The Detroit Pistons: Finally at the end of their descent to mediocrity.

Forty-seven. A number that most fans thought would be the Pistons' win total in the 2008-2009 season. Instead, the season full of turmoil and confusion gave us 47 losses, the final four in the form of utter domination at the hands of the Cleveland Cavaliers.

There has to be more than one reason that the Pistons fell from a championship team to a below .500 team that didn't even deserve to be in the playoffs. And there are three major ones.

1.) Chauncey Billups' departure to Denver.

I must say I was an advocate of this trade because I knew our core of Chauncey, Rip, Tayshaun and Sheed wasn't getting back to the Finals again. I did realize it made us a worse team, but I never could have realized to this extent. This season showed that Billups really was the last bit of glue holding this team together. As soon as he left, chaos ensued.

Rip, AI, and Stuckey fought for playing time throughout the year. Hell, who am I kidding, Dumars' mancrush Rodney Stuckey was never going to see the bench. Stuckey was forced into pointguard duties and the team suffered as a result. Rip had the lowest shooting percentage of his career because the offense was loaded on his back and Stuckey's passes to Rip coming around picks simply aren't as quick and crisp as Chauncey's were. Chauncey and Rip had a psychological connection and each knew exactly what the other would do. Stuckey and Rip can't operate on that level yet, and probably never will. The 7 years of chemistry that Chauncey and Rip built can't be duplicated by many tandems in the NBA. Chauncey and Rip made each other better and separately we're seeing how Rip fares with a far worse PG.

Iverson was a horrible fit for the Pistons, and I really hope Dumars didn't believe it would help the team this season. Iverson takes plays off on defense and doesn't pass when on offense. The whole core of the 03-04 championship team aged and just aren't the same now, they had a good run while it lasted, but Chauncey leaving was the last straw.

2.) Michael Curry sucks.

Here's a portion of an ESPN.com article written after the Pistons' first game with Iverson.

When Detroit needed buckets in the fourth quarter, it was Stuckey running the show at the point, with Iverson off the ball. And when the Pistons needed stops in the second half, it was Stuckey who continually was getting burned by Devin Harris (career-high 38 points, with 22 of his 24 free throw attempts coming in a second half in which Detroit surrendered 64 points to one of the NBA's worst teams). All that time, Pistons coach Michael Curry refused to switch Iverson onto Harris; even as Stuckey was committing five fourth-quarter fouls on Harris.

"Stuckey's the point, and Harris is the point. What we do here in Detroit, you guard your position. And when he comes into the game, Allen slides to the 2, and if Devin Harris is outplaying you, you're going to have to get better. That's what you're going to have to do, play your matchup," Curry said.

What a genius! Curry is stubborn and really doesn't know what he's doing, the Pistons simply don't have the personnel to support his idealistic approach to defense. Even back in the 2003-2004 season, while the players were better on individual defense than they are now, the team defense was what shone, and since Larry Brown left, the Pistons have never returned to the defensive identity that they flourished with. The Flip Saunders experiment failed with the offensive Pistons struggling to close out games defensively. Michael Curry's team has no identity whatsoever and I don't believe he's helping matters.

The Pistons use a half-court offense, with a PG who should be at SG and can't even initiate an offense properly. Curry's refusal (and possibly Dumars' refusal) to play Stuckey anywhere else on the floor is absurd, and is never going to benefit this Pistons team.

The only players who were anything close to efficient on defense were Maxiell (when at PF), Rasheed, McDyess, Amir Johnson, and Kwame Brown. And who would be missing from that group? EVERY PERIMETER PLAYER ON THE PISTONS. The Pistons defense consistently gave up easy drives to the basket and penetration. Stuckey isn't quick enough defensively to keep up with PGs like Devin Harris, Rajon Rondo, Derrick Rose, etc.

The perimeter defense got so bad at times this year that Michael Curry went to zone defense. Zone defense should end in college, NBA players are the most athletic players at their craft in the world, yet they can't keep up with their counterparts on defense? NBA players and teams as a whole are far too savvy to be stifled by a zone, they rip it to shreds by attacking the weak points systematically and completely frustrating the defense. Until a coach comes back to the Pistons that knows how to match up his personnel properly on defense and can motivate his players to be defensive stalwarts the way Larry Brown did, this Pistons team will be nothing more than mediocre.

3. Joe Dumars' drafting and free agency signings.

Joe D.'s "best" free agency moves over the past few years include signing the following: Nazr Mohammed, Kwame Brown, Flip Murray and Jarvis Hayes, while he acquired below average benchwarmers such as Walter Hermann, Primoz Brezec, and Juan Dixon through trade, apart from the Iverson deal.

Where are the impact players, Joe? Remember a couple years back when you said anyone could be traded? Then why weren't they? I understand it can be hard to work out a trade but I don't believe for a damn second that no one made what could have been considered a good offer for Tayshaun Prince. Hell, Amare Stoudemire was on the block this year and what did Joe Dumars do? Watch some Rodney Stuckey game tape and keep his prized trophy draft pick exempt from trade talks. Dumars becomes attached to his players too easily and while chaotic trades every other year aren't the key to success, hitting on SOME trades are. In the beginning of his tenure, Dumars brought in Rip, Ben Wallace, and Chauncey who formed a good core. To win the championship he acquired Rasheed, and drafted Tayshaun shortly before the championship. Those moves had potential impact.

