NFL Mock Draft Edition 5 (Final Edition)

1. Houston Texans Jadeveon Clowney, DE Other Possibility: QB Blake Bortles

Defensive end isn't a huge need for the Texans, quarterback might be a more pressing issue. But, not selecting Clowney here could be suicide with his potential and instant playmaking ability, and Teddy Bridgewater or Derek Carr might be available for a QB selection in the second round.
2. St. Louis Rams Greg Robinson, OT Other Possibility: WR Sammy Watkins
The Rams might trade down this pick to a team that wants Blake Bortles or Sammy Watkins, but if they use this, Greg Robinson is the right pick. Robinson's health is the only concern, although Jake Matthews may have the instant starting ability, Robinson has the higher ceiling and will be a better pick in a few years.
3. Jacksonville Jaguars Khalil Mack, DE/LB Other Possibility: WR Sammy Watkins
Defense has been a major concern for the Jaguars (offense isn't much better) and if Clowney is indeed taken earlier, Mack should be Jacksonville's selection. Mack has excellent athleticism and getting a true pass rusher will be very important for head coach Gus Bradley and the Jags.
4. Cleveland Browns Johnny Manziel, QB Other Possibility: QB Derek Carr
The Browns would be crazy to not draft a quarterback here and they have loads of options. Bortles, Bridgewater, Derek Carr or Manziel could all be options. Manziel might be the riskiest pick in the draft, but Cleveland should take the risk here.
5. Oakland Raiders Sammy Watkins, WR Other Possibility: QB Blake Bortles
If the Raiders actually believe Matt Schaub can resurrect his career in Oakland, they need to add another potent receiver. Watkins has the explosiveness to change games and Watkins has the first step to beat most NFL defensive backs.
6. Atlanta Falcons Jake Matthews, OT Other Possibility: LB Anthony Barr
The Falcons could be one of a number of teams in this area looking to trade up for a chance at Clowney or Mack. They could still get major value at the No.6 pick and could pick up Matthews, who should go along way in protecting Matt Ryan, who they just invested a ton of money into this offseason.
7. Tampa Bay Buccaners Mike Evans, WR Other Possibility: QB Blake Bortles

Mike Evans

An improved passing game is the number one priority for the Bucs and they will have to debate between a QB of the future in Bortles or a fantastic receiver in Mike Evans. Evans has superb size and could give new QB Josh McCown something to work with.
8. Minnesota Vikings Blake Bortles, QB Other Possibility: QB Derek Carr
If Bortles doesn't go to Tampa at 7 or earlier, the Vikings shouldn't waste anytime in picking up the UCF stud. He oozes with potential and Norv Turner could help further develop him in Minnesota.
9. Buffalo Bills Taylor Lewan, OT Other Possibility: TE Eric Ebron
Lewan has the NFL frame and potential to be quite the star and Buffalo definitely needs to address their glaring need at tackle. Off-the-field issues could be a concern for Lewan but if Matthews and Robinson are off the board, this is where Buffalo should go.
10. Detroit Lions Justin Gilbert, CB Other Possibility: LB Anthony Barr
Although Detroit may feel that their young cornerbacks are fine for now, they need Gilbert in the future. Even if he doesn't start at corner right away, Gilbert could add something on special teams, he is a very dangerous returner.
11. Tennessee Titans Anthony Barr, LB Other Possibility: DL Aaron Donald
Tennessee needs help all around their defense, but a dominant pass rusher may be the paramount concern. A number of great pass rushers could be available but Barr should be the best option, he has the speed off the edge and strength to become a great player in this league for years to come.
12. New York Giants Aaron Donald, DL Other Possibility: TE Eric Ebron
Linval Joseph signed with the Vikings, leaving a pretty big hole at the defensive tackle slot. Donald, a dominant pass rusher from Pittsburgh, may be a little bit small for DT but he has the versatility to also make plays as an end.
13. St. Louis Rams HaHa Clinton-Dix, S Other Possibility: WR Odell Beckham
If the Rams don't draft Watkins with the second pick, Beckham could well be an option as he is the best receiver to help bolster a pretty weak Rams' offense. But, the secondary is more of a concern and Clinton-Dix has the talent to have a great career in St. Louis.
14. Chicago Bears Calvin Pryor, S Other Possibility: LB C.J. Mosley
If Clinton-Dix does indeed go to the Rams at 13 or higher, it puts the Bears in an interesting position. They really need a safety with Major Wright likely gone, but a leader on defense like Mosley could also help. Pryor has been really rising up most boards and he has great size.
15. Pittsburgh Steelers Darqueze Dennard, CB Other Possibility: WR Odell Beckham
An aging secondary is a major concern for the Steelers, whose whole defense is starting to be an issue. Dennard has the physicality to fit Pittsburgh's style and Pittsburgh addressed their receiving issues by picking up Darius Heyward-Bey and others.
16. Dallas Cowboys Timmy Jernigan, DT Other Possibility: Ra'Shede Hageman, DT
Jernigan is a risky pick this high, he has a huge frame and a high ceiling but he struggled to make an impact at big times for Florida State last year. Jerry Jones may go with a flashier pick here, but Jernigan or Hagemen is the smart pick.
17. Baltimore Ravens Odell Beckham, WR Other Possibility: Jimmie Ward, S
Even with Steve Smith now on board in Baltimore, he is aging and a young receiving talent will help Flacco for years to come. Beckham was a dangerous game-changer throughout his time with LSU and he has very reliable hands.
18. New York Jets Eric Ebron, TE Other Possibility: CB Kyle Fuller
The Jets should continue to improve their offense by selecting Ebron, who could well be a steal here at 18. Ebron has the speed of a receiver and will give Geno Smith/Michael Vick a real threat to work with.
19. Miami Dolphins Zack Martin, OT/OG Other Possibility: OT Cyrus Kouandjio, OT
Offensive line is definitely where the Dolphins should be looking with this pick. The decision will be between Kouandjio, who has the potential to develop into a star tackle or Martin, an athletic linemen who can play both guard and tackle.
20. Arizona Cardinals Derek Carr, QB Other Possibility: Kony Ealy, DE
It is clear that Carson Palmer's time in the desert isn't going to last much longer. Carr will be the best available quarterback and his huge arm could really help the homerun ability that Larry Fitzgerald will bring to the table.
21. Green Bay Packers C.J. Mosley, LB Other Possibility: TE Eric Ebron
An effective young linebacker is looking like a real need for Green Bay, and Mosley could give them that. The Alabama star has incredible instincts and a brain for the game, he could easily become a playmaker.
22. Philadelphia Eagles Brandin Cooks, WR Other Possibility: WR Marqise Lee
With DeSean Jackson off to NFC East rival Washington, wide receiver becomes a major need for Philadelphia. They have a multitude of options here, including Cooks, Lee and Indiana product Cody Latimer. Cooks, the Biletnikoff winner, has game-change speed and playmaking ability, he will fit right in with Philly.
23. Kansas City Chiefs Xavier Su'a-Filo, OG Other Possibility: WR Marqise Lee
It could definitely be an option for Kansas City to trade down this selection, as all their needs could be addressed later on in the draft. Right guard is a important concern and Su'a-Filo, easily the best guard in this draft, could fill it.
24. Cincinnati Bengals Jason Verrett, CB Other Possibility: CB Bradley Roby
The Bengals' secondary is their biggest question, it is aging and it is not deep at all. Verrett was a stud at TCU throughout his time there and he could turn into quite the star; he will immediately give the secondary a huge upgrade.
25. San Diego Chargers Louis Nix, DT Other Possibility: CB Bradley Roby
Nix is massive and even if Hageman is still on the board, the Chargers should pick him up. Run defense has definitely been a concern the past couple years for San Diego and they hope to continue to address it by picking up Nix.
26. Cleveland Browns Kyle Fuller, CB Other Possibility: WR Kelvin Benjamin
The Browns real star is cornerback Joe Haden, but beyond him the position is definitely an issue. Fuller has some minor concerns but the Browns should take a chance at him, even over Benjamin or another receiver that can help Manziel.
27. New Orleans Saints Dee Ford, DE Other Possibility: WR Marqise Lee
Even though it made huge strides last year, the Saints' defense is still pretty weak. They need another strong pass rusher, and Auburn star Dee Ford could help a lot. He has superb athleticism and he should fit right in with New Orleans.
28. Carolina Panthers Marqise Lee, WR Other Possibility: OT Morgan Moses
The offensive line may be enough of a problem for the Panthers to guy with Moses or another linemen here but their receivers are just so bad right now, Jericho Cotchery is their number one guy. Although inconsistent, Marqise Lee's electric game-breaking ability should really help Cam Newton.
29. New England Patriots Ra'Shede Hagmen, DT Other Possibility: DE Kony Ealy
At times, Hagemen is dominant and looks like a sure-fire first-rounder. Other times, he struggles to be any type of factor. New England needs pass rushers and Hagemen should give them that, even with his consistency issues.
30. San Francisco Niners Bradley Roby, CB Other Possibility: DT Stephon Tuitt
San Francisco could seek an impact receiver to help out Colin Kaepernick but a cornerback is needed. Roby was fantastic with Ohio State while facing some big receivers in the Big Ten, and should develop nicely under Jim Harbaugh.
31. Denver Broncos Joel Bitonio, OG Other Possibility: LB Kyle Van Noy
Denver may look to add another impact linebacker like Van Noy, but help on the offensive line should be a priority. Bitonio has been rising up draft boards and he could easily help the defending AFC Champs. Scouts love what he did this past year, especially having a great game against eventual champion Florida State.
32. Seattle Seahawks Cody Latimer, WR Other Possibility: TE Jace Amaro
If there is one thing that the Seahawks will really want to address, it could be adding another receiving option. Golden Tate is now gone, and Sidney Rice and Percy Harvin constantly are injured. Latimer has speed to stretch defenses and open up room for Marshawn Lynch and give Russell Wilson a playmaker for years to come.

