Author: jonmwhee

2017 NBA Mock Draft

by jonmwhee

By: Murphy Wheeler

Image Credit: Icon Sportswire/Getty Images

  1. Philadelphia 76ers: Markelle Fultz 6-4 PG Washington

It seems pretty likely that Fultz will be the number one pick at this point. He’s one of the best scorers in the draft and it will be interesting to see how he fits in to Philadelphia’s rebuilding process.

  1. Los Angeles Lakers: Lonzo Ball 6-6 PG UCLA

Things could get very interesting if Los Angeles decides to pass up on Ball for somebody like De’Aaron Fox. However, I don’t think they will, as Ball seems like too good of a match for the new era of the Magic Johnson-led Lakers.

  1. Boston Celtics: Jayson Tatum 6-8 SF Duke

This pick seems like it’s down to either Tatum or Josh Jackson. Tatum is the more skilled prospect but Jacckson might fit Brad Stevens’ hard-nosed system a bit better. The deciding factor ultimately comes down to the fact that Tatum has already been in for two workouts with Boston while Jackson has had none. I think either would be a solid pick.

  1. Phoenix Suns: Josh Jackson 6-8 SF Kansas

I think Phoenix will go after whomever Boston passes up at number three. They could go with Fox but the Suns already have a pretty stacked backcourt. Jackson is extremely athletic and will be a tough defender for whatever team decides to take him but it seems like everybody is trying to trade up for him, which means many teams might see him being something special one day.

  1. Sacramento Kings: De’Aaron Fox 6-4 PG Kentucky

Sacramento is in desparate need of a point guard, so if Fox falls this far there’s no doubt the Kings would grab him. There’s a case for Fox as the best point guard in the draft so he kind of falls into their laps here.

  1. Orlando Magic: Jonathan Isaac 6-11 SF Florida State

Isaac is an interesting prospect as a lanky 6-11 small forward and I could either see him being something special or a total bust. Orlando could go in multiple directions with this pick like shoring up their shooting woes with somebody like Lauri Markkanen or Malik Monk but I see them rolling the dice on a boom or bust player like Isaac.

  1. Minnesota Timberwolves: Lauri Markkanen 7-0 PF Arizona

There’s a decent chance Minnesota could trade this pick but if they keep it Markkanen would be an exciting pick. Markkanen is one of the best outside shooting big men to come through a draft in awhile and pairing him up with Karl-Anthony Towns in the Timberwolves’ front court would be pretty fun to watch.

  1. New York Knicks: Malik Monk 6-4 SG Kentucky

Honestly, New York is a dumpster fire right now so any pick here would probably help them. They could go with a point guard like Frank Ntilikina or Dennis Smith but they desperately need some outside shooting help and there’s no better option in the draft for that than Monk. He could be the most talented player in the draft. This could be the big move the Knicks need to make in the draft.

  1. Dallas Mavericks: Frank Ntilikina 6-5 PG France

Dallas supposedly loves Ntilikina but apparently so do Minnesota and New York. If the others decide to pass him up, Dallas will gladly take a chance on him. He’s still only 18 years old so he might need some time to adjust but he could be a real star some day especially as a defender and facilitator.

  1. Sacramento Kings: Zach Collins 7-0 PF Gonzaga

If Sacramento is able to land Fox with the fifth pick, it’s really anybody guess which direction they will go with the tenth pick. Collins is considered one of the best big men in the draft and even though Sacramento has a logjam of young big men on their roster, Collins might be the best available option.

  1. Charlotte Hornets: Donovan Mitchell 6-3 SG Louisville

Mitchell’s size as a 6-3 shooting guard might deter some teams from choosing him but Charlotte seems like a pretty good fit for him. The Hornets definitely don’t need to address the front court after the recent trade that brought in Dwight Howard so getting a solid back court presence like Mitchell who could produce immediately off the bench would help them get back on track in the Eastern Conference standings.

  1. Detroit Pistons: Luke Kennard 6-6 SG Duke

Detroit might like to reach for a big man here if they see themselves moving on from Andre Drummond in the near future but Kennard could be another shooting guard like Mitchell who could produce immediately. Kennard is one of the best shooters in the draft and the Pistons could use some help in that department.

  1. Denver Nuggets: Dennis Smith 6-3 PG NC State

This might seem a little low for Smith who projects as one of the best point guards in the draft but if anybody might slip out of the top ten, I see it being him. He’s supremely athletic but he’s a bit of a risk after a shaking freshman year at NC State. However, he won’t drop out of the lottery and I don’t see Denver, who could use some help at point guard, passing him up if he drops this far.

  1. Miami Heat: O.G. Anunoby 6-8 SF Indiana

Speaking of supreme athletes, Anunoby might be one of the best in the draft. There’s a chance that his ACL injury from this past year could force him to drop out of the lottery but his defensive potential might be too much for teams to pass up. I see him as a good fit in Miami’s new tough-minded, hard-nosed, underappreciated roster.

  1. Portland Trail Blazers: Jarrett Allen 6-11 C Texas

Allen was on a bad team last year at Texas but he has a lot of potential as a shot blocker and post presence in the NBA. He might need a year or two to develop but he could provide some much-needed depth behind Jusuf Nurkic at center in Portland.

  1. Chicago Bulls: John Collins 6-10 PF Wake Forest

Collins is an old-school power forward. He’d be a top ten pick in the 90s. However, the game is changing and while Collins might still fit well on a team as a post presence, I could see some teams passing on him. Chicago might take a chance on him, as depth at the forward positions is a need for them right now.

  1. Milwaukee Bucks: Ike Anigbogu 6-10 C UCLA

Anigbogu is sort of an enigma in this draft. He barely even played this past season for UCLA but his potential alone has him in first round consideration. He seems like a perfect fit for Milwaukee as a long, lanky big man with a 7-5 wingspan. The Bucks have taken chances on guys like him in the past and so far it’s worked out pretty well for them.

  1. Indiana Pacers: Bam Adebayo 6-10 C Kentucky

I like the idea of Indiana taking Adebayo here. He’s an athletic big man who can hold his own on the defensive side of the ball and he could make a nice pairing down low alongside Myles Turner. The Pacers seem to be headed into a new post-Paul George era soon so surrounding Turner with pieces like Adebayo would be a good first step.

  1. Atlanta Hawks: Justin Patton 6-11 C Creighton

Patton is a lot like Jarrett Allen. He didn’t necessarily turn a lot of heads this past season but he has the intangibles to be a productive big man in the NBA. It seems like a foregone conclusion Atlanta will go with a big man after the Dwight Howard trade and Patton is the best available at this spot.

  1. Portland Trail Blazers: Justin Jackson 6-8 SF North Carolina

Jackson has fallen a bit on my board but I still think he could be nice role player in the league one day. Portland won’t want to overload with big men if they go with somebody like Jarrett Allen with the fifteenth pick so Jackson would be a safe, solid pick here.

  1. Oklahoma City Thunder: T.J. Leaf 6-10 PF UCLA

I think Leaf is one of the more underrated players in the draft. He can do a little bit of everything and I think Oklahoma City could be a really nice fit for him. He would give them two young power forwards alongside Domanatas Sabonis, which would only help the depth problem the Thunder experienced this year. Leaf could be a nice option for Russell Westbrook to find when he penetrates and kicks to the outside.

  1. Brooklyn Nets: Anzejs Pasecniks 7-2 C Latvia

Pasecniks seems like the classic Brooklyn Nets pick: a big European guy that no one has ever heard of but would probably fit their system pretty well. He’s 7-2, why not take a chance? Replace Brook Lopez with him and Timofey Mozgov and resume the rebuilding process.

  1. Toronto Raptors: Harry Giles 6-11 PF Duke

Giles’ draft stock has been hurt by injuries in his freshman year at Duke but give him a couple of years and he could possibly surprise everybody. He has the potential to be a nice offensive option in the post in the NBA.

  1. Utah Jazz: D.J. Wilson 6-10 PF Michigan

For some reason, I love the Wilson, Utah pairing. Wilson exploded onto the scene this past year at Michigan and showed his potential as a stretch four who can handle the ball on the wing and finish around the rim. The Jazz have had some success lately with players like him so he seems like a pretty good fit.

  1. Orlando Magic: Isaiah Hartenstein 7-0 PF Germany

Hartenstein apparently didn’t impress in workouts but he’s still drawn the inevitable Dirk Nowitzki comparisons. He’s a 7-0 power forward from Germany who can shoot from outside so the similarities are there. I don’t think he’s anywhere close to the level but Orlando would be smart to take a chance on him since they could use both outside shooting help and depth at power forward.

