THIS WEEK IN HOOPS

With Syracuse Orangeman raining as the consistent #1 team in hoops, Simeon the best high school team in the country, the NBA going on it's third week with the Bulls & Heat the best two teams in basketball.....HOOPS IN FULL SWING!!!!!!!

Tom Cream has his Indiana Hoosiers back to college hoops relevance. So far this year they're the only team to defeat the #1 (Kentucky) and #2 (Ohio State) team the same season. The scary part is next year's Hoosier class is scary. It was only a mater of time before the former Marquette coach to turn a program around. I still think he's the next Spartan coach once Tom Izzo bolts for the NBA.

Miami Heat I just don't get them. Earlier this week they loose to the Atlanta Hawks at home then turn around and beat the same Hawks at full strength in triple overtime on Thursday. The amazing part was Miami played without LeBron James or Dwayne Wade who sat out with injures. With a year under their belts, the Heat would not shock anyone if they made it back to the NBA Finals. Speaking of Atlanta, on Tuesday they played a thriller in the United Center dominating the entire game until the forth quarter where Derrick Rose had to show Jeff Teague why he's the reigning MVP. These two teams square off tonight in Atlanta.

Speaking of the Bulls other than Miami, they're the most consistent team in the NBA. Coach Tom has my team playing with a chip on their shoulder as well as they should. Finishing with the best record in basketball last season they should waltz through the Central Division until they face the Heat in the East Finals.  

Congrats to Keith Smart for the new coaching gig in Sacramento. Now that Paul Westphal is out of town, hopefully DeMarcus Cousins will listen to this coach instead of being labeled a headcase. The young former Wildcat does have talent and worked hard on his game this summer. Speaking of talent, that's all John Wall appears to be relying on which is the reason why his Wizards are the only win-less team in basketball. He & Russel Westbrook need to broaden their basketball IQ and become a better point guard.

While I'm thinking about making the transition to Los Angeles full-time, I'm going to the Staples Center this Wednesday to checkout the Clippers play the Heat.

Hoops week in Review

What an amazing week in basketball last week including the past couple of days. From the fight in Cincinnati, all the way to the Los Angeles Clippers becoming a factor in basketball what an interesting past few days. Let's review the good and the bad this past week you decide which is which:

• Xavier-Cincinnati Fight: This was much bigger than the game and unfortunately the personal beef between certain players escalated on the court with nine seconds left in the game. Supposedly something was said on Twitter which upset-ted several Xavier players.Therefore they decided to go street. Sad sad moment in sports you can't let what bothers you on the inside escalate on the court. Since these are still kids, hopefully they'll learn from this unfortunate teachable moment. Grow up to become honorable men not goons from the street. Both teams are pretty good this year.

• Kentucky-Indiana: This was the game Tom Cream needed to get his program in the right direction. A moral victory was not acceptable. This was the victory his program needed. The up-n-coming Hoosiers defeated the lottery bound Wildcats with a buzzer beater which was AMAZING!!!! Potential #1 pick Anthony Davis remained in foul trouble (he has a lot to learn) but Marquis Teague showed glimpse of promise as he dominated the game in the later part of the second half. Great game for the Hoosiers but the Cats are still Final 4 bound.

• David Stern denies Lakers Chris Paul: Last Friday the Lakers were gearing up for CP3 & Dwight Howard and even pulled the trade for CP3 for Pau Gasol but nooooooooo!!!!! David Stern refused to let the rich get richer which was wrong, and don't be surprised if Kobe Bryant doesn't request a trade after losing Lamar Odom for nothing along with Shannon Brown signing with Phoenix. 

• Meanwhile Chris Paul to the Clippers: Even though the "other" team in LA landed the future Hall-of-Fame point guard from New Orleans, this truly upset Black Mamba and the rest of the NBA Players. What David Stern did was unbelievable and nobody has a valid reason for him blocking the trade. Blake Griffin was as happy as a new kid in Toys R Us. The Clippers also landed Chauncey Billups, Caron Butler, and resigned DeAndre Jordan. The key to all this was making sure Blake stays for the future. The Clippers might be better than the Lakers this year WOW!!!!!

• Syracuse the new #1: Everything that's going on with the Orangemen nobody is talking about the 'Cuse being the nation's top team. I haven't watched the 'Cuse yet but we'll see how long their reign as the nations top team last. 

• Simeon is the nation's top prep team: The house the produced Derrick Rose, Nick Anderson, and most importantly Benji Wilson is still the #1 team in the land and has the top rated junior in the country JaBari Parker who has NBA written all over him. 

LeBron James - John Calapari Package Deal?

I will comment on both conference finals game 1 after the Sun-Lakers game tonight.

The big news out of Chicago is that LeBron James and John Calapari are a package deal that will call the Chicago Bulls home next season. Calapari mentioned on his Twitter page that he has the best job in the world as the Kentucky Wildcats coach but coaching any pro team is always a step up over any college team. Both parties are denying any reports but come July 1st, we will find out the truth.