Spring Football '14: How Duke Follows Up Last Season

Anthony Boone

It was one of the best scenes in college football this decade: after a victory over UNC, Duke's football players carried their head coach David Cutcliffe off the field, after clinching their first 10-win season in school history and the ACC Coastal Division, giving them a chance to play undefeated Florida State. The Blue Devils would end up getting mauled by Jameis Winston and the eventual champion 'Noles and would then suffer a heartbreaking loss to Texas A&M in the Chick-fil-A Bowl. Success was great for a Duke football program that had slowly rising from the ashes under Cutcliffe; they made their first bowl appearance since the 1994 season and nearly took down Cincinnati in the Belk Bowl. But, with success, there comes raised expectations and this Duke team now is expected to compete in the Coastal, especially with a number of key players back and a weakened ACC. How will Cutcliffe and the rest of these Blue Devils follow up their miraculous 2013?

They will have two key offensive contributors back for their quest to defend their Coastal title and get back to the ACC Championship game. Senior Anthony Boone had a strong first season as starter for the Blue Devils last year after taking over the job from Sean Renfree. Boone would throw for 2,260 yards and 13 touchdowns last year, while splitting time with the mobile Brandon Connette. This offseason, Connette transferred to Fresno State and should compete for the starting job there with Derek Carr out of the picture. This leaves the door open for Boone who has shown a lot of improvements so far this spring. Cutcliffe is great with his quarterbacks and always get the best out of them, so expect another strong year from Boone. Senior receiver Jamison Crowder flirted with the NFL, but is back to give Boone a top-flight option in the passing game. An All-ACC selection a year ago, Crowder hauled in 108 receptions with 8 scores on his way to 1,360 yards. Although not very big, just 5'9", Crowder has lethal speed and has proven to be an excellent route runner throughout his time in Durham. Even with those two returning in the passing game, expect Cutcliffe to keep this offense pretty balanced, considering he does have his leading rusher back in senior Josh Snead. Snead, a gritty runner, had 651 yards last season and averaged over 6 yards every carry. This offense took a hit when backup Jela Duncan was suspended for the bowl game and for the entirety of the 2014 season. Duncan recorded 562 yards and three scores last year for Duke, while splitting time with Snead. The offensive line will include a real talent at guard with senior Laken Tomlinson returning, an All-ACC selection as well in 2013.

The Blue Devils will not get a lot of credit for their defense, but it was solid throughout 2013 and has 6 starters returning. It has a bend not break mentality; it will give up it's fair share of yards but it will get crucial turnovers when it needs to or big stops. It is led by yet another senior, middle linebacker Kelby Brown. Brown is a beast with a nose for the ball and he loves to hit. He has great instincts and is a sure tackler. Senior David Helton returns on the outside to help take some of the leadership load off of Brown. Helton is only scratching the surface of what he can be as a linebacker; he has shown improved pass-rushing skills over his time with the Blue Devils. Even with cornerback Ross Cockrell gone the secondary could be one of the strongest units on this experienced team. Cockrell is a ball hawk who could fall in the mid-rounds of the NFL Draft, coming up in two weeks. Replacing him will not be easy as Cutcliffe will most likely lean heavily on sophomore Bryon Fields, who has potential but hasn't seen very many snaps. Junior safety Jeremy Cash is a monster at safety and could have a huge year and sophomore DeVon Edwards, who should see time at one of the other two safety spots (Duke will usually play three), has the potential to turn into quite the playmaker in the defensive backfield.

There shouldn't be any denying this is the most talented Duke football team that has ever played at the university. Crowder has a chance to be in the race for the Biletnikoff and the defense has experience throughout it. If Boone can continue to develop under Cutcliffe, the Blue Devils have quite a serious shot of defending their Coastal crown. A quick peek at their schedule suggests another double-digit win season as UNC ending their year could be their toughest test. These upperclassmen now have a taste for winning and they have a real shot at giving Duke their most memorable season yet.
Schedule
2014-2015 Roster

NBA Draft Scouting: Jabari Parker

Jabari Parker

On May 21, 2012, Sports Illustrated released an issue with Jabari Parker on the cover with the title, labelling him the best high school basketball player since LeBron James. That was before the Simeon High product had committed to Duke and that was before this past season, where he averaged 19.1 points and 8.7 rebounds per game for the Blue Devils. Now, Parker is off to the NBA, following much of the rest of this year's fantastic recruiting class.

Offense: Few players will enter this year's NBA Draft as polished as Parker is on the offensive end. He is such a versatile scorer; he has the size and strength to finish around the rim and he can also step out and hit jumpers. His 6'8" frame is tough to guard because he can extend over smaller defenders with his shot. Parker isn't the crazy athlete that Andrew Wiggins is, but his ability to step outside and hit a long two or even a trey-ball makes him very difficult to defend. His versatility extends to his position as he can play either small or power forward. Parker may not be an-NBA sized power forward with him being 6'8" but he has a long wingspan and he can use his athleticism to get over defenders. A part of his game that he has really improved at is on the offensive glass. Since he has become bigger and stronger he can box out a lot better and he can raise up for putback jams and tips. Off the dribble, Parker can attack with his mix of size and speed and the agility to get past defenders.

