Super Bowl XLIX Preview,Miramonte vs. Campolindo

Super Bowl XLIX Preview
Do you think the Patriots were in fact guilty of deflating
footballs?
Ting: Absolutely. I would like to give Bill Belichick and co
the benefit of the doubt, but I do not need to remind people
of Spygate. Belichick’s explanation was more comic relief than
anything, and Bill Nye the Science Guy has since debunked
Belichick’s claims. The NFL should punish New England heavily,
hopefully somewhere along the lines of what happened to the
2012 New Orleans Saints after BountyGate. This is the second
strike for Bill Belichick, and if another issue arises he
should receive an indefinite ban from the league.
Jack: Without a question yes. Although I do have the utmost
respect for Tom Brady and Bill Belichick, finding out that
eleven out of the twelve balls used in the AFC Championship
Game were not inflated enough isn’t just a coincidence. I
think New England should be punished, but not severely. Not
inflating footballs enough just isn’t as big of a deal as
everyone is making it out to be. The Colts got obliterated
because they simply don’t have as much talent as the Patriots.
Plain and simple. Belichick and Brady should be fined of some
sort, but no suspensions should be put into action. Its just a
little air in a football.
What do you make of the Patriots’ struggles in their last two
Super Bowls?
Ting: Have they struggled? Yes, their 4th Quarter defense was
pathetic, but those New York Giants teams averaged just 19
points in those two games. Tom Brady posted passer ratings of
91.1 and 82.5, which although unspectacular, he by no means
“struggled”. The number that does pop out to me is that Brady
was sacked a combined seven times in those two games, and the
Giants played tough in the secondary and took away Brady’s
weapons. The Seahawks followed the Giants’ blueprint to
building a successful defense, as they have loaded up on pass
rushers and preach physicality in the secondary.
Jack: I wouldn’t say the Patriots struggled as a team. Tom
Brady played fairly well in both games, but it’s their defense
that has stopped them from finishing off a perfect postseason.
The New England defense has improved in the last two years.
They have three of the best secondary players in the league in
Darrelle Revis, Devin McCourty, and ex-Seahawk Brandon
Browner. They also boast a very good tandem of pass rushers in
Chandler Jones and Rob Ninkovich. The cause of those
“struggles” that the Patriots had in their last two Super
Bowls have been fixed by the front office. Watch out.
Who is the better corner? Richard Sherman or Darrelle Revis?
Ting: It’s unclear, mainly because the Seahawks’ scheme limits
what Richard Sherman can do. Sherman is locked in at left
cornerback and stays there the entire game, where Revis moves
around to take away the opposing team’s best receiver.
Sherman’s opposing passer rating is much better than Revis’s,
(38.7 to 70.5) but I would like to see Sherman move around the
field and guard quicker slot receivers, a type of player he
has struggled with. I’m not saying Sherman wouldn’t be able to
follow a team’s best receiver around the field, but he needs
that type of exposure for me to consider him the best corner
in football.
Jack: Darrelle Revis. I know Richard Sherman gets a ton of
hype about him being “the best corner in the league” and he
deserves respect, but when you guard multiple receivers on one
side of the field, it’s a much easier task than guarding the
single best receiver on a given team. Speedy, quick receivers
have been Sherman’s foe this season. Even though that is a socalled “weakness”, it’s not like any receivers have really
torn him up this year (with the exception of Odell Beckham Jr.
and Keenan Allen). When I think of Darrelle Revis, I don’t
know if there is any real weakness of his game. He mans up the
best receiver on each team the Patriots play and shuts that
receiver down, whoever it may be, every single week. Because
Revis stays on the best receiver on the field for an entire
game and has no real weaknesses at all, he is the single best
cover cornerback in the league.
Did Green Bay expose Russell Wilson?
Ting: I would say so, as many teams have talked about holding
Wilson in the pocket and playing tight press coverage on
Seattle’s receivers. Green Bay was the first team that was
actually able to do so, (until the last three minutes that
is), with their large group of pass rushers and athletic
linebackers. On his bad days, Wilson has been bailed out by
Marshawn Lynch and the Hawks’ rushing attack. If the Patriots
can take that away (which is a big if) and employ coverage
schemes and pass rush discipline similar to Green Bay, there
is no reason they can’t keep Seattle under 10 points.
Jack: I wouldn’t say Green Bay exposed Russell Wilson, they
more just played a solid game defensively. Russell Wilson is
an elite quarterback in the NFL and deserves that respect. He
is one of the best decision makers, never forces anything, and
knows how to control the game. But the Packers did show some
signs of how to stop the Seahawks offense by getting constant
pressure and containing Wilson from scrambling out of the
pocket. If you do these two things, then you can shut down the
Seattle offense.
Will LeGarrette Blount continue his success?
