College Basketball Power Rankings: February 25

More games, more upsets.  This week we saw three of the top four teams go down and Michigan State lost twice.  They had the most anticipated game with #1 Indiana which the Hoosiers pulled it out late 72-68 thanks to Victor Oladipo who is starting to be recognized as a candidate for POY.  Miami probably had the worst loss at Wake Forest 80-65.  And we're off.

1. Indiana (24-3, LW 1) - The Hoosiers win at Michigan State was huge and no player was bigger than Victor Oladipo.  He had 19 points, 9 boards, 5 steals, and the last six points for IU when they were down one.  This win solidified Indiana as the top team in the country.
2. Gonzaga (27-2, LW 5) - Gonzaga won their two games last week by a combined 74 points over Santa Clara and San Diego.  This week they will try to finish with a perfect record in conference play at BYU and hosting Portland.
3. Michigan (23-4, LW 6) - UM handled an Illinois team that was on a five game win streak 71-58.  Trey Burke had 28 points on 8-11 shooting and 8 assists.  They travel to Penn State Wednesday before MSU comes to Ann Arbor on Sunday.  The Wolverines will be looking to avenge an embarrassing 23-point loss by the hands of the Spartans.
4. Duke (24-3, LW 7) - Duke rebounded nicely after their loss to Maryland with easy wins on ACC bottom feeders Virginia Tech and Boston College.  Mason Plumlee got back on track recording a double-double in both games.  The Blue Devils now have their eyes set on a rematch with Miami this Saturday.
5. Florida (22-4, LW 4) - Florida seemed to be cruising to another win before Missouri was able to erase a 13-point deficit.  The Gators are still in good position for the SEC title and remain the only SEC team ranked in the top 25.
6. Miami FL (22-4, LW 2) - The U had flirted with losses to Clemson and Virginia before tripping up at Wake Forest.  Miami was never in the game as they trailed by 13 at the half and shot only 39% from the field.  They travel to Duke this week so we'll see if this team can find its groove again.
7. Georgetown (21-4, LW 11) - Georgetown was a hard team to get a read on when conference play started, now they find themselves on top of the Big East after a 57-46 win at Syracuse.  Otto Porter Jr. was the only Hoya in double figures but he scored 33 with 5 three's, 8 rebounds and 5 steals.  They are on a nine game win streak and head to UConn for a tough road test Wednesday.
8. Kansas (23-4, LW 8) - Kansas narrowly escaped with a double-overtime win at Oklahoma State 68-67.  The Jayhawks only made one field goal in either OT and that was a Naadir Tharpe jumper to go up one with 20 seconds left in the game.  A tough road game at Iowa State in next, in a rematch of a game that Kansas needed a strong push late to come out with the win.
9. Michigan State (22-6, LW 3) - I give the Spartans love last week and they let me down losing to Indiana at home and Ohio State on the road.  Don't get me wrong, both were tough games to win but I didn't expect two losses.  They let the IU game slip away late and their leading scorer Keith Appling has lost all his mojo shooting 2-14 with 9 points combined in the losses.  Michigan is licking their chops at a wounded MSU squad.
10. Louisville (22-5, LW 10) - Louisville stood pat after a 79-61 win over Seton Hall as Gorgui Dieng scored 28 on 10-11 from the floor.  The Cardinals are still the hunt for a Big East title and a matchup at Syracuse will determine the fate of one of those teams.
11. Syracuse (22-5, LW 9) - The Orange could not find any offense against G-Town as they only shot 34% and were held to a season low 46 points.  It doesn't get any easier for them either as they travel to Marquette tonight before hosting Louisville Saturday.
12. Arizona (23-4, LW 12) - Arizona looked good disposing of both Washington Pac-12 teams by 35 combined points.  They are getting contributions from multiple players and back on top of the Pac-12 standings after Oregon lost to Cal.
13. Kansas State (22-5, LW 13) - K-State still has hopes of a Big 12 championship but a road game this week at Baylor could kill that dream.  They are looking for their first conference title since 1976-77.
14. New Mexico (23-4, LW 15) - New Mexico was able to get a big win at Colorado State 91-82.  Kendall Williams scored 46 on a ridiculous 10-13 from beyond the arc.  This weeks brings Steve Fisher and San Diego State into town.  In the first meeting the Lobos scored 12 less that Williams' output against CSU, 34.
15. Oklahoma State (20-6, LW 14) - The Cowboys took Kansas to 2 OT's despite their stand-out Freshman Marcus Smart going 2-14 from the field.  Ok-State has a mild schedule this week with TCU and Texas on the docket.

Biggest Jump - Georgetown up 4
Biggest Drop - Michigan State down 6


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College Basketball Power Rankings: February 19

     For the first time in six weeks the #1 team in the country didn't lose.  Indiana remains at the top spot after two easy wins at home while Kansas stopped its three game losing streak.  Michigan State and Gonzaga cracked the top five for the first time but Duke and Michigan were top five teams that both suffered losses.  Let's do it.