Defense: Parker won't get much credit for his play on the defensive side, but he is a very underrated defender. He is a pretty solid shot-blocker, he has long arms which allows him to, if not completely block, tip the ball. He moves so well for his size, he can help so much in help defense situations. He moves from side to side so well and back to front and there isn't an easy to beat him off the dribble. If you play him at power forward you wonder what he will do defensively against bigger offensive players who are polished down low. He has to add another layer of bulk if he wants to play power forward at the next level, because he can be pushed around defensively while on the block. Parker anticipates offenses very well and he recognizes plays. Parker never gets beat defensively because he is just plain too lazy; something that plagues a number of pros.

Where He Should Go: In a couple of years, Joel Embiid and Andrew Wiggins might turn into NBA superstars. But, both are much riskier picks than Parker, who will be ready to contribute right away. Offensively, he is already much more polished than Wiggins or Embiid and his versatility should be very attractive to a number of teams at the top of the draft board. He should probably go No. 1, he is the safest pick of the draft but he could easily drop a little, not out of the Top 3.

Where He Will Go: The only way Parker would drop out of the Top 3 would be if a team like Boston or Los Angeles feels like drafting a point guard (Dante Exum) would be smarter for them. He could easily go No. 1, likely to Milwaukee, but Orlando or Philadelphia would also love him at 2 or 3.

NBA Draft Scouting: Andrew Wiggins

Andrew Wiggins

No player was expected to cultivate the college basketball world like Andrew Wiggins was supposed to this season. He topped nearly every recruiting services lists, even over super-skilled Jabari Parker, Julius Randle and Aaron Gordon. He topped nearly every single preseason NBA Mock Draft and Sports Illustrated graciously gave him a spot on their cover, and wrote an article about him, comparing him to former Kansas greats Danny Manning and Wilt Chamberlain. Although he didn't dominate quite like expected, he still averaged 17.1 points per game and 5.9 rebounds per game with the Jayhawks. Now, he is off to the NBA, but where do I think he should go after a strong freshman year?

Offense: From the moment he stepped on Kansas' campus, Wiggins wowed Kansas coaches and players with his superb athleticism. Wiggins can wow you with his outstanding dunks, and acrobatic finishes at the rim. Though, at times with Kansas last season he struggled to be aggressive and get to the basket. Wiggins has an impressive body for a forward, he is 6'8", 200 pounds and is still very quick. That combination makes him tough to guard on-ball but he will face much stronger and quicker defenders in the NBA then he saw in college. His shot is somewhat of a concern; anybody familiar with his game knows that nobody will ask him to step outside and take many deep shots, it isn't his game. But, it would be nice if he could develop a three-point shot to complement his inside game he could really become a difficult player to defend. Without it, he becomes a player who needs to put the ball on the floor all the time and won't bring much offensive versatility to the table. He is also a great rebounder, allowing him to make plays on the offensive glass, and his athleticism helps make things like putback slams and other difficult plays around the rim.

Defense: How a player plays on the defensive side of the ball shouldn't make or break his career but there are some concerns on how Wiggins plays defense. Statistically, he seems like a great player, his long arms allow him to make blocks and his speed makes him a threat to make plenty of steals on the defensive end of the ball. He rotates pretty well on the defensive side, and his lateral movement allows him to make plays on defense and break up passes and block shots. But, his defensive awareness is a real issue, he doesn't recognize offenses the way he should at this level and he allows players to cut to the rim and make plays. He is a pretty good on-ball defender but he can get into a foul trouble pretty quickly because he isn't disciplined still. Against bigger and stronger defenders, he could get pushed around too easily and he doesn't really fit into a defensive role, he is too big for a shooting guard but a little bit undersized for a small forward or power forward.

Where Should He Go: It seems crazy that Wiggins would drop out of the Top 3 and unless a team absolutely loves a player further down the board or someone impresses in workouts he should go in the Top 3. But No. 1 still? Personally, I wouldn't touch him with the number one pick if I were Milwaukee or any other team that has a chance at winning the lottery. In most drafts, he would probably be a No. 1 pick, but most drafts don't have a center like Joel Embiid or a versatile offensive weapon like Jabari Parker. He has superb athleticism and a body that could fit in as a small forward but he is still somewhat of a tweener, not really filling a specific role. He will bring fans to the seats and raise the excitement around the team, but in a couple years there are much smarter and safer picks with the first pick.

Where He Will Go: No. 3 to a team like Philadelphia or Milwaukee, two teams that need an immediate offensive weapon and wing scoring help.

Spring Football '14: Florida State's Quest to Repeat

Winston celebrating 2013 national title

No team has dominated college football like last year's Florida State Seminoles. Led by Heisman winner Jameis Winston, the 'Noles went 14-0, beating four ranked teams by double-digits and winning both the ACC Championship and National Championship. With Winston coming back for his sophomore year along with a number of other key contributors, the Seminoles will start off this year with plans to repeat as national champs.

Along with Winston, who threw for 4,057 yards in his redshirt freshman year the Seminoles return a number of other stud players. Senior running back Karlos Williams ran for 730 yards last season on just 91 carries, an average of 8 yards per carry. Williams is a powerful back with a nose for the end zone and could have a breakout year in Devonta Freeman's absence. Winston by himself is fantastic, but he could not have had the 2013 year he had without the receiving options that he possessed. Kelvin Benjamin is off to the NFL and could likely be a late first-round pick because of his playmaking and NFL-caliber size. Senior tight end Nick O'Leary had a serious car accident just months before the 2013 season and still managed to haul in 557 yards and 7 touchdowns. O'Leary is very quick for a tight end, is a great route runner and has fantastic hands for his size. Senior Rashad Greene is back and is hoping for a grand finale after recording 76 receptions and 1,128 yards last season. Also back for FSU is dangerous Christian Green and sophomore speedster Kermit Whitfield, who had the huge kickoff return in the national championship to fuel Florida State's comeback. With all that back, a solid offensive line and a recruiting class that includes Miami product Dalvin Cook and lethal wide receiver Ermon Lane, Florida State's offense will once again be one of the most dangerous in the entire nation.

The Seminoles' offense received so much credit last season but the defense was also very important, holding teams to just over 12 points per game. The defense will lose nose tackle Timmy Jernigan, linebacker Christian Jones and defensive back Lamarcus Joyner but it should still be one of the nation's most stout units. Juniors Eddie Goldman and Mario Edwards will lead the defensive line, two former big name recruits who came in with Winston, they haven't seen the snaps to be stars yet. Edwards is extremely athletic and has fantastic speed coming off the edge, while Eddie Goldman will see a lot of opportunities at defensive tackle with Jernigan gone. Junior Terrance Smith should likely take over Jones' spot at middle linebacker. Smith has great lateral movement and covers the field extremely well. The secondary will rely heavily on junior cornerback Ronald Darby and hard-hitting sophomore safety Jalen Ramsey to stop the dangerous offenses that the ACC has to offer. Special teams is a very underrated aspect to most teams, and Florida State will also have a great unit in that area. Kicker Roberto Aguayo earned All-American honors as a freshman last year and is back along with junior punter Cason Beatty.