Ting: I see no reason he can’t. Seattle let both Green Bay and
Carolina rush for over 130 yards against them, as the
punishing styles of Eddie Lacy and Jonathan Stewart proved
effective against a smaller Seattle front seven. Teams can run
on Seattle this season as opposed to last season mainly
because of major losses in the offseason and injuries to the
defensive line. Blount epitomizes the aforementioned
“punishing style” and with help from his big maulers in
Sebastian Vollmer, Ryan Wendell, Dan Connolly, Brian Stork and
Nate Solder, who form one of the best run blocking offensive
lines in the league, will have another 100 yard plus game.
Jack: Most definitely he can. Seattle’s run defense isn’t what
it was last season. The last couple of playoff games for
Seattle have been against physical running backs in Jonathan
Stewart and Eddie Lacy and that physical style of play has
done very well against the Seahawks. Yes, Lacy and Stewart are
great physical specimens at the running back position, but
they’re no LeGarrette Blount. Blount is quite possibly the
hardest runner in the NFL and is one of the hardest people to
tackle. Running behind a huge New England offensive line,
Blount should be able to run down the throat of the Seattle
defense all game long.
Which individual battle are you most looking forward to?
Ting: Rob Gronkowski vs. Kam Chancellor. Gronk’s resurgence
this season has many asking if anyone in the NFL can guard
him. Linebackers are too slow, safeties are too small, he just
runs through a double team, etc. Zone coverage doesn’t work
against him because he’s smart enough to find the soft spots,
and it still requires a smaller defensive back to make a play
on the ball. Enter Kam Chancellor, the best strong safety in
the NFL. At 6 foot 3 232 pounds, Chancellor offers the size
and speed to compete with Gronk. Chancellor may be the one
player in the NFL that can guard Gronk, and if he can’t do it
I don’t think anybody can.
Jack: Tom Brady vs. the Legion of Boom. Because the Seattle
defense blitzes a majority of their plays, I think the
experience and smarts of Tom Brady will help him exploit the
Legion of Boom. You can’t count out Brady when you talk about
the best quarterbacks of all time, and I expect nothing less
than a spectacular performance from him. I wouldn’t be
surprised at all though, if Seattle finds a way to stop Brady.
With the best safety duo in the league combined with arguably
the best cornerback, Richard Sherman, they can stop virtually
anybody. I’m really intrigued to see who comes out on top in
Super Bowl XLIX.
What is Seattle’s most glaring weakness?
Ting: The receiving core. Baldwin and Kearse are second or
third options at best, and Luke Willson has been up and down
at tight end. New England has the talent and depth in the
secondary to completely phase Seattle’s receivers out the
game. Seattle will need a heavy dose of Marshawn Lynch to hide
their deficiencies in the passing game.
Jack: Their offensive line. Justin Britt might possibly be one
of the worst starting offensive lineman in the NFL. Anchoring
the right side of the line, Britt provides horrendous pass
protection and just mediocre run blocking. I fully expect Rob
Ninkovich to make his presence felt in a big way by exploiting
Britt’s terrible offensive line play. J.R. Sweezy is also a
very bad offensive lineman who doesn’t deserve to start in the
NFL, but somehow he does on the Seahawks. Vince Wilfork should
be able to take advantage of Sweezy and have a fairly big
game.
What is New England’s most glaring weakness?
Ting: The middle of their defense. Ever since Jerod Mayo went
down for the season with a knee injury, a gaping hole has been
left in the middle of Matt Patricia’s defense. His replacement
Malcolm Butler has been mediocre at best. Thankfully, his
struggles have been hidden by the strong play from outside
linebackers Jamie Collins and Dont’a Hightower. Vince Wilfork
is solid, but they other tackle Chris Jones has been
lackluster defending the run, a big problem against the
league’s number one ranking rushing attack. Sealver Siliga is
a solid rotational defensive lineman, but isn’t disruptive
enough to make a giant impact. Matt Patricia needs to use a
wide variety of stunts and blitzes up the middle to hold
things together.
Jack: Without a doubt their receiving corps (not including Rob
Gronkowski; he’s a tight end). They have no real studs. Yes,
Julian Edelman has put up a very good year alongside Brandon
Lafell, but they could easily get shut down by the Legion of
Boom. I don’t think Edelman will because Seattle’s secondary
has trouble guarding quick, speedy slot receivers. One man
can’t do it all, though. You need help from the rest of your
wide receivers, and I really question whether the Patriots can
do that. Obviously, never doubt Tom Brady, but it’s awfully
hard to put together a good game as a quarterback if your
receivers can’t get open.
Who wins Super Bowl XLIX?
Ting: The Patriots. They have what it takes to establish the
running game, which will make Tom Brady’s life incredibly
easier throwing the football. The Patriots’ defense will do
just enough on Russell Wilson and Marshawn Lynch to prevent
them from controlling the tempo of the game. Time of
possession will be especially important in this game, and New
England has what it takes to extend drives, but need to
contain Lynch to ensure victory.