  1. Portland Trail Blazers: Terrance Ferguson 6-7 SG USA

Ferguson played opted to play overseas instead of playing in college this past year but he has made a name for himself as one of the most athletic prospects in the draft. With their third first round pick, Portland could take a chance on him despite not seeing what he can do against the rest of the college competition.

  1. Los Angeles Lakers: Semi Ojeleye 6-7 SF SMU

Los Angeles could literally do anything with these next two picks. Ojeleye would simply be the best available player at this spot. He’s athletic and a very good scorer but the fact that he transferred from Duke, where he was a footnote on their roster, to SMU has me wondering about his true potential.

  1. Los Angeles Lakers: Derrick White 6-3 PG Colorado

If Los Angeles can come away with both Ojeleye and White with these two picks, they’ve had a great draft. The Lakers need some depth in the backcourt after they traded away D’Angelo Russell and White could be a great backup guard who could produce right away.

  1. San Antonio Spurs: Jonah Bolden 6-10 PF Australia

Bolden seems like your typical San Antonio pick. He’s been climbing up draft boards quickly as the draft nears and Gregg Popovich and the Spurs love to roll the dice on young foreign big men. They might need some help down low immediately if they can’t figure out what they are going to do with LaMarcus Aldridge and Pau Gasol anytime soon.

  1. Utah Jazz: Tony Bradley 6-10 C North Carolina

Bradley could be a real sleeper. He showed a lot of potential both offensively and defensively after just playing spot minutes for North Carolina this past year. Utah could take a chance on him and have him be a backup to Rudy Gobert until they realize just how good he could be.

NFL Mock Draft 3.0

by jonmwhee

By: Murphy Wheeler

Image Credit: Gerry Broome/AP Photo

  1. Cleveland Browns: Myles Garrett DE Texas A&M

It’s plain and simple, Garrett is the best prospect in the draft. Cleveland would be foolish to pass him up at number one. However, it is the Browns so don’t be surprised if they mess it up and reach for a quarterback.

  1. San Francisco 49ers: Solomon Thomas DE Stanford

Thomas has officially reserved his place as the second best prospect at this point. He’s an athletic freak for his size so even though the defensive line isn’t as big of a need as others for San Francisco, he would be hard to pass up.

  1. Chicago Bears: Jamal Adams S LSU

Chicago could really use a cornerback here and Marshon Lattimore would be a good option but Adams seems like a better option at safety. He could be special and even though the Bears recently signed veteran safety Quentin Demps, Adams would still be an understandable choice.

  1. Jacksonville Jaguars: Leonard Fournette RB LSU

Jacksonville seems really interested in Fournette. This seems like a pretty logical pick even though there are questions about Fournette’s athleticism. He would still eventually be a better power back option than Chris Ivory down the road.

  1. Tennessee Titans: Marshon Lattimore CB Ohio State

This is a pretty easy pick. If Lattimore doesn’t go off the board to Chicago at number three, Tennessee will most likely grab him here. Cornerback is the Titans’ biggest need and Lattimore is a classic shutdown corner.

  1. New York Jets: Malik Hooker S Ohio State

A lot of people think New York might reach for a quarterback here but I don’t think they will. They could let Josh McCown handle it for a year and try to get a better option at the position next year. Safety is still a huge need for them and Hooker has maybe the best instincts of any defensive player in the draft.

  1. Los Angeles Chargers: Jonathan Allen DT Alabama

Los Angeles would love to get a safety and I’ve had Hooker going here in past mocks before I had the Jets passing on a quarterback. Allen might be a top three talent so he would kind of fall into the Chargers’ laps. The defensive line isn’t their biggest need but Allen would fit in well alongside Joey Bosa and it would be a best available option situation.

  1. Carolina Panthers: Christian McCaffrey RB Stanford

McCaffrey has understandably risen since my last mock draft. He’s a do it all back that excels at catching out of the backfield. Carolina seems to be desperate to move on from Jonathan Stewart at the position and there are few options better than McCaffrey.

  1. Cincinnati Bengals: Reuben Foster LB Alabama

Cincinnati has a few needs but inside linebacker is by far the biggest. They could possibly go with Haason Reddick, who is quickly climbing up draft boards but Foster would be a surefire starter in his rookie year, which is what the Bengals are looking for here.

  1. Buffalo Bills: O.J. Howard TE Alabama

Buffalo could go in a variety of directions with this pick but Howard seems like a good bet. Charles Clay led them in receptions last year but Howard would be an improvement. There hasn’t been a tight end prospect of his quality in a draft since Vernon Davis.

  1. New Orleans Saints: Haason Reddick LB Temple

As I said, Reddick has suddenly found himself in top ten discussions as of late. He might be the most athletic and explosive defensive player in the draft and could player anywhere from inside linebacker, outside linebacker or defensive end. He’d be an excellent pick for New Orleans, who could use help at just about anywhere on defense.

  1. Cleveland Browns: Mitch Trubisky QB North Carolina

The first quarterback finally comes off the board. Cleveland has been really high on Trubisky, so don’t be surprised if they trade up for him. However, I think they could stay put at twelve and still get him as long as New York can force themselves not to reach at number six. Trubisky has established himself as the best quarterback in the draft so this would be fine if Cleveland is desperate at the position.

  1. Arizona Cardinals: Mike Williams WR Clemson

Arizona is another team that could do anything with their first round pick. It really depends on what happens in front of them but in this situation, Williams would be a great pick. The Cardinals could get arguably the best wide receiver in the draft and have somebody to fill Larry Fitzgerald’s role once he retires.

  1. Philadelphia Eagles: Dalvin Cook RB Florida State

In my last mock draft, I had Gareon Conley going here. He would have been a great fit for Philadelphia but I find it hard to believe anybody will want to take a chance on him in the first round after his rape allegations. Therefore, the Eagles decide to fill the hole they have at running back and grab Cook before he drops.

  1. Indianapolis Colts: Derek Barnett DE Tennessee

This would be great for Indianapolis. They are most likely going to go for a pass rusher here and Barnett is one of the best in the draft. He’s a top ten talent so if he falls this far the Colts will definitely take a chance.

  1. Baltimore Ravens: Corey Davis WR Western Michigan

Baltimore definitely needs some help at wide receiver and Davis would be the best option here. The argument could be made for Davis as the best receiver in the draft so Baltimore would be satisfied with this decision. Davis could give Joe Flacco a nice weapon after the Ravens lost Steve Smith and Kamar Aiken this offseason.

  1. Washington Redskins: Jarrad Davis LB Florida

Davis has really climbed the draft boards since my last mock draft and I really like him as a player. He’s been praised for his character and has great athleticism to go along with it. Washington could use some help stuffing the run up the middle so he would be a solid choice.

  1. Tennessee Titans: John Ross WR Washington

Tennessee has two glaring needs: secondary and wide receiver. After addressing the first need with the fifth pick, they would obviously jump on a prospect like Ross at eighteen. His speed sets him apart from everybody else in the draft and he could give the Titans a dangerous downfield receiving threat.

  1. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: David Njoku TE Miami

Tampa Bay is another team with some options but after the Austin Seferian-Jenkins experiment failed last year, tight end seems like a good position to address here. Njoku and Howard stand out from the rest of the tight ends of this class but his elite pass-catching and athleticism are enough to take a chance on in the top twenty.

  1. Denver Broncos: Ryan Ramczyk OT Wisconsin

This is where I’ve had the first offensive lineman coming off the board in all my mock drafts. This is a pretty deep O-line class so it’ll be easy for teams to wait on picking them. However, this is Denver’s biggest need and Ramczyk would be a reliable option for them.

  1. Detroit Lions: Charles Harris DE Missouri

Harris is another player that has really risen since my last mock draft that I really like. He’s extremely versatile and can play either defensive end or outside linebacker. Lucky for Detroit, both are big needs for them so they could plug Harris in right away at either spot.

  1. Miami Dolphins: Forrest Lamp OG Western Kentucky

The offensive lineman start to really come off the board now. Lamp could be really valuable for teams looking for line help as he can play any position with ease. Miami has bigger needs but would have to reach to address them here so Lamp would be a safe pick.

  1. New York Giants: Cam Robinson OT Alabama

The case could be made for Robinson as the best offensive lineman in the draft. In fact, he probably is if you base it off of pure talent. The thing that will turn many away from him is questions about his attitude but I see the Giants taking a chance.