On to the Sweet 16

With the opening round of the 2010 NCAA Tournament complete what have we learned from Thursday to Sunday:

• To my Chi-Town PGs....thank you Jerome Randle & Sherron Collins for 4 solid years in a major conference. Good luck in the NBA.
• Kansas - Just because you're #1 you have to play like the nation's top team at all time (see UNC 2009)
• Cornell & Northern Iowa head coaches phone are ringing off the hook from high major programs...Seton Hall, Iowa, Oregon, Auburn, St. Johns job all became available last week
• Korie Lucious will become a household name after nailing the game winner 3 to send Maryland home
• The torched was past: while Sherron Collins was walking back to the dressing room, Jacob Pullen reached out to him and showed the senior much love. Nothing but west side Chi-Town love....made me smile
• Kentucky Wildcats are now the front runner to cut down the nets
• A team that knows their roles always dances much longer...Northern Iowa, Cornell, BYU, St. Mary's
• Washington Huskies deserve more credit
• The Big East was overrated
• New Mexico got exposed once they faced some real competition
• Jimmer Fredette & Ali Farokhmanesh have great pro careers ahead of them.......overseas
• Derick Favors & Greg Monroe will not return to school
• I am tall enough to play center for the Marquette Warriors (I'm only 5'8)
• EVERYBODY'S BRACKET IS RUINED

That's it for now..Congrats to Simeon for winning the Class 4A state title over the weekend. 

ILLINI Snubbed - Dance Begins Thursday

Now that the brackets have been revealed topled Kansas is the top overall seed followed by Kentucky, Syracuse, and Duke. West Virginia and Ohio State made strong cases of landing the final number one seed but they gave it to Coach K.

Why is Illinois playing in the NIT rather than the NCAA? Simple they lost to the Minnesota Golden Gophers (at home) torwards the end of the season followed by losses to Purdue, Ohio State, and Wisconsin. Then defeat the Badgers in the first round of the Big 10 tourney followed by a double overtime loss to the Buckeys. What makes matters worse is that the Gophers reached the finals in Indianapolis doomed Bruce Weber's chances. Good luck against Stony Brook in the Not Invited Tournament

Expect Kansas State, Villanova, Kentucky, and Kansas to reach the final for with Sherron Collins cutting down the nets. He'll finally get a piece of John Wall.

Weekend Recap

With the rest of the world (including me) watching the Super Bowl, I have not neglected my hoops obligations, just this blog. Now that the week is up let me tell you what I've learned this week:

• I have no idea what to expect from the Bulls. They win 5 straight against playoffs teams then loose their next 3. Two against bad teams (Clippers, Sixers)
• U of Texas is overrated...Ever since they lost their #1 ranking they're dropped 3 out of the last 5. Expect a loss against Kansas tomorrow night. 
• ILLINI.....The victory against Michigan State was huge for there tourney resume but I still expect them to be the 5th Big 10 team to make the dance
• U of Kentucky...The entire starting 5 will enter the 2010 draft with John Wall going 1st along with Cousins & Favors being lottery picks
• Pac 10 Basketball is a joke....California & Washington were supposed to be top 25 teams all years but like their conference, they stink
• Chris Paul is not coming back this year...serious knee injury should shut CP3 down until 2011....4-6 weeks yeah right
• The Lakers have a team (without Kobe)...Last night's victory at Portland without Black Mamba proved the Champs have fire power
• Finally............Since I lived in New Orleans for 5 years....GO SAINTS!!!!

New #1 Goes Down

The newly crowned #1 Kentucky Wildcats receive an encouraging phone call from President Obama on maintaining being on top. As a result John Wall & Co. did not play like a number one team against South Carolina. The end result the student body rushes the floor as South Carolina pulled off the SEC upset. The highlight of the game was a vicious crossover from Devin Downey (30 pts) and finished high off the glass. It doesn't matter because UK will still be seeded #1 come March.

Kentucky Wildcats did not learn from the Lakers when interacting with the Commander in Chief. Yesterday Kobe Bryant and the Lakers met President Obama then today handled business against the Washington Wizards. The two highlights of the game was an nice wrap from Mike Miller along with Shannon Brown finishing a lob pass.

Jalen Rose & Jimmy King were in Ann Arbor to see Michigan play Michigan State. I thought the Wolverines would steel the victory but Big 10 POY Kalin Lucas hit a jumper with a few seconds left to seal the victory. I don't know what was louder the student body at Ann Arbor or Jalen Rose's red sports coat.

TNT announces the all-star reserves this Thursday and I'm really pulling for Derrick Rose to make the game.

Weekend Recap

Congrats to the Saints and Colts for their trip to Miami. I'm so proud of the Saints because I lived in New Orleans for 5 years while attending college. New Orleans will always be my second home. Bring the trophy back to Canal & Bourbon Street.

What happened this weekend.....

• The Knicks were so focused on the Jets game that they go worked by 50 in MSG to Dallas
• Texas losing twice this week meaning Mr. Wall and the Kentucky Wildcats will be the new #1 come Monday. They might run the tables
• Memphis Tigers looses....first Conference USA loss since President Bush first term in office
• UNC loosing twice this week will not be in the top 25 on Monday
• Northwestern Big Dance Bound?....Beating Purdue & Illinois looks really good on their resume
• Allen Iverson should not play in the all-star game
• PAC 10 Basketball is a joke
• Syracuse is really really good without Johnny Flynn