Jack: Tom Brady will hoist the Lombardi Trophy for the fourth
time in his illustrious career. Having a couple weeks to
prepare for the Super Bowl will benefit Brady as he will be
able to pick apart the Seahawks defense. New England’s defense
will be able to make enough stops to hold off the Seattle
offense and become the champions of the Super Bowl.
Who wins Super Bowl MVP?
Ting: Tom Brady. Don’t expect a 300 yard plus game, but expect
an efficient day with something in the 200 yard range, two
touchdowns and a completion percentage somewhere in the 70s.
Jack: LeGarrette Blount. He’ll be able to run all over the
Seattle defense behind a solid run blocking offensive line.
I’m predicting that Blount rushes for over 150 yards and 3
TD’s.
What will be the biggest offseason storyline?
Ting: Marcus Mariota vs Jameis Winston. Which quarterback has
more talent? Which quarterback is more pro-ready? Is that
quarterback even good enough to be taken with the number one
overall pick? The scouting process will provide many twists
and turns regarding the two best passers in this year’s draft.
Jack: The free agency moves and seeing who re-signs and who
signs with another team. The notable free agents this
offseason include Dez Bryant, Demarco Murray, Demaryius
Thomas, Randall Cobb, Jeremy Maclin, Frank Gore, Jordan
Cameron, Mike Iupati, Bryan Bulaga, Justin Houston, Jason
Pierre-Paul, Ndamukong Suh, Brandon Flowers, and Devin
McCourty. Some are sure to re-sign (Demarco Murray, Mike
Iupati, Devin McCourty) and some are sure to test out the free
agency market (Dez Bryant, Demaryius Thomas, Ndamukong Suh).
It is sure to be an exciting offseason to see where all these
star players end up playing for the 2015-2016 NFL season.
Miramonte vs. Campolindo Boys
Basketball Preview
It’s hard to argue that any high school rivalry has been more
intense and exciting than the one between Miramonte vs.
Campolindo boys basketball. For each game, the student
sections from the neighboring schools are completely packed
and on their feet for the entirety of the game. In addition,
the games themselves have been thrilling, with each school
winning nail biter games. Here is a brief rundown Miramonte’s
exciting win over Campolindo from last year:
Feb 1, 2014-The Matadome
This was a game for the ages. The heavily favored Cougars
could not have started the game better, jumping out to a 23-6
lead at the end of the first quarter. The Campolindo students
were chanting like they had already won the game. However, the
Mats never gave up. Down by 18 points at halftime, Miramonte
came storming out of the locker room and cut the Cougar lead
down to 8 by the end of the third quarter. In a thrilling
fourth quarter, the Mats came all the way back to make it a
one point game with 20 seconds left in the game. After a
missed Campolindo free throw, Drew Anderson ‘14 made the game
winning layup with two seconds left to give him 34 points, but
more importantly, give the Mats a 69-68 victory. Immediately
after the final buzzer sounded, the Miramonte students went
into a frenzy and poured out onto the court to celebrate with
the players. People could not help but notice the stunned
looks on the faces of the Campolindo students. There was not a
better time to be a Mat.
This Saturday Miramonte once again matches up against their
archrival at 7 p.m. Saturday night at Campolindo. The Cougars
boast a 15-2 record very strong team. However, the Mats are
coming off their best win of the season over a talented Dublin
team, and appear to be playing their best basketball going
into the game. With the history of this rivalry, anything is
possible.
Credit to @jwegener_25_ for the video
The NFL Reigns Supreme in
Professional Sports; And it’s
Here to Stay
Step aside America’s pastime; the new and undisputed sheriff
in town is the National Football League, and it’s sitting
comfortably alone at the top. The NFL’s soaring popularity in
recent decades have left the other professional sport
enterprises in its dust.
It may come as a surprise, considering the recent developments
in concussion research and domestic and child abuse scandals.
However, in spite of these hurdles, the business that is the
NFL continues to chug along, churning out $10 billion in
revenue in 2013 alone, and recently signing television deals
with FOX, CBS, NBC, and ESPN, amounting to a cool total of $42
billion through 2022. NFL commissioner Roger Goodell even
shoots to have $25 billion in annual revenue by 2027,
revealing the optimistic outlook the NFL continues to sustain.
Not only is the NFL raking in billions of dollars, but its
popularity is blowing away its competitors. Regular season NFL
games drew better ratings than the World Series, and
34 of the 35 most watched programs in the fall and winter were
owed to NFL games in 2014.
World Series rights holder Fox wasn’t even given a Sunday NFL
game before Game 5, and NBC’s Sunday Night Football dominated
Fox’s World Series game, running away with 18.8 million
viewers compared to Fox’s 12.6.