A quick peek at Florida State's 2014 schedule shows that they will have a tough non-conference slate. The Seminoles will start their season with a meeting against the high-octane offense of Oklahoma State on August 30th. They will meet old rival Notre Dame on the 18th of October, a team that could be very dangerous this year if they stay healthy and will have their annual match up with Florida to end the season, after beating the Gators by 30 in 2013. The ACC should be a lot weaker this season than last, and it wasn't great last year as Clemson, Miami nor Duke could give the Seminoles a good game. The Tigers, who will play the 'Noles on September 20th, lose Tajh Boyd and Sammy Watkins and their defense also took a hit. Miami will also have to deal with a large number of players gone and Louisville will struggle in a new league without their star quarterback, Teddy Bridgewater. More good news for FSU: since both Duke and UNC (the likely other top two teams inside the conference) are in the other division, meaning the only time they have a chance to see them is in the ACC Championship. Even with two tough non-conference games, Florida State still has the schedule to get through this next season without a blemish.

No college football team this next year will have the talent on both sides of the ball that Florida State will possess. They have the best quarterback in the nation in Winston, a number of offensive playmakers surrounding him and a defense that should be the best inside the ACC. Along with a favorable schedule, the Seminoles have a real shot to repeat as champs and win their fourth official national championship.

NBA Playoff Picks: Eastern Conference

1 Indiana Pacers vs. 8 Atlanta Hawks

Lance Stephenson

Although they have cooled down a lot down the stretch, the Pacers still held off Miami to hold on to the No.1 seed in the Eastern Conference (they are 55-26 as of April 15th). They will do battle with the Atlanta Hawks, who held off New York for the final playoff spot. The Pacers will lean heavily on budding superstar Paul George, who made a name for himself in last year's playoffs. George is so difficult to defend, standing at 6'10", he can overpower most guards who are quick enough to guard him. Roy Hibbert has struggled down the stretch for the Pacers but should still be very key if Indiana is going to make a playoff run. He is the defensive anchor in the paint for the Pacers and is vital to beating smaller teams like Miami and San Antonio deeper down these playoffs. Atlanta sneaked into the playoffs with a 38-44 mark and will be led by a solid frontcourt that includes Al Horford and Paul Millsap. Horford and Millsap will make for an interesting matchup against Hibbert and David West. Along with flourishing point guard Jeff Teague, the Hawks have enough playmakers to give the Pacers a pretty competitive series. Indiana is the deeper team and if Hibbert starts playing better they should definitely get past Atlanta.
Indiana in five

2 Miami Heat vs. 7 Charlotte Bobcats
The Bobcats are finally back in the playoffs, after a number of brutal seasons but now they get the two-time defending NBA champion Miami Heat. The one issue that has plagued Miami in their three straight Eastern Conference titles has been the lack of size up front. To add to the issue, Greg Oden is out once again and will likely never play in these playoffs. Charlotte's success this year has been because of the play of Al Jefferson, who doesn't appear to be aging. Jefferson is averaging a double-double, putting up nearly 22 points per game and nearly 11 rebounds as well. Also, Kemba Wallker has shown significant improvement this year, averaging 17 points per game, while being a more dependable point guard, averaging 36 minutes per game. Defense has been a real issue for the Bobcats and you may remember that LeBron had 61 points against Charlotte. The rest of the "Big Three" will also hope to lead Miami past the Bobcats, Chris Bosh will hope to provide extra offensive support to LeBron. Defensively, the Heat will need Chris Andersen, their blocked shots leader, to step up and helped shut down Jefferson. This first round meeting won't be quite the breeze the Heat got last year, when they ran all over Milwaukee, but they are too good to drop a series to Charlotte.
Miami in five

3 Toronto Raptors vs. 6 Brooklyn Nets
One of the most surprising teams in the NBA, the Toronto Raptors, will hope to prove they can play with Miami or Indiana with an impressive series against Brooklyn. The big reason for the sudden success in Toronto has been the addition of streaky scorer Rudy Gay and the impressive play of budding guard DeMar DeRozan, their leading scorer. Gay isn't a player that can lead a team to a championship; he underperforms in big games and he is average against strong defenses. He will have to step up even if DeRozan plays well because Brooklyn is a very good offensive team. Experience should be a major factor in this game, the Nets have Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce, Andrei Kirilenko and Jason Kidd at the helm, all players who have made playoff runs. Along with Deron Williams and Brook Lopez, the Nets certainly have a team that can do something in these playoffs. But, that team has played all year and the success has not been there for a big bulk of the year. They will make stupid plays very often, so much that you wonder how this is a veteran club, and injuries have certainly taken a toll. The Raptors will need a big series from Jonas Valanciunas, a second-year center who has proven he can be a real defensive presence at times. Brooklyn is the more talented team, but the Raptors have tied the seasons series up at 2-2 and did when 48 games this season. The Nets have had a wild, rollercoaster year, but things shouldn't end without a fight.
Nets in seven

4 Chicago Bulls vs. 5 Washington Wizards
Once again, the Bulls were constantly hurt by injuries to key players all year but yet, here they are, the 4 seed in the East with a pretty favorable matchup against Washington. When Derrick Rose fell injured yet again, it appeared Chicago would forget about this year and look ahead to the draft and a healthy Rose. But, Joakim Noah has stepped up big-time, and the big man has broken out, putting up 12.6 PPG, 11.3 RPG and also leading the Bulls in assists, with 5.4 per game. He has found a pretty solid mid range game and he was become more aggressive at getting to the rim. When he has been healthy, Carlos Boozer has also been a solid contributor and shooting guard Jimmy Butler has turned into a quality offensive option. The Bulls lean on their defense, the best in the NBA, and they will need it to shut down one of the most improved teams in the league, the Wizards. John Wall has had a breakout season leading the Wiz and Bradley Beal has had big second year with the team. In the frontcourt, Marcin Gortat and underrated Nene Hilario will attempt to shut down Noah and Boozer, while trying to figure out how to get anything going inside against them. Wall has been great; not known for his scoring, he is putting up 19.3 points per game and he has also played all 82 games for Washington this year. This matchup is perfect for Chicago; Washington is young and not very deep which means they could really have issues getting anything to go offensively. Even with a beat-up team expect Chicago to play very well.
Chicago in six

1 Indiana Pacers vs. 4 Chicago Bulls
Central Division foes will collide in this Eastern Conference semis clash. The Pacers and Bulls have had some great meetings already this year and this series should be plenty exciting with a ton of storylines. Joakim Noah against Roy Hibbert down low should be very fun to watch; Hibbert hasn't been very effective on both sides of the ball against the Bulls this year and Noah is a fantastic defender, he moves very well for being so large. The Pacers' elite scorers versus Chicago's stingy defense should be interesting. Indiana has so much versatility on the wings, with George, double-double machine Lance Stephenson and newly acquired Evan Turner, who hasn't done much since coming from Philadelphia. Stephenson is one of the toughest players to defend in the NBA along with George; he also has the size to get to the rim but he moves so well and his jump shot has looked so much better this year. Those two are going to be very tough to guard, but Chicago is up for the challenge. Butler and rookie Tony Snell are two great defenders and the Bulls are disciplined they play help defense so well, it is going to force Indiana to shoot. How well a bench performs is obviously huge in the playoffs, and the Pacers have a deep bench, one that includes hard-working Luis Scola and Turner along with playmaking guard C.J. Watson. Indiana is talented enough to make a deep playoff run, but their play lately has me worried. Expect the Bulls to push Indiana, much like they did last year with Miami, but the Pacers should sneak away in Game 7 on their home court.
Indiana in seven