How are Primoz Brezec and Nazr Mohammed going to improve this team?

Joe Dumars has failed to recognize the true need of this team, a post-scoring presence. Rasheed can be one of the better players in the NBA when he feels like it, but now during games, he often looks like he's practicing for the 3-Point Shootout, shooting 5 threes a game. McDyess and Sheed operate their best away from the basket, McDyess on 15 foot jumpers and Sheed on turn around post up jumpers. But the Pistons haven't had a banger inside that can score and don't have the offense outside to survive without one.

Now the Pistons can add a new need to a post-scoring presence, a pointguard that can lead the offense. It's not Rodney Stuckey. Unfortunately, the sad truth is that Rodney Stuckey is going to be the point guard for the majority of the time he's here, because Dumars and Curry so badly want him to turn into Chauncey Billups' clone.

Let's take a look at the Pistons' drafts from the last five years.

• D.J. White (2008 1st round): Traded to the Thunder before the season.
• Deron Washington (2008 2nd round): Playing in Israel currently. A high-flying SG/SF who has little offensive game outside the basket and played decent to good defense.
• Rodney Stuckey (2007 1st round): Player that Joe Dumars believes is a PG/SG when he is only suited for the latter. He was a scorer in college, not a distributor. The apple of Joe Dumars' eye.
• Arron Afflalo (2007 1st round): Backup guard for the Pistons who was thought to be able to matchup against the opponent's best guard on defense.
• Sammy Mejia (2007 2nd round): Waived by Pistons in 2007, a versatile athletic 6'6" SG/SF that couldn't find his niche or stay healthy.
• Will Blalock (2006 2nd round): lol.
• Jason Maxiell (2005 1st round): Good energy player off the bench, 6'7" with long arms, a PF, but used as a PF/C.
• Amir Johnson (2005 1st round): Came straight out of high school, has no offensive game, but is good defensively. Another player that Dumars is attached to.
• Alex Acker (2004 2nd round): lol.

So the only notable players in the last five years out of the draft are Jason Maxiell and Rodney Stuckey. Maxiell is utilized properly, but is also making 5 million to play about 20 minutes a game where he provides no offense, while the rest of the Pistons' interior defense is serviceable to good. Stuckey is a SG that doesn't have a solid 3 point or long jump shot, has a decent mid-range shot and can drive to the basket near willingly, but plays point guard.

Looking through recent draft history, we can see that Joe drafted 3 big men in the last five years, and DJ White didn't even make it to the preseason. Ben Wallace left in 2006, and the only pick in 06 was wasted on Will Blalock. Dumars loves versatile players or guards apparently, because every draftee falls into that group, except DJ White, who's gone.

Dumars needs to take a step back and look at the deep hole he's dug the Pistons into and get them out of it. Carlos Boozer is a free agent this year and would fill the Pistons' need at PF, and a PG like Raymond Felton would be a solid signing as well, but the Pistons can only afford to sign one this offseason. If the Pistons don't sign any major players this offseason, the next few years could be ugly.

Lions Draft Analysis

The NFL Draft has come to a close, and for the 0-16 Lions, that means they have to try to fit their newly acquired rookies into roles on the team to prevent 0-16 again. So how did the Lions do this year?

1. Matthew Stafford, QB, Georgia at #1 overall: Grade: C. Does Stafford have the potential to be a good quarterback? Yes. Does he have the potential to be a top-5 quarterback in this league? No. That's why I've been so against the pick of Stafford since it was reported months ago that he was the favorite to be selected. Not only that, but the Lions didn't even draft an offensive lineman in the first 3 rounds of the draft, so he can't expect much help up front. They did however provide him with a safety valve at their next pick.

2. Brandon Pettigrew, TE, Oklahoma State at #20 overall. Grade: A. Pettigrew is EASILY the best tight end this year, and at times will look like a 6th offensive lineman for the Lions (which everyone knows they could use). He projects to be like Bubba Franks in my opinion. A great blocker for his whole career who is as I said earlier, a great safety valve for the quarterback within 10 to 15 yards of the line of scrimmage. And like Franks, he will be a valuable red zone weapon as well.

3. Louis Delmas, S, Western Michigan at #33 overall. Grade: A-. Delmas shot up draft boards this year, from a 3rd round grade to just missing out on the first round here. He should be a constant at SS for the Lions for years to come. He is fairly versatile in coverage and athletic, so he gives them the ability to rush more linebackers and run zone blitzes more often than the previous Lions coaching staff could. I think Laurinaitis would have been a better pick here personally, and I would have taken him at 20 if I were the Lions, but Delmas looks to be the appointed leader of this defense for the time being.

4. Deandre Levy, WLB, Wisconsin at #76 overall. Grade: C-. I'm confused, do the Lions see something in Chris Graham or Cody Spencer that I don't? Two problems: Ernie Sims is a fixture at WLB, and no team starts 2 WLBs in the NFL. They needed a MLB, and opted for a quick, smaller linebacker as far as the NFL is concerned at 236 pounds. He has the speed to play on the weakside and likely will see some time there giving Ernie Sims a rest here and there. This pick either means the new regime isn't pleased with Ernie Sims' play, or that they didn't know Deandre Levy's position when they drafted him. I'm going to go with the latter.