Even though one in three NFL players develop neurological
problems, that issue doesn’t seem to be slowing down the
seemingly bulletproof NFL. However, recent issues in other
professional leagues have taken their toll. The Donald
Sterling scandal in the NBA drove some NBA players to the
brink of quitting, while the PED (performance enhancing drug)
scandals of Alex Rodriguez and dozens of other accomplished
players in the MLB turned the league upside down, as dominant
hitters and pitchers from the past decade revealed they
cheated their way to record-breaking performances.
The MLB, NBA, and NHL seem content to sit in the rearview
mirror of the NFL. NBA owner Mark Cuban of the Dallas
Mavericks admitted that “there is no value in saying the NFL
sucks. It won’t bring fans.” An anonymous NBA minority owner
even confessed that other sports were “playing nice” in
regards to dealing with the recent flare ups in the NFL.
The Super Bowl in 2014 shattered viewership records, as 111
million people tuned in to watch the game; that’s over a third
of America’s population. The NFC Championship game this past
Sunday was the most watched television show since last year’s
Super Bowl. When that many people are interested in a sport,
one has to wonder: will the NFL ever come down from the top?
NFC Championship Game Preview
The last seven NFC Championship games have been decided by
seven points or less, and expect another nail-biter on Sunday.
The Packers again travel to Seattle, looking to avenge a
forgettable 36-16 loss to the Seahawks on opening night.
Seattle has lost a grand total of two games at Centurylink
Field in the last three seasons, so Green Bay will have their
hands full.
Seattle Offense vs. Green Bay Defense
In those two losses Seattle home losses, (The Arizona
Cardinals won 17-10 in 2013 and the Dallas Cowboys won 30-23
in Week Five of this season) Russell Wilson played some of the
worst football of his career. He posted passer ratings of 47.6
and 49.6, good for two of the worst four games of his career
(The other two came in road games early in his rookie season.)
In addition to neutralizing Wilson, running back Marshawn
Lynch failed to hit the 80 yard rushing mark in both of those
games. What was the key to the Cardinals’ and Cowboy’s success
defensively? They stopped the run and used a disciplined pass
rush with tight coverage on Seattle’s unspectacular receiving
core. So much of Seattle’s passing game comes from Russell
Wilson scrambles or quick screens that come in 5-10 yard
increments. As a pass rusher facing Russell Wilson, it’s not
as much
pocket.
get too
opens up
about getting home as it his keeping him in the
The Packers’ edge rushers can’t allow themselves to
deep, or Wilson will escape through the hole that
as a result.
Seattle’s leading receivers are Doug Baldwin and Jermaine
Kearse, who are second or third options in the NFL at best.
One thing they can do well is use their their speed to
improvise once a play breaks down. If Wilson escapes the
pocket, Baldwin and Kearse routinely find a way to work back
to a scrambling Wilson and make the drive saving catch. The
Packers boast a great group of pass rushers in Clay Matthews,
Julius Peppers, Mike Daniels, Datone Jones, Mike Neal and Nick
Perry. They got four sacks on Tony Romo last week and they’ll
get their sacks on Wilson against a shaky Seahawks’ offensive
line. They need to stay disciplined in order to keep Wilson in
the pocket. Another thing Seattle’s receivers do well is block
for the quick screen game. Arizona and Dallas took it away by
playing tough on the perimeter with their corners and using
fast rangy linebackers to run them down. Tramon Williams and
Sam Shields are solid physical corners for Green Bay, and
shifting Clay Matthews to inside linebacker at times has
helped not only the Packers’ run defense, but provides the
aforementioned rangy linebacker to help in the screen game.
The Packers should hold their own in defending the passing
game if they stay disciplined up front and physical in the
back end, but stopping Marshawn Lynch is a completely
different problem. Lynch ran for 110 yards and two touchdowns
earlier this season, but this is a different Green Bay unit up
front. After a 44-23 drubbing by the Saints in Week Eight, the
Packers rush defense ranked last in the NFL. Since then
they’ve used Clay Matthews more at inside linebacker, and gave
second year linebacker Sam Barrington more playing time where
he has become an important player for them. Since then,
they’ve ranked 5th in the NFL in rush defense, and 10th in the
NFL in total points allowed. This is a defensive unit reborn
for Green Bay, and they’re ready to show Seattle and the rest
of the league that this defense is ready to be taken seriously
again.