2 Miami Heat vs. 6 Brooklyn Nets
Miami has really dominated the Eastern Conference as usual this year (outside of Indiana of course) but the team that they have really struggled against is Brooklyn. The Nets seem to play their best basketball against Miami and might be pretty happy to see them in the conference semis. LeBron should be LeBron and he should make plays and if healthy, Dwayne Wade will add some more scoring punch. But, the Nets offensively, will make Miami's defense struggle. Shaun Livingston has taken the reins of the Nets' offense and has played very well, while Joe Johnson should be a huge factor in close games. The issue for Brooklyn is that Miami is a lot deeper than people give them credit for. Shane Battier won't strike fear into opposing defenses but he can be a real factor from downtown as well as Ray Allen. Udonis Haslem and Norris Cole are hard-workers who will be able to provide Erik Spolestra valuable minutes off the bench. Brooklyn has the experience, but yet Miami has won two straight titles and made it through these Eastern Conference playoffs for three straight years. Jason Kidd has played on championship teams as a player, but this is his first year as a coach and we will have to see if he is able to make the late game adjustments he needs to beat the Heat. This one won't be an easy series for Miami either but if they stay healthy and can hit some big shots, like they did against Indiana in the Eastern Conference Finals and San Antonio in the Finals, they should win.
Miami in six

1 Indiana Pacers vs. 2 Miami Heat
Since the moment Derrick Rose was lost for the year this meeting in the conference finals seemed inevitable. These two teams are the best in the East and although they should get tested in the semis, they seem like they should end up here, in the rematch of last year's epic Eastern Conference Finals. Led by the fantastic play of Paul George, the Pacers played very well and nearly took down Miami before losing in seven games. George will be back and coach Frank Vogel could play him on LeBron if these two meet. It would make sense; George is maybe the only player in the NBA that can match LeBron's quickness, size and versatility. Hibbert and West will be the X-factors for Indiana, they must play very well. Bosh is very bad at defense in the post and I don't think he will be able to match West if they do battle down there. Andersen is a good defender and provides some energy but even a struggling Hibbert is still going to be awfully hard for him to counter. Point guard play is also going to be a big part of this game, as it usually is. George Hill has been solid all year for Indiana but Mario Chalmers outplayed him last year. Hill's shot has been an issue for him and if Chalmers' pressures him, they may look for Stephenson to handle the ball. These two teams aren't much different than last year's squads, and Miami had the home court advantage in that series. This year, the Pacers have it and should use it to knock off the Heat. Although they haven't been a Finals team this month expect Frank Vogel and the Pacers to figure things out and get past Miami and Chicago.
Indiana in seven

1 Indiana Pacers win Eastern Conference

NBA Mock Draft Edition 1

1. Milwaukee Bucks Joel Embiid, C
Even with the Sixers going on a historically bad losing streak, the Bucks are still the worst team in the NBA because of a weak offensive with no presence down low. Embiid will give Milwaukee a monster in the paint with loads of offensive potential.
2. Philadelphia Sixers Jabari Parker, SF-PF
Parker is going to meet with Coach K this week to discuss his future with Duke but if he goes Philly should take a chance on him. His offensive versatility and size puts him way ahead of the rest of his position.
3. Orlando Magic Andrew Wiggins, SF
The Magic have shown signs of a bright future with Victor Oladipo but they lack offensive playmakers. If Wiggins drops, he should be a steal for Orlando; he is lethal in transition and could defenses problems when combined with Oladipo.
4. Boston Celtics Dante Exum, PG
No international player in this year's draft is anywhere near on the same level as Exum. The 6'6" Australian is an excellent ball handler and playmaker and can get to the rim. If Boston believes Rondo is still a piece of their future, they can play Exum at shooting guard.
5. Los Angeles Lakers Noah Vonleh, PF

Noah Vonleh

Quietly no player increased his draft stock like Vonleh who has skyrocketed up draft boards after his lone year with Indiana. Vonleh has an NBA body and is dominant on the boards with the potential to improve in big ways offensively.
6. Utah Jazz Julius Randle, PF
Few players in this draft will bring the versatility that Randle can bring. He has the strength to bully people in the post and he can also step up and stretch the court. Having him on the court would really help Trey Burke continue his development.
7. Sacremento Kings Marcus Smart, PG
Although questions may arise about Smart's ego and how he will fit in with Demarcus Cousins, the Kings cannot pass up Smart. He is a streaky shooter but he can change games and he does it all defensively.
8. Detroit Pistons Gary Harris, SG
Perhaps no team in the NBA needs floor spacers like the Pistons. Detroit has to get a shooter in this draft and Harris will give them that. He also has an NBA body and Harris played at nearby Michigan State.
9. Cleveland Cavaliers Rodney Hood, SF
It is obvious what Cleveland really lacks right now. They really need a wing to complement Kyrie Irving and it certainly doesn't appear like Anthony Bennett will be the answer. Hood had a great year at Duke and he can brings an offensive weapon that can attack in so many ways.
10. Philadelphia Sixers Kyle Anderson, G/F
Evan Turner never worked out with Philadelphia as he never found the scoring or versatility that he had while at Ohio State. Anderson handles the ball very well for being 6'9" and he could help bring the versatility that Turner lacked.
11. Atlanta Hawks Aaron Gordon, SF-PF
Gordon has draw comparisons to Blake Griffin because of his tremendous athleticism and highlight dunks. Though, defending him is not very difficult; he isn't much of a shooter and he only really does damage on the drive.
12. Denver Nuggets Zach LaVine, SG
Picking LaVine is a huge risk but there isn't denying the potential that the former Bruin possesses. He has fabulous athleticism and is great on the drive but he is a tweener who doesn't really fit a shooting guard or point guard role and faded down the stretch this year.
13. Minnesota Timberwolves Jerami Grant,SF-PF
The Timberwolves definitely need frontcourt help and Grant could give them a powerful big man with massive upside. He is a great rebounder who also brings shot-blocking help on defense and could end up being the long-term replacement to Kevin Love.
14. Phoenix Suns Doug McDermott, PF
Many will argue that McDermott's game won't transfer to the NBA but Phoenix will be a great place to start his career because it isn't a big market and the spotlight won't be on him. He still has great size and could fit in nicely at the small forward slot.
15. Orlando Magic Montrezl Harrell, PF
Orlando has seen flashes of brilliance from Tobias Harris up front but they still need help up front. Harrell really dominated when Chane Behanan was dismissed from the team and his size and strength will help him at the NBA level.
16. Chicago Bulls Tyler Ennis, PG
It would definitely make sense for the Bulls to select a point guard considering the state of Derrick Rose's career. Ennis may end up being the best point guard in the draft because of his poise and how he can command an offense.
17. Phoenix Suns Nik Stauskas, SG
As great as Goran Dragic and Eric Bledsoe are in the Phoenix backcourt, neither of them are great shooters. Stauskas is deadly from deep and has improved off the dribble for Phoenix.
18. Boston Celtics Adreian Payne, F/C
Even though it was really wrecked by injuries, Adreian Payne was dominant when healthy this year. He can stretch the floor very well and also brings a great rebounder to Boston who needs another young big man.
19. Chicago Bulls T.J. Warren, SF
Warren dominated this year for NC State and won the ACC Player of the Year and his scoring punch will really help Chicago. Other than Joakim Noah, the Bulls' frontcourt have very little scoring.
20. Toronto Raptors Elfrid Payton, PG
Kyle Lowry appears like he may on his way out for Toronto because he could attract a lot on the open market. Payton was fantastic this year in the Sun Belt with Lousiana-Lafayette and is extremely athletic and should replace Lowry.
21. Memphis Grizzlies James Young, SG
The Grizzlies' big men do a great job of spacing the floor for their guards but their backcourt lacks a proven perimeter scorer. Young is a superb shooter who has great size for a shooting guard.
22. Oklahoma City Thunder Willie Cauley-Stein, C
The one obvious thing that appears like it may be missing from the Thunder is a proven big man. Serge Ibaka is great but Cauley-Stein will bring the size (7 feet) and shot-blocking ability that Oklahoma City has lacked at times.
23. Utah Jazz Jordan Adams, SG
Adams is a do-it-all guard for UCLA who should bring a number of things to an NBA team. He doesn't have All-Star potential but he could bring a solid scorer who will play defense and will work hard off the bench.
24. Charlotte Bobcats Shabazz Napier, PG
Kemba Walker has had his best year with the Bobcats so his job shouldn't be on the hot seat, making this a depth pick. Napier showed just how lethal of a shooter he can be this tourney, but he lacks NBA size.
25. Houston Rockets Jordan Clarkson, SG
Missouri fell apart late last year and Clarkson's struggles were a big reason why. The shooting guard is inconsistent, but he has top-flight athleticism and can attack defenses very well off the dribble.
26. Phoenix Suns Vasilje Micic, PG
At the moment the Suns' backcourt is pretty full, but this pick is all about the future. Micic, a Serbian product, could stay overseas a couple more years and needs to develop offensively more but is a gifted passer and leader who could contribute years from now.
27.Los Angeles Clippers Markel Brown, G/F
Brown is well known for his highlight-reel dunks while at Oklahoma State but his game also has some substance. He has great size for a wing and can attack off the dribble and is a great-rebounding guard.
28. Oklahoma City Thunder Cleanthony Early, PF
Depth is a need for the Thunder and they could get some of it with Early who has been fantastic the last two years for the Shockers. Early is a fantastic rebounder who also has developed a great mid range game.
29. Miami Heat Semaj Christon, PG/SG
Mario Chalmers is great for Miami but he isn't much of a scorer and Christon could add some depth to the Heat roster. Christon is a great scorer who was fantastic with Xavier and has the potential to grow into a leader.
30. San Antonio Spurs Thanasis Antetokounmpo, F
You may recognize that last name, Thanasis is the younger brother of budding Milwaukee Bucks Giannis. The Greek stud has been great in the D-League and has the potential and length to turn into a great player for the Spurs although he may be a stretch here.

