WHO SHOULD BE #1: Wisconsin or Ohio State?

The debate over who should own the #1 overall ranking now that the Gators weren't able to avoid being upset. Recent polls would suggest that Wisconsin and Ohio State should be ranked 1 and 2. Ohio State is currently in line to gain the #1 spot, but lost by 3 to the Badgers on Jan. 9th. A Badger/Buckeye re-match is next Sunday, but @ Ohio State this time.

Thanks to the good lord in heaven - the Gophers Men's basketball team scheduled the #3 Badgers and the #2 Buckeyes at home in the same week. As a season ticket holder in the student section for the U of M's terrible team, I have had to tolerate basketball that is comparable to my little sisters high school junior varsity team. It has been hard being a fan of the GOOphers, but this week was worth the price of season tickets.

WISCONSIN --

On Wednesday I saw Wisconsin and was impressed. They are definitely a calm and collected team, with plenty of NCAA final four promise. Alando Tucker took over for Wisconsin when he needed. After watching the Dunk contest last night, I would compare what Tucker did to the Gophers defenders to what Dominique Wilkins was able to do. Tucker absorbs contact and is still able to put together a high percentage shot. If there is one thing he could improve is his free throw shooting. Tucker could have blown Minnesota away if he made more of his free throw shots. I predict Tucker to be a NBA lottery pick - a top 10 pick if he brings Wisconsin to the title game.

The Badgers big men are also very strong. Brain Butch makes for a difficult match-up against any big man in the country - he leads the team in rebounding with just over 6 a game. One of the most unheard badger ballers is Michael Flowers. Flowers pairs with Kammron Taylor as Wisconsin's one-two punch guard combination. Flowers doesn't score a lot but he is a very smart player who seems to consistently makes the right pass - he leads the team in assists. Marcus Landry, Joe Krabbenhoft and Jason Chappell are experienced role players who will need to step up when needed during the cruitial six game run for the title.

OHIO STATE --

Ohio State is Illinois when they had Luther Head, Dee Brown and Deron Williams. Having the privilege to see that title-losing Illini team from a few years ago 2 times in person, I can't help but see the resemblance in this Buckeye team.

This current Ohio State team is deep with talent, much like Illinois was. At no point whatsoever when the Buckeyes played the Gopheres did I sense a possible upset. I was kind of hoping to storm the court. Oden did start off 0/3 from the field but went on to score 19 - I believe it was a team high. The thing that impressed me most was the way that Ohio State moved the ball, found the right man, made the smart play and executed time and time again. They are flawless, I didn't see any reason why this team shouldn't be ranked in the top 5, if not #1. Greg Oden is a physical specimen. I am excited to be able to tell my kids I saw him in person while in college.

After viewing the next NBA legend - I can't imagine a team passing on him in the draft. Oden doesn't even need to try in order for Ohio State to win. In fact, Ohio State would probably be ranked in the top 10 even without Greg Oden. Daequan Cook has a nice looking jumper and could easily play in the NBA. Ron Lewis, someone I've heard little or nothing about, played amazing and would be the Gophers best player by far. Even Matt Terwilliger played well on defense and had a couple nice looking jumpers.

The player who impressed me most out of both Wisconsin and Ohio State was Mike Conley. Conley is Dee Brown and Deron Williams combined. Conley is Oden's high school teammate and he is making his Buckeye teammates look good. Conley is smart, he penetrates and dishes so well. I would compare Conley to any of the best point guards in America.

WHO SHOULD BE #1 - Wisconsin or Ohio State?

It's not even close. Ohio State is by far the best team in the nation (right now). Florida and North Carolina can welcome Ohio State as teams that have emerged as potential #1 seed selections on Selection Sunday.

After watching both of these teams live, and following the NCAA, and in particular the Big Ten closely throughout the year, I might not even put Wisconsin in the top 10. There are better teams in the country than Wisconsin including Ohio State, UNC, UCLA, Kansas and even Nevada. I know Alando Tucker is getting hype as potential player of the year, but that is the same as saying Redick should be player of the year... oh wait - he was. Winning that award doesn't make you the best player. I feel teams led by better players will play better in the tournament. Ohio State, Florida, Kansas and UCLA all have solid starting rosters and benches.

Come tourney time, having future pro's helps. Without including Florida, who has 3 potential top 10 picks in this year's draft in Noah, Brewer and Horford - 5 o of the elite 8 teams had top 10 picks (LSU - Tyrus Thomas, Texas - LaMarcus Aldridge, Memphis - Rodney Carney, UCONN - Rudy Gay, Villanova - Randy Foye). I spy some NBA athletes currently leading teams toward titles besides Durant, Oden and Tucker. Kansas has a potential top 10 pick in Julian Wright. North Carolina has Braden Wright - if he comes out he could go 4th overall behind Oden, Durant and Noah. Pittburgh's Aaron Gray and Duke's Josh McRoberts are also thought be drafted in the top 15.

I can't wait for the Badger vs Buckeye re-match a week from today. Then the possible best of three re-re-match in the Big Ten tourney title game. The Big Ten may be crappy, but the cream is definitely at the top.

NBA Rumor Mill (2/9/07)

Over the past few weeks I have been following the trade talk in the NBA. I have been anxiously awaiting a trade to go down and a super star to be moved. Following the AI trade I was supporting another big name to move. Over the past few weeks names like KG, AK47, Vince Carter and Pau Gasol have been rumored to change jerseys, but so far - nothing.