1. Indiana (23-3, LW 1) - Indiana has been rolling since their buzzer-beater loss at Illinois but will face a tough test Tuesday on the road at Michigan State.  Victor Oladipo will be playing through an ankle injury and if he's not 100% it will be that much harder for the Hoosiers to get the win.
2. Miami FL (21-3, LW 2) - The Hurricanes struggled badly at Clemson but was able to escape with a win 45-43.  They only shot 34% but the mark of a good team is winning games when it's not your night and Miami is showing they are legit.
3. Michigan State (22-4, LW 8) - I expected MSU to beat Michigan at home but not the way they did.  The Spartans largest lead was 31 as they dominated from the from the jump.  Indiana now comes to town which starts a four game stretch of IU, OSU, Michigan, and Wisconsin who are all ranked.
4. Florida (21-3, LW 5) - Since their first SEC loss Florida has won three straight by an average of 24 points.  They visit Missouri on Tuesday for their hardest game left on the schedule.
5. Gonzaga (25-2, LW 6) - Gonzaga is garnishing a few #1 votes in both of the major polls and their 17-point win at rival Saint Mary's proved they might be deserving.  Kelly Olynyk is averaging 18 points and 7 rebounds for the Bulldogs.
6. Michigan (22-4, LW 3) - Michigan went 1-3 in their toughest stretch of the season and it ended in a blowout at MSU.  Then they struggled against Big Ten bottom feeder Penn State at home.  The freshmen look to have hit a wall and their lack of big men is a glaring weakness against top competition.  We'll see what they do after a week off when Illinois visits Ann Arbor.
7. Duke (22-3, LW 4) - Duke needed a second half comeback to beat North Carolina 73-68 but couldn't muster one at Maryland as they fell 83-81.  Mason Plumlee played his worst game of the season with only 4 points and 3 boards as the bigger Alex Len dominated the POY candidate.
8. Kansas (21-4, LW 11) - KU looks to be back on track after handling K-State and Texas each by more than 20 points.  We'll see if they are fully back when they head to Oklahoma State this week.
9. Syracuse (21-4, LW 7) - The road hasn't been kind to the Orange lately as they've lost three of their last four away from home.  They have a difficult close to their season as four of their final five games are against ranked teams.
10. Louisville (21-5, LW 12) - Louisville needed a break after a 5 OT game with Notre Dame and they get with four straight against the bottom of the Big East.  After easily disposing of St. John's and South Florida last week, they now face Seton Hall and DePaul.
11. Georgetown (19-4, LW 15) - The Hoyas had two big wins last week over Marquette 63-55 and at Cincinnati 62-55.  They did blow a 17-point lead at Cincy but managed to hang on.  They head to Syracuse this week for big matchup this Saturday.
12. Arizona (21-4, LW 9) - The Wildcats seem to be struggling as of late.  Colorado took revenge with a 71-58 win and then they had a tough time beating Utah 68-64.  However, they still have a chance to win the Pac-12.
13. Kansas State (20-5, LW 13) - K-State was ran out of the gym in Kansas but have bounced back nicely against Baylor and West Virginia getting wins by double digits.  They are fighting for a Big 12 title and travel to Texas this week.
14. Oklahoma State (19-5, LW NR) - The Cowboys have won seven straight and have one of the best freshmen in country in Marcus Smart.  They host Kansas Wednesday night as they look to sweep the Jayhawks on the year.
15. New Mexico (22-4, LW NR) - The Lobo's have a hard time scoring but opponents also have a hard time scoring on them.  They have a big road test this week at Colorado State.

Biggest Jump - Michigan State up 5
Biggest Drop - Butler down 6

New Editions - #14 Oklahoma State, #15 New Mexico
Old News - Butler, Pittsburgh

J & J's Top Ten Dunks

     This weekend is All-Star Weekend for the NBA and that brings us the Slam Dunk Contest.  A chance for the best leapers in the game to show off their creativity, gracefulness and power.  While some of the best players in the NBA have won titles (Michael Jordan, Dominique Wilkins, Kobe Bryant, Vince Carter), you still get guys you've never heard of come out and display their talents (Dee Brown, Fred Jones, Gerald Green, Jeremy Evans).  Everybody's opinion is different on how to judge dunks.  That's why I needed a second voice in this so I brought in the help of NBA guru, Jason Bradshaw.  Myself (Jason Shusteric) and Bradshaw are not only looking at dunk contest performances but also in-game dunks.  We will be looking at style, creativity, difficulty, and shock factor.  Or pretty much whatever we feel is the best.  To complete a dunk you must have thrown the ball through the net, grabbing the rim, sorry Dwight Howard.  You also won't see Nate Robinson on here because giving yourself 30 tries to make each dunk takes a lot of the excitement out of it.  So without further ado, let's start the debate.

Honorable Mention

For our picks here we went with the best facial dunks of all time.  It's one thing to dunk in a contest or on break away but to do it over a defender while he's trying to block your shot is impressive.  And dunking on someone is one of the best and most embarrassing feats in any sport.

#3 Scottie Pippen Over Patrick Ewing

Pippen wasn't the only Bulls player to put Ewing on a poster, Jordan had a nice one too, but pushing Ewing down and standing over him after makes it that much better.  You also can't go wrong when you get some Spike Lee taunting thrown in there.