Advantage: Green Bay
Green Bay Offense vs Seattle Defense
Seattle’s defense has ranked first in the NFL in scoring
defense for the past three seasons, something that hasn’t been
done since the 1969-71 Minnesota Vikings. What makes them so
good? A consistent pass rush, athletic linebackers, and a good
combination of size, speed and instinct in the secondary. I
would like to point out however, that Seattle’s defense this
season isn’t as good as it was last season. Why? It all starts
up front. Cliff Avril, Michael Bennett, Tony McDaniel, Red
Bryant, Chris Clemons, Clinton McDonald and Brandon Mebane
were standout defensive linemen who made the Seahawks tough to
run on and provided one of the most feared pass rushes in the
NFL last season. As of now, only Avril, Bennett and McDaniel
remain, as the rest departed in the offseason with the
exception of Mebane, who is on injured reserve with a leg
injury. The drop-off in the last two years pops right off the
paper. Last season, the Seahawks ranked eighth in the NFL with
44 sacks, but this season have plummeted to 20th with 37. They
also lose size up front, as it appears easier to run on
Seattle than in years past.
It is quite simple: If Aaron Rodgers’ calf is not at least at
80%, the Packers will lose. He threw for 316 yards and three
touchdowns essentially on one leg last week against the
Cowboys, but will need the other leg to be successful in this
one. Tackles Bryan Bulaga and David Bakhtiari will have their
hands full with Bennett and Avril, and Rodgers will need the
extra mobility to escape the pocket and extend plays. The
weakened Seattle pass rush should Rodgers in that department.
Jordy Nelson, Randall Cobb and the emerging Davante Adams will
(dare I say it) have success against the (overhyped) Legion of
Boom. Richard Sherman has struggled to defend smaller, faster
wide receivers, as O’Dell Beckham and Keenan Allen gave him
issues earlier this season. Cobb got open against Sherman on
opening night, but Rodgers didn’t throw the ball at Sherman
once in the entire game. Sherman is a good corner, but he has
his weaknesses, and Cobb should bring attention to them. On
the other side, Byron Maxwell is mediocre at best, and after
not playing last week against Carolina we saw what Seattle has
behind him. Reserve corners Tharold Simon and Jeremy Lane were
picked on by Cam Newton and a subpar receiving core,
completing all ten of their attempts on a corner not named not
named Richard Sherman for 114 yards and two touchdowns, so be
wary of what the Packers can do on that side regardless of
whether Maxwell is in the game or not.
One part of the Legion of Boom that isn’t overhyped: their
safety combination. Earl Thomas and Kam Chancellor are polar
opposites in almost every way possible, but they share killer
instincts and a certain toughness that goes unparalleled in
the NFL. They each have the anticipation and football IQ
coaches drool over, and Rodgers should be limited in the
amount of deep shots he takes over the middle. Green Bay will
have success in the passing game, but need to lean on a strong
running game to keep Seattle guessing. In the Seahawks’ home
losses to the Cowboys and Cardinals, each team established the
ground game and kept the Seattle defense on their heels. Eddie
Lacy will find holes in the Seahawks’ front seven, and take
pressure off of the hobbled Aaron Rodgers.
Advantage: Green Bay
The game could very well come down to whether Rodgers’ calf
holds up. If it does, Seattle is going to be in trouble.
Rodgers is the best pure passer in the NFL right now, and will
expose the weakened Seahawks defense if healthy. On the other
side of the ball, Green Bay’s new look defense will do just
enough to earn the Packers a birth to Super Bowl 49.
Prediction: Packers 27, Seahawks 20
2015 College Basketball Gets
Ranked
1. Kentucky (15-0)
Kentucky came into this new college basketball season with
high expectations, and it is fulfilling them. The undefeated
Wildcats are led by brothers Aaron and Andrew Harrison who
both average about 11 points per game.
2. Virginia (15-0)
Coming into this season Virginia was not thought very highly
of. As of now, Virginia is the second best defensive team in
the country (trailing Kentucky), and it shows by having an
undefeated record. This hard nosed team is making a name for
themselves on the defensive end.
3. Duke (14-1)
Every season, Duke is always at the top in terms of
recruiting. This year the Blue Devils followed up on their
tradition by bringing in the number one recruiting class
again. Center Jahlil Okafor is projected to be the number one
pick in this year’s NBA draft and he is averaging 19 points
and 10 rebounds per game.
4. Gonzaga (16-1)
Led by senior PG Kevin Pangos, the Zags are off to an amazing
start. They have only lost one game and that was to another
highly ranked team, Arizona, in overtime. In its conference it
is the frontrunner and the Zags are planning to run all the
way for another WCC title.
5. Villanova (15-1)
Villanova is poised to have a great season after a couple
years of rebuilding. Senior guard Darrun Hilliard is leading
the way for them with 16 points per game. Villanova is known
for its short runs into the post-season; this year could be
different.
6. Louisville (14-2)
Louisville is a guard heavy team with a monster down low in
sophomore G Terry Rozier who is leading the team in scoring
with 17 points per game. Junior F Montrezl Harrell is second
in line and Harrell is the heart of the team. Last year,
Harrell had an amazing season, and this year he is looking to
be Player of the Year. Louisville has a huge game against Duke
on January 17th that will determine their future.