  1. Oakland Raiders: Marlon Humphrey CB Alabama

Some people have Humphrey going higher than this so maybe I’m crazy. However, I see him falling here and Oakland has a big enough need at cornerback to take him. He’s got great size for his position so he would be fit well with what the Raiders want in their secondary.

  1. Houston Texans: Patrick Mahomes QB Texas Tech

Finally, another quarterback comes off the board. I’m starting to really like Mahomes. He’s fearless and I think teams are starting to notice. I know a lot of people think Houston might surprise us and go with an offensive lineman here but I think quarterback is just too big of a need for them right now.

  1. Seattle Seahawks: Kevin King CB Washington

Much like Houston, Seattle is another team that desperately needs help on the offensive line. However, with Richard Sherman rumors swirling and a lack of depth at the position, cornerback is another major need for them. There are options at both positions so this will be a tough decision for the Seahawks but King fits the mold of the kind of defensive back that they love in their system. He’s tall and lanky and would be a great fit alongside Sherman if he stays.

  1. Kansas City Chiefs: Deshaun Watson QB Clemson

I finally caved in and have Kansas City going with a quarterback. I didn’t want to because I have actually been one of Alex Smith’s biggest supporters but if a talent like Watson is still on the board, I don’t see how they could go in a different direction.

  1. Dallas Cowboys: Takkarist McKinley LB UCLA

When players rise on the draft boards, it only means that some will fall as well. Some players like Gareon Conley and Jabrill Peppers have obvious reasons as to why they have dropped, while others like McKinley do so unjustly. Therefore, he falls into Dallas’ lap here, who should be looking for the best defensive option with this pick. They’d get an uber-athletic pass rusher with him.

  1. Green Bay Packers: T.J. Watt LB Wisconsin

Watt might be even more athletic than his brother J.J. and is just as versatile as he can play either defensive end or outside linebacker. That’s hard for teams to pass up and Green Bay is another team that should be looking for the best defensive option in the first round.

  1. Pittsburgh Steelers: Obi Melifonwu S Connecticut

Melifonwu has kind of come out of nowhere on mock drafts as of late and seems like just the kind of player Pittsburgh would love to have. They love big, athletic, hard-hitting safeties and the little-known Melifonwu fits that mold perfectly.

  1. Atlanta Falcons: Malik McDowell DT Michigan State

I’ve had McDowell going to Atlanta in every mock draft I’ve done. It’s a perfect fit. Atlanta’s biggest need is at defensive tackle and McDowell is a first round talent. It isn’t a flashy pick but it’s one the Falcons need to make.

  1. New Orleans Saints: Tre’Davious White CB LSU

If we’re really discussing New Orleans’ draft needs, it has to start with their defense, especially their atrocious secondary. Now that Gareon Conley is probably out of the question, they won’t reach for one at number eleven. However, they can get the best cornerback available here and there will be plenty of quality ones to choose from at this point. White’s not the biggest corner but he has the instincts to make him dangerous on the field.

Calling All Giant Killers

by jonmwhee

By: Murphy Wheeler

Image Credit: Andy Lyons/ Getty Images

Some things in sports get really old. In the NBA, the superteam Golden Sate Warriors and the LeBron James-led Cleveland Cavaliers are two of them.

The two teams have split the last two NBA Finals and they looked destined to do so again after both teams swept their opponents in the first round of the playoffs. Cleveland was able to reveal just how dysfunctional the Indiana Pacers were this year and Golden State embarrassed Portland with a scoring barrage in Game four.

Even though both teams have looked superb so far, especially the Warriors who look unstoppable with their super quartet of Kevin Durant, Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson and Draymond Green, there’s still some hope for those of you like me who are longing for these teams to fall. I’d like to see things shake up a bit in the Finals so here’s four teams who have the best chance of making that happen.

Boston Celtics

This might seem like a strange choice considering Boston struggled mightily in their first two home games against the Chicago Bulls but after traveling to Chicago for games three and four, they’ve regained some momentum. The Celtics have looked great in their last two games and finally are starting to look like the team that stole the number one seed from Cleveland during the regular season. They’re one good post presence away from being completely better than the Cavaliers. It would be huge if they would be able to come up with a trade for somebody like Andre Drummond during the summer. Therefore, the Celtics might be a year away from truly challenging the Cavaliers but with Isaiah Thomas playing like one of the best players in the playoffs and little-used Gerald Green becoming a revelation in their starting lineup, there is still a slight chance for them. I think the death of Thomas’ sister really hurt their concentration in the first two games but it seems like they’re starting to come around. I see them winning out against the Bulls, possibly setting up a battle royale with…

Washington Wizards

Washington has suddenly found themselves in a tied series with Atlanta after looking good early on in the series. However, the Wizards still look like they have a good chance of closing out their series with the Hawks, which would set them up for a primetime second round matchup with the Celtics (if they find a way to close out the Bulls). John Wall has been playing at an extremely high level and they’ve gotten great production from their others starters in Bradley Beal, Otto Porter, Marcin Gortat and Markieff Morris. They’ve looked like one of the best starting lineups in the league. The possible matchup with Boston would be a favorable one for Washington since Gortat and Morris would give the Celtics problems in the paint, especially in the rebounding department. However, Washington’s lack of depth off the bench could prove to be their Achilles’ heel if they faced off with Cleveland in the Eastern Conference Finals. The Cavaliers are a much deeper team, which would be key in a seven game series.

San Antonio Spurs

Transitioning to the West, the two-seeded Spurs are the obvious top choice to dethrone Golden Sate. San Antonio looked great in their first two first round games against Memphis but the Grizzlies have clawed their way back in it and are giving them everything they can handle. Early in the series, you could have made the case that San Antonio even looked better than the Warriors. Even though Memphis is putting up a good fight and impressive Houston would be the likely second round matchup, I’ll never count out a Gregg Popovich-coached team. Kawhi Leonard is still one of the most dangerous players in the league and is leading the second best defense in the NBA. That stingy defense along with plenty of playoff experience from the likes of starters Pau Gasol and Tony Parker could be extremely scary for a team like Golden State. Leonard could definitely use some scoring help as LaMarcus Aldridge has struggled at times during the Memphis series but it really all falls on Leonard’s shoulders. If he can continue his current scoring pace and find a way to shut down Kevin Durant (and I think he definitely can), the Spurs are by far the best bet to take down the giants.

Utah Jazz

Surprised? I’m sure many expected to see Houston as the next team here but I personally think Utah is one of the best-assembled teams in the playoffs. The Jazz are the only team with a better defense than San Antonio and defense seems to be the best approach to taking down the Warriors rather than just trying to keep pace offensively like Houston would attempt to do. Utah still found a way to win their last game against Los Angeles even when their top scoring option in Gordon Hayward left early with food poisoning. Their defense is just that good. Hayward, one of the most underrated scoring threats in the league, won’t be out for long and will only make the Jazz that more dangerous. Big man and freak of nature Rudy Gobert has impressed me tremendously so far and could be just the rim protector they need in taking that aspect away from Golden Sate’s offensive repertoire and then hope they go cold from deep. Utah also has a lot of depth, which could help as they move on in the playoffs. Joe Ingles and Joe Johnson have both been awesome in the playoffs and have proven there are plenty of players the Jazz can stick into their system and still be successful. It would undoubtedly be an unbelievable upset if Utah found a way to beat the Warriors but they’re one of the few that have a real chance.

Real Hoosiers

by jonmwhee

By: Murphy Wheeler

As the NBA playoffs begin and the MLB season is now in full swing, I found myself not drawn to either subject. I’ve watched the NBA playoffs pretty intently so far but I’ve yet to find any storylines that I found all that interesting. I had no idea what I was going to write about this week.

Then I went home for Easter this past weekend and found some inspiration.

Home for me is Orleans, Indiana. It’s your stereotypical small southern Indiana town with one stoplight, one high school and three gas stations where all the old men gather to sit and tell old stories. I started going to school in Orleans in sixth grade and have loved it ever since. I’m never disappointed when I go home for a holiday, even if you have to make your own fun most of the time.

As I was sitting in the Orleans Christian Church on Sunday, I looked around at the large Easter crowd and at all the faces I recognized from the community. I realized that I could pick out just about anybody and find a way in which they affected my life at some point along the way while I was growing up. I might have had more of a connection to some more than others but that’s just how it is in small communities like Orleans. Everybody knows everybody.

All of this reminded me of an article that Gregg Doyel of the Indianapolis Star wrote during Indiana’s high school basketball sectional season. It told the story of the Connersville basketball team and how much their run to a sectional title meant to the community.