#2 Shawn Kemp Finger Point Dunk On Alton Lister

Kemp was one of the better in game dunkers ever, Dominique Wilkins being the greatest, and his dunk on Lister is classic.  You see the lane open up and Kemp start barreling through.  Once he cups the ball you know something bad is about to happen.  Lister tried to get out of the way but couldn't.  The finger point though is what takes this dunk over the top.  Not only does Kemp dunk on Lister but makes sure he points it out just in case anyone missed it.

#1 Shaq On Chris Dudley

Shaq dunked on a lot of people throughout his career but nothing like what he did to poor Mr. Dudley.  This is the definition of embarrassing.  We have a dunk facial, crotch to the face, push down, and then (the best part) Dudley throws the ball at Shaq.  I could watch this 100 times in a row and still get a good laugh.


Now onto to the real list.

#10 Shaq Brings Down The Basket

Jason Shusteric:  This is on here purely for shock factor.  We've seen guys like Darryl Dawkins and Darvin Ham shatter backboards but nobody ever, in the history of the game, has brought down the entire basket.  The rim, backboard, shot clock, and stanchion all came crashing to the floor.  We've never seen it before and never will again.  Shaq was the only player capable of making this happen, twice.

Jason Bradshaw:  When I saw this dunk for the first time I it was the coolest dunk I've ever seen.  It became a "manly" thing to do.  They already reinforced backboards so guy like Darryl Dawkins couldn't shatter them.  Yet they weren't "Shaqproof"!  Shortly after this my friend and I would actually try to bring backboards down!  Sadly, I've still never been able to do it!


#9 Dominique Wilkins One-Handed Windmill

JS:  Wilkins had the great ability to make normal dunks look amazing.  Part of it was because of his ferocity on the rim.  Every dunk he did it looked like he was trying to tear the rim down with it.  Wilkins won two dunk contests and rarely did anything but windmills, reverse pumps, and straight off the backboard.  The way he shows the rim the ball then brings it around with a ridiculous amount of velocity is unmatched.  This particular dunk was in the controversial 1988 contest.

JB:  Surely the man who defeated MJ in a dunk contest deserves a spot on our list.  But why the one-handed windmill?  Seems like many players could duplicate this.  Wrong.  The science of Dominique's windmill is like Tiger Woods' golf swing.  Dominique uses an amazing combination of strength, flexibility, and timing.  Add a 40+ inch vertical and you have an all time top 10 dunk.  Try recording yourself doing this dunk on a 7 foot rim and then watch the tape.  After you see how ridiculous you look you will understand the greatness of this dunk!


#8 Air Up There 720

JS:  I really tried to stay away from And 1 and Team Flight Brothers or anything done in a non-pro league or lonely gym but this is hard to overlook.  It's more of a 630 than a 720 because he travels past the rim but I'm still not taking anything away from this dunk.  The fact that he was able to spin that fast from take off and still find the rim is amazing.  It's one of those dunks where you had to see it again to know what happened.

JB:  When I first saw this dunk I replayed it at least 10 times in a row.  It's not actually a full 720 but its close.  If this was in a NBA dunk contest it would certainly be higher on our list.  Like the figure skater trying to land the double axle, I'm sure "Air Up There" spent hours perfecting this dunk!  We can only wish that "Air Up There" makes the NBA like James White did this year!


#7 Andre Iguodala Behind The Backboard, Reverse

JS:  Let me just say that this was the biggest robbery in NBA Slam Dunk Contest history.  There is no possible way you can tell me Nate Robinson won this contest after needing 14 attempts in the dunk off.  Anyway, this dunk has great creativity and difficulty.  This also is the only dunk on our list that features an assist.  The way Iguodala is able to contort his body to make it under the backboard and still have have enough air to get the reverse dunk is unbelievable.  It's a shame he didn't win but everybody knows he had the best dunk in 2006.

JB:  Once of the most difficult dunks on our list.  Sadly I missed this dunk live.  But after watching it, I was absolutely shocked he didn't win the contest.  But it's definitely the most dangerous dunk on our list.  He had to completely adjust his body mid-air in order to avoid hitting his head on the backboard.  Couple this with how creative this was and you have a top 10 dunk.

#6 Vince Carter Over Frederic Weis

JS:  Vince Carter had one of the better shock factors to his dunks, this one especially.  The Frenchman Weis is listed at 7'2" and Carter (6'6") jumped over him.  When we saw Carter about to take off we figured there might be a foul or Carter will push Weis backwards, but no, he cleared him!  Let me put it this way.  This might be the first and only dunk that ended another players career.  This happened in 2000 and in 1999 Weis was drafted by the New York Knicks at #15 overall.  The Knicks never bothered bringing him to the NBA and the dunk was called "the dunk of death" by the French media.

JB:  Like the great Hacksaw Jim Duggan put it: USA, USA, USA!!  Yes, this dunk represented what it means to be an American!  It came around the time when the world was catching up the U.S. in basketball.  Yet, Vince Carter reminded everybody that basketball is America's game.  I was very proud to be an American after seeing Vince Carter jump COMPLETELY over a 7 footer yet throw it down with so much power!

