Knicks Take Knox

When I opened my phone on Thursday morning and saw the Bleacher Report alert that “The Knicks were highly interested in Kentucky Forward Kevin Knox,” I didn’t know how to feel. Knox is a pretty good player — he managed to score an efficient 34 points against Press Virginia earlier this year. He also struggled in the NCAA tournament against Buffalo and Kansas State. He’s a great shooter, a good defender, and should be a great addition to the Knicks, but I will never like him.

Kevin Knox carried Kentucky over West Virginia last winter with 34 points and 5 three pointers (photo via SEC Country)

He made it clear that he was going to go to Duke (my favorite team), but then at the last second, he changed his mind to Duke’s recruiting rival — John Calipari and the Kentucky Wildcats. I firmly believe that Knox would’ve put Duke at a higher level than last year’s national champion Villanova. So yeah, I don’t like him, but he is a pretty good player.

On the board when the Knicks took Knox were Michael Porter Jr, Mikal Bridges, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, and Miles Bridges. After the Cavs surprised by choosing Collin Sexton over Porter, I fully expected the Knicks to take the risk on Porter, and was slowly starting to talk myself into it, because why not? My only criticism of the Knicks is that if they were trying to play it safe and stay away from Porter, why would they reach on Knox if Mikal Bridges was still available? Bridges is a much more complete player, but then again, he is four years older than Knox, so time will tell if the Knicks got this one right.

The Knicks also took Mitchell Robinson in the second round, a pick that I really like. Any player like Robinson — a very highly rated high school who refused to play in college and was largely forgotten about — seems to have great success in the NBA. Even though the Knicks are a terribly run organization, I think that they have a chance of having Robinson live up to his potential.

 

Three Potential Steals in the 2018 NBA Draft

Today, I’ll be discussing three underrated prospects in this year’s 2018 NBA Draft that could end up being steals and among the best players of this draft class.

First up is Mohamed Bamba. The seven foot Center has excellent defensive potential and has received Rudy Gobert comparisons. His physical tools contribute to his impressive shot blocking ability; despite his 7’9″ Wingspan and 9’6″ standing reach, Bamba is surprisingly quick on his feet which allows him to stay with smaller guards and recover for blocks at the rim when he is beat. Bamba also boasted 16.2 rebounds per 40 min and is predicted to be at least a respectable midrange shooter once he transitions to the NBA. NBA Analyst Jay Williams guaranteed that Bamba will be a future 1st Team All Defensive member, signifying the belief around the league in the big man’s potential to be one of the NBA’s best defenders. His defensive versatility, tenacity on the boards and developing offensive game make him an intriguing young prospect for a number of teams. The Knicks, for example, who have the 9th pick in the draft, will have to consider Bamba and the defensive potential a Bamba-Porzingis frontcourt would pose in the paint.

Mo Bamba Blocking Duke’s Marvin Bagley III (Via RagSports)

Next up is Oklahoma Sooners Point Guard Trae Young. Young is easily my favorite player in the draft. He has drawn Steph Curry comparisons for his offensive game. A terrific shooter, Young made 42% of his field goal attempts and 36% of his three pointers. Young possess great ball handling and shooting which contribute to his fluid style of play. His great court vision also allows him to control the game with draw-and-kick passes to open teammates. On the defensive end, he makes up for his lack of size and 6’0″ frame with lateral quickness and high basketball I.Q. I witnessed firsthand Trae Young taking over games with his shooting, scoring, and playmaking ability and these are skills that will translate well to the NBA game. As the first player in College basketball History to lead the nation in both scoring and assists, Young has the potential to be a transcendent offensive player and is worth the risk.

Trae Young bringing the ball up the court (Via http://www.nydailynews.com)

The third player I will be talking about is Villanova Wildcats wing Mikal Bridges. An excellent “Three and D” prospect who has won two National Championships in his college career, Bridges has excellent physical tools, great length, and impressive shooting ability. With averages of over 50% FG and 90% FT, there is no doubt that Bridges will be an efficient scorer once he transitions to the NBA. Additionally, his 6’7″ height and 7’1″ wingspan gives him the ability to defend multiple positions, switch effectively on pick and rolls, and jump the passing lanes for steals. While he needs to improve his ability to get to the rim and become a more dynamic ball handler, Bridges will be a solid starter in the league for years to come and provide a spark with his shooting and defense for whichever team drafts him.