5. Derrick Williams, WR, Penn State at #82 overall. Grade: A. This actually is a great pick here. I'm not the biggest fan of Derrick Williams at all, but one thing that can't be said about Williams is that he's unathletic. The former #1 receiver of his 2005 recruiting class underwhelemed at Penn State, but still was a big play threat. He was used a lot on screens however, so he can probably use some polishing in route running. Don't be surprised to see Williams used in a Percy Harvin fashion, at slot receiver, occasionally in the backfield, and as the main kick and punt returner. He's worth the pick here and could end up providing the Lions with another receiving threat to complement Calvin.

6. Sammie Lee Hill, DT, Stillman at #115 overall. Grade: B-. The Lions finally address the defensive line, taking the project out of a D II school. Hill at 6'3" and 330 lbs. SHOULD take up multiple blockers at a time with his massive size, but there's no guarantee he will. He has a long way to develop and was over-drafted here due to his physical upside. At the least he's a fresh face on the DL which the Lions need. There were only a couple better DT prospects available at this point, such as Terrance Taylor of Michigan, so the choice of Hill in the 4th round can't be criticized too much.

7. Aaron Brown, RB, TCU at #192 overall. Grade: B. Wait, the Lions still haven't drafted an offensive lineman, yet? Really? Brown is a decent value here, but his peak is probably a 3rd down back, which Brian Calhoun is right now. Look for Brown to fight for a roster spot with Calhoun, and him to have little impact on the team. At this point it's probably too late to find a reliable offensive lineman, but still, they haven't even tried. Out of a 6th round pick, even if Brown turns out to be a 3rd down back this year (which he probably will, Calhoun has never really impressed) that's a positive selection.

8. Lydon Murtha, OT, Nebraska at #228 overall. Grade: A. Great pick this low in the draft. Murtha could have gone as high as the third or fourth round with how well he performed at the combine. He ran the fastest 40 of any lineman, and did the same in the 20 yard shuttle and the 3 cone drill. He's definitely a pass blocker and not a run blocker, but at 6'7" 306, he has the size and speed to develop into a serviceable to good pass blocking LT.

9. Zach Follett, OLB, California at #235 overall. Grade: D. And Lions fans, your starter at MLB is officially Chris Graham! Oh wait, that's bad. Chris Graham has no experience and is only 225 pounds, while Cody Spencer has been passed through multiple organizations as a backup and released multiple times without any second thought. OLB was not nearly as much of a concern as MLB was and still is. Darry Beckwith, LSU's starting middle linebacker, was available at this point, and still may be, because he wasn't even drafted! Beckwith was projected to be a mid-round pick, and has the capability to start in the NFL. He's good in pass coverage and a good tackler which the Lions need.. oh wait this is supposed to be about Zack Follett. He'll be a career backup, and only will start if pressed into the duty due to injury, kind of like Cody Spencer should be! It's highly unlikely he even makes the team.

10. Dan Gronkowski, TE, Maryland at #255 overall. Grade: F. The Lions really needed a TE, except for the fact that they drafted the best one in the 2009 class already. Stupid pick, the guy won't even see the field, and probably won't make the team. They could have picked up a veteran and been just fine, or selected Beckwith here.

Overall grade: B-. For the most part, the Lions got value picks at their drafting slots, but I feel they had more important needs. At the same time, when your team has at least 15 starting spots that should be replaced, you can't expect one draft to cover them all.The Lions made it public that they would draft talent over need this year because of the lack of talent on the current roster, and their approach definitely shows that. I think starting the franchise QB off with an at most average offensive line is a bad idea, but they decided Stafford would be the face of the Lions' franchise for years to come. Pettigrew, Delmas, Williams, Hill, and Murtha were all fine picks and the first four should see serious playing time this year. The Lions did well getting value with their later round picks, but at the wrong positions.

5 Winners and Losers of the NFL Draft, Day 1

The first and second rounds of the NFL Draft came to a close earlier tonight, so who can be proclaimed the "winners" and "losers" of today's selections?

The draft is not by any means an exact science, but the first couple days are the days where prospects' roles and futures can best be projected.

5 Winners:

1. St. Louis Rams: Jason Smith, OT, Baylor at #2 overall, James Laurinaitis, MLB, Ohio State at #35 Overall.

Funny thing about this team's selections is, this is what I saw as the Lions' ideal first two picks. The Rams went about building a franchise the right way, replacing their Hall of Fame LT Orlando Pace, who was cut as a cap casualty, with the best LT prospect in this draft. Smith should be a constant on their line, and while a HOF career can't be promised, a solid career is the most a GM can realistically ask for.

And that's exactly what Laurinaitis will do as well. The Rams got a leader for their defense at MLB, and he's a very versatile linebacker, who is above average in pass coverage and good against the run. He will be a constant on this team for a decade or more. This is unquestionably the best draft in my opinion.