#5 Jason Richardson Backwards Between The Legs, Reverse

JS:  We've seen it over and over again of people go between their legs (eastbay) and dunk.  But this was the first time we saw a reverse eastbay into a one-handed reverse.  Incredible amount of style, difficulty, and creativity went into this dunk.  I'm not sure how many guys on this list would even be able to complete this dunk.  Not only going between his legs backwards but also dunking with his off hand!  When J-Rich dropped this gem on us we knew it was a wrap for the contest.

JB:   We've come along way since J.R. Rider first introduced us to the "between the legs" dunk.  This dunk takes "between the legs" to a whole new level.  Try "between the legs reversed, off the bounce with the opposite hand".  What's really amazing is the fact that he did this dunk to WIN the contest.  Put together a dunk that's difficult, creative, shocking, and couple that with a pressure packed moment and you have a top 5 funk of all time!

#4 Michael Jordan Kiss The Rim

JS:  Esthetically, this is the greatest dunk I've ever seen.  MJ performed this dunk multiple times in dunk contests and even once in a game but never as good as in the 1987 contest.  The pure athletic beauty of this dunk in the replay is what gets me.  It's great in real-time but, like Chappelle said, everything looks better in slow motion.  When you see how graceful and how much his body is leaning in the air, you wonder how it's possible.  I give any other dunker 100 tries and they will never get it to look as good as this.  It's poetry in motion.

JB:  We debated this dunk as a possible #1.  Please watch this dunk in slow motion.  It's and incredibly beautiful looking dunk.  Watching it live looks good but certainly not top 10 worthy.  Yet when you see this in slow motion it blows your mind.  It's like watching a stunning piece of artwork.  I could never imagine myself using terms like gracefulness, elegance, and beauty to describe a dunk but I guess my "man card" has been stripped.  Similar to Dominique's windmill, although not the hardest dunk in the world, nobody could duplicate it.  It just looks too good.

#3 Vince Carter 360 Windmill

JS:  It was either this or the "Arm In Rim" dunk (the most underrated dunks of all time) but this has to be in here.  The big thing to realize with this dunk is that Vince is turning over his right shoulder.  Plenty of right-handed players have thrown down 360 dunks and every single one has turned left so their right arm is behind and coming to rim.  But for Carter to turn right and have his right arm through first, he almost has to stop his momentum mid-air to finish the dunk.  Then add in a powerful windmill, incredible.  Other than Jordan, Carter had the best style to his dunks and this proved that.

JB:  What amazed me more about this dunk was the hype before he even attempted it. Vince carter was the ONLY reason this dunk contest happened.  Two years prior the NBA cancelled the dunk contest because it became "too boring".  But after watching "Vinsanity" bring the house down with his in-game ridiculous dunks the public responded, and the dunk contest was back.  But could Vince Carter live up to the unbelievable hype?  I remember everybody on their feet as the announcer called his name.  30 seconds later...BOOM!  The 360 windmill!  INCREDIBLE!  He made one of the most difficult dunks look so easy.  This was his first dunk in one of the greatest dunk contest performances of all time.  The performance was so good people forget that Tracy McGrady and Steve Francis were also in it!

#2 Air Jordan

JS:  This dunk was very difficult to not put at #1 because not only was it great stylistically with Jordan pumping the ball mid flight, but his entire Jordan Brand is based off of this dunk.  This is the logo we've all grown to know.  Jordan did this dunk several times as it was his signature, but none were as good or clean as in 1988 in Chicago to beat Dominique Wilkins.  The thing that made Jordan the best dunk contest participant ever is his ability to dunk off either one or two feet.  Most dunkers are one or the other, not both.  Jordan could do both as he showed us two feet with "Kiss The Rim" and one foot with "Air Jordan".  But if there was one thing you could point out about this is that he never actually jump from behind the free throw line, which is the barometer of any free throw line dunk.

JB:  Yes the dunk that started it all!  MJ from the foul line!  I originally had this dunk lower on my list but when you look at it in slow motion and factor in the cultural impact that this dunk had, you realize that this dunk cannot be any lower than #2.  Similar to "Kiss The Rim", MJ made this dunk look prettier than anyone that's ever attempted it.  Pay attention to his left arm pulled back and his chest pushed forward and it looks as though he's really flying.  Add to that the double pump in mid air and MJ's version of Dr. J's foul line dunk becomes his OWN!

#1 James White Free Throw Line Windmill / Between the Legs

Some of you might think we are the craziest people ever for putting this #1 but let us explain.  First, the reason why we have a co-#1 is because we couldn't come to a consensus.  I think the windmill is better because he actually jumps from behind the line and JB takes the between the legs because of the degree of difficulty.  So we have two #1 dunks by the same guy in the same competition.

JS:  The free throw line dunk is one that happens almost every year in a dunk contest but nobody ever actually leaps from behind the line which is the whole purpose of doing this dunk.  Dr. J, Michael Jordan, Brent Barry, Dwight Howard, Scottie Pippen and many more have tried but all have failed.  The only other player to jump behind the line was Serge Ibaka, which was impressive but he's 6'10".  What James White was able to do at 6'7" by taking off behind the line further than any other player then add the windmill and this is the most impressive dunk I've ever seen.  We've never seen another guy even try a move while doing this dunk, let alone a windmill.  White was also able to successfully complete a free throw line between the legs dunk in this same contest but his foot was on the line.   It's a shame this took place in Russia and not many people have seen the video.  However White is in this year's contest and Las Vegas put him as the odds on favorite to win once the participants were announced.  He's 30 now but hopefully he still has it.

