Northwestern Basketball in the Big Dance

I just watched the Northwestern Wildcats loose in overtime to Illinois but for the first time Northwestern basketball is for real. In the past, the Wildcats have always been the Big 10 door mat but not this season. Juice Thompson got the steal at the end of regulation and barely made the half court shot to win the game. Right now the Cats should put this game behind them as they face Michigan State Spartans this weekend. I still believe the Cats will make the Big Dance this season spoiling one of the other Big 10 teams.

Speaking of the Spartans Kalin Lucas came off the bench and did exactly what the Big 10 POY was supposed to do against Texas-Arlington. Let's hope the Spartans don't overlook the Wildcats because this could be a bad loss on their NCAA tournament resume.

Well tune in tomorrow as I list my all decade team. 

Father of CE3 turns 33 - UK Assist Record

A majority of this blog has nothing to do with hoops but I want to wish a happy 33rd birthday to Champ aka Brain. Not only is this guy the greatest friend in all seven continents but he's soon to be the father of CE3. In case you're wondering 17 years from now CE3 will become the #1 prep player in the country. I stand by what I say and if you don't believe me ask Brain or Rasheda.

John Wall made it clear tonight that he'll be the clear cut #1 overall pick in the 2010 NBA Draft. Mr. Wall dished out 16 assist against Hartford and also had a few highlight worthy dunks. The back door lob Mr. Wall's dunk was SportsCenter Top 10 worthy. What does that highlight have to do with Brain....simple CE3 will be doing those types of dunks by the time that child turns 15.

Rasheda everything was fantastic and for those following..hoops training for CE3 begins exactly one day after the 5th birthday.

Dunking On Reindeer

The Christmas game between the Cavs and Lakers was not that....a game. Was this a statement game......nope I always hated when the press states that a regular season game is a statement game. Unless those two teams meet in the playoffs and whoever wins...that's the statement game. Kobe & the Lakers know that they'll win the Western Conference but I can't say the same about Cleveland. The Cavs have to battle Eastern Conference supremacy with Boston & Orlando. Overall, LeBron dunked on Blitzen, Dasher, Dancer, Prancer, Comet, Donner, and the rest of the Lakers.

With this being college football season, the bowl games have taken over the sports world especially with Urban Meyer taking a leave of absence. I would not be surprised if he had a change of heart and left for one the NFL coaching jobs. He has nothing left to prove in Florida. 

Here in Chicago the high school holiday tournaments are up and North Lawndale Prep won the Malcom X shootout and the Proviso West tournament kicked off this weekend. That tournament hasn't had the same flare since 1996 when Jimmy Sanders and Westinghouse pulled off the upset over Ronnie Fields and Faragut.

Well, that's it for now...until next time. Big O

What 2 Watch........

Tonight on ESPN 8PM (Central Time) tune in to watch Kansas play California as two of the top point guards in the country face off.  Both Sherron Collins and Jerome Randle were 2006 all state player from Illinois and I'm looking forward to see south side and west side go toe-2-toe. 

Xavier Henry and Cole Aldrich will also contribute as I predict Kansas should win this game without any problem. Check back tonight for my recap.

IT'S OFFICIAL BULLS LOOSE...AFTER LEADING BY 35

You're up by 35, shoot over 70%, no turnovers in the first half, then you blow the game and loose by 4. That's what happened to the Bulls tonight at the United Center against the Sacramento Kings tonight. When I wake up tomorrow morning, the first thing I hope to read is that Coach Del Negro has been let go replaced by Mark Jackson. After leading 79-44, the Bulls were outscored 58-19 and loose 102-98. Derrick Rose has never been a scorer but with the departure of Ben Gordon, Rose will have to dominate like Tim Hardaway, Kevin Johnson, and Isiah Thomas. Those guys were able to score and still distribute the ball.

That's all for now...Del Negro has to go!!!!!!!!

Sunday's Best Players

The star for Sunday was Zach Randolph for giving Denver 32 points and 24 rebounds. Zach has always been one of the most underrated power forwards in the League but doesn't get any recognition because of his troubled past or he's played on bad teams. With Dirk, Timmy, Melo, Odom, Al Jefferson all great forwards in the west Zach will not play in Dallas come February 2010.

Kendrick Perkins had a double double with 14 points and 11 rebounds. The best thing that happened in his career was KG coming to Boston and winning the chip while Perkins was on the team. Since winning the chip in '08, Perkins confidence and game has improved but if I'm playing with KG everyday, my game should improve.

Quentin Richardson...Q shot 7-7 from downtown but unfortunately the Heat fell to Portland. When left opened, Q is one of the better spot up shooters in the League and he still has the ability to rise above the rim. Plus he's from Chicago.

