Updates on NCAA,Jennings,and Rubio
Jennings story in Espn Mag
http://sports.espn.go.com/espnmag/story?section=magazine&id=3715746
10 Games to Watch
1. USC vs. Memphis, San Juan, Puerto Rico, Nov. 21, Puerto Rico Tip-off Classic: This is a possible second-round matchup in this event, assuming USC beats Seton Hall and Memphis takes care of Chattanooga. It could be one of the best nonconference games of the season. It will also pit two of the top freshmen in the game in USC's
DeMar DeRozan and Memphis'
Tyreke Evans.
2. UCLA vs. Duke, Madison Square Garden, Nov. 21, Coaches vs. Cancer (ESPN2, 7 ET): This is also a wait-and-see, title-game matchup as both the Bruins and Blue Devils have to get through their weak pods to New York and then beat either Southern Illinois/UMass for Duke and Michigan/Northeastern for UCLA. If all that happens, two of the most storied programs in the country would meet in MSG.
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A.J. Abrams and Texas will have a busy nonconference slate, with games against Michigan State and UCLA.
3. Old Spice Classic semifinals and finals, Orlando, Nov. 28 and Nov. 30: A lineup consisting of Michigan State, Gonzaga, Georgetown, Tennessee, Oklahoma State, Maryland, Siena and Wichita State (the only team in this field that won't get a sniff of the postseason) should provide big-time games on the nights of the semifinals and finals. At least four of these teams could meet in late March.
4. North Carolina vs. Michigan State, Detroit, Ford Field, Dec. 3, ACC/Big Ten Challenge (ESPN, 9:15 ET): The Tar Heels could be coming off playing Notre Dame or Texas in the Maui Invitational final after a game at home against UNC-Asheville the previous Saturday. The Spartans will be waiting for this matchup and this could end up being one of the few losses for UNC this season.
5. UCLA at Texas, Dec. 4, Pac-10/Big 12 Challenge (ESPN2, 9 ET): The Longhorns have plenty of tests in their nonconference schedule. These two teams could easily meet in April.
6. USC at Oklahoma, Dec. 4, Pac-10/Big 12 Challenge (ESPN2, 7 ET): The two leagues made the right call this season in simply returning last season's games. These are the top two teams in their respective leagues, and it's shaping up to be quite a night for each conference.
7. Marquette vs. Tennessee, Nashville, Dec. 16, SEC/Big East Challenge (ESPN, 9:30 ET): The Golden Eagles are a sleeper team to compete for a top four-finish in the Big East. Tennessee is the favorite in the SEC. There are star players all around in this game.
8. Davidson vs. Purdue, Indianapolis, Dec. 20, Wooden Tradition: Two of the game's best talents -- Davidson's
Stephen Curry and Purdue's
Robbie Hummel -- will be on display. This will be a true test for the Wildcats to see if they are a contender or pretender nationally early in the season.
9. Michigan State vs. Texas, Houston, Dec. 20: Yet another top-10 matchup for both squads as they prepare for their respective conference seasons.
10. Gonzaga vs. Connecticut, Seattle, Dec. 20: The Huskies lost to the Bulldogs a year ago in Boston and now the neutral-court series goes West. Both are top-10 and Final Four legit
10 Hidden Gems Players that will make splashes and help their draft stocks if they decide to enter
1. Jeff Teague, So., Wake Forest: Teague has serious hops. He can get to the rack to finish with authority. He's a deft ballhandler and he will be one of the main reasons -- along with a heralded freshman class -- the Demon Deacons make the NCAA tournament.
2. DeQuan Jones, Fr., Miami: The Hurricanes are raving about the impact Jones will have for them this season. While Jones comes in with a name, it still doesn't resonate nationally. It should soon, as he teams up with
Jack McClinton to form a productive tandem.
3. Joe Mazzulla, Jr., West Virginia: Mazzulla had a breakout game against Duke in the second round of the NCAA tournament last season. Bob Huggins will count on him more often this season and Mazzulla should deliver to keep the Mountaineers relevant.
4. Deonta Vaughn, Jr., Cincinnati: Vaughn gets pub within the Big East, but I challenge plenty of folks to name him nationally. Vaughn was a big-time scorer last season for the Bearcats, keeping them in the NCAA conversation for a while. If they make the tournament this season, he'll be the reason.
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Deonta Vaughn packs a mean scoring punch for Cincinnati in the Big East.
5. Trevon Hughes, Jr., Wisconsin: Hughes, who was second on the team in scoring last season, is ready to assume a leadership position for UW after the departure of Michael Flowers. The Badgers have had tremendous success with veteran perimeter players under Bo Ryan, and Hughes is next in line.
6. Damion James, Jr., Texas: James is ready for a breakout season and should become the next stud to wear Longhorn gear. James has All-American potential with his ability to score from all over the court.
7. Quincy Pondexter, Jr., Washington: The Huskies could be a sleeper team in the Pac-10, and if they are it will be because Pondexter has a monster season. The Huskies will be led by
Jon Brockman, but he needs a versatile player on the wing to complement him and Pondexter has the ability to deliver.