JB:  Well, we have a problem boys and girls.  I just discussed how amazing MJ's version of Dr. J's foul line dunk is, then I saw this!  Are you kidding me?  Is this real?  Did a man actually jump from the free throw line and go between his legs?  My friends, please just watch the video and tell me how I could possibly put MJ's dunk ahead of this.  This is the most incredible dunk you will ever see.  Which sets the stage fro tomorrow night!  Will James White land the "between the legs foul line" dunk?  Can't wait to find out!  Thanks for checking out our top 10 list!

College Basketball Power Rankings: February 11

     It's only February but it feels like March with how many upsets we saw last week.  4 of the top 5 and 9 of the top 15 teams suffered a loss and three teams (Kansas, Ohio State, Creighton) went down twice.  Things couldn't get more difficult to determine who is the best team in the country because nobody has shown any dominance.  But that's why we love college basketball right?  Let's get into it.

1. Indiana (21-3, LW 1) - Even though IU lost on a last second lay-up to Illinois, they came back and handled Ohio State on the road with ease.  Because of that OSU win they remain at #1 and are rewarded with a "week off" of sorts with Nebraska and Purdue coming to Bloomington.
2. Miami FL (19-3, LW 10) - Undoubtedly the hottest team in the country, I'm starting to drink the kool-aid after the Hurricanes blew out UNC at home 87-61 to run their winning streak to 11.  Durand Scott, Kenny Kadji, and Shane Larkin can all create their of shot and Reggie Johnson is a load in the post averaging 10 points and 9 boards.
3. Michigan (21-3, LW 3) - This was a stressful week for Big Blue as both of their games went to OT.  First, they were able to pull off the win against OSU as Tim Hardaway Jr. hit 6 of 9 three's for 23 points.  Then they went to Wisconsin, where they haven't won in eleven meetings, and Ben Brust hit a half-court buzzer-beater to send it to overtime and also hit the game-winning three in OT.  Michigan finishes its grueling four game stretch with a visit to Michigan State on Tuesday.
4. Duke (21-2, LW 6) - Duke was one of the few top teams to escape last week without a loss, barely.  They avenged their loss to NC State with a 98-85 win, but needed Mason Plumlee to hit 3 of 4 free throws late to beat Boston College 62-61.  Now they prepare for bitter rival North Carolina.
5. Florida (19-3, LW 2) - The Gators came out flat at Arkansas getting behind 43-26 at halftime and couldn't recover.  However, they did just that against Mississippi State winning 83-58.  This week they play host to Kentucky.
6. Gonzaga (23-2, LW 5) - Gonzaga is coasting through their conference but travel to Saint Mary's on Thursday, which poses it's most difficult test until the conference tournament.
7. Syracuse (20-3, LW 9) - Cuse was one of the few teams that didn't lose last week and also were able to welcome back James Southerland.  He returned against St John's to score 13 points in a 77-58 win.
8. Michigan State (20-4, LW 11) - As usual, Michigan State has been sitting back winning games while nobody pays attention to them.  Now they are tied for the Big Ten lead with Indiana.  They host Michigan on Tuesday which could turn out to a be another classic in the Big Ten this year.
9. Arizona (20-3, LW 7) -The Wildcats dropped a surprising home game to California 77-69 this weekend as they were outscored in the second half 44-31 behind Allen Crabbe's 31 points.  They will look to rebound on the road against a tough Colorado team that should have beat them earlier if not for a blown call.
10. Butler (20-4, LW 14) - The Bulldogs needed to hold on late at George Washington after blowing a 17-point lead to win 59-56.  We are now waiting for a showdown at VCU on March 2nd.
11. Kansas (19-4, LW 4) - What has happened to Kansas?!  After riding an 18 game winning streak the Jayhawks have dropped 3 straight to Oklahoma St, TCU, and Oklahoma.  Monday they host Kansas State to kick off rivalry week on ESPN.  This game is the perfect spot for KU to show the country it's still dangerous by taking out the Big 12 leader.
12. Louisville (19-5, LW 8) - Hands down the game of the week went to the 5-OT thriller between Louisville and Notre Dame.  ND came out of this winner 104-101 after Jerian Grant scored 12 points in the last 44 seconds to force the first OT.  The Cardinals get an easy stretch now with their next four games against unranked opponents.
13. Kansas State (19-4, LW NR) - Three of K-State's four losses are from ranked teams.  They've been a team that's under-the-radar all season but have consistently won.  The Wildcats lost their home meeting to Kansas earlier but will get a huge boost if they can give the Jayhawks a fourth straight loss.
14. Pittsburgh (20-5, LW NR) - Pitt is rolling right now after starting the Big East season 1-4 they recently have wins over Syracuse and Cincinnati.  Their only game this week is a visit to Marquette.
15. Georgetown (17-4, LW NR) - The Hoyas seem to be hitting their stride as well as they've won 7 of 8 since a 28-point home loss to the aforementioned Pitt Panthers.  Otto Porter Jr is playing great averaging 15 points and 8 rebounds.