2. Atlanta Falcons: Peria Jerry, DT, Ole Miss at #24 overall, William Moore, S, Missouri at #55 overall.

These picks aren't flashy by any means, but they fill two pressing needs. Arizona did them in last year by running it down their throats and then going over the top to Larry Fitzgerald. Jerry should help fortify the 25th best run defense they sported last year. Their current DTs are more pass rushers than run stoppers, so great move here. William Moore was rated across the board as the best safety in this class, even after a disappointing senior season, yet he is the 5th off the board. Moore is an outstanding athlete at 6'1" 230, who has the capability to be a hard-hitting SS that drops back in zone coverage well. Atlanta's new regime really has a good thing going, and is making Atlanta into an NFL power slowly but surely.

#3. Green Bay Packers: B.J. Raji, DT, Boston College at #9 overall, Clay Matthews, OLB, USC, at #26 overall.

B.J. Raji at #9 is a great pick because he will slide in to nose tackle and be consistent there for the Packers. Them switching to a 3-4 this year would have worked on the surface, but they don't have depth to support it, so Raji helps there, and will push Ryan Pickett to the bench fairly quickly. Trading up for Clay Matthews was brilliant. He'll be a great pass rusher, and should start right away at ROLB for them, providing a valid pass rushing option opposite Aaron Kampman.

#4. New Orleans Saints: Malcolm Jenkins, CB, Ohio State at #14 overall.

The Saints may only have had one pick, but it was a great one. The widely projected pick here,
Jenkins gives needed help to the secondary the Saints keep attempting to upgrade but fail to. Jenkins projects as a great playmaker in the secondary, likely at Free Safety, but he could work as a man to man corner as well. He and Laurinaitis both suffered when they went back to school and experts over-analyzed them to hell and back. They're both underrated and going to be solid players.

#5. San Francisco 49ers: Michael Crabtree, WR, Texas Tech at #10 overall.

This was a great pick, the 49ers' receivers are god awful and Crabtree will immediately be the best receiver on their roster. He fell because of concerns over his speed, and his ankle injury (which he revealed right after the draft is healed). Jerry Rice will be in the 49ers headquarters each day without a doubt, coaching up Crabtree on the finer points of playing WR. Crabtree landed in the perfect situation to develop even further.

5 Losers:

#1. Oakland Raiders: Darrius Heyward-Bey, WR, Maryland at #7 overall, Michael Mitchell, S, Ohio at #47 overall.

Both picks are typical Al Davis. Athletic freaks with speed and size are all he ever considers concerning draft prospects and he showed it here. Michael Crabtree, a great WR prospect, was passed up on by the Raiders here for a WR with more speed but underwhelming performance on the field. Michael Mitchell was a mid to late round pick at safety and a complete reach here because, shocker, he was the best athlete at safety! The Raiders really are doomed to failure as long as Al Davis is running the show.

#2. Houston Texans: Brian Cushing, OLB, USC at #15 overall, Connor Barwin, DE, Cincinnati, #46 overall.

Cushing is a good linebacker, but not in the 4-3 in my opinion. Cushing's strength is pass-rushing and he looks like more of a defensive end than a linebacker. Unfortunately, he just doesn't have the skill set to succeed there. He'll be a decent pro, but not good enough to justify the 15th pick. Barwin is another DE/OLB tweener which is curious. Taking two OLB/DE tweeners consecutively was not a need for the Texans. They should have looked to acquire another WR or defensive back at 46 in my opinion. Barwin's a better pass rusher but is weaker than Cushing so he can only really play on 3rd downs.

#3. Kansas City Chiefs: Tyson Jackson, DE, LSU, at #3 overall.

Jackson was a reach here, he wasn't even one of the ten best players available. Does that mean he won't be a solid pro? Not at all, because I believe he'll have a good career, but 3-4 DEs simply do not merit 9 to 10 million a year, which his contract will likely entail. They traded their 2nd for Cassel, and if they really are considering the rumored contract of 36 million guaranteed for Cassel, then the trade goes from okay to horrible. They failed to improve the OL through any means this offseason or in the draft thus far, they really needed Eugene Monroe more than Tyson Jackson.

#4. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Josh Freeman, QB, Kansas State at #17 overall.

Josh Freeman is a complete reach here, if he had gone in the 2nd round at this same spot it would have been a decent pick. Freeman is either going to be a star or a complete bust, and I don't ever see him producing well at the NFL-level. He's inaccurate and inconsistent, which are not qualities of a great face of a franchise. Not the best move by Tampa here.

#5. Buffalo Bills: Aaron Maybin, DE, PSU at #11 overall, Eric Wood, C, Louisville at #28 overall, Jairus Byrd, CB, Oregon at #42 overall, Andy Levitre, OL, Oregon at #51 overall.

They sure got quantity but I don't see them filling many needs here. Wood wasn't a horrible pick but they really needed a tackle to replace Jason Peters in the draft and didn't take one. Aaron Maybin just looks like a bust, he is undersized and ran a 4.88 at the combine when athleticism was supposed to be his strong suit. Maybin is simply not a good defensive end. Jairus Byrd is a cornerback they didn't need, they keep drafting secondary players every year when that is really the only complete strength on their team. The Bills better hope T.O. helps a lot, because it doesn't look like their first day of the draft helped much.

My Sweet 16 Predictions

Thursday, March 26th:

(5) Purdue vs (1) Connecticut: Purdue. This pick is a complete hunch on my part. I'm not a huge fan of Connecticut this year and feel like Purdue plays the tough gritty style like a Pitt to give UConn a serious challenge. UConn is a horrible 3 point shooting team, so if Kramer or Jackson can stay with AJ Price, the Huskies really have no other legitimate threats other than the 30% 3 point shooter Craig Austrie.