Doyel’s article made me realize why I was drawn to sports in the first place. It wasn’t the NBA that was my first love affair with sports; it was Orleans high school basketball. I didn’t look up to professional players as idols; I looked up to the teenage kids that were playing for the Orleans Bulldogs on Friday nights. Doyel’s article made me realize just how instrumental the community was to the success I would have later on in my own playing career. It also made me realize how important my friends and I were to the community once we made our way to the same court as my idols from before. Basketball and the community needed each other equally.

Therefore, I thought it might be a good idea to take a look at the impact of high school basketball in Indiana from the vantage point of someone who experienced a situation not much different from that of this year’s Connersville team. I had my own Hoosiers-esque experience at Orleans and I still cherish the memories from that to this day.

The picture you see above is of me and my dad. He was an assistant coach for all four years of my career. The picture is from senior year and of the very moment we had just secured the sectional title. We had just beaten Trinity Lutheran (rather handedly I might add) who had beaten us in the sectional championship the year before.

I couldn’t hold back my emotions in that moment. I just let it all out. I had never felt such a strong emotional force come over me in my entire life. The year-long wait to redeem ourselves from the past year’s title game, the years of trials and tribulations of growing up with a father as a coach and the immense support from the community all culminated in that very moment. I’ll never forget that feeling.

Looking back at that now, I realize we never could have won sectional without our community’s support. Instead of giving up on us through hard times, they stuck with us. Our gym was always packed full for every game. It was the place to be on Friday night in Orleans. It always seemed like the whole town was there watching. There was plenty of pressure that came along with that but when I ask my former teammates about it they usually say the pressure is what it’s all about. That’s why you play high school basketball in Indiana, for the community.

That’s when I had another realization. The community needed us just as much as we needed them. Year after year, as new kids make up the Orleans basketball team, the players are like celebrities in town. Young kids look up to you just like I had when I was young. You can’t hardly go anywhere in public without somebody bringing up last week’s game as basketball seems to be the talk of the town. During sectional week, you take a trip to the elementary school to sign autographs for the kids and if you win, you get an escorted ride by fire trucks around the small town square.

However, win or lose, the support would still be there. Yes, people wanted you to be successful, but high school basketball is really just a distraction. It wasn’t necessarily about the actual game; it was about an escape from the struggles of living in small town America.

That’s something I didn’t quite understand during my first three years of high school. I was ultra-competitive. Losing and bad performances devastated me because I thought winning was what it was all about and what the fans expected.

My senior year is when that thought process changed for me. I realized it wasn’t all about the game. The community would still be there for me no matter what.

This new realization came about due in large part from the amazing coaching staff that I was surrounded by at Orleans. I was lucky enough to have a head coach like Tom Bradley and assistants in my father and Jared Gilbert who didn’t just focus on winning, as they wanted to mold us in to good young adults as well. It was all about teaching us life lessons like hard work and dedication through the game of basketball.

Even Coach Bradley, a man who lives and breathes basketball and finds plays in his coat pockets at church, knew it wasn’t just about the game. Going Christmas shopping for the needy, the obligation to go out and do a good deed and report back about it at practice, coach young children in the local elementary basketball league and shake the hands of veterans at our school’s Veteran’s Day ceremony were traditions and musts in his program. Winning was definitely important to him, (and he’s done plenty of that with nine sectional titles on his resume) but he wanted us to know what it meant to be a good person first and foremost. Being privileged enough to be on the basketball team was an opportunity to represent your entire community. I’m glad I figured that out before I graduated. I think the community respected that more than our basketball skill. Winning was just an added bonus.

When I go back home to watch my old team play, the Orleans basketball gym feels like hallowed ground for me. Even today, two years after I graduated and played my last basketball game, I still feel like a celebrity. Basketball games are like my version of Cheers, everybody knows your name. Once you’ve played for the school in front of everybody in town for four years, you’re accepted for life.

Returning to games always brings back memories from my playing days for me. I still get choked up looking around at all the people I know in the crowd and how they are still there in their regular seats cheering on the team. I still get nervous as the national anthem plays and the young boy scouts hold the American flag high in the center of the court. I still get flashbacks as I see my dad on the bench lose his cool over a missed block-out.

Most of all, I still get flashbacks when I look at the sectional picture from my senior year hanging on the wall of the gym. I think back to that moment in the picture of me and my dad when I couldn’t hold in my emotions.

I often wonder if people will remember our senior season when they look at that picture years from now. I think they will. I think people will still want to talk about it.

You may wonder why. Why would people not move on?

Much like other small Indiana towns, even when Orleans falls on hard times, they’ll still have high school basketball. Even as factories shut down and people lose their jobs, they’ll still have something to fall back on.

If you’re ever in Orleans on a Friday night and there’s a basketball game going on, you probably won’t run in to a lot of folks around town. They’ll all be at the gym.

Welcome to Indiana…

Sergio Garcia: The Don Quixote of Golf

by jonmwhee

By: Murphy Wheeler

Image Credit: Associated Press

Everybody loves a good underdog story. The last couple of years in sports have been full of them as teams and individuals with long-standing championship droughts have broken through lately. In baseball, the Chicago Cubs finally won their first World Series since 1908. In college basketball, the Villanova Wildcats won their first national championship since 1985 and in college football, Clemson took down almighty Alabama in the national championship.

On Sunday, another sports figure joined those ranks in Augusta. Sergio Garcia, or El Nino (the Kid) as he is called in his native nation of Spain, won his first major title of his career by defeating Justin Rose in a playoff to secure the 2017 Masters championship.

To many, Garcia’s victory may not be as obvious of an underdog story as the Cubs but it most definitely is when you look at the hardships Garcia has faced along the way in his career. When he broke out on to the professional golf scene in 1999 by being the lowest amateur in that year’s Masters, winning on the European Tour in his sixth career start and having an epic battle in which he finished second against fellow youngster Tiger Woods in the PGA Championship, Garcia seemed to be destined for a dominant career. He and Woods were the future of golf.

Tiger went on to win 14 major championships. Until this year, Garcia sat at zero. Although Sergio has spent most of his career in the top ten in the world rankings, (he’s currently ranked 7th) he could never break through to win that elusive major. In fact, he did so in devastating fashion.

In the years to come after his narrow defeat at the ’99 PGA Championship to Woods, Garcia would face much more heartbreak. In 2007, he looked destined to win his first major at the British Open. After leading through the first three rounds, Garcia had a four-shot lead early in the final day. However, a rough bogey-filled finish to the front nine and a missed eight-foot putt to win on the 18th hole, forced him into a playoff with Padraig Harrington, which he ultimately lost. The next year, a similar fate fell upon him at the PGA Championship. Sergio lost a two-stroke lead on the back nine during the final round as his second shot on the 16th hole found the water. It was Harrington again who stole his title away. The British Open got him yet again in 2014 as well. Despite starting the final round seven shots off the lead, Garcia got himself within two shots of Rory McIlroy. However, a failed escape out of a bunker on the 15th hole shattered any chance of him finishing the comeback, as McIlroy would go on to secure the win.

The constant blown leads, mistakes and near misses had given Garcia a new billing among golf fans. He was no longer a young phenom. He was a choker, a disappointment. Fans looked past his many other tour wins, including a victory at the Players Championship in 2008, or his success as a Ryder Cup hero. He was judged by his lack of a major title.

That’s why this year’s Masters was even more special. Despite a missed putt to win on the 18th, he didn’t choke. He finished it off. Now he’s seen differently, as a hall of famer to be.

Instead of comparing Garcia to fellow Spanish golfing greats (and his idols) such as Seve Ballesteros or Jose Maria Olazabol, there’s a different Spaniard that Sergio is similar to. In a sense, he is the Don Quixote of golf and the Spanish connection is just a coincidence.

If you’re unfamiliar with Don Quixote, here’s a quick introduction. He was the subject of probably the most important piece of Spanish literature called The history of the valorous and wittie Knight-Errant Don-Quixote of the Mancha, (wow, what a name) which was written by Miguel de Cervantes in 1605. Quixote’s story is one of determination and obsession. He was a man that longed for chivalry to return to the world after being driven mad by obsessing over stories of chivalrous knights before him. He was determined to set out on a quest to return honor to his name and his love and to search for a return of the chivalry that he saw dead to the world.

Now, you may be wondering what the character of Quixote’s connection is to a golfer. Just like Quixote, Garcia’s story is that of determination and obsession as well. He too was on a quest of his own. While Quixote longed for a return to chivalry, Garcia longed for that major title. On their respective journeys, they each faced plenty of obstacles that were caused by their shortcomings. Throughout Quixote’s quest, he mistakes inns for castles and windmills for giants. It was all brought on by his madness from obsessing over the return of chivalry. Sergio’s past meltdowns were well publicized and were seen as a result of him not being able to handle the pressure of closing out the competition at the highest stage. Perhaps, that tendency to “choke” was brought on by the immense pressure of being the “next big thing” and the great expectations that came from that breakout season in 1999.

