tyler Ennis, and a more-than-worthy sidekick for Ennis in Forwad C.J. Fair. I think that the Orange will be the ones cutting the net when it's all said and done come April.

Prediction: Win National Championship 

Well that's the list, but there are other powerhouses who could make a serious run at the title [Kentucky, Arizona, Duke, Louisville] and as always there are dark-horses [New Mexico, Iowa, Ohio State, Iowa State, Virginia.]