Mikal Bridges shooting a pair of free throws (Via Big East Coast Bias)

 

 

Alabama Makes Playoff Instead of OSU

In the most controversial decision in the CFP’s four year history, Alabama has received the final spot over the Big Ten champion Ohio State Buckeyes. The Sugar Bowl will be a rematch of last year’s CFP championship as No. 1 Clemson plays No. 4 Alabama in New Orleans. No. 2 Oklahoma will play No. 3 Georgia in the Rose Bowl in Pasadena.

Sophomore Jalen Hurts looks to lead Alabama over top ranked Clemson after last year’s last second championship defeat (photo via Gridiron Now)

After Clemson’s convincing 38-3 win over Miami, Oklahoma’s huge 41-17 win over TCU, and Georgia’s dominant 28-7 win over Auburn, the top three spots were obvious. However, there was much debate over the final spot. Previous No. 4 Wisconsin was out of consideration after losing the Big Ten Championship to Ohio State. After this win, many thought that OSU was going to be the final team in the playoff, but — as always — Nick Saban and Alabama got their way. OSU’s 27-21 win over Wisconsin was not convincing enough for the committee to choose them over the 11-1 Crimson Tide, even though Alabama didn’t even play in a conference championship.

JT Barrett will face Sam Darnold in the Cotton Bowl in Arlington, Texas, on December 29th (photo via Detroit News)

I personally believe that OSU should have made the playoff. Ohio State has three wins over teams that are more highly ranked than the best team that Alabama beat, to go along with a conference championship. When you blindly compare the resumés of the two teams, it seems pretty clear to me that OSU should make the tournament. However, in my opinion, Alabama is a better team than OSU and is most certainly one of the top four teams in the country. Their schedule was pretty weak, but they managed to convincingly win all of their games except for their close game with Mississippi State and an away loss to Auburn — a very good team. OSU’s offense looked very bad against Wisconsin, and they didn’t do much except for a couple of 60 yard touchdowns. They are a good team, but they are not better than Alabama.

At this point, OSU fans have every right to be mad, but it won’t change anything. They should look forward to a game against Sam Darnold and the USC Trojans in the Cotton Bowl in Arlington, Texas. To be honest, having a chance to win this game is probably better for OSU fans than being destroyed by Clemson in the Sugar Bowl like last year, when they were defeated 31-0.

College Football Playoff Update

At the moment, the top 4 teams in the country are — in order — 11-1 Clemson, 10-2 Auburn, 11-1 Oklahoma, and 12-0 Wisconsin. Knocking at the door are Alabama, Georgia, Miami, and Ohio State. All of these teams have a legitimate shot at making the playoff, here are the scenarios for each team.

Clemson

Kelly Bryant has been a viable replacement for current Texans QB Deshaun Watson, leading Clemson to the number one spot in the country. (photo via Shakin the Southland)

Clemson is currently the number one team in the country, however, if they lose, there is a pretty good chance that they’re out. Obviously, if they beat Miami, then they make the playoff and are likely the number one overall seed. Clemson’s did lose this year to a bad team in Syracuse, but if a single loss in a game where Clemson lost QB Kelly Bryant, then they are a no-brainer for the playoff.

Auburn

QB Jarrett Stidham threw for 237 yards and ran for a touchdown against Alabama last week. He hopes to lead the Tigers past UGA to secure a playoff spot. (photo via AL.com)

Number two Auburn is in a pretty similar situation with Clemson. If they beat Georgia, they are in. However, if they lose, then they are almost definitely out. With another loss this week, that would make Auburn a 3 loss team. A 3 loss team doesn’t have a great shot to make the playoff, even with big wins over Alabama, Georgia, and Mississippi State. Auburn does have a pretty good chance to win, however, the last time the Bulldogs and Tigers met, Auburn won 40-17.