Spring Football '14: Golson Reinstated at Notre Dame

Everett Golson

At this time last season, Everett Golson was planning to enter his sophomore year and hoping to lead Notre Dame back to a national championship after performing extremely well in his first year as starter with the Fighting Irish. Then, a cheating incident hit ad Golson was dismissed from the team, leaving Notre Dame in an odd position without a quarterback just a couple months before the year. Luckily, senior Tommy Rees was experienced and managed to step in and play very well for Notre Dame. Now, Rees is graduated and Golson is back on the team making for an interesting story in South Bend. Golson was fantastic in his redshirt freshman year with Notre Dame but can he readjust to the college game after a year off and without the abundance of playmakers that he had in that championship run?

In his lone year, with the Irish Golson threw for 2,405 yards and 12 touchdowns and proved to be a superb leader, despite being very inexperienced. Youth was apparent throughout his freshman year; he had confidence issues, arm strength and had trouble recognizing defenses. Although we haven't seen a ton from Golson this spring we have seen a ton of improvement. His arm looks very strong and he looks more comfortable in the pocket, even when he is under pressure. So with improvement wouldn't the assumption be Golson should just come in and fill in for Rees? Enter Malik Zaire, a left-handed redshirt freshman with excellent mobility and the potential to be quite the star. Zaire has been impressive enough to force a heated quarterback competition between him and Golson. Spring practices can only say so much about a player and both have shown flashes of being great players. Zaire, a 6'1" prospect from Kettering, Ohio has a very high ceiling but he is still very raw at the moment. He is strong and athletic, faster than Golson, but accuracy has been an issue for so far and he still has to prove he has the understanding of the offense that Golson has. Zaire has drawn comparisons to former Clemson QB Tajh Boyd because of the athleticism he possesses, he isn't very accurate and doesn't have the arm strength of Golson but he can make fabulous throws. Although he lacks consistency, Zaire can wow you at times. The thing that could really put Golson ahead of Zaire is his experience; the sophomore has seen real live action and some of the defenses he played in 2012-2013 were fantastic, teams like Oklahoma, Stanford and Alabama in the championship game.

It was a year off from football for Golson but he should show real improvement because he worked very hard last year and last fall. Golson worked with quarterback guru George Whitfield and has shown signs of becoming a smarter and more efficient QB. He also has worked with Coach Brian Kelly and attempted to connect with his coaches, along with looking through hours of film and trying to see the field better.

Kelly and offensive coordinator Mike Denbrock are in no hurry to name a quarterback in a competition that will likely go right down to Notre Dame's first game, August 30th against Rice. The spring game this Saturday will go a long way in determining who should come up on top in the competition. Golson certainly has shown loads of improvement so far this spring but he still has prove that even after a year away from live action he can still play at a high level. If he doesn't, rising freshman Zaire could overtake him and be the starter on August 30th.

View my complete 2014-2015 Notre Dame preview in my College Football Preview 2014-2015, coming out later this spring.

College Basketball Sneak Peek 2014-2015

The 2014-2015 season will offer a new wave of great freshman, stunning upsets and jaw-dropping buzzer beaters. Although this year just finished with UConn ending Kentucky's Cinderella-like run and Selection Sunday is 342 days away it is never too early to think about the 2014-2015 year.

1. Duke 26-9 in 2013-2014, lost in second round to Mercer

Rasheed Sulaimon

The Blue Devils' 2014-2015 class is by far the best in the nation, as the Blue Devils managed to reel in No.1 overall recruit Jahlil Okafor, point guard Tyus Jones and small forward Justise Winslow. Okafor is a 6'10" monster who should establish himself down low from the beginning and Jones is a proven playmaker who can change games. Duke will also likely return senior point guard Quinn Cook, who could start over Jones, and will also bring back sharpshooting junior Rasheed Sulaimon and junior big man Amile Jefferson. What could push Duke over the top even more would be if the Blue Devils can convince Jabari Parker to come back. Although he is projected as a Top 3 pick in this year's draft, rumors are Parker could stay at Duke and the upset loss to Mercer might motivate him. Even with the ACC even more competitive than it has been in years (Louisville will join the conference) the Blue Devils are in prime position to make a title run.

2. Arizona 33-5 in 2013-2014, lost in Elite Eight to Wisconsin
If Arizona manages to convince senior guard Nick Johnson to return (projected as late first rounder or second rounder) they should get nearly everyone back from one of the nation's best teams a year ago. Aaron Gordon is likely off to the NBA but the frontcourt still has some pieces to like junior center Kaleb Tarczewski and junior forward Brandon Ashley, who is a dangerous scorer but was injured for the second half of last year. With point guard T.J. McConnell also likely on his way back and junior Gabe York ready for a breakout year, the 'Cats could really dominate a Pac-12 that has been average for years.