Biggest Jump - Miami FL up 8
Biggest Drop - Kansas down 7

New Editions - #13 Kansas State, #14 Pittsburgh, #15 Georgetown
Old News - Ohio State, Creighton, New Mexico

Early NBA MVP Race

     We are a little past the midway point in the NBA season and a few weeks away from the All-Star break so it's time to take a look at the MVP race.  The last five years the debate has been dominated by LeBron James and Kobe Bryant, with Derrick Rose winning two years ago and Kevin Durant's name coming into the mix last year.

     Until a few weeks ago there were multiple guys that you could make an argument for to win the MVP.  But injuries have taken Chris Paul and Tim Duncan out of the conversation.  Paul has missed nine straight games and 12 out of the last 14 for the Clippers.  Paul still ranks second in assists (9.7) and first in steals (2.56) but his Clippers have dropped six of the last nine he's been out.  As for Duncan, he's missed six of the last eight for the Spurs due to a sore left knee and now a sprained ankle.  Timmy has his best numbers over the past three seasons (17.3 points, 9.7 rebounds, 2.7 blocks) but even with him out of the lineup the Spurs have been able to run their winning streak to eleven.

     Let's first talk about Kobe and my question is where are all of his fans?  The past five years, Kobe fans have been loud and proud saying that he is the best player in the league, but this year they've been quiet.  That's mainly in part because his team is currently four games under .500 but his numbers are no different than any of the last five season.  Actually you can make the argument that they are better because he has a higher field goal percentage at 46% and more assists at 5.3.  But still nothing from the little mambas.  And the argument about Kobe being better because he has more rings than other players is the worst argument to make.  Rings don't make one player better than another.  If that was the case here is a list of all the players better than Kobe (who has 5 rings) with how many rings they've won.  Bill Russell (11), Sam Jones (10), John Havlicek (8), Tom Heinson (8), K.C. Jones (8), Tom Sanders (8), Robert Horry (7), Frank Ramsey (7), Kareem Abdul-Jabbar(6), Bob Cousy (6), Michael Jordan (6), Jim Loscutoff (6), Scottie Pippen (6).

     Now on to the actual MVP candidates.  Like I said earlier, Tim Duncan and Chris Paul have been playing great for title contending teams but their recent injuries have knocked them out of the top three.  So, Carmelo Anthony has moved into that spot as he's guided the New York Knicks to a 31-16 record and second place in the Eastern Conference.  The Knicks are one the surprise teams this year as they only managed to finish seventh in the East last season, Melo's first full season with the team.  In the first game this year, NY smashed the defending champions Miami Heat 104-84 behind Anthony's 30 points and 10 boards.  We weren't sure if it was a fluke but it became a trend as the Knicks have consistently won.  Carmelo himself is having his best scoring season since 2006-07 with Denver as he is second in the league at 28.5.  His field goal percentage is only at 45% but that is partly because he's taking 6.6 three pointers per game but he is shooting a career best 41.5% from distance.

     Coming in at #2 is Kevin Durant.  Durant is making the strongest case of his career for MVP as he's leading the league is scoring for the fourth straight season.  He is undoubtedly the best scorer and offensive player in the league.  This year he is on pace to be the only player ever to lead the league in scoring while shooting 50% from the field (51.7), 40% from three (42.2), and 90% from the free throw line (90.2).  Aside from all that offense he's averaging 7.5 rebounds, 4.4 assists, and over a block and steal per game.  All of this while leading the Oklahoma City Thunder to the second best record in the league at 37-12, only behind San Antonio.  The fact of him putting up those offensive numbers and his team challenging for the best record in the league makes him a top candidate.  By the end of the year, Durant could very well come out as the MVP and I would have no problem at all with it.  His efficiency on the offensive end has been amazing to watch and he's improved his game every year he's been in the league.  If he doesn't get it this year, he definitely will sometime in the near future.

     My MVP right now though, is LeBron James.  LeBron has won three of the last four MVP awards and if you thought his numbers were good in those years, this season they are even better.  He's fourth in scoring at 26.8, pulling down a career best 8.2 rebounds, and dishing out 7.0 assists.  He's also leading the league in Player Efficiency Rating while shooting 55.6% from the field and 40.8% from deep, both career highs.  LeBron has steadily improved since joining the Heat but he does so many great things on the basketball court every night that we almost take it for granted.  He's the only player in the league to lead his team in scoring, rebounding, assists and steals.  He has the Heat in first place in the East at 32-14, positioned to make a run at a third straight NBA Finals appearance.  One thing I know is that voters like to share the wealth, they don't like voting for the same guy every year.  It's even less likely when Durant might do something for the first time in the history of the NBA.  But a good question to ask your self, if we are voting for the Most Valuable Player, which team would still be contending if these players were taken off their respective squads?  I would have to say OKC is more likely to still be in the mix.  I'll definitely take Russell Westbrook, Serge Ibaka, and Kevin Martin over Dwyane Wade, Chris Bosh, and Ray Allen.  It's really hard for me to make this call because Durant is my favorite player to watch and I'll never be a fan of LeBron after what he did to the Pistons in the 2007 playoffs.  It's kind of like Michael Jordan, I'll never cheer for the guy but I totally respect his game.  And ultimately, right now my vote goes to LBJ.

