Author: Jeff Dooley (Page 3 of 4)

      Oklahoma City Thunder in the 2010 NBA Playoffs?

      April 11, 2009 /

      Kevin DurantRic Bucher penned this story in the latest issue of ESPN The Magazine on how the 22-57 Oklahoma City Thunder could make it to next year’s NBA Playoffs.

      It seems a bit of a stretch, but not altogether ridiculous given the tremendous talent they’ve been stockpiling over the past couple of years. They’re likely to get a top 5 pick in this year’s NBA draft, and while I don’t see them quite making the postseason next year, the 2011 playoffs are starting to look like a sure thing.

      Can you imagine them adding Blake Griffin to their Kevin Durant-Jeff Green-Russell Westbrook core? Scary. Either Hasheem Thabeet or Jordan Hill would help on the inside. Or maybe they go after Spanish point guard Ricky Rubio.

      For a 22-57 team, things don’t look too bad for the Thunder. Anybody else seeing these guys making a Celtics-like jump next year?

      College Basketball, NBA, NBA Draft

      Mel Kiper’s latest mock draft: Sanchez goes no. 13 to the Skins

      April 11, 2009 /

      Mark SanchezMel Kiper dropped his latest mock draft this week on ESPN.com (first 16 picks free, next three and a half rounds Insider only).

      It’s similar in most ways to what he’s been saying over the past few months, with Matthew Stafford going no. 1 overall to the Lions and Jason Smith and Aaron Curry going 2-3 to the Rams and Chiefs, respectively.

      A couple of wrinkles made it in, however. For one, he has the Bills taking DE Robert Ayers of Tennessee with the 11th pick. How this guy is shooting up so many draft charts is beyond me – he played average for a crummy team last year and had sub-par workouts. He certainly doesn’t seem to be in the same class as Aaron Maybin, Brian Orakpo, Everette Brown and Tyson Jackson.

      Mel also has Mark Sanchez sliding all the way to the Washington Redskins at no. 13. Three teams that could use a quarterback (the Jaguars at no. 8, the 49ers at no. 10, and the Broncos at no. 12) pick before then. Kiper has said repeatedly, and with good reason, that none of this year’s quarterbacks are ready to start right away, but Sanchez is more than worth a flier for a team lacking long-term stability at QB. The USC man has a chance to be a franchise saver in the mold of Matt Ryan, perhaps even more so than Stafford.

      Lastly, what is the reason for the sudden drop by Percy Harvin? Kiper himself calls the Florida Gator a Reggie Bush-type player, with running and pass-catching abilities. Bush went no. 2 overall, and while injury-prone throughout his short career, has certified himself as one of the league’s best playmakers. If Harvin is the same type of guy, I don’t see how Harvin would last past the first 15 picks.

      College Football, NFL, NFL Draft

      Andy Katz’s 2009-2010 College Hoops Top 25

      April 11, 2009 /

      Sherron CollinsBasketball fans find themselves in no man’s land this week, just days removed from another thrilling NCAA Tournament and a few days away from the start of the NBA Playoffs.

      Which means it’s the perfect opportunity for some crazy predictions for next year! ESPN.com’s Andy Katz posted his top 25 college basketball teams for next season (click the link for his explanations on each team).

      1. Kansas
      2. Michigan State
      3. North Carolina
      4. Texas
      5. Villanova
      6. Syracuse
      7. Duke
      8. Purdue
      9. West Virginia
      10. California
      11. Michigan
      12. Kentucky
      13. Tennessee
      14. Xavier
      15. Butler
      16. Gonzaga
      17. Washington
      18. Oklahoma
      19. Clemson
      20. Boston College
      21. Mississippi State
      22. Ole Miss
      23. Dayton
      24. Illinois
      25. Texas A&M

      As Katz himself admits, there’s little reason to put any stock in these rankings as 1.) it’s way too early and 2.) early entrants to the NBA draft will have a huge impact on who the preseason top 25 will end up being.