3. Wisconsin 30-8 in 2013-2014, lost in Final Four to Kentucky
He may not have been that big of a name until the tournament, but Frank Kaminsky was fantastic all year for the Badgers. Now, the senior center is back along with much of last year's Final Four team. If Kaminsky can add more strength to his frame and continue to improve his mid range game, he could be a popular National Player of the Year candidate. Junior Sam Dekker had a strong sophomore year and he could also be back along with another frontcourt member, Nigel Hayes, who was fantastic off the bench all year for Wisconsin. The backcourt will return senior guard Treveon Jackson and sophomore Bronson Koenig, who could be ready for a breakout year and will hope to offset the loss of three-point bomber Ben Brust. With all those key pieces back and the Big Ten likely taking a step back next year, the Badgers should be the favorite inside the conference in 2014-2015.

4. Kansas 25-10 in 2013-2014, lost in third round to Stanford
Most programs would take a major step back if they lost two of the likely top three picks in the draft. Even with Andrew Wiggins gone and Joel Embiid likely following, the Jayhawks should be right in the national title hunt. They return junior forward Perry Ellis, who quietly had a fantastic year and also welcome back sophomore Wayne Selden, who also had a quiet, but great year. With Naadir Tharpe possibly back at point guard and sophomore Frank Mason also as well, Kansas' backcourt could be great. The Jayhawks' recruiting class is great with the additions of two five-star finds including Cliff Alexander and Kelly Oubre. Alexander is an offensive weapon with a versatile game and Oubre wows with his athleticism and scoring potential.

5. UConn 32-8 in 2013-2014, won National Championship over Kentucky
Shabazz Napier is gone but Kevin Ollie and the "Hungry Huskies" still have the pieces in place to have a real chance at defending their title. Senior guard Ryan Boatright was a fantastic second option in the Huskies' offense last year and he has the potential to put together a big year. Senior forward DeAndre Daniels will also likely be back for UConn. He is a streaky shooter but if his outside game continues to develops and he can find more consistency he could be a fantastic complement to Boatright. Up front as well, the Huskies will lean heavily on sophomore seven-footer Amida Brimah and shot-blocking junior Phillip Nolan, whose offensive game is still evolving. Sophomore guard Terrence Samuel and Lasan Kromah add depth in the backcourt and will help replace senior Niels Giffey. If Boatright and Daniels stay put and somebody else can step up, the Huskies should be in great position in the first year of the post-Napier era.

Others to Watch
SMU- Larry Brown returns a ton from his NCAA tournament snub Mustangs. Junior Nic Moore is a lethal shooter and Brown brings in SMU's best recruiting class in school history, led by McDonald's All-American Emmanuel Mudiay.
UNC- After a rough start to the 2013-2014 season, the Heels were one of the most dangerous teams down the stretch and have a great nucleus back. Junior point guard Marcus Paige is fantastic and the Heels have enough talent to replace James Michael McAdoo.
Michigan- It will be an interesting off season for John Beilein and the Wolverines. Mitch McGary, Glenn Robinson and Nik Stauskas could all leave or could all come back. No matter what happens, junior Caris LaVert keeps the Wolverines in the hunt inside the Big Ten.
Wichita State- 35 straight wins and it was over just like that. The Shockers hope to prove themselves after a disappointing tourney appearance, following a Final Four appearance. Junior guard Fred Van Vleet and Ron Baker are fantastic and Wichita has enough to replace Cleanthony Early, their only big loss.
Florida- The "Core Four" of seniors- Casey Prather, Scottie Wilbekin, Patric Young and Will Yeguete- are gone but the Gators are still major threats inside the SEC. Sophomore Kasey Hill and junior sharpshooter Michael Frazier will hold on to the reigns and if they come back, Chris Walker and Dorian Finney-Smith could have huge years.

Early Player of the Year Candidates:
Jabari Parker*, Duke
Frank Kaminsky, Wisconsin
Nik Stauskas*, Michigan
Jahlil Okafor, Duke
Marcus Paige, UNC
Myles Turner, Undecided
Tyler Haws, BYU
Dakari Johnson*, Kentucky
Siyani Chambers, Harvard
Tyus Jones, Duke
Emmanuel Mudiay, SMU
Ryan Boatright, UConn
Cliff Alexander, Kansas

National Championship Prediction

Dakari Johnson

7 UConn vs. 8 Kentucky
For the third time in this tournament, Kentucky put their faith in true freshman, Aaron Harrison and the 19-year-old helped them defeat Wisconsin. He also hit big shots against Louisville in the Sweet 16 and his shot against Michigan in the Elite Eight might have been even better than the one over the Badgers. Kentucky now will meet up with UConn, who used DeAndre Daniels' great performance to stun the No.1 overall seed Florida. The 8 seeded Wildcats have had a rollercoaster of a year but there isn't denying how talented they are. Even without sophomore big man Willie Cauley-Stein these last couple games, others have stepped up and the 'Cats look extremely dangerous. The Huskies are also peaking as well, under senior Shabazz Napier, who is trying to replicate what Kemba Walker did a couple of years ago, and second-year coach Kevin Ollie. They meet tomorrow, one completing their Cinderella run and one getting so close.

Although they might not have the star power that Kentucky has, UConn has proven they clearly deserve in this game. The Huskies have beaten both Michigan State and Florida, two teams that were popular champion picks. It is clear that in order to beat UConn stopping Napier is key, but others stepping up have been key to their success. In the first half against Florida, Napier was clearly their number one priority and he struggled to be a factor early. Junior swingman DeAndre Daniels hit a couple big threes, and although he is streaky he should be counted on to contribute if Napier struggles. Napier is lethal when he can pick and pop but Florida defended it really well and Kentucky has the range and speed to cover him very well. Ryan Boatright is also a dangerous shooter who can be a real factor from downtown and has turned in a lot of quality minutes, he had 18 in the Final Four and is a hard-worker. Although it is a little bit undersized, the Huskies' frontcourt is deep and experienced. Senior Tyler Olander was a factor off the bench on that Kemba-led UConn team and he is a good rebounder and if he stays out of foul trouble, Amida Brimah can be a real factor. Ollie and UConn also needs senior wing Niels Giffey to play good defense and make a couple of shots. UConn's defense doesn't get a lot of credit, it has been a huge reason why the Huskies are here. They held Florida to 53 after a rough start and also held Michigan State to just 54. Napier and the rest of the Huskies' backcourt will need to pressure the Harrison twins, who have played very well this tournament obviously but can still struggle if you get enough pressure in their face.

Aaron Harrison's two three-pointers are likely to be played on highlight reels for a long time to come, but he does done a lot more for them than just hit big shots. He had 18 in their second round meeting with Kansas State and followed it up with 19 against Wichita. More importantly, he has cut down on turnovers, he has only had 2 in the last three games after struggling with turnovers throughout much of the year. His brother, Andrew, has also stepped up when the Wildcats have really needed it and he has played much smarter lately and has cut down on his turnovers. Defensively, both Harrisons have great size and are quick on help defense and are great on-ball defenders. In the frontcourt, Dakari Johnson, Julius Randle, Marcus Lee and Alex Poythress has more than made up for the absence of Cauley-Stein. Johnson is a massive, strong center who uses his size to carve out space in the paint and rotates very well on the defensive end. Randle, who was the 'Cats' leading scorer in the regular season has played well and can attack defenses in so many different ways. Lee was not much more than a shot blocker all year as a deep bench option. Though, he showed up in the Michigan game, making fantastic putback dunks, he is a solid rebounder. Poythress is a sophomore who is good on the dribble and provides some size on the wing.