7. Wisconsin (15-2)
Another defensively focused team is Wisconsin. They are off to
a rougher start than what they would have liked, but they have
rebounded well and won eight of their last nine. They are led
by big man Frank Kaminsky who leads the team in points,
rebounds, and assists.
8. Arizona (14-2)
U of A is a team that does everything well. They have four
guys that average double figures in points. Freshman Stanley
Johnson was a top five recruit last season and he is certainly
living up to that accomplishment by leading the team in points
and rebounds.
9.Utah (13-2)
Utah is the most efficient team in the nation. The Utes have a
50% field goal percentage and only allow 55 points per game.
Guard Delon Wright has taken a star role this season and has
led them to be one of the top teams.
10. Maryland (15-2)
Rebounding has been a staple for the Maryland Terrapins as
they grab around 28 per game. They are another team that has a
great scoring burst. Three guys on the team average 15 or more
points: guard Melo Trimble, forward/guard Jake Layman, and
forward Dez Wells. This team is one of the upcoming powers in
the Big Ten.
11. Notre Dame (15-2)
Notre Dame is one of the best teams in the country, stats
wise. In the nation they rank first in field goal percentage
at 54 percent, and rank twelfth in the nation in scoring. The
Fighting Irish could easily move in to being a top five team
this year led by senior forward Jerian Grant with 16 points
per game.
12. Kansas (13-2)
Kansas is always a top ten team in the nation, but this year
will be different. Kansas does have senior Perry Ellis who
carries most of the load for them and Kansas has a well
balanced scoring squad with six guys scoring more than eight
points per game. The Jayhawks have the talent to make it far
this season, but they have to work as a team to achieve
success.
13. Wichita State (14-2)
The Wichita State Shockers have a very young team. All five of
their starters from last year are returning, like their
breakout shooting guard Ron Baker who is back for his junior
year and is better than ever. He is averaging 18 points and 5
assists as a junior and is the heart of this team. This year
Wichita State could make a reliable run in the tournament.
14. West Virginia (14-2)
The Mountaineers of West Virginia are another team that is
well balanced. They lead the country in steals and like to get
out on the fastbreak. They are a fairly young team with only
three seniors. West Virginia is led by their 6-1 guard Juwan
Staten with about 16 points per game.
15. Virginia Commonwealth (13-3)
The Virginia Commonwealth Rams are led by senior G Treveon
Graham. Graham leads the team in points, rebounds, and
assists. Overall however, they are very well balanced
offensively.
16. Iowa State (12-2)
Iowa State is the best passing team in the nation, with 19
assists per game. The Cyclones have made a name for themselves
by being the most unselfish ball club. They have six players
that average more than 10 points.
17. Seton Hall (13-3)
The Cinderella story of this year goes to Seton Hall as they
have beaten three top 25 teams. Junior Sterling Gibbs leads
this team, and is huge in crunch-time. The Pirates have had a
great run in the regular season but probably will not go far
in the post-season.
18. Arkansas (13-2)
Every season the Arkansas Razorbacks are known for their
intense defense. This year they are following same successful
recipe. The Razorbacks have also adopted a more offensive
game, they are top ten in points and steals.
19. North Carolina (12-4)
North Carolina is another team that is making a name for
themselves. The Tar Heels are fourth in rebounding and fifth
in assists in the country. This year will be another where
they continue their successful legacy.
20. Northern Iowa (14-2)
Northern Iowa has made a statement this year and is aiming to
take the Missouri Valley Conference title from Wichita State.
Northern Iowa is not a super talented team; however, they are
making up for it on the offensive end by making 49 percent of
their shots.
Lady Mats Defeat the Dons –
Photo Gallery
Lady Mats basketball destroyed the Dons Tuesday night, 98-63.
This gives the Mats an impressive winning record of 14-1. Come
and support the Lady Mats this Friday against Alhambra at 5:30
in the Matadome.
AFC Championship Game Preview
AFC Championship: Indianapolis Colts vs New England Patriots
3:40 PT
Line: NE -7
Each team is fresh off of impressive victories over the last
two AFC Champions, with the Patriots downing the Ravens and
the Colts dismantling the Broncos. People always talk about
how hard New England is to beat at home, but in the past five
years they have lost three of the four home playoff games in
franchise history. To advance to the Super Bowl, Colts’
quarterback Andrew Luck and head coach Chuck Pagano need to do
something they have yet to do in their careers: beat the New
England Patriots. Luck and Pagano arrived in Indy in 2012 and
are 0-3 against the Patriots, with Luck throwing six
touchdowns but eight interceptions in those games. These teams
faced each other back in November in Indianapolis, which
resulted in a 42-20 victory for the Patriots.