With only 12 days until the trade deadline - Memphis has lowered their asking price for Pau Gasol. The Chicago Bulls would love to take advantage, but one of the possible puzzle pieces, Andres Nocioni, is injured. There is talk of a possible trade that could involve Nocioni, Deng or Gordon plus another young player, maybe Thabo Sefolosha, as well as P.J. Brown and a 2009 first-round pick.

The Bulls are in the rat race that is the Eastern Conference playoff hunt and are holding a lot of trade bait - young proven players and the Knicks draft pick. Memphis is in the hunt for Durant, Noah or Oden having one of the worst records. Memphis would love to swap Gasol for the Bulls' Knick pick and have two of the top 10 picks in the upcoming NBA draft (depending on how MEM/NY finish).

After saying the front office was closed, see my previous posts, GM Jerry West has been pretty busy. Memphis might be interested in acquiring Portland Trailblazers center Jamaal Magloire and his expiring $8.3 million contract in exchange for Stromile Swift and Dahntay Jones. (Source: Memphis Commercial Appeal).

The Cleveland Cavaliers have not seen what they expected out of Larry Hughes and are seeking a possible trade before the February 22nd deadline. According the Beacon Journal, Hughes is upset with the way that he is used in the offense and he feels he is not in the situation that he hoped he would be in when he left Washington. The Cavs were able to top Washington in the playoffs last year and this year they basically have the same records. Although Hughes and James hooking for an alley-oop currently on ESPN seems fine to me.

The Timberwolves are not going to trade Kevin Garnett. Wolves Coach Randy Wittman encourages the front office to make a trade if they feel it is for the betterment of the team. Straight from the Pioneer Press Whittman says, "You've always got to have an eye out to improve your team, I think everybody does that. I think the guys who are playing as well as you can play are still looking to see if there's something out there that can make you a little bit better."

Oklahoma City has been the partial home of the New Orleans Hornets since Hurricane Katrina. The NBA announced recently that the Hornets will not play any games Oklahoma City after this season.

The Sonics are seeking public money for a new arena, but if they were unable to keep the team in Seattle - the NBA has reserved Oklahoma City for the next NBA franchise move. Possibly the Oklahoma City Suns, I like how it sounds. (Source: Chicago Tribune).

Mutombo is playing well, so well he might play next year. The oldest player in the NBA, 40-year-old Houston Rockets center Dikembe Mutombo, says if his health holds up, this he won't call it quits after this season. (Source: Houston Chronicle).

Hopefully with less than two weeks to go talk will start to get serious between GM's - it should get interesting soon.

NBA Rumor Mill (2/2/07)

We are no longer months away from the NBA trade deadline, we are now days away. There have been rumors swirling over a lot of NBA ballers. Hopefully, for the fun of player movement, there will be a couple trades before February 22nd.

Pau Gasol is the biggest name in trade conversations. Gasol is a 20 and 10 NBA All-Star and has a very high asking price. The Chicago Bulls GM John Paxson has been offered a few trades involving young Bulls Tyrus Thomas and Kirk Hinrich in order to try to land Gasol. Gasol will have to try to play his best basketball of the season this month because he wants to leave Memphis for a contender.

According to the New York Post, the Portland Trailblazers were offered Grizzlies' center Gasol in exchange for rookie center LaMarcus Aldridge, Sergio Rodriguez, and Jamaal Magloire.

The Orlando Magic are looking to make a move. Grant Hill will miss two weeks with his annual injury - leaving a thin frontcourt even thinner. The Magic have plenty of guards: Carlos Arroyo, Travis Diener, Keyon Dooling, Keith Bogans and J.J. Redick. They are going to need to trade for a forward or a scorer if they want to gain ground in the Eastern Conference, the Magic are currently 7th.

"No deal". Wolves coach Randy Wittman reported he will NOT trade KG under any circumstances. There is NO trade in the works between the Nets and Jazz involving AK47 and Vince Carter. The Clippers report they are NOT dealing Maggette. Despite needing a guard, the Cavs have made it clear they will NOT trade Anderson Varejao.

The Heat have been busy, trying to work their way back into the Eastern Conference playoff hunt. Miami signed Eddie Jones this past week and according to the New York Post are trying to see what they can get for point guard Jason Williams. Williams knee has yet to make a full recovery from offseason surgery and and his contract $8.2 million this year, $8.9 million next year make him hard to deal.

The Miami Herald reports that the Heat are interested in Mike Bibby. The lack of available point guards is making things difficult for potential playoff teams with needs. Jason Kapono is using his time on the court wisely and is a great buy on protrade and a great pick-up in fantasy. Orlando's guards need to be traded to Miami or Cleveland. I mean, Daniel Gibson is becoming a legit fantasy pick-up.

Coaching rumors are always fun. My favorite rumor involves Flip Saunders leaving Detroit to coach the Minnesota Gophers. I am thinking this is more of a real possibility after reading today that Knicks Coach Isiah Thomas has apparently gone out of his way to praise the Detroit Pistons organization. If Flip leaves Detroit, will Isiah actually leave New York? Maybe the T-wolves should consider bringing back Flip.

I've been waiting for a trade to go down for a couple weeks. Tick-Tock. February 22nd could come and go without any transactions - but let's hope not.