It has been a crazy tournament filled with a fair share of upsets and buzzer beaters and it will end tomorrow with either a seven seed or eight seed wining it all. The difference will be how the backcourts play; UConn still needs Napier on his game to handle the Wildcats, well Kentucky needs production from the Harrisons and probably a couple big shots from James Young. The Wildcats will likely be favored and on paper they look like the better team but UConn will play for all 40 minutes and this one could go down to the wire.

Kentucky, 70 UConn, 67

Spring Football 2014: Replacing McCarron in Tuscaloosa

Blake Sims

It wasn't the storybook ending it should have been. A.J. McCarron's last two games with Alabama ended with a miracle return by Auburn and Chris Davis and a blowout loss to Oklahoma in a game in which they were favored in heavily. McCarron had led the Tide to two straight national championships the prior two years and hoped to end his career with them with a third national title. Although, 'Bama was at the top spot in the polls throughout much of the year the loss to Auburn cost them a shot and the loss to Oklahoma added insult to injury. McCarron would finish his career in Tuscaloosa with 9,019 passing yards, 77 touchdown passes and a career record of 36-4 but his graduation had to run out sometime. As McCarron prepares for a future in the NFL, Alabama prepares for next season and they will hope to continue their success with someone else at the helm.

Last year at this time Florida State was in a similar predicament. The Seminoles were losing E.J. Manuel to the NFL after some great year with the 'Noles and they were looking for a replacement. They ultimately decided on redshirt freshman Jameis Winston, and the rest is history. But, Winston's main competition during the quarterback competition in Tallahassee was Jacob Coker, a 6-5 QB with a very strong arm. Coker realized he had no future with FSU anymore and after the season announced he would be transferring. He ended up heading to Alabama and gave the Tide their favorite to replace McCarron at QB. Coker is a former 3-star recruit who was redshirted his first year with FSU but has the tools to grow into a great quarterback. Not only does he have the size and a strong arm, he has shown great command of the game and fantastic mobility in the short moments we've seen him. If McCarron showed one gaping weakness it was his mobility; he could move around pretty well but was never much of a threat with his legs. Under Nick Saban, Coker could definitely grow into quite the quarterback with 'Bama.

Although Coker may be the very early favorite for the job, don't count out anybody else in the race. At Oklahoma last year junior Blake Bell looked to be the starter for the Sooners after Landry Jones graduated but, after a long competition Bob Stoops named redshirt freshman Trevor Knight the starter. Senior Blake Sims has served as McCarron's understudy the last couple years and is knows the offense better than Coker. Coker, due to eligibility, might not see significant practice time until summer and will have to learn Alabama's playbook very quickly. In relief appearances last year, Sims threw for 18 completions on 29 attempts and recorded 167 yards, much of it coming in a blowout victory over FBS newcomer Georgia State on October 5th. Sims doesn't have the size that Coker has, he stands at 6 feet and just a shade over 200 pounds. Sims has proven he also has the ability to extend plays with his legs like Coker but he is not a typical Saban passer. He doesn't sense pressure very well and when he does he will usually panic; he needs to work on being a pocket passer. He still has a whole spring to show improvement but there are a number of players behind him on the depth chart that have looked a lot better in practice.

Behind Coker and Sims, there are the rest of the players in competition to replace McCarron. These include three redshirt freshmen, Parker McLeod, Cooper Bateman and Alec Morris and then one incoming freshman, David Cornwell. Cornwell probably has the brightest upside of any QB on the Alabama roster but he is coming off a knee injury that ended his senior season of high school and thinking he could come off that and start in the brutal SEC is a little hard to imagine. He is still a player with a bright future, he is one of the biggest quarterback recruits in 'Bama history. Morris is a pro style quarterback who has a great game IQ but still lacks the ability to make accurate throws, he is pretty wild. Bateman is also a pro style QB with a great mind for the game but he also has shown his fair share of weaknesses. Bateman sees the field pretty well and has solid athleticism and moves pretty well in the pocket but he also has been underwhelming throwing the ball at times. Both obviously lack game experience along with Cornwell but it isn't like Coker and Sims have seen too much of strong SEC defenses either.

It is still around five months until Alabama will play West Virginia at the Georgia Dome on August 30th. They certainly have enough time to make the decision on who will lead the Tide, and hopefully back to another national championship. Right now, Coker appears to be the very tentative favorite over Sims but the others should be in play as well. Either way, Saban will make a smart decision and Alabama should once more be in serious competition for a SEC West crown and possibly even bigger things this 2014 season.

Spring Game: April 19th @ Bryant-Denney Stadium

Final Four Picks

Will Yeguete

1 Florida vs. 7 UConn
The Florida Gators haven't lost since December 2nd but now they get a meeting with UConn, the last team they lost to in that early December game. The Huskies needed senior Shabazz Napier to hit a huge buzzer beater that time and they will need another big game from Napier, who is averaging 23 points this tournament. Along with Napier, the Huskies' offense relies on junior Ryan Boatright and junior forward DeAndre Daniels, who have helped greatly in victories over Villanova, Iowa State and Michigan State. The Gators meanwhile will bring a lineup of four seniors to the game along with probably the deepest bench of the four teams left in the tourney. Guard Scottie Wilbekin was fantastic in the Elite Eight against Dayton and he is still a great defender who can force turnovers. Wilbekin will have an even more important job than just running the Gators' offense; shutting down Napier who has looked unstoppable at times. Size down low has been an issue for UConn and they will likely have problems trying to stop the combination of Patric Young and Will Yeguete who have size and are great at crashing the boards. Along with the shooting ability of Michael Frazier and Casey Prather, who are great when they are aggressive on the offensive end, Florida's offense should give a weak UConn D all they can handle. The Huskies can definitely beat the Gators if Napier and Boatright are feeling it but Florida outplayed them the last time they played and they are a more talented and deeper team. UConn is an awfully dangerous team but Florida should get vengeance for that early season loss.
Florida, 68 UConn, 63

2 Wisconsin vs. 8 Kentucky
Coming off what may go down as one of the biggest shots in NCAA tournament history, the burning hot Kentucky Wildcats hope to stop a Wisconsin team also coming off a dramatic Elite Eight win. The young 'Cats are peaking at the exact right time and have now beaten three of last season's four Final Four teams (Wichita, Louisville and Michigan). The reason for Kentucky's recent success can be credited to a number of things but the Harrison twins should receive a lot of it. Aaron has been playing fantastic and nailed the game-winner and Andrew has become a more reliable scorer. Lefty sharpshooter James Young is also dangerous from deep and another freshman, Julius Randle has proven he can score in a load of different ways. He has the strength to get into the paint and finish but he is so difficult to defend because his floor-stretch ability. The big question for Kentucky will be about sophomore Willie Cauley-Stein who injured his ankle in their upset of Louisville. Cauley-Stein has been in a boot since and John Calipari doesn't think the shot-blocking machine will play. They will need him against Wisconsin's junior big man Frank Kaminsky. Kaminsky had 28 points and 11 rebounds in their victory over Arizona and can also do damage in a variety of ways. He has great size and strength around the hoop but also has the athleticism to take you on the dribble. Along with three-point bomber Ben Brust and superb sophomore Sam Dekker, the Badgers have a surprisingly dangerous offense, something Bo Ryan has definitely lacked at times. Kentucky is steaming hot and has the pieces in place to take down another great team but Wisconsin has the obvious edge in experience in big games. These two teams seem pretty evenly matched and a big shot could well decide this one as well.
Kentucky, 74 Wisconsin, 71