Last week's advantage/disadvantage record: 4-2
2013 Advantage/Disadvantage Record: 7-5
2013 Advantage/Disadvantage Record: 7-5
College basketball is heating up and NBA teams are making their playoff runs. It’s a good time to be a hoops fan. Last but not least, NASCAR’s big race is this Sunday, with one sexy lady on the pole!
Saturday, February 23
NCAA Men’s Basketball
#11 Georgetown Hoyas at #8 Syracuse Orange
One of the biggest losses to the college basketball world by
the breakup of the traditional Big East powerhouses will be the end of the
Georgetown-Syracuse rivalry. These two teams have been consistently ranked
among the best in college basketball and have put on some shows for the fans
over the years.
This year should be no exception and both teams have a
realistic shot at a top three regional seed in the NCAA Tournament in March. A win on Saturday should put the winner into
the top 10 and in sole possession of first place in the Big East. Going into
the Carrier Dome with a lot at stake, Gerogetown sophomore forward Otto Porter, Jr. (15
PPG, 7 RPG) will need to be on his “A” game to solve the Syracuse 2-3 and come
away with the road win.
Syracuse is a team that never rebuilds, just reloads. Its
biggest challenges have usually come in March. However, to be best positioned
for March, the in conference battles in February are what make or break
them. Junior power forward C.J. Fair (14
PPG, 7 RPG) is having the best year of his career. He is an absolute menace in
the paint on both sides of the court. I think the Orange’s key player, Fair,
brings more to the table than Georgetown’s Porter and I think the Orange are
more solid from top to bottom, not to mention at home, where they are unbeaten
in conference play this season.
Advantage: Syracuse
Advantage: Syracuse
 |
| C.J. Fair 1 |
Sunday, February 24
NCAA Men’s Basketball
#4 Michigan State Spartans at #18 Ohio State Buckeyes
Ohio State came very close to pulling off a huge upset in
overtime at Michigan earlier this month. Since then, the Buckeyes have hit some
major speed bumps, losing three of their last five and the two wins coming over
teams with losing conference records. Ohio State junior forward Deshaun Thomas
(20 PPG, 6 RPG) has brought it during the funk and has to continue to grind it
out if the Buckeyes are to defend their home court against Michigan and not
risk falling out of the top 25.
I’ve suggested, all season, that MSU has come close to
turning a corner all season, but have gotten flat tires just before reaching
the intersection. Sandwiched in between close losses to #1 Indiana on January
27th and again Wednesday night, the Spartans have knocked off ranked
conference rivals Minnesota and Michigan. Michigan State was riding a five game
winning streak, including 11 of their last 12, before losing to the #1 team in
the country on Wednesday evening. MSU will go as far as junior guard Keith
Appling (14 PPG, 4 APG, 4 RPG) can take them. Appling has to continue to show
up big in big games. Six point and three point outputs in the games against
Indiana two nights ago and in January, respectively, won’t cut it for a team
leader in the Big Ten.
Advantage: Michigan State
Advantage: Michigan State
 |
| The only think worse than having Deshaun Thomas score on you is him doing so with his nuts in your face. 2 |
NBA
Memphis Grizzlies at Brooklyn Nets
Memphis got off to a blazing hot start and is still fourth
in the Western Conference. They’ve consistently been one of the better teams in
the West during the last three seasons, thought they have a low profile. The
Nets have gone from cellar dweller to contender over the course of two seasons
with shrewd acquisitions by owner Mikhail Prokhorov. The Nets are also in
fourth place in the East.
Point guard Deron Williams (17 PPG, 8 APG) and center Brook
Lopez(19 PPG, 7 RPG, 2 BlkPG) have been the key cogs in the Nets machine,
though their role players make them one of the toughest teams in the league to
score against and one of the better teams on second chance points and points in
the paint. Memphis is also a very tough, physical team with a stingy defense.
I’ve yet to come to a conclusion on this team’s long term viability following
the trade of Rudy Gay to the Toronto Raptors, however.
The Grizzlies are power forward Zach Randolph’s (16 PPG, 12
RPG) team, in my opinion. But going to Brooklyn against a hot team currently
riding a four game winning streak may be more than the Grizzlies can handle.
Expect a good, tough, matchup.
Advantage: Nets
 |
| Brook Lopez in "beast mode". 3 |
Chicago Bulls at Oklahoma City Thunder
A return of guard Derrick Rose to the Bulls this season
could make this a Finals preview. If there was ever a question as to how well
coached Tom Thibodeau’s Bulls are, those questions were answered in the first
half of this season.
Former league MVP Derrick Rose has not played a minute of
basketball since injuring his knee in the 2012 NBA Playoffs, yet the Bulls are
just a game and a half back of the Indiana Pacers in the Central division and
fifth in the Eastern Conference. The Bulls strength is their defense, and
center Joakim Noah (12 PPG, 12 RPG, 2 BlkPG) has held the D and the team on his
shoulders in Rose’s absence. If Rose comes back this season, watch out!
I think that the Thunder are the best team in the Western
Conference, in spite of being four games back of the first place San Antonio
Spurs in the West. Led on the floor by small forward Kevin Durant (29 PPG, 8
RPG, 5 APG) and point guard Russell Westbrook (23 PPG, 8 APG, 5 RPG), the
Thunder have no glaring weaknesses in any aspect of their game and are capable
of outscoring any opponent they face. Durant is having an MVP caliber season,
though he is likely to fall short of LeBron James (27 PPG, 8 RPG, 7 APG, 2
StlPG) in MVP voting if present trends continue. I think the Bulls will make
the Thunder work for the win, but in OKC, the Thunder are too much for the Rose-less
Bulls.
Advantage: Thunder
 |
| Kevin Durant is becoming the MVP bridesmaid of the league. 4 |
NASCAR
Daytona 500
Danica Patrick won the pole in Daytona 500 qualifying. Now
if only she can win a NASCAR race. While I will decline to engage in the
limitless sophomoric jokes I could make about “Danica Patrick getting the
‘pole’ at Daytona,” I cannot ignore the tremendous amount of attention that
NASCAR’s signature event is receiving this year because one of its most
marketable (and hottest) racers has the top pole position.
NASCAR wins whether Danica wins or not. Behind Patrick in
order of starting position are Jeff Gordon, and NASCAR bad boys Kyle Busch &
Kevin Harvick. This is a win-win because auto racing enthusiasts have big name
stars in the top positions and casual fans will get a racing-related heavy dose
of, arguable, the most recognizable face in the sport.
Tune in to Fox at noon central time!
 |
| "Hey, Beavis! Danica Patrick got the 'pole'! Uhh huh huh!" 5 |
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1) Image from www.bouncemag.com
2) Image from www.the-ozone.net
3) Image from http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com
4) Image from www.cosbysweaters.com
5) Image from www.exposay.com
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