8. Taylor Rochestie, Sr., Washington State: Rochestie was the heart of the Cougars on many an occasion last season. While Kyle Weaver, Derrick Low and Robbie Cowgill got much of the attention, Rochestie delivered in many ways that weren't reflected in the box score. He has the chance to produce significant numbers.
9. Jarvis Varnado, Jr., Mississippi State: The Bulldogs always seem to hang around for a potential NCAA berth. If that occurs again this season, Varnado will be the reason. He's a shot-blocker who is developing his offensive game to be a productive player at both ends.
10. Chris Warren, So., Ole Miss: The Rebels had one of the surprise freshmen a year ago in Warren, and he's now expected to be a go-to player for a possible postseason team. He could end up being the top point guard in the SEC by season's end.
Blake Griffin is off to a hot start scoring by the bunches and rebounding by the handfuls in his first game Vs Davidson(Curry was unstoppable)he had 25 points and 21 rebounds and when he faced Gardner-Web he had an eye popping 35points and 25 rebounds...he looks like he'll be putting up these kind of numbers all season long he would be formidable for the Knicks seeing how we need size and rebounding and post presence and he provides all 3
23ppg 19.3 rbs .774 fg %
Curry averaging 34 ppgs and 8.8 asts .429 3-point fg and and eyepopping 4.5 steals,if he continues to play like this he could make a run for college player of the year and make his way into the top-10 overall.
Thabeet-one player very high on our draft borad from the early goings he is have a very nice year blocking shots left and right running the floor nicely and has showed improvment on his post offensive game...
13.7 points 10.7 rebounds 4 blks...been amazing so far and will likely be out first round pick.
Jrue is making his progression slowly but he'scoming around he started slow but is getting better by the game 9.3pts .536 fg% and 2.3 rbs and 1.8 asts
with time his numbers will improve and could sneak up draft boards and make a splash like Westbrook last year
DeMar Derozan like Holiday is making a slow transaction but has showed why he's had hype around him and will definetly get better reletively soon he's had monster dunks and is averaging 9.3points 4.5reb and .438fg %
Tyreke Evans off to a hot start his shot is falling and his passing is better then what i first thought and could get a few rebounds
15.3pnts 5.8 re 4.3 asts and.430 fg %
James Harden-what could i say about this guy he's the ultimate team guy he does everything his coaches aask of him and he shows up when his team needs him and he knocks down big-shots after big-shots...ohh and he hustles for loose balls(no homo) and never gives up whether his team is down by 15 0r 2. And he could D up on the best scorers and shoots at amazing percentages...he's been high on the knicks draft board last year and he'll be high on there again this year
21 points 4 rbs 6.5 asts .591 fg %
Wayne Ellington- he's a great option for us to draft in the second round or late first round he scores and has a good jumpshot he's consistent with it and is a good passer will be a great complimentary player especially if we pick Thabeet
15.3pnts 3.7 reb 2.7 asts .410 fg %
Gerald Henderson-same as Ellington he's less of a scorer and his shot isn't as good as Ellington's but he could drive better then Ellington and could pass was well (although his stats dont show it)-same as Ellington take him with Thabeet and were good 11.8 pnts 3.8 reb 1 asts .475 fg %
A.J Abrams-this guy is a sick scorer he could do it all on the offensive end he will be a Nash type of player with more defense and less passing tought he'll be going in the late first early second round i say we should draft him and take Thabeet or Griffin with our first...thats who i want with our second pick
18 pnts 2 ast 2.5 reb .471 fg %
Brandon Jennings-his adjustment to the proffesional basketball game has been up and down but he's got the hang on the competition and the result is his game has improved alot after a slow start he's picked it up and is now showing his talent and should be high on our draft board
<TABLE class=my_Title style="BORDER-COLLAPSE: collapse" cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width=580 border=0><TBODY><TR class=my_Headers><TD width=180>League</TD><TD width=100>Team</TD><TD width=40>G</TD><TD>MIN</TD><TD>PTS</TD><TD>2FGP</TD><TD>3FGP</TD><TD>FT</TD><TD>RO</TD><TD>RD</TD><TD>RT</TD><TD>AS</TD><TD>PF</TD><TD>BS</TD><TD>ST</TD></TR><TR class=my_pStats1><TD>Euroleague (Men)</TD><TD>Lottomatica Virtus Roma</TD><TD>4</TD><TD>73</TD><TD>42</TD><TD>7-16</TD><TD>5-12</TD><TD>13-14</TD><TD>1</TD><TD>8</TD><TD>9</TD><TD>6</TD><TD>6</TD><TD>0</TD><TD>3</TD></TR><TR class=my_Headers><TD colSpan=15>
AVERAGE</TD></TR><TR class=my_pStats2><TD>Euroleague (Men)</TD><TD>Lottomatica Virtus Roma</TD><TD>4</TD><TD>18.3</TD><TD>10.5</TD><TD>43.8%</TD><TD>41.7%</TD><TD>92.9%</TD><TD>0.3</TD><TD>2.0</TD><TD>2.3</TD><TD>1.5</TD><TD>1.5</TD><TD>0.0</TD><TD>0.8</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
Ricky Rubio- he's still injured but should make his return to the court within the next couple of weeks.