New England Offense vs. Indianapolis Defense
Tom Brady was a man on fire last week, throwing for 367 yards
and three touchdowns with just one interception. The Patriots
exploded for 35 points against a stingy Baltimore team that
ranked 8th in the NFL in total defense. Tight End Rob
Gronkowski is looking like the Gronk of old, and Danny
Amendola, Julian Edelman and Brandon LaFell form a formidable
trio at wide receiver, giving Brady the best receiving core
he’s had since 2011. When these teams squared off back in
November, the Colts held Brady to just 257 yards and two
touchdowns while forcing him to throw two interceptions, both
to strong safety Mike Adams. Brady didn’t need to do much
against the Colts however, as Patriots’ running back Jonas
Gray ran all over the Colts for 207 yards and four TDs. The
even more damning statistics are the 42 points the Patriots
scored that day, and the 503 yards of total offense the Colts’
defense allowed. It is imperative the Colts stop the Patriots’
running game, and things are looking up for the Colts in that
department. Gray has fizzled out dramatically since that game,
struggling with an ankle injury and time in Bill Belichick’s
doghouse. The Patriots rushed for an embarrassing 14 yards
against the Ravens, the lowest total ever for a playoff team
in a win. The Colts’ front seven played well last week against
CJ Anderson, holding him to just 80 yards on 18 carries.
Inside linebackers D’Qwell Jackson and Jerrell Freeman played
a key role in their defensive success, combining for 18
tackles and providing stellar coverage.
But even if the Colts force New England into being onedimensional, the Patriots could still experience offensive
success. The Colts are talented at corner with Greg Toler,
Vontae Davis and Darius Butler playing well for them. Safety
is a different story however, where they have a major question
mark at free safety. Sergio Brown and LaRon Landry have each
seen time there, but each have been inconsistent. Even more
concerning is the Colts’ pass rush. They did tie for ninth in
the NFL in sacks, but they fail to get consistent pressure
with a four man rush, as most of their sacks came off of
blitzes. The Colts do not have a single player with more than
seven sacks this season. The Patriots’ offensive line is as
solid as they come, as Tom Brady has been sacked only 21 times
this year. If the Colts don’t get pressure on Brady, his
weapons will buy themselves extra time to find soft spots in
the Colts’ defense, and Brady will make them pay. Blitzing
Brady is also a risky proposition, as he leads the NFL in
passer rating this season (135.6) when a defense brings five
or more rushers. It’s very simple: if the Colts don’t stop the
run, they will lose. But even if they are able to stop the
run, they need to get better pressure on Brady without
bringing a blitz.
Advantage: New England
Indianapolis Offense vs New England Defense
Speaking of potentially putrid rushing attacks, the Colts have
yet to have a 100 yard rusher in a game this season. Ahmad
Bradshaw was running the football well this season until he
broke his leg in November against these same Patriots.
Bradshaw has been on Injured Reserve ever since, and with
Trent Richardson being incredibly underwhelming, the Colts
have had to lean on the inexperienced duo of Daniel Herron and
Zurlon Tipton, who have proved lackluster so far in the
postseason. The Colts have weapons in the receiving game with
T.Y. Hilton, a still semi-serviceable Reggie Wayne, free agent
pickup Hakeem Nicks and emerging rookie Donte Moncrief. In
addition to their quartet at wide receiver, they boast as
formidable a tight end duo as anyone with Coby Fleener and
Dwayne Allen. If there is one team in the NFL with enough
depth in the secondary to compete with this receiving core, it
is the New England Patriots. (No offense Seattle, but you
really don’t have much behind Sherman, Thomas and Chancellor.)
For New England, Darrelle Revis, Logan Ryan, Brandon Browner,
Kyle Arrington, Patrick Chung, Duron Harmon and Devin McCourty
are all contributors in a secondary that has consistently shut
down top wideouts this season. Their front seven is incredibly
versatile, as players such as Jamie Collins, Rob Ninkovich and
Chandler Jones take on several roles for this defense.
Advantage: New England
Bill Belichick and defensive coordinator Matt Patricia have
bamboozled Andrew Luck in the past with exotic blitzes and
coverages, which have in large part led to the eight
interceptions Luck has thrown in three games against New
England. Will Luck break that trend? I believe he can do so,
due to improved pass protection and more targets in the
receiving game. Luck actually played better than advertised
when these teams played earlier this season, as he threw for
303 yards, two touchdowns and just one interception. His
production was largely overshadowed by the success of New
England’s offense. On Sunday the Colts will have their work
cut out for them, and will need to play the game of their
lives on defense. I just don’t think there’s enough talent on
that side of the ball, namely in the front seven to keep up
with New England. Luck will continue to play well, but he will
be largely overshadowed again by Tom Brady and the Patriots,
as they advance to yet another Super Bowl.