Another aspect that ultimately connects Quixote to Garcia is that they were both very aware of their downfalls. Throughout Cervantes’ novel, Quixote is seen being aware of his madness as his journey progresses. Although he struggles to distinguish reality from his own misconceptions, it is speculated that he may have been coherent the whole time but just ignored the truth. However, as his quest continues and his ultimate goal seems to stray farther away, he starts to understand the reality around him. He slowly regains saneness, if he didn’t have it already in the first place.

Likewise, as the years in which Garcia was unable to reach that golfing pinnacle of winning a major piled on, he too became conscious of what was holding him back. He saw the writing on the wall, heard what they were saying. He knew that until he could find a way to get over whatever mental hindrance was keeping him from being able to finish in crunch time, his legacy would be that of the one who couldn’t win at the big stage. (He was even quoted as saying as much.) He would be in the same category of the likes of Colin Montgomerie or Lee Westwood, only a bit more tragic.

Finally, after 18 years of waiting, Sergio has made his way out of that conversation. He finally found a way to win the big one and the years of disappointment are over. He is no longer the one with the tragic history for which everybody has sympathy toward.

At the end of Cervantes’ novel, Quixote dies along with chivalry as a whole. His quest was a failure. He died while never truly finding what he was looking for in the long run.

Garcia is no longer Don Quixote. He did it. He succeeded. He finally has peace. Congrats, El Nino…

NFL Mock Draft 2.0

by jonmwhee

By: Murphy Wheeler

Image Credit: Getty Images

  1. Cleveland Browns: Myles Garrett DE Texas A&M

The Browns could use help at just about every position so why not go with the best prospect in the draft in a freak of nature defensive end like Garrett. It seems pretty simple. Don’t screw this up Cleveland.

  1. San Francisco 49ers: Solomon Thomas DE Stanford

Thomas has shot up draft boards and now has himself in the conversation among the top defensive prospects in a strong class. I wouldn’t be totally surprised if San Francisco trades this pick but if they don’t they could pair Thomas up with their other young defensive end, DeForest Buckner which would provide a very intimidating front line.

  1. Chicago Bears: Jonathan Allen DE Alabama

The Bears are another team that can use some help at multiple positions. They could use this pick to shore up their problems in the secondary with a pick like Marshon Lattimore at cornerback or Malik Hooker or Jamal Adams at safety. However, the first round will be dominated by defensive lineman so why not join in and grab Allen who could make a case for the best in the draft.

  1. Jacksonville Jaguars: Leonard Fournette RB LSU

Fournette has impressed scouts so far and did so even more by getting himself down to the desired weight that many scouts wanted from him. Jacksonville could definitely use some help in the backfield and Fournette could end up being a star. He’s also a bit of a risk.

  1. Tennessee Titans: Marshon Lattimore CB Ohio State

If Lattimore isn’t taken by Chicago with the third pick, this is an easy pick for Tennessee. There’s no denying that they are desperate for help in their secondary and there’s no better option at cornerback in the entire draft. Lattimore could be huge for a team on the rise.

  1. New York Jets: Deshaun Watson QB Clemson

This is where it gets interesting. Everybody wants to know where the quarterbacks go and this year could go in a variety of directions. If the Jets don’t take a quarterback here, there’s a good chance none go in the top ten and could drop even farther from there. I think New York takes Watson here though just because their quarterback situation is that bad right now. Watson is an amazing talent and he’s a winner, which the Jets could use.

  1. Los Angeles Chargers: Malik Hooker S Ohio State

As Jamal Adams starts to drop some, the Chargers have some options here. They will want to take a safety and they have two great options between Adams and Hooker. I say they take Hooker who is only climbing draft boards right now. Either one would be a solid pick.

  1. Carolina Panthers: O.J. Howard TE Alabama

Carolina could definitely use some help at running back or the defensive line but I have them going with a surprising pick here in Howard. This is another pick that could easily be traded but if not, Howard would give Cam Newton another weapon and give Carolina one of the best tight end prospects in years.

  1. Cincinnati Bengals: Reuben Foster LB Alabama

Foster is just too good of a fit for Cincinnati for them to pass up here. They need some help at the linebacker position and there’s none better than Foster in this draft. He would fit into Cincinnati’s defensive scheme pretty well so this would be a safe pick.

  1. Buffalo Bills: Jamal Adams S LSU

Buffalo could use some help at wide receiver but if Adams is still on the board, they probably couldn’t pass him up. They have some needs in the secondary anyway so Adams kind of falls into their laps at number ten.

  1. New Orleans Saints: Derek Barnett DE Tennessee

It’s no secret New Orleans’ defense is horrendous. Any pick on the defensive side would be a good decision for the Saints. Barnett is another one of the very talented defensive ends in this draft so he would probably be another case of the best available option at this pick.

  1. Cleveland Browns: Mitch Trubisky QB North Carolina

The second quarterback comes off the board at twelve as the Browns will obviously be looking for answers at the position. They will be tempted to go with a QB with the first pick but if they are smart they’ll take the best prospect in Garrett there because I think they can wait until twelve to get a quality quarterback. Although there are questions about Trubisky he has the talent to be something special one day.

  1. Arizona Cardinals: Mike Williams WR Clemson

Arizona could use a quarterback as well but they could use a wide receiver more. If Williams is still around, he would probably be too tantalizing of a talent for Arizona to pass up. Williams is the best wide receiver in the draft and he could give Carson Palmer some intriguing weapons alongside veteran Larry Fitzgerald.

  1. Philadelphia Eagles: Gareon Conley CB Ohio State

Philadelphia could go in a variety of directions with this pick including running back. However, the Eagles could use some help in the secondary and nobody would fit their team better than Conley.

  1. Indianapolis Colts: Takkarist McKinley DE UCLA

Indianapolis needs defensive help and the defensive line and linebacker are both concerns for them. Therefore, it would make perfect sense to take one of the most versatile players in the draft that can play both of those positions in McKinley. He’s got plenty of talent but he would be a project.

  1. Baltimore Ravens: Corey Davis WR Western Michigan

Joe Flacco needs some new weapons. Davis could be a great fit for Baltimore’s offense and if he and Flacco can connect early, the Western Michigan product could give the Ravens one of their most dangerous wide receivers in years.

  1. Washington Redskins: Haason Reddick LB Temple

I’m not sure if anybody knows what Washington is going to do here. The Kirk Cousins drama could affect what they ultimately decide to do but I think it would be smart to take one of the fastest rising prospects in Reddick. Reddick is very versatile and similar to McKinley but his athleticism sets him apart from others at the position.

  1. Tennessee Titans: John Ross WR Washington

Everything seems to be falling into Tennessee’s lap in this draft. If they are able to boost their secondary with Lattimore with the fifth pick, it only seems logical to take care of their other major need at wide receiver. Ross is by far the best remaining at the position so this makes a lot of sense for the Titans.

  1. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Jabrill Peppers S Michigan

Peppers is interesting because he could end up going anywhere from the top ten to the second round. Not many teams know what to do with a prospect like Peppers who is probably the most versatile player in the draft. It seems like safety would be the best bet as to where he would play in the pros and he could improve Tampa Bay’s secondary immediately.

  1. Denver Broncos: Ryan Ramcyk OT Wisconsin

The first offensive lineman finally comes off the board. Ramcyk may not be the most talented lineman in the draft but he is the most reliable. Reliability is exactly what Denver needs right now.

  1. Detroit Lions: Christian McCaffrey RB Stanford

McCaffrey could be something special if he ends up in the right place and Detroit seems like a good fit. The Lions need some help in the backfield and with McCaffrey’s ability to catch passes, he could have a special connection with Matthew Stafford who could always use more weapons.

  1. Miami Dolphins: Forrest Lamp OG Western Kentucky

Miami could go with a tight end here but they need more help on the offensive line. Lamp has slowly been climbing up the draft boards and he could help build a pretty impressive young nucleus up front for Miami.

  1. New York Giants: Cam Robinson OT Alabama

New York is another team that could use some tight end help but I think they too decide to strengthen the offensive line. Robinson may be one of the most talented prospects in all of the draft but his attitude concerns are what ultimately force him to fall to here.