Jajuan Johnson, E'Twaun Moore and Robbie Hummel are all going to have to play solid games and stay out of foul trouble. Jeff Adrien and Hasheem Thabeet have huge size advantages on Hummel and Johnson, but Purdue seems to be able to overcome size with toughness and solid defense. Purdue's Lewis Jackson is going to have to play a masterful game at point guard and continuously drive into the heart of UConn's defense and kick the ball out to 3 point shooters. He or Chris Kramer will also have to play solid defense on AJ Price because he can go off for 30 on any given night. If Purdue drains their 3s and draws Thabeet into foul trouble or frustrates him, they can win this game.

(4) Xavier vs (1) Pittsburgh: Pittsburgh. Xavier may play solid defense but Pitt is simply going to be too much to handle. Levance Fields played very well against Oklahoma State with 13 points and 9 assists, only letting up 2 turnovers while being guarded by Byron Eaton who had 5 steals in the game. Xavier does have depth with their forwards but none are as talented in the post as Dejuan Blair. Xavier will give them a run for their money but Pittsburgh will pull out an 8 to 10 point win in the end.

(3) Missouri vs (2) Memphis: Memphis. This should be a high-scoring exciting game similarly to Marquette/Memphis. The teams are fairly evenly matched but Memphis definiely has a decided edge in the backcourt with Tyreke Evans and Antonio Anderson. DeMarre Carroll and Leo Lyons will need to dominate the post if Missouri wants to win this game, where Memphis' starters of Robert Dozier and Shawn Taggart are also strong. Dozier seems to get in foul trouble often so that will be the game's X-Factor. If he stays on the floor for the majority of the game, Memphis will win this game.

(3) Villanova vs (2) Duke: Villanova. Duke pulled out a win against Texas on Saturday but their run is going to end here. Villanova is a very versatile, tough, athletic team. Duke is definitely a softer team and they are going to get pushed around in this game. Dante Cunningham is going to have a big game against Kyle Singler and Villanova simply has too many reliable scoring options for Duke to account for. Villanova will consistently drive into the paint and will be able to create openings for teammates at the 3-point line or simply take the ball themselves and score. Duke's frontcourt is very weak so I'd expect Villanova to be going inside a lot.

Friday, March 27:

(12) Arizona vs (1) Louisville: Louisville. Arizona only has 3 reliable players, Louisville's depth is going to spell the end of Arizona's run. If Arizona wins this game, Nic Wise is going to have to play extremely well against the unreliable backcourt of Louisville. Edgar Sosa and Andre McGee aren't exactly world-beaters, and wise should consistenly be able to cause trouble for them. Jordan Hill and Budinger will also have to put up 20+ point performances if Arizona expects to compete, much less win this game.


(3) Syracuse vs (2) Oklahoma: Syracuse. This will be a very interesting matchup, I really like both of these teams. Syracuse would like to throw big bodies at Blake Griffin and continuously send him to the line or draw him into committing early fouls. Arinze Onuaku of Syracuse has the size to give Blake Griffin trouble and will need to disrupt Griffin to help Syracuse win this game.Jonny Flynn is a quicker and better point guard than Austin Johnson so Syracuse has a decided advantage there. Both teams have valid 3-point shooting threats and solid second scorers in Willie Warren of Oklahoma and Eric Devendorf of Syracuse. This will be a close game and one to keep your eye on surely.

(3) Kansas vs (2) Michigan State: Michigan State. Sherron Collins and Cole Aldrich are playing their best basketball of the season but Michigan State is a veteran-laden team that will pull this game out. Kalin Lucas is an amazing pointguard and will pose an interesting matchup for Sherron Collins. Goran Suton has to shoot better than 1/10 as he did against USC, and will provide a much needed scorer for the Spartans. Raymar Morgan needs to show up as well and put up a 15-20 point game.

(4) Gonzaga vs (1) North Carolina: North Carolina. This should be a fairly easy win for North Carolina, I simply don't believe Gonzaga has the talent to match up with the Tar Heels. Wayne Ellington should go off in this game, possibly for 30 points. If Gonzaga wants a chance to win, they need Pargo to dominate Ty Lawson and for Josh Heytvelt to draw fouls inside on Tyler Hansbrough.

Sunday 2nd Round Picks

Arizona State vs Syracuse: Syracuse. James Harden and Jeff Pendergraph are a good duo for Arizona State but past that, Arizona State doesn't have much. Syracuse will hit the boards harder and outrebound Arizona State, and with their trio of Flynn, Devendorf and Rautins they should prevail. I expect a big game from Harden so this game could be pretty close, should be a good one.

Wisconsin vs Xavier: Xavier. Xavier's depth is simply going to be too much for Wisconsin. Xavier has plenty of size across the court, with a 3 to 4 inch advantage at every guard position, and has plenty of depth in the front court. Senior guard B.J. Raymond will likely be guarded by Trevon Hughes, who had the unenviable task of guarding Toney Douglas on Friday and didn't do too badly. Douglas' 26 points may say otherwise but Hughes played masterful defense on him to open the game and Douglas never got an easy basket. Xavier's guards on the bench aren't necessarily scorers so if Wisconsin can draw some fouls on them they have a chance.