Prediction: New England 34, Indianapolis 24
Mirador
Predicts
College
Football Championship Game
The Case for Oregon
The Ducks showed they can win a big game in dominating fashion
by beating #3 Florida State 59-20. Granted, the Seminoles
relinquished a multitude of unforced errors in the Rose Bowl,
but Oregon took advantage of every single one, converting
Seminole mistakes into Oregon points. Even though All-American
cornerback Ifo Ekpre-Olomu sat out with an injury, the rest of
the defense for Oregon picked up the slack. Pressuring
quarterback Jameis Winston seemingly every time he dropped
back, Oregon forced Florida State to turn the ball over five
times on four fumbles and one interception. It is hard to
overstate the impressiveness of piling up 59 points against a
stout Florida State defense, while also forcing Florida State
to turn over the ball five times.
There is no doubting the elite talent of Marcus Mariota. He
has the ability to rack up yards on any caliber defense,
whether it’s attacking teams through the air or on the ground,
rising to become a true leader of arguably the best offense in
the country.
Not only does Oregon consist of a dominant offense, but their
underrated defense proves to be one of the best in the country
as well. At 6’7”, 290 pounds, outside linebacker DeForest
Buckner leads the top-tier Oregon defense that confuses and
frustrates any offense they line up against. If they give Ohio
State plenty of different looks, and continue to use their
dominating pass rush of Buckner to pressure the young and
inexperienced sophomore Cardale Jones, the Ducks will win big.
The confidence that they gained from their dominating win in
the Rose Bowl should carry on into the National Championship.
Ever since Oregon’s lone loss to Arizona, they’ve been on an
unstoppable roll, making them an easy bet that they will hoist
its first ever National Championship trophy Monday night.
The Case for Ohio State
The Buckeyes stunned all of America with their 42-35 win over
#1 Alabama. All the Cardale Jones doubters were proven wrong.
In his first and only two starts, the Ohio State offense
bombarded defenses with 101 points and 1,095 yards. Although
the scoreboard tells a different story, the outcome of the
Sugar Bowl was never in doubt. For most of the second half,
Ohio State managed at least a two score lead over the Crimson
Tide; something that no other team accomplished against
Alabama all season.
The most impressive aspect of the game to me was how the
Buckeyes and Cardale Jones never panicked. They dug themselves
in an early hole 21-7, but didn’t force anything. They stuck
to their game-plan and never wavered, knowing eventually it
would start working.
To me, Urban Meyer is unquestionably the single best coach in
the entire country. He turned around a 2011 6-7 Buckeyes squad
into teams that have won at least 12 games in each season he’s
been there and a 37-3 record overall. Meyer’s proven that he
and his team can win big games, winning National Championships
at Florida. He can make a game-plan to exploit any defense in
the country, no matter who they play against.
The unsung heroes of this Ohio State team are the defensive
players. They quite arguably are the best front seven in the
country, led by All-American defensive end Joey Bosa. If they
can pressure Mariota and force him to make quick decisions,
Ohio State could very well shut down the Ducks.
Beating the #1 ranked team in the country should give Ohio
State some swagger heading into this game with the “we can’t
be beat” mentality that is always dangerous to play against.
If that is combined with good coaching and a smart Cardale
Jones, expect the Buckeyes to win their eighth National
Championship.
Keys to Victory for Oregon
Get up early and never take the foot off the gas
Pressure Cardale Jones and make him make quick decisions
Heavy dose of the passing game
Keys to Victory for Ohio State
Win the turnover battle
Control the tempo of the ballgame
Make little to no mistakes on offense
NFL Playoff Preview
Baltimore Ravens (10-6) @ New England Patriots (12-4)
Never doubt Tom Brady. In the previous five seasons, New
England has been in the NFL playoffs and have made the AFC
championship game most of those years. This year they will
advance to the AFC championship once again after they defeat
the Baltimore Ravens in Foxborough. Look for New England Tight
End Rob Gronkowski to have yet another big game.
Carolina Panthers (7-8-1) @ Seattle Seahawks (12-4)
Carolina’s offense will have big trouble with the Legion of
Boom up in Seattle. Richard Sherman, Earl Thomas and Kam
Chancellor can stop any offensive player in the whole league.
Plus Marshawn Lynch will activate Beast Mode and run all over
the Panther’s D on the way to a Seattle victory.
Dallas Cowboys (12-4) @ Green Bay Packers (12-4)
The Cowboys haven’t lost an away game this season, but they
haven’t played in Lambeau. The Cowboy’s defense will have to
play their best against Aaron Rodgers, Jordy Nelson and Eddie
Lacy. This won’t be a walk in the park for the Packers as two
of the best offensive players in the NFL, DeMarco Murray and
Dez Bryant, come to town.
Indianapolis Colts (11-5) @ Denver Broncos (12-4)
Denver quarterback Peyton Manning, who spent the first 14
seasons in Indianapolis, will now play against his former team
for the second time this year. The Broncos won 31-24 the first
they met the Colts on opening day, and this game will be no
different.