College Basketball Power Rankings: February 5

     For the fifth week in a row we had the #1 team in the nation go down as Michigan lost at Indiana 81-73.  The Hoosiers reach the top spot for the second time this season.  Other highly ranked teams suffering losses were Kansas and Syracuse, while Florida and Miami continued their hot streaks.  Here are the top 15.

1. Indiana (20-2, LW 4) - The Hoosiers came out strong against Michigan behind Cody Zeller's 19 points and 10 rebounds.  All five starters scored in double-digits and they shot 52% from the floor as a team.  This week they travel to Illinois and Ohio State.
2. Florida (18-2, LW 3) - Florida has been a tear and just had a 14-point win over a ranked Ole Miss team.  The SEC is struggling but the Gators are no joke and Patric Young is a beast.
3. Michigan (20-2, LW 1) - As was the case in their first loss at Ohio State, Michigan started slow on the road but they were able to fight back to tie the game in the second half.  But there is no rest in the Big Ten because tonight they host Ohio State then go to Wisconsin and Michigan State.
4. Kansas (19-2, LW 2) - Kansas has flirted with a couple losses lately and they finally got one with Oklahoma State surprising them at home 85-80.  The Jayhawks had 15 turnovers but couldn't stop Markel Brown's 28 points and he hit 7-10 from three.
5. Gonzaga (21-2, LW 6) - The Zags were tested at San Diego but escaped with the win 65-53.  Now they get an easy week at home be their a road test at St. Mary's
6. Duke (19-2, LW 7) - Duke was able to get two road wins last week after dropping their first two games away from Cameron.  They simply were on fire at Florida State shooting 61% from the field and connecting on 11-18 three point attempts.  Duke will next get a rematch with NC State, who gave them their first loss of the season.
7. Arizona (19-2, LW 8) - Arizona is quietly staying in the top 10 and now are tied atop the Pac-12 standings.  They've gotten back on track winning their last three after losing to UCLA.
8. Louisville (18-4, LW 9) - The Cardinals got back to their dominant ways beating Marquette 70-51 holding them to 36% shooting.  We'll see if they can continue that with two road games this week at Rutgers and Notre Dame.
9. Syracuse (18-3, LW 5) - Cuse dropped two straight but picked up a nice home win over Notre Dame 63-47.  James Southerland continues to be out and the Orange are desperately missing his shooting.
10. Miami FL (17-3, LW 13) - The Canes squeaked past NC State on the road as Reggie Johnson tip in a miss in the final seconds to pull off the 79-78 win.  They have now won nine straight and have been provided a big lift with Johnson back in the lineup.
11. Michigan State (18-4, LW 12) - Sparty bounced back from a loss to Indiana with an 80-75 win over Illinois.  Keith Appling played his best game of the season going for 24 points, 8 rebounds, and 7 assists.  They will now look to avenge a loss to Minnesota when the Gophers come to East Lansing.
12. Ohio State (17-4, LW 14) - OSU might have the toughest week of the year for any team as they head to #3 Michigan then host #1 Indiana.  Both games will be tough but if the Buckeyes can escape with one win that will prove they are a team that can challenge for a Big Ten title.
13. Creighton (20-3, LW NR) - Doug McDermott continues to show why he is a player of the year candidate averaging 24 points and 7 boards.
14. Butler (19-3, LW 10) - The Bulldogs were ran out of the gym in a 75-58 loss at Saint Louis as the Billikens forced 23 turnovers.  Butler was able to rebound against Rhode Island and face two .500 teams this week.
15. New Mexico (19-3, LW NR) - After only scoring 34 points at San Diego State, the Lobos won their next two.  They still lead a good Mountain West Conference and have a tough test at UNLV this week.

Biggest Jump - Creighton up 4
Biggest Drop - Syracuse and Butler down 4

New Editions - #13 Creighton, #15 New Mexico
Old News - Oregon, Missouri

Michigan Basketball: 2013 vs 1993

     Right now the Michigan Wolverines basketball team is ranked #1 in the country for the first time since the 1992-93 season, when the Fab Five were on the court.  Before the season started I posted that this is Michigan's best since that Fab Five team and they are proving that.  This weekend Michigan plays at #3 Indiana, but how would this year's team fare against its counterpart from 20 years ago?

2013 PG Trey Burke 6'0, 190 lbs, 17.9 ppg, 3.0 rpg, 7.1 apg
1993 PG Jalen Rose 6'8, 210 lbs, 15.4 ppg, 4.2 rpg, 3.9 apg

     This is the best matchup of the five positions.  Right now Trey Burke is the best point guard in the country and a top three overall player.  The thing I love about Burke is his low turnover rate.  He is averaging 7.1 assists and only 1.9 turnover per game.  Burke's ability to create his own shot while still getting his teammates involved is what sets him apart from other players.  Jalen Rose was a small forward playing point guard.  Rose was placed in the position because he was the best ball handler on the team but he was definitely a scorer.  His 6'8 frame was something that posed a lot of problems for opponents because he was able to post up smaller players and was usually too fast for bigger defenders.  Which is what Burke would have trouble with.  But his speed and quickness would also cause problems for Rose.  It's really close but I have to give it to Jalen.  I know Rose was never a player of the year candidate but he has the athletic ability and length to challenge Burke and I don't think Burke can handle him in the post.