Kansas vs Dayton: Kansas. Dayton has trouble scoring and that could doom them against a very solid Kansas team. Dayton suffers in 3 point shooting, with their best percentage coming from their specialist James Fabrizius at 38.1%. Kansas has 4 legitimate 3 point shooting threats above 37.5%. Cole Aldrich should be able to have his way inside as well. Chris Wright should have a big game though as he's more athletic than Kansas' big men, so a masterful performance by him and a solid 3 point shooting performance from the guards could lead to an upset, but it's doubtful. Look for a 15 point win here for Kansas.

Cleveland St. vs Arizona: Arizona. Cleveland State is going to put up a strong fight here, but I see Jordan Hill and Chase Budinger having huge games here. All 3 of Cleveland State's guards are explosive however and if they are able to consistently get penetration and get to the rim, this could be a fantastic game and Cleveland State could pull another upset. Don't let the 13 and 12 seeds fools you in this game either though, Cleveland State was deserving of a slightly higher seed and Arizona has the talent to be a 6 or 7 seed, but lost quite a few games down the stretch. This could be a very exciting game.

Pittsburgh vs Oklahoma State: Pittsburgh. Dejuan Blair is going to have a monstrous game here. Oklahoma State doesn't have one player that plays consistently that is taller than 6'8" or bigger than 235 lbs. Blair at 6'7" and 265 lbs. is going to have a true advantage here in the post and I could see a 20/20 performance here. Also look for Sam Young to have a solid game, going for about 20 today. I do think Byron Eaton is going to be able to frustrate Levance Fields so that is a matchup to watch. If Eaton can generate turnovers, Pitt could see a slight scare here as Oklahoma State can score with anybody. If their 3 pointers fall, this game will be exciting. But I'd say a 15-20 point win for Pitt is more likely.

Missouri vs Marquette: Missouri. Marquette could get in big trouble early here, even with the return of Dominic James. If DeMarre Carroll and Leo Lyons can draw a couple early fouls on Lazar Hayward, Marquette is only going to have guards that can contribute and no inside game. If Hayward stays out of foul trouble and James doesn't miss a beat in the limited minutes he'll play, Marquette could very well pull the upset. This should be an up-tempo and exciting game, and the best match-up of the day.

Michigan State vs USC: Michigan State. This game could be up-tempo as well. The guard play in this game is exceptional with Kalin Lucas, Travis Walton and Raymar Morgan (even though he's a forward) matching up against Daniel Hackett, Dwight Lewis, and Marcus Simmons of USC. The match-ups to watch though in this game will be in the front court. Demar Derozan and Taj Gibson are definitely quicker than Delvon Roe and Goran Suton of Michigan State, and Suton likes to play on the perimeter. Suton has to establish himself as a force inside in this game, or Michigan State could get themselves into a nail-biter. This is one of the best match-ups USC could have with a top seed because USC's athleticism is on par with almost any team in the country as is Michigan State's.

Louisville vs Siena: Louisville. Louisville has a decided advantage in the front court, Samuels, Clark and Williams all have the capability of dominating this game over Siena's smaller front court. Edwin Ubiles of Siena is going to have to play the best game of his life against Terrence Williams if the Saints want to stay in this game, but even then it may not matter as Louisville has so much depth at forward that it should overwhelm the Saints. Look for a fairly easy win for the Cardinals here as they move onto the Sweet 16 with little challenge.

Saturday 2nd Round Picks

Well, the first round is over, and Friday night brought a fitting end to the excitement that always accompanies the first round of the NCAA tournament.

Now for some second round picks:

UCLA vs Villanova: Villanova. UCLA squeaked out a victory against VCU but don't be fooled, VCU is a good team, and UCLA is still a solid team even with their struggles within the season. This should be a quality game as the guards of both teams are very solid, but Dante Cunningham should put Villanova over the top. His versatility will more than likely overwhelm UCLA and lead Villanova to victory. Did I mention Villanova/UCLA is being played in Philly in Villanova's home arena?

Maryland vs Memphis: Memphis. Memphis should win this one, they simply have more talent than Maryland, but don't expect Maryland to just fold over, I see this being a close game. Greivis Vazquez will have a tough match-up, he'll be defended by C-USA's Defensive Player of the Year, Antonio Anderson more likely than not. Unless Vazquez puts up 25+, Memphis will pull this out.

Connecticut vs Texas A&M: Connecticut. UConn should pull this out pretty easily, A&M just doesn't have near the talent than UConn does inside or outside. Look for a 15+ point win and Thabeet to have a pretty statline.

Purdue vs Washington: Purdue. This is what I think will be the best game on Saturday besides UCLA/Villanova. Both teams match up well. Washington's star point guard Isiah Thomas against Purdue's Lewis Jackson will be a fun matchup of small, quick PGs. Chris Kramer of Purdue is not a scorer and he'll have to make sure that Justin Dentmon of Washington isn't allowed to score either. Washington's key player will be Quincy Pondexter as Purdue doesn't really have as versatile of a player to matchup with him except Robbie Hummel, who has to stay at PF. Jajuan Johnson is Purdue's most important player and he'll be matched up against Washington's best player, Jon Brockman. If Johnson can have a big game, Purdue will take this game.