  1. Oakland Raiders: David Njoku TE Miami

Another tight end finally comes off the board. There was a time not too long ago when Njoku was seen as a possibly better option at the position than O.J. Howard so obviously the talent is there. Oakland could definitely use some help at linebacker and cornerback but with no obvious pick at those positions this late in the first round, Njoku seems like a safe pick.

  1. Houston Texans: Patrick Mahomes QB Texas Tech

Now that Tony Romo has retired, I think it has become pretty obvious that Houston needs to draft a quarterback. They take Mahomes over DeShone Kizer in my opinion, as Mahomes has become a hot commodity as of late. There aren’t enough quality free agent quarterbacks for Houston to pass one up in the first round.

  1. Seattle Seahawks: Kevin King CB Washington

I thought it seemed pretty obvious that Seattle would go with an offensive lineman here but with trade rumors about Richard Sherman swirling around, I think they might decide to address their cornerback depth with this pick. King fits exactly what Seattle looks for in their secondary as a long athletic shutdown corner.

  1. Kansas City Chiefs: Dalvin Cook RB Florida State

With Cook falling and still on the board this late and the recent departure of Jamaal Charles, this seems like a match made in heaven. Kansas City could be the perfect spot for Cook to immediately take over as a feature back.

  1. Dallas Cowboys: Adoree Jackson CB USC

Dallas could use some help at defensive end but they take the best available option in Jackson. Jackson is pretty versatile and along with being one of the top cornerbacks in the draft, he may be the class’ top kick returner as well.

  1. Green Bay Packers: Marlon Humphrey CB Alabama

With the top three running backs off the board, Green Bay will decide to address their other major need in their atrocious secondary. Humphrey seems like safe pick and could contribute immediately, which is what the Packers need.

  1. Pittsburgh Steelers: Taco Charlton DE Michigan

Charlton is another player that could go anywhere from the top ten to the second round. If he’s still around this late, it’s hard to believe Pittsburgh wouldn’t take a chance.

  1. Atlanta Falcons: Malik McDowell DT Michigan State

Atlanta has a major need at defensive tackle. This is another pretty obvious pick as McDowell, who was once projected a much higher pick than this, is the best prospect at the position this late in the first round.

  1. New Orleans Saints: Tre’Davious White CB LSU

New Orleans will still need to continue to strengthen their defense with their second first round pick. I had White going to the Saints at eleven in my last mock draft so this would be a great late first round pick for them.

Masters Preview 2017

by jonmwhee

By: Murphy Wheeler

Image Credit: Curtis Compton/ ajc.com
The 2017 PGA golf campaign has been in session for a few months now but this is when it really starts to heat up. The Masters at Augusta National is arguably professional golf’s biggest stage and there are plenty of storylines going into this year’s tournament.

From Jason Day’s mother’s ongoing battle against lung cancer to another absence from Tiger Woods, there should be plenty of drama in Augusta but here’s a quick look at some favorites and sleeper picks for this week.

The Favorites

Dustin Johnson (World Rank: 1)

Nobody in the world is hotter than Johnson right now. The American has worked his way up to the world’s number one ranking by winning his last three appearances. If three straight wins aren’t enough, Johnson also has two other top three finishes. That’s five of his seven tournaments this year resulting in top three finishes. He had struggled at Augusta until 2015 when he finished in a tie for sixth and followed that up with a tied for fourth finish last year. Johnson’s struggles to close out Majors have been well documented in the past but with a hot streak like this, maybe it doesn’t matter.

Rory McIlroy (World Rank: 2)

Although McIlroy doesn’t have any wins this year, he does have two top five finishes and had a strong showing at the Arnold Palmer Invitational in March. McIlroy’s inclusion here is basically because of his recent success at Augusta. He’s had top ten finishes in the past three years but the Masters still remains the one major McIlroy has yet to win. He also hasn’t won a major since 2014 so he’s definitely due.

Jordan Spieth (World Rank: 6)

I really hate to take the easy way out and pick the obvious choices as the favorites but I couldn’t bet against Johnson, McIlroy and Spieth. Spieth loves Augusta despite his final round collapse that lost him last year’s tournament. In his three Masters appearances, Spieth has finished in the top two each time including his victory in 2015. Even though Spieth hasn’t had his best start to this season, he still won the Pebble Beach Pro-Am in February and he’ll most likely be in some sort of contention in any tournament at Augusta.

The Sleeper Picks

Jon Rahm (World Rank: 12)

It’s hard to consider Rahm a sleeper since he’s worked his way up to twelfth in the world rankings and may be the second hottest golfer in the world next to Johnson. The Spaniard has four top five finishes including a win in the Farmers Insurance Open in January. Rahm is obviously one of golf’s fastest rising stars as he’s gotten to that number twelve ranking after starting the year ranked at 137. There’s no reason to believe Rahm’s hot streak won’t transfer over in his first appearance at Augusta.

Thomas Pieters (World Rank: 35)

Pieters, from Belgium, proved in last year’s Olympics that he is able to play at a high level on the International stage. This will be Pieters’ first Masters appearance as well but he has two top five finishes this year including a second place result at the Genesis Open. Therefore, Pieters’ trip to America shouldn’t phase him too much which could possibly lead him to a surprise like Danny Willett’s victory last year.

Russell Henley (World Rank: 61)

It may be another cop out to include the most recent winner on tour as a sleeper but Henley’s performance at the Shell Houston Open deserves some mentioning. Henley started the final round four shots behind but shot a 65 to secure a three shot victory. That included five birdies within the first eight holes. Henley has never finished in the top twenty in his previous three appearances but maybe that final round in Houston is all the momentum Henley needs to make a run

Why I Love South Carolina

by jonmwhee

By: Murphy Wheeler

Image Credit: Gregory Shamus/ Getty Images

Let’s get something straight right now. This is 150 percent an example of me jumping on the bandwagon. I don’t like to do that when it comes to sports but sometimes I can’t help myself.

I won’t lie to you. I had South Carolina losing to Marquette in the first round of the NCAA Tournament on my bracket. (I guess that was a sign to come for my horrific bracket this year.) However, now I’m all in on this team full of guys named Sindarius, Rakym and Maik that entered the tournament losing six of their last nine games, with a coach that used to be a nightclub bouncer and at a school that had never reached the Final Four in its history. They’re there now and they’re doing something we’ve never seen before.

There have been weird teams in the Final Four before. Ninth-seeded Wichita State made it in 2013, eleven-seed VCU made it in 2011 and who can forget eleven-seed George Mason’s run in 2006? There just seems to be something different about the Gamecocks.

South Carolina has played better with a tougher road than most of those strange Final Four teams before them. Not only have they shown off what has looked liked the best defense in the tournament this year after coming in ranked 31st in the country in points allowed; they’ve done it by beating two, three and four seeds in Duke, Baylor and Florida respectively. By the time South Carolina met Florida in the Elite Eight, they didn’t look like the fluke that they did after beating Duke. They looked like a more confident, dominant team that should have won. That’s what should make them so scary for their next opponent in Gonzaga.

It all starts with head coach Frank Martin. What Martin has done at South Carolina has simply been unbelievable. He drew a lot of questioning after leaving Kansas State in 2012 for a long-struggling program in South Carolina but this explosion has been building up for four years right under our noses.

Martin struggled for a couple years at first after taking over some bad teams but he was able to hang around and bring in the players he wanted and the ones he thought would fit his system.

What is his system you may ask? It’s one that obviously emphasizes hard-nosed defense where every player can match up with any offensive lineup that their opponents may throw at them but it’s also a system that focuses on simpler things that are harder to teach such as toughness and heart. That’s how Martin shaped this team. He recruited the players that he knew could match his famous toughness and intensity and there are not many that can do that.

Their roster is nothing spectacular. Skill level-wise, there’s probably no more talent than past South Carolina teams. Senior Sindarius Thornwell may be an exception, as he is a special player and Martin’s pride and joy of his recruits who has averaged 21.6 PPG on the year and has upped that to 25.7 during the NCAA tournament. He’s also a 6-5 guard that can match up defensively with any player on the court. However, even with Thornwell as a possible exception, they’ve made their run with a generally unspectacular roster.

That’s why this run and Martin’s achievements as a coach are so special. The Gamecocks have shown what a team can do when they may be slightly less talented than some of their opponents but completely buy in to their defensive excellence and the idea that they are tougher and more resilient than anybody in the country. That’s why Martin deserves so much respect. Not only does he have his defense playing at a higher level than almost any other team, he’s drilled that idea of resiliency and a will to win into his players for not just this tournament or this year as a whole but since this year’s seniors stepped on to the South Carolina campus four years ago. It’s been building up into this.