2013 SG Nik Stauskas 6'6, 190 lbs, 12.7 ppg, 3.0 rpg, 49% 3FG
1993 SG Jimmy King 6'5, 210 lbs, 10.8 ppg, 4.4 rpg, 3.1 apg

     The shooting guard spot puts a shooter against an athletic slasher.  Nik Stauskas was the third piece of this years recruiting class behind Glenn Robinson III and Mitch McGary but he is proving his worth.  Stauskas is among the nation's leaders in three point percentage and still has the ability to drive and finish at the rim.  He does have decent size but it would be tough for him to contain Jimmy King's athleticism.  King was the high flyer for the '93 team and ran the fast break great with Rose.  He was their biggest three-point threat in the starting lineup and was a solid defender but it's really hard to overlook Stauskas' shooting ability.  The fact that he's able to hit half the threes he takes is more important than any dunk King can throw down.  Gotta take Nik, eh.

2013 SF Tim Hardaway Jr. 6'6, 205 lbs, 15.5 ppg, 5.0 rpg, 48% FG
1993 SF Ray Jackson 6'6, 220 lbs, 9.0 ppg, 4.1 rpg, 49% FG

     Tim Hardaway Jr. has vastly improved his game between his sophomore and junior seasons because he's letting the offense come to him instead of forcing things.  It's evident in his shooting percentage as it's jumped from 42% to 48% from the field and 28% to 41% from three.  Hardaway is also the Jimmy King to Trey Burke as he runs the break exceptionally well.  Ray Jackson is the forgotten member of the Fab Five but he was the defensive stopper for the team.  He was also the last of the five to get into the starting rotation their freshman year.  Even though his D was solid, I still have to give the edge to Hardaway's superior offensive skills.

2013 PF Glenn Robinson III 6'6, 210 lbs, 12.0 ppg, 5.8 rpg, 60% FG
1993 PF Chris Webber 6'9, 245 lbs, 19.2 ppg, 10.1 rpg, 2.5 bpg

     Glenn Robinson III is a great athlete and isn't afraid to crash the boards as he is second on the team in rebounds.  He's a great fit for John Belein's offense because he doesn't mind playing down low and can be a math-up nightmare for the opposing team's power forward.  But, like Rose, he's playing out of position.  His natural spot is at small forward and unlike Rose, he can't make up for the sheer size and strength that Chris Webber brings to the table.  Webber was dominant in college averaging a double-double in both of his season at Michigan.  From the moment he stepped on the court he was a force to be reckoned with on both ends of the floor as he also averaged 1.5 steals and 2.5 blocks.  Robinson is a great prospect and will continue to improve, but he's fighting an uphill battle against a player that was drafted #1 overall.

2013 C Jordan Morgan 6'8, 250 lbs, 6.4 ppg, 5.2 rpg, 0.2 bpg
1993 C Juwan Howard 6'9, 240 lbs, 14.6 ppg, 7.4 rpg, 2.6 bpg

     This is the most lopsided matchup we have.  Jordan Morgan is able to finish above the rim, a decent rebounder, but a below average defender.  Morgan has a lot of trouble creating his own offense unless he's set up by Burke.   Juwan Howard was a very skilled big man offensively and defensively.  He put up good numbers in '93 but they improved even more when Webber left and he averaged 20 points and 9 boards.  Howard also averaged well over 2 blocks per game in his time at Michigan.  Howard would be too much for Morgan to handle and would control the paint on both side of the ball.

2013 Bench - Mitch McGary, Caris LeVert, Jon Horford
1993 Bench - Eric Riley, Rob Pelinka, James Voskuil

      The bench for Michigan this year doesn't give them much outside of a rotation between Morgan, Mitch McGary and Jon Horford.  One thing I love about McGary though is his intensity.  The guy doesn't care if he's starting or coming off the bench, he's always going to play hard and be the first guy cheering his teammates on.  He reminds me of Kevin Garnett, the way he puts his heart into every game.  For the '93 team, Eric Riley was a great backup big man to have.  Before Webber and Howard arrived he averaged 10 points, 8 rebounds and 3 blocks.  As for Rob Pelinka and James Voskuil, they provided the occasional three but that's about it.

     I have to be honest, I think the 1993 team would have its way with the 2013 team.  Not to say the 2013 team couldn't win, but it would be tough.  The fact that the Fab Five would dominate the boards would be hard to overcome.  Not only did Webber and Howard do work on the glass, the rest of the starters all averaged over four rebounds a game.  The best chance the 2013 team has is if they are hitting from beyond the arc.  They have four players that can hit from distance and get hot on any given night.  One thing you have to remember about the Fab Five is not only did they have great careers in college but Webber, Rose, and Howard all went on to be 20 point scorers and play 10-plus years in the NBA.  In a seven game series I've got the '93 team in five.