LSU vs North Carolina: North Carolina. This shouldn't be a close game but there's a slight chance it could be if Ty Lawson isn't his normal self and if Tyler Hansbrough gets in foul trouble.

Oklahoma vs Michigan: Oklahoma. Michigan's half-court style will keep them close for a majority of the game, but Oklahoma is too good here. Blake Griffin could pull down 20 rebounds potentially in this game and should score at least 25.

Gonzaga vs Western Kentucky: Gonzaga. Western Kentucky is going to put up a big fight against Gonzaga in this game and it could end up being close. Mendez-Valdez and A.J. Slaughter are solid guards and can keep up with Bouldin and Pargo of Gonzaga. The matchup nightmare in this game for Western Kentucky is Josh Heytvelt against Jeremy Evans, the 6'9" 190 lb. center. If he plays well, Gonzaga will roll in this game. Even if not, Gonzaga's depth and versatility will prevail.

Texas vs Duke: Duke. Texas has one of the most stagnant offenses in the country, relying at some times solely on A.J. Abrams to score for them. Damion James is one of my favorite players in the country, but his outside game has suffered this year. Still his size and versatility can pose a problem for Duke. If Dexter Pittman at 6'10" and almost 300 pounds can get 20+ points and play the majority of the game, Texas could pull the upset, but it's not likely. Kyle Singler will pull the big Pittman outside and free up the paint for cuts and drives by Gerald Henderson who should have an extremely impressive game.

5 Players and Teams to Watch in March Madness

1. Terrence Williams, G/F, Louisville: Williams is arguably the most versatile player in the country and leads his team that will likely be awarded a #1 seed later tonight. His scoring numbers don't look impressive as he only averages 12 PPG, but that's a testament to Louisville's depth. His 8 rebounds a game show his willingness to go inside and play tough, it truly is a mainstay of his game. He also nets 5 assists and 2.5 steals per game, which shows he's unselfish and a defensive presence that other teams truly must plan for. His performance last night against Syracuse: 11 points, 7 rebounds, 6 assists, 7 steals showed how Williams can take over a game, even without putting up 20 points.

2. Sam Young, F, Pittsburgh: Sam Young is having a repeat of his solid season from 2007-08, yet has received little praise due to the breakout of Dejuan Blair. Young averages 18 points per game and grabs 6 rebounds even though he is more of a perimeter player at the SF position. He still has the ability to go inside however and play in the post. He completely took over their second game against UConn with 31 points and 10 rebounds, even with Hasheem Thabeet and Jeff Adrien manning the paint, two tough and solid post presences on defense. If Pittsburgh goes far, his solid play will be the reason why.

3. Chester Frazier, G, Illinois: This one is interesting, as he may not even be able to play in the NCAA Tournament at all. Frazier injured his hand in practice and missed the Big Ten tournament as he got minor surgery two days ago. If Frazier is not with Illinois, they are a completely different team. Frazier, who posted the best Assist to Turnover ratio in the Big Ten this season also made the Big Ten's First All-Defensive team. He is a pest on the floor and can completely lock down the opposition's best guard if given the chance. Frazier doesn't score much (5.7 PPG), but his defensive impact on the game and senior leadership truly are felt and makes Illinois a far better team. With him, they're easily a top 25 team and could make a Sweet 16 or even Elite 8 run. Without him, they might be looking at a first round exit.

4. Willie Warren, G, Oklahoma: Blake Griffin gets all the fanfare when people talk about Oklahoma, as he should, being the best player in college basketball. But Willie Warren, the freshman star slips under the radar consistently. In his rookie season, Warren is putting up 14.8 PPG and is the second most reliable player on this team. The other 3 members of the starting lineup in Oklahoma are 2 seniors and a junior, so the fact that Warren has been able to take on such a large role in his first season speaks to his talent and ability. Willie put on a sensational performance against Texas only a few weeks back, with 27 points including six 3-pointers. Warren will need to be a solid scoring option if Oklahoma hopes to make a deep run in the tournament.

5. Jerel McNeal, G, Marquette: Ever since the loss of senior PG Dominic James late in February, McNeal's play has truly suffered, a large reason for Marquette's recent slide. While they have lost 5 of 6, McNeal is a combined 37/114 overall (32.5%). If McNeal can't score more efficiently, Marquette will be out of the tournament quickly. The combination of Jerel McNeal, Lazar Hayward, and Wesley Matthews is deadly, but only if they're efficient.

After the brackets are announced, I'll analyze a few team's paths and make my predictions on a few teams about early exits and deep runs into the tournament.

Detroit Tigers: Edwin Jackson? Is that the best you could do?

The Detroit Tigers were the team that baseball analysts across the country chose as the sure-fire AL representative in the 2008 World Series prior to the season. The trade for Miguel Cabrera and Dontrelle Willis had to work. Trading for two of the game's young stars in exchange for two prospects, Cameron Maybin and Andrew Miller, not yet prepared for the MLB stage was a no-brainer. Acquiring the dependable veteran Edgar Renteria, coming off of a career year, in exchange for the middling outfield prospect Gorkys Hernandez and a talented, young pitcher in Jair Jurrjens looked to be a great win-now move as well.