Oklahoma

QB Baker Mayfield hopes to secure the Heisman and a playoff berth for the Sooners with a win over TCU this weekend. (photo via USA Today).

Again, if Oklahoma wins, they’re in. If they don’t, they have a very small chance to slip into the playoff. Baker Mayfield has been ridiculously good this year, and he is rightfully the Heisman leader at the moment. If they lose this game, and Stanford beats USC, then the Heisman race will be very close between Bryce Love and Mayfield. If Oklahoma wins, then they are definitely in the playoff, and Mayfield should be the Heisman. If TCU can manage to beat Oklahoma, then somebody else will sneak in, — it probably won’t be TCU. But Oklahoma should be able to handle TCU at Oklahoma.

Wisconsin

Wisconsin is doubted by many, QB Alex Hornibrook has to lead the undefeated Badgers to a win over OSU to make the playoff. (photo via Madison.com_

Wisconsin has received a lot of criticism this year for their weak strength of schedule. These criticisms aren’t completely ridiculous. Wisconsin’s only quality wins are against Northwestern and Michigan. Nonetheless, the Badgers are 12-0 and have about a 50-50 chance to make the playoff. If they can beat Ohio State, they’re in, but if they lose, at home, then they prove their criticizers right and they are out. Hornibrook isn’t a great quarterback, but Wisconsin’s a running team and their defense should put up a good fight against banged up QB JT Barrett.

Alabama

Sophomore quarterback Jalen Hurts and Nick Saban have to wait during championship week and hope for an Oklahoma loss. (photo via The Undefeated)

Alabama is in a unique situation. After their first loss of the season against Auburn last week, Alabama is not playing in a conference championship this year. They have to wait through the week and hope that one or two of the current top 4 loses, and they are next in line. Since Oklahoma is playing a team that is not likely to make the final four even with a conference win, so Alabama fans should be rooting for the Horned Frogs against Baker Mayfield and the Sooners.

Georgia

Running backs Sony Michel and Nick Chubb hope to lead Georgia past 10-2 Auburn. (photo via Macon.com)

Georgia may be out of the top 4 at the moment, but they are in a very similar situation with those 4 teams. They have to play Auburn on the road this weekend, if they can pull of the win, then Auburn falls out of the top 4 and Georgia replaces them. A loss obviously keeps UGA out. Beating Auburn won’t be easy, however, Auburn beat them handily earlier this year and Auburn’s offense led by Jarrett Stidham and Kerryon Johnson is as hot as any team in the nation.

Miami

Malik Rosier looks to turn the Hurricanes offense around after a loss to Pitt last week where he was pulled. (photo via Canes Watch)

Miami’s in the same spot as Georgia. Even though they are currently out, a win at Clemson puts them in. After a loss to Pitt last week, where the Miami offense looked terrible, Miami’s hot streak has quickly cooled down. Winning at Clemson will not be easy at all, but if Malik Rosier and the Miami defense can figure it out, then the Hurricanes should be in.

Ohio State

JT Barrett will start at Wisconsin despite injury last week. (photo via Land of Ten)

The Buckeyes are in the same spot as the Badgers. Winner of this game is in. After allegedly being injured by a cameraman, JT Barrett will not be 100% during this game. One of the reasons Barrett and OSU are so good are their ability to run the ball with their running backs, but also with their extremely mobile QB. Regardless, Barrett is much better than Hornibrook and has a pretty good chance to beat Wisconsin in Wisconsin. If they can manage to do that, they’re in.

Seven of these eight teams are in the same position — win and you’re in, lose and you’re out. A shot at the national championship is on the line for a lot of teams, so championship weekend should be incredibly fun to watch.

Duke Comes Back… Again

Duke is a very young team. They mainly play eight guys. Seven of them are underclassmen, and five of those seven are freshmen. They are incredibly inexperienced, making it seem ridiculous that this team has put together so many comebacks in hopeless situations. Youthful mistakes and poor defense have consistently put Duke into a hole early in their games, but the ridiculous amount of talent the Blue Devils have have consistently bailed them out.