      Nonetheless, here are a few problems I see with the list. For one, UNC is way, way overranked. There were times this season that they were barely the third-best team in the country, and they are likely going to lose four starters/future NBA players going into next year.

      Second, even if Willie Warren does come back, Oklahoma isn’t a top-20 team without the Griffin brothers. Kansas and Texas are going to be miles ahead of the Sooners in the Big 12.

      Lastly, I can’t help but think Louisville belongs in here somewhere. I get that in Terrence Williams and Earl Clark they are losing a ton of scoring and athleticism, but they’re two of only three key contributors the Cards will be missing next season. Young bigs Terrence Jennings and Samardo Samuels will be a year older and a year better, and Edgar Sosa, Jerry Smith and Preston Knowles will all return on the perimeter. Add recruit Peyton Siva, the 5th-rated point guard prospect in the country, and they should challenge Villanova and Syracuse at the top of the Big East.

      Two off-the-radar teams to watch: Georgetown and Georgia Tech. Both struggled from growing pains last year but have a ton of young talent returning, and the Yellow Jackets will welcome Derrick Favors, the nation’s best big man recruit.

      College Basketball

      Anthony Kim records 11-birdie second round

      April 11, 2009 /

      Anthony KimIt’s hard for anything at the Masters (or any golf tournament, for that matter) to come close to matching the perennial “How is Tiger Woods doing?” story. Even Rocco Mediate’s amazing underdog bid in last year’s U.S. Open played second banana to Woods’ gut-it-out victory on a broken leg.

      A prime example of the immensity of Tiger’s shadow is the lack of buzz surrounding Anthony Kim. The guy is hardly an unknown to serious golf fans, but the 23-year old phenom has managed to fly largely under the national radar.

      Yesterday, Kim made Masters history by recording a single-round record 11 birdies. Naturally, it was overshadowed by Woods’ day, as everyone chose to talk about Tiger’s missed opportunities on the putting green.

      Kim has often been mentioned in the same breath as Woods: Is he the next Tiger?, critics ask. These questions are dismissed quickly — after all, Tiger will likely go down as the greatest to ever play the game. But how about this for a comparison: Can Kim become who Sergio Garcia was supposed to some 10 years ago? Can Kim be the talented gunner with both the skill and confidence to challenge Tiger as a young pro and eventually eclipse him as Tiger gets on in years? Will he be the one to finally give us a real Tiger rivalry?

      It’s clear Kim has the talent, and many accounts say that he’s also got the hubris to challenge Tiger’s (check out this feature Golf Magazine wrote about him).

      Only time will tell, but do yourself a favor and take a break from the Tiger watch this weekend to scope out Kim’s game (he heads into round 3 in a tie for sixth-place at -4, and tees off at 2:25 p.m.).

      Golf

      Athlete Profile: B.J. Raji

      March 31, 2009 /

      B.J. Raji has never had much trouble with offensive linemen, quarterbacks, or even running backs. It’s those associate deans he’s had to watch out for.

      Prior to his 2007 season at Boston College, he was assured by an associate dean that he only had to complete two summer courses to be academically eligible to play that season.

      Unfortunately, he actually needed three — which meant that Raji would be academically ineligible for the 2007 season.

      Raji was devastated when told the news by then-BC coach Jeff Jagodzinski. But instead of sitting around and feeling sorry for himself, he went to work: dominating for the Eagles’ scout team and hitting the gym hard every day.

      Then, back on the field in 2008, he took all the frustration out on his opponents, exploding for 42 tackles and seven sacks from his defensive tackle position.

      Given how well everything has ended up working out for Raji, it must be hard for him to stay mad at the associate dean who contributed to his missing the 2007 season. Raji currently stands poised to become a top-10 pick in April’s NFL Draft, with a very good shot at going in the top 5.

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      College Football, NFL, NFL Draft

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