Johnathan Bender is back!!! It's good to see Bender back in the League who retired in 2006 due to several injuries. On NBA TV tonight he mentioned he had to give it another shot or else he would have been 37-38 wondering what if. Good for him and I hope he works out.

Harrison Barnes - Ames (IA) WIN BIG

The game just ended with Ames (IA) winning 87-59. Harrison Barnes just proved why he’s the nation best HS player in the land. He plays both ends of the court and did not take any plays off. I hope when they get back to North Chicago Jereme Richmond can lift his troops as they attempt to win a state title in his final season before heading down I-57.

HS Basketball Tonight

BREAKING NEWS: THE NATIONS TOP HIGH SCHOOL TEAM IN THE COUNTRY FINDLAY PREP LOOSES TO NORTHLAND HS FROM COLUMBUS, OHIO.


Currently on ESPN the nations top prep player UNC Bound Harrison Barnes is facing ILLINI Bound Jereme Richmond in the Old Spice Classic. At halftime Aimes (IA) is leading Waukegan (IL) 38-29. The real star of the game so far is Northern Iowa Bound Doug McDermott. Overall Richmond and Barnes have played solid games and as I type, Richmond just caught a baseline lob to finish the jam. Right now Aimes has an 11 point lead in the 3rd quarter with Barnes finishing the jam. 


Tune in after the game for my recap of the game and two of the nation's top players.

Let Shannon Dunk

I know the NBA Dunk Contest is not until February but it's time to start thinking about candidates that should participate. Personally I'm endorsing Shannon Brown to enter the dunk contest. Please click here to learn more about Shannon Brown's campaign to enter the dunk contest. Other players I would like to see enter the contest is Derrick Rose, Will Bynum, Nate Robinson, LeBron James, JR Smith, Gerald Henderson, and Vince Carter.

I'm pretty sure only one of the names mentioned above will enter but the League needs to make it interesting by offering $1 million dollars to the winner. I guarantee the elite dunkers would participate then.

Take my poll and let me know who should dunk come All-Star Weekend in Dallas.

AI RETURNS...BUT NOT IN BASKETBALL SHAPE

Allen Iverson made his return against his old team the Denver Nuggets tonight and tallied 11 points. Iverson appears to be in great shape....but not basketball shape. For any of my readers knows what it means to play ball but not be in basketball shape, then you know how AI feels tonight. One play Chauncey Billups drove right, crossed left between the legs which left Iverson flat on his butt. That is the below the rim highlight of the night.

With Elton Brand, Iggy, Thaddeous Young, Louis Williams, Jason Kappano and the return of AI, the Sixers have the slasher, shooter, youth & experience to nab the #4 seed come playoff time. Cleveland, Orlando, Boston will be the top 3 seeds out the Eastern Conference.

AI just wanted the respect and in a tough town like Philadelphia that booed Santa Clause they love AI just as they loved Ryan Howard, Charles Barkley, McNabb, and Mike Schmidt. Welcome back to the League AI now  go improve your team and teach the young guys how to play the game the right way.

Game Recap

It's been two days since I attended the Bulls/Pistons game which marked the return of Ben Gordon and the homecoming of Will Bynum. Kerry Wood was shown on the jumbo tron and the crowd booed him. This guy spent 10 years in this city and he did not deserved to be booed...he's one of my all-time favorite Cubs.

Now to the game...when Ben Gordon entered the game he was booed the first few possession he touched the ball but they didn't boo him the entire game. I thought more people would cheer for Bynum but then again only a small few followed him throughout his young career so far. Coming off a sprained ankle, Gordon was extremely passive but did lead his team in scoring with 16.

Watching Bynum and Rose guard each other was what I came to see. It was like watching Simeon vs. Craine all over. Rose had two highlight dunk and Bynum had a solid game and even threw a great lob pass to end the 3rd quarter which was taken away.

Overall the Bulls won but unfortunately they did not score 100 so no free Big Mac for me.

THE ANSWER IS BACK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Bulls vs. Pistons Tonight

Tonight at the United Center the Detroit Pistons play the Chicago Bulls and I WILL BE THERE!!!!!! This will mark the first meeting between these two clubs this year but this game has a special meaning as it marks the return of Ben Gordon where he called the United Center home from 2004-2009. That's the national story behind this game.

From a local standpoint, Former Craine Star and fellow south sider Will Bynum will display his handles in front of the home crowd. I'm sure he'll get a pretty good ovation from those who followed him from Hales, Craine, Pro Amms, Azizona, Georgia Tech, D-League, Overseas, finally the NBA. Last year I took my nephew to the game and we ended up meeting Will after the game. The Bynum vs. Rose matchup should be interesting because I know Rodney Stuckey has no idea how to guard Derrick Rose. You can view the photos on my photo page here.

Well it's late and view my blog tomorrow for my recap of the game.