The players do deserve some credit too of course. Thornwell, P.J. Dozier, Duane Notice, Chris Silva, Maik Kotsar and Rakym Felder are playing their best basketball of the year but they should take more pride in what they have done as a cohesive unit. They’ve proved just how important versatile defense and experience really are in the NCAA Tournament. They are the most important aspects to a champion.

It doesn’t really matter if South Carolina beats Gonzaga or even wins the National Championship. Although that would be a nice touch to this Cinderella story, they’ve proved their point. Not only did they prove to the world how tough of a group of guys they are, they’ve proved what really wins in college basketball.

Maybe other teams and players will buy into the idea that defense and experience win championships. Maybe this is the first step needed to a changing landscape in college basketball.

An Era is Over at Indiana. Who’s Next?

by jonmwhee

By: Murphy Wheeler

Image Credit: Eric Francis/ Getty Images

All good things come to an end. So do all bad things.

To be honest, I can’t really figure out if I should classify Tom Crean’s tenure as head basketball coach at Indiana, which recently came to an end when it was announced Crean would be fired as head coach, as a good thing or a bad thing. Before you label me as a crazy traditional Hoosier fan begging for a return to the Bob Knight years or as a naïve millennial that just wants to keep the nice guy coach around, just hear me out. I believe to be completely objective on the issue, one has to look at both the positive and the negative things that Crean brought to the table.

Let’s start with the good stuff. Crean came to Bloomington during possibly the darkest times the Hoosiers’ basketball program has seen since Knight was fired in 2000. The program had been rocked by a recruiting scandal involving former head coach Kelvin Sampson, leaving their roster with only two players remaining: Kyle Taber and Bret Finkelmeier. The cupboard was obviously pretty bare and the future was bleak. Despite all of that, Crean left Marquette and replaced Sampson.

The first few years were predictably tough and Crean gets the benefit of the doubt for his early struggles. However, he eventually brought Indiana up from the ashes by landing recruits such as Cody Zeller, Victor Oladipo, Jordan Hulls and Christian Watford to form a nucleus that eventually worked their way up to a number one national rank. As I was typing this, I realized just how impressive that really was in hindsight. Not just anybody could have done that and Crean’s ability to bring recruits to a program that had been so decimated just a few years before is very commendable and his ability to develop those recruits into amazing talents (see Oladipo) is impressive. He didn’t just let Indiana slowly work their way out of their rut. He had them ascending higher and faster than anybody had really expected.

However, there were hard times as well and they were well publicized. That just comes with the territory in Indiana.

For all of the good things that Crean did to get Indiana back to national prominence, he obviously had his shortcomings. Although he was able to build some of the most talented rosters in the country, Crean had a hard time winning. Yes, he went 27-9 in 2012, 29-7 in 2013, 27-8 in 2016 and had two regular season Big Ten titles in that span but when I say winning I mean TRULY winning. Truly winning means success in the NCAA tournament or at least in the Big Ten Tournament.

A perfect example of this lack of success was in 2013 when Crean and his Hoosiers entered the NCAA tournament with a number one seed and arguably the most well rounded roster in the country which was led by two future top five draft picks in Zeller and Oladipo. However, they couldn’t even make it past the Sweet Sixteen and were frankly embarrassed by a less superior Syracuse team whose zone defense ultimately killed the Hoosiers. It was a good example of Crean’s shortcomings as an in-game coach. He just didn’t adapt well and it hurt his team.

The same struggles were evident last year in the Big Ten tournament when Indiana went in with the top seed after winning the regular season. Despite yet again having the best roster in the tournament consisting of Yogi Ferrell, James Blackmon Jr. and Robert Johnson in the backcourt and a promising freshman center in Thomas Bryant, Indiana was defeated in their first game to Michigan on a last second shot. After closing out the season so well with multiple big wins over the likes of Purdue and Maryland, Crean couldn’t get his team ready for the Big Ten tournament. They simply weren’t ready for a Michigan team that was surging at the right time as well.

Still, one could look to Crean’s three Sweet Sixteen appearances and two Big Ten titles and consider it a job well done. Even if that’s true, the final nail in the coffin for Crean was the disaster that was this past season.

Indiana should have been a top fifteen team. They may have lost Ferrell to graduation and Collin Hartman to an injury but they had the pieces to do something special. Bryant and O.G. Anunoby came into the season as two of the most intriguing young players in the country and potential lottery picks, Blackmon and Johnson returned to the backcourt, Josh Newkirk and Juwan Morgan were quality role player options and they had a freshman class consisting of De’Ron Davis, Curtis Jones and Devonte Green that looked like they could contribute immediately. After big early wins over two powerhouses in Kansas and North Carolina, (who were both number one seeds in the NCAA tournament) it looked as if the pieces were in place for something special. (We ignored the IPFW game at that point. It was a fluke right?)

Then the wheels fell off. Indiana finished 18-16 overall, missed the NCAA tournament and looked clueless in an embarrassing loss to Georgia Tech in the first round of the NIT. (When I say embarrassing, I mean Branch McCracken rolled over in his grave during that game.)

It seemed as if the positive aspects of past Crean teams were completely abandoned.

The team was no longer connected as a unit. Bad attitudes from players became obvious and there was a total disconnect between what each player was trying to accomplish. The loss of a leader like Hartman was probably a big factor but it ultimately falls on the shoulders of the head coach. When your star players like Bryant, Blackmon and Johnson look at each other the same way Woody Harrelson and Wesley Snipes looked at each other while hustling each other in White Men Can’t Jump then there has been a failure in leadership somewhere among the coaching staff.

Furthermore, Crean’s best quality of developing his players from year to year seemed to vanish as well. Anunoby might have been the best candidate for this and might have fulfilled that destiny if he did not suffer a season-ending injury at Penn State mid-way through the year. However, Bryant was seen as the other player that was expected to improve immensely from his freshman year and become a force in the post. Many regarded him as a lottery pick and one of the nation’s best big men coming into the season but that ultimately failed miserably. Bryant’s sophomore season was like ordering a loaded potato griller at Taco Bell and driving a mile down the road before realizing they accidently gave you a beefy nacho one. It’ll do but it’s really not what you wanted. Likewise, Bryant’s performance this year really didn’t differ much from that of his freshman year but it was just a little disappointing considering the improvement everybody expected from him.

After this year, Bryant’s failure to play at the same level as other sophomore big men in the Big Ten such as Caleb Swanigan and Ethan Happ has me almost hoping Bryant decides to go pro despite his draft stock falling drastically. That way De’Ron Davis could get some much-needed experience and Indiana could possibly have a more reliable option in the post.

Listen, I’ve tried to see all the positive aspects of Crean’s run at IU. It really isn’t all negative. There have been some definite high points but firing Crean was something Indiana had to do. Alumni were threatening to cut donations and there really was no way of escaping the poor excuse of basketball from a supremely talented team at times this year. Crean was the one to bring Indiana up from the ashes but he wasn’t the one to help the program ascend into the top echelon of college basketball again.

Either way, whether you liked him or not, Tom Crean is gone and somebody is going to have to replace him. Therefore, here are the top five head coaching candidates based on the likelihood of them coming to Bloomington. (IN ALPHABETIC ORDER)

Steve Alford (UCLA)

Alford’s inclusion here is inevitable. He’s definitely been the most-talked about candidate for the IU job but I ultimately think he is the least likely of these five. Even though he is a Hoosier legend and would be returning to his alma mater to complete every Indiana boy’s dream, his overall record of success is not that impressive and is mishandling of a sexual assault case while at Iowa keep him out of serious consideration.

Tony Bennett (Virginia)

Bennett has maybe become the frontrunner after some recent news. Bennett has recently had three of his players transfer from Virginia. That seems a little strange considering the Cavaliers are coming off a pretty good season. Could that mean they see a departure from their coach? Bennett is a great defensive mind but sometimes his teams struggle to score on the big stage. With the extremely athletic roster that Indiana currently has, maybe they can have the best of both worlds with Bennett at the helm.

Billy Donovan (Oklahoma City Thunder)

Donovan has been involved in rumors with the Indiana job since Crean was hired nine years ago. Donovan had tons of success coaching at the college ranks at Florida, winning back-to-back titles in 2006 and 2007 before heading to the NBA. Donovan has been tasked with leading the decimated Thunder roster after Kevin Durant’s departure and has been rumored to be on the hot seat at times. Maybe he’s getting tired of corralling Russell Westbrook 24/7 and wants to get back to the college game.