Freshman Marvin Bagley III has had six double doubles through only eight games this season. (photo via sportingnews.com)

Last night, Duke was down 21-6 only 5 minutes and 56 seconds into the game. Even this early into a game, this situation seemed pretty hopeless for Duke. However, two nights earlier, Duke faced a 16 point deficit late in the second half against Texas, but they managed to send that game into overtime and win. Florida’s grew to 17, but in the second half, Freshmen Marvin Bagley III and Gary Trent Jr led Duke back into the game, and once again, they managed to win by three points. Projected top 3 pick Bagley scored 30 points to go along with 15 rebounds against Florida — a similar stat line to his 34 points and 15 rebounds in Duke’s comeback win against Texas. Gary Trent scored 15 points against Florida and 17 against Texas, including an and-one layup to put Duke up by one point in the final thirty seconds of regulation.

The Portland State Vikings? Really?

Duke has had many ups and downs this season, including a 4 point halftime deficit to the Vikings of Portland State. Coming into the year, I assumed that Duke — given how young they are — would lose a couple of games early in the year but then figure it out in February and win the tournament as a 2 seed. The struggles have most certainly been there, but the young team looks very experienced in staying poised despite large deficits, so maybe Duke’s run of dominance will come earlier than I expected.

Rivalry Weekend Recap

Mississippi at 14 Mississippi St.

 

DK Metcalf celebrating a touchdown by peeing on the Bulldogs (photo via SBNation)

Ole Miss managed to win a close game against Mississippi State. This game was full of fights. A brawl broke out on the field … during warmups. It didn’t end there, before the game MSU linebacker Leo Lewis almost started another fight by approaching the Ole Miss bench and blowing a kiss. The game itself was a wreck, there were seven combined turnovers and 22 penalties. Several celebrations such as the one pictured above did not receive warm reactions from the crowd, and it seemed like another fight was going to break out any second. Ole Miss won the incredibly chippy game led by 167 yards and a touchdown from receiver AJ Brown.

2 Miami at Pitt

Pitt stuns 2 Miami 24-14 (photo via sportingnews.com)

After 15 straight wins, Miami has finally lost. Pitt Freshman Quarterback Kenny Pickett ran for two touchdowns and threw for another to go along with 253 total yards. Miami’s offense struggled mightily. Quarterback Malik Rosier was pulled shortly during the fourth quarter and then put back in. Rosier threw a terrible 15 for 34 for 187 yards. Miami totaled only 55 rushing yards. With this loss, it seems almost impossible for two ACC teams to make the CFP at this point, next week at 3 Clemson will be huge.

9 Ohio State at Michigan

Ohio State came back to beat Michigan 31-20 (photo via Eleven Warriors)

Michigan looked really good to start this game, but they fell apart in the last three quarters. Michigan was up 14-0 in the early second quarter, but then JT Barrett scored two touchdowns before halftime, evening the score. In the third quarter, Barrett went down and was replaced by redshirt freshman Dwayne Haskins. Facing a 20-14 deficit, Haskins performed well enough to get the win, and Ohio State scored 17 unanswered points to make the final score 31-20. The Buckeyes only threw the ball 15 times compared to 46 rush attempts, so not much was asked of Haskins. Ohio State will play undefeated Wisconsin in the pivotal Big 10 championship next week.

1 Alabama at 6 Auburn

6 Auburn upset 1 Alabama 26-14 (photo via AL.com)

Although Auburn is the number six team in the country, few thought that the Tigers actually had a chance to beat Alabama. Auburn opened scoring with a trick play where RB Kerryon Johnson threw a three yard touchdown to Nate Craig-Meyers. Sophomore Jalen Hurts responded with a 36 yard touchdown to Jerry Jeudy in the second quarter. Alabama opened the second half with a dominant drive from Bo Scarbrough and Damien Harris, and it looked like Alabama was ready to blow Auburn out. However, Auburn responded with a field goal and two touchdowns and shut Alabama out for the remainder of the game. Even with their 11-1 record, Alabama is now out of the SEC championship game, Auburn will host 7 Georgia next week in another pivotal game for the College Playoff situation.