One year later, we look upon this team of destiny as an utter disappointment, and no major changes were made at all.

The only changes that were significant were the signing of Brandon Lyon to compete for closer and signing Gerald Laird, a competent catcher who is great at throwing out runners, to take over for Pudge.

The Detroit Tigers offense in general was a big positive. Miguel Cabrera started slow but he had an amazing second half, with 26 HRs and 79 RBIs in a mere three months. The impressive thing about Miguel Cabrera's season last year, his .292 average of last year was a bad year in average for him, hitting .320+ in the past three seasons. He only has room to improve and could even make a run at the AL Triple Crown if he doesn't slump early in the season.

Magglio was his dependable self, hitting .300+ with 21 HRs and 103 RBIs, cementing his status as the most consistent Tiger on this team. Curtis Granderson never got in a consistent groove last year, yet still had his best statistical year of his career. Some will point to his 2007 season and his .300 average with 23 HRs and 26 SBs, but last year Granderson truly matured as a player. His walk rate increased from 10 to 11.4% (the highest of his career), while his strikeout rate sharply fell to 20.1% (the lowest of his career.) This shows he has taken major steps to become a more disciplined hitter.

The only true disappointments were Edgar Renteria who had an abysmal sub .700 OPS and Brandon Inge whose hitting has declined steadily through the years.

The problem with the Tigers was the pathetic excuse they called a pitching staff. The projected rotation this year includes Justin Verlander (coming off a dreadful year where he led MLB in losses with 17), Jeremy Bonderman, Armando Galaragga, Edwin Jackson, and Nate Robertson/Dontrelle Willis/Zach Miner. Kenny Rogers and Todd Jones have left the team, and as much as us fans may hate Todd Jones, in the end, he delivered more often than not.

Verlander can't pitch much worse than he did this past season, having an ERA near 5, and giving up 4 or more earned runs in 16 of his 33 outings, in comparison with his past two years when he had 18 of those outings combined. The speed of his fastball has fallen each of the past three seasons, and his offspeed pitches have increased in speed. A great pitcher has a great variance in speeds of his fastball and his offspeed pitches, and Verlander's arsenal is becoming less dangerous through the years. His fastball was 95.1 MPH on average in 2006, and was only 93.6 in 2008. That may not seem like a drastic difference, but when he stops throwing 100 MPH fastballs and is only throwing right around that average of 93-94 MPH fastballs, he is a completely different pitcher. He also saw his walk rate increase drastically. As sad as this is to say, it seems that Verlander got the Bonderman treatment. He was appointed as the next Tigers ace, and simply may not be able to live up to those lofty expectations. He can be a solid #2 starter, but I don't believe he's in the sport's elite group of pitchers any longer.

Armando Galaragga is the lone pitching bright spot of last year, who benefitted from an abnormally low BABIP. His .250 BABIP against was the third lowest of any MLB starter which is a horrifying statistic. Batting Average on Balls In Play (BABIP) takes strikeouts and walks out of the equation and calculates batting average solely from contact in at-bats for a hitter or against a pitcher. League average for BABIP against is .301. He is not an overpowering pitcher, throwing 90-92, and never had MLB success prior to last year. His strikeout and walk rates are completely average, and he left over 75% of his runners on base, when the league average is 70%. Even more alarming is that this .250 BABIP came with the defense of Carlos Guillen, Edgar Renteria, and Miguel Cabrera behind him. Galaragga still somehow managed to have one of the biggest fluke years in MLB last year with one of the poorer infield defensive groupings in the league behind him. I'd look for his ERA to skyrocket to around 4.25-4.5 this year, and he will be a far less effective pitcher.

Edwin Jackson had a career year last year, and still profiled as a #4 or #5 pitcher in the AL. Nate Robertson is horrible, as is Dontrelle Willis who I won't even get into because it's not even worth considering him as an alternative. (34 walks in 24 innings? HOW?!?!?) I see Zach Miner winning the job out of these three, unless they do throw the stud prospect Rick Porcello into the fire this year and put him in the 5th starter slot.

In the bullpen, the Tigers made a quality signing in Brandon Lyon to the bullpen, but can he be a reliable closer? He is built in the mold of a Todd Jones, pitching to contact, and valuing control over overwhelming pitches, dictating where the hitter has to hit the ball. Zumaya and the most unpredictable pitcher in baseball, Fernando Rodney, will also be in contention for the closing job. The Tigers bullpen is servicable, with specialists such as Bobby Seay and Clay Rapada having good seasons, but the back end of the bullpen is quite unreliable. Numerous Tigers reliever prospects will likely see time in the majors this season such as Ryan Perry, who may even make the opening day roster.

As unfortunate as it is, it seems that this Tigers team is more likely to be a mediocre to below average AL Central team than the world-beater that they were sold as prior to the 2008 season unless some serious changes take place.

Projected lineup:
CF Curtis Granderson
2B Placido Polanco
RF Magglio Ordonez
1B Miguel Cabrera
LF Carlos Guillen
DH Gary Sheffield
C Gerald Laird
3B Brandon Inge
SS Adam Everett

Projected Rotation:
Justin Verlander, Jeremy Bonderman, Armando Galarraga, Edwin Jackson, Zach Miner

Projected Record: 80-82, 4th place AL Central