Gregg Marshall (Wichita State)

Marshall has had tons of success in his ten seasons at Wichita State. He’s had an overall record of 261-90 while with the Shockers and went 35-1 in 2014 and made a Final Four appearance in 2013. Marshall has been talked about a lot when a major coaching position is open and he has still not left Wichita. Maybe Indiana is the job that finally draws him away but something tells me it might be difficult to get him to leave.

Archie Miller (Dayton)

Miller is another very possible candidate based on his ample success in his six seasons at Dayton where he made an Elite Eight appearance in 2014. Miller will be talked about more and more when it comes to major head coaching openings because he is still relatively young. Miller could be a good option for Indiana if they want to go with a fairly low-key selection and have a young presence on the sidelines who could build a formidable program for years to come.An

March Isn’t So Mad for Those Who Stay in School

by jonmwhee

By: Murphy Wheeler

Image Credit: Maddie Meyer/ Getty Images

Sometimes my favorite movie moments are the ones that happen in comedies where you can just turn your brain off and embrace the randomness of some of the scenes. One of my favorite examples of this is a scene from Adam Sandler’s mediocre 2002 comedy, Mr. Deeds. In this one particular scene, which is my favorite from the entire film, Sandler’s millionaire protagonist gives away a large amount of money to two kids he meets on the street. As the kids discuss what they will do with the money, one of them says he is going to drop out of school. In a random moment of comedic brilliance, a nearby toothless hobo yells out, “Good idea! School is for fools! Look at me!”

Even though this scene is meant to be funny and dumb, the age-old adage commonly repeated to kids of “stay in school” is supported in it. Who knows, maybe it even influenced a kid’s decision to do just that along the way.

Judging by some of the successful teams in this year’s NCAA tournament, that just might be true. Yes, there are still some freshman one and dones such as Lonzo Ball and Josh Jackson still dancing but the most dangerous teams in March are the ones led by a sturdy core of veterans.

Before we get into any specific examples from this year, let’s look at some recent history to support that claim. Last year, two veteran-laden squads in Villanova and North Carolina met in one of the most exciting championship games in NCAA history.

Both of these teams were led by seniors. Villanova leaned on Ryan Arcidiacono and Daniel Ochefu while also having an extremely productive junior class consisting of Josh Hart and Kris Jenkins.

Meanwhile, North Carolina may have had even better seniors in Marcus Paige and Brice Johnson along with juniors such as Isaiah Hicks, Kennedy Meeks and Nate Britt. Yes, they got a lot of production from sophomores like Justin Jackson and Joel Berry but those guys are sticking with this trend of staying in school and are now the Tar Heels’ leaders of today.

Before that, Bo Ryan’s always senior-heavy Wisconsin Badgers made back-to-back Final Four appearances in 2014 and 2015 by riding the backs of their veterans such as Frank Kaminsky, Sam Dekker, Josh Gasser and Traevon Jackson. In 2014, those players led the Badgers to the Final Four as mainly juniors when they were defeated by Kentucky. The next year, when they returned for their senior years, they made the Final Four yet again and defeated an undefeated Kentucky team and made it to the National Championship where they were defeated by Duke.

Fast forward to today and Wisconsin, despite the absence of Ryan, are still the epitome of emphasizing senior-led ball clubs. The Badgers just knocked off last year’s champion and this year’s number one overall seed in Villanova in a battle royale second-round matchup of two programs who perfectly embody this veteran approach. Although Wisconsin’s best player is sophomore big man Ethan Happ, the heart and soul of their roster is made up of their four senior starters of Nigel Hayes, Bronson Koenig, Zak Showalter and Vitto Brown who were all around for the Badgers’ two recent Final Four runs. Hayes in particular is a remarkable case as he has played 150 games as a Badger in his career.

That’s why March isn’t so mad for these guys. They’ve been here before and they know what it takes to truly make a run in the tournament. However, maybe Wisconsin is not enough proof.

If not, just look at some of the other top teams in this year’s Sweet Sixteen. Number one-seeded North Carolina is back after being last year’s national runner-up with basically the same team as last year minus the seniors that graduated. Kansas, another number one seed, might have a one and done freshman phenom in Josh Jackson but they are really led by their veteran backcourt consisting of senior Frank Mason III and junior Devonte Graham. The other remaining one seed, Gonzaga, is led by redshirt junior Nigel Williams-Goss and redshirt senior Przemek Karnowski (aka the offspring of Ivan Drago and a sasquatch.) Oregon, Butler, West Virginia, Michigan and South Carolina are other Sweet Sixteen teams led by mainly veterans.

OK, you get the point, there’s a ton of successful teams with mainly juniors and seniors leading the way. You might still disagree because frankly, there are still some exceptions. In 2012, Kentucky won it all with a team of mainly freshmen and sophomores. They had a freshman group consisting of future NBA players, Anthony Davis, Michael Kidd-Gilchrist and Marquis Teague and a sophomore class led by Terrence Jones and Doron Lamb. In 2015, Duke won while being led by freshmen Jahlil Okafor and Tyus Jones. This year, there are a couple of dangerous teams still dancing that are led by young players such as freshmen Lauri Markkanen, Kobi Simmons and Rawle Alkins at Arizona, freshmen Lonzo Ball and T.J. Leaf at UCLA and freshmen De’Aaron Fox and Malik Monk at Kentucky.

Still, these exceptions are few and far between. If you go down the list of past recent NCAA champions, chances are they were most likely veteran squads.

Florida won back-to-back championships in 2006 and 2007 with their veteran core of future pros Joakim Noah, Al Horford and Corey Brewer alongside other productive and experienced Gators such as Taurean Green and Lee Humphrey. Since then, North Carolina (2009), Duke (2010), Louisville (2013) and Villanova (2016) have all won titles while trotting out mainly experienced lineups.

However, judging by some of these past champions, perhaps the best strategy is to have a mix of both old and new. Last year, Villanova was led by Arcidiacono and Ochefu but they also had Jalen Brunson, who as a freshman was one of the Wildcats’ best options late in games. In 2013, Louisville may have had Russ Smith, Peyton Siva and Gorgui Dieng but they also had key contributions from young players such as Chane Behanan, Wayne Blackshear and Montrezl Harrell. In 2010, Duke had Kyle Singler, Jon Scheyer, Nolan Smith and Lance Thomas but they also had the Plumlee brothers, Ryan Kelly and Andre Dawkins who were all starting their careers as Blue Devils at the time.

Looking at this year’s crew of candidates in the Sweet Sixteen, Kansas looks like the team with the most similar game plan to these champions from before. Mason and Graham are two veterans who make up possibly the best backcourt in college basketball while Landen Lucas and Sviatoslav Mykhailiuk (hardest name I’ve ever spelled in my life) are solid options with plenty of experience as well but their most dangerous player might be Jackson who could make a case for the best freshman in the country.

Or perhaps it’s North Carolina, a team made up almost entirely of juniors and seniors that also has a freshman defensive stalwart in Tony Bradley off the bench. If you believe in the theory that experience wins championships, it’d be hard to bet against the Tar Heels who have seniors (Kennedy Meeks, Isaiah Hicks, Nate Britt) and juniors (Justin Jackson, Joel Berry, Theo Pinson) consuming almost all of their minutes excluding the aforementioned Bradley and sophomore Luke Maye.

Heck, maybe it’s Purdue that should be the favorite based off of this metric! They have plenty of experience with Dakota Mathias, P.J. Thompson, Isaac Haas and Spike Albrecht (who went to the national championship game with Michigan in 2013) while also having arguably the best player in college basketball in Caleb Swanigan who is just a sophomore. Throw in young contributors such as freshman Carsen Edwards and sophomore Ryan Cline and you have yourself a team that fits that same mold as good as any of the teams mentioned above.

No matter which team is this year’s favorite, it seems safe to say that for teams to have the BEST chance at winning a championship, experience is dearly needed. The past doesn’t lie, players that have been on the big stage before have a better chance at performing at the highest level.

Sometimes there are exceptions when a team’s freshman class is just too good (see Kentucky 2012). Maybe UCLA’s Lonzo Ball or Kentucky’s Malik Monk and De’Aaron Fox are good enough to be exceptions this year but I just don’t see it. It’ll be hard for them to use their pure talent to match up with the talent AND experience of teams such as North Carolina or Kansas.

Therefore, here’s a note to any aspiring college basketball player who wants to win a championship for their school and not skip out early for the NBA: if you ever come along a toothless hobo that tells you that “school is for fools” like those kids in Mr. Deeds, you might want to just move along (pretty good advice right?)

I think history has proven that fools don’t win championships. And champions stay in school.