University of Indiana Freshen, Cody Zeller

The storied program at the University of Indiana has gone through a rough decade since Bobby Knight left, but it appears to be reemerging.

I am convinced with this team, but not all fans and pundits are. They are lead by Tom Crean, who spent the past 4 seasons, since taking the throne at Indiana, to rebuild it back to what it once was.

Indiana has a 15-1 record, with its only loss was at Michigan State. That’s part of the problem though. They have played only four games outside of Assembly Hall (Evansville, NC State, Michigan St Penn St).

Indiana is now in Big 10 play, the conference pundits say is the toughest conference this season, per conference RPI rankings. Indiana is currently ranked 5th in the RPI. KenProm.com has them ranked 8th.

I been sold on this team since they beat Kentucky mid-December, but there is still a reason to be optimistic. March is still a long ways away.

There is still room on the bandwagon, and expect more to hop on win after win. The next ranked team they face on the road is on January 15 when they visit #6 Ohio St and January 26 at #16 Wisconsin. Guaranteed more will join the bandwagon with wins.

* All rankings, and records as of January 8 night.

In 2000, the NBA implemented a rule saying anyone who enters the draft must be at least 19 years old, making it so most players will spend at least one year in college.Ideally, players should spend all four years in college to get their degree before playing professional. Like anything else in life, nothing is perfect.

Players who go to the NBA should be fully ready & already developed. The NBA is not for training, like it has become the past 15 years. There are few Garnetts, Bryants & LeBrons, but many think they are. It is not in the benefit to the player nor the NBA.

Everyone wants to put blame on the NBA, who does have a responsibility in this. The NCAA also has a responsibility in this as well.

Here is my idea for players to enter the draft:

NBA

• Require players to be at least 19 years of age.
• Form camp(s), like they do for prospective draftees, but for college players who completed freshmen, sophomore & junior years for exposure, and feedback purposes. This should be done after the draft.

NCAA

• Require players to spend at least 3 years in college, regardless of age.
• Allow players to attend NBA camps.

Of course, the math above does not make sense, after 3-4 years, the player will be over 19. When a player finishes high school, they can play in college for 3-4 years. The other option is to go to the development league or Europe. After a year, they can become eligible for the NBA draft. Theoretically, most of these players will go to college, mainly for exposure. Plus, players in Europe & Asia have different systems for education, player development, and professional status.

Some schools, such as VCU & Butler, have benefited from players staying 3-4 years. They form a nucleus. Plus, the NBA will get players more polished & more prepared to play at a top-level, thus forming a better product on the professional level.

Photo credit: Andersedin | CC BY 2.0

Sports fans can get carried away with wins & losses & Xs & Os. At the end of the day, sports is entertainment. It is a way for us to get away from worries & concerns in life for a few hours once or twice a week. There are times when things occur in life that that puts sports in it’s proper perspective.

It was an ordinary Saturday morning in sunny Tucson, AZ where it was more then likely in the high 50s/low 60s. A well-liked US Congresswoman by the name of Gabrielle Griffords was talking to constituents at a major supermarket chain located at a major intersection in the far north-west side of town. A man in his early 20s went to see the Congresswoman, only to shot her point blank in the head, and then continuing shooting at other innocent people, only to kill 6 & injure 13 people. Thank fully enough, Congresswoman Griffords is recovering. How she will function will remain to be seen in the weeks, months & years ahead.

It occurred on a day when the University of Arizona was scheduled to play Stanford University. The game was rescheduled for the next day in front of a near sell-out crowd. University of Arizona Athletic Director, Greg Byrne, said in a statement, "The University feels the game should be delayed with deep respect to the victims and families impacted by this tragedy.”

I am a Tucsonan, born & raised. I moved to Boston 6 years ago. I like Boston more then Tucson & have not regretted moving here. This incident really hit home to me. I was grieving, still grieving & will more then likely will remain to do so till further notice.

I was born at University Medical Center, the same hospital Griffords is getting care at. The memorial service was held in the University of Arizona arena, McKale Center, next door to where my father works, the same place he worked at since he moved to Tucson from Boston before I was born. US District Court Judge John Roll, one of 6 killed, graduated from the same high school as me. I drove by the intersection the incident occurred when I went to interstate-10 and to visit one of my best friends.

Before I know it, the quiet city I live the majority of my life in was plastered all over the news, in a way it did not deserve & got to the point where the President made a trip here. The last sitting President to visit Tucson was Bill Clinton. I am used to never hearing about Tucson on the national news, and if it makes national news, the on-air graphic would be spelled “Tuscon,” not “Tucson” the correct spelling.

Now the memorial service is over, funerals will be done in a few days & we know Congresswoman Griffords will be making a recovery, it is time for the community to heal. The memorial service at McKale Center was one piece of the puzzle. The rest is where the basketball team comes into place. Sports wise, the University is the only game in town. They gave a little flavor of it on Sunday January 9, while virtually surrounding facilities & attention for rest of the week due to the tragedy.

University of Arizona head coach, Sean Miller, said in a press conference, "One thing that's so evident to all of us as we watch this whole tragedy unfold is it's amazing how the university is the centerpiece of Tucson. For example, the ceremony being in McKale, and [University of Arizona President] Dr. [Robert] Shelton having such a prominent role and us moving the game to Sunday and having that many people show up one day after it happened, almost letting everyone get their mind off things."

McKale Center sold out virtually every game during the Lute Olson era. The lack of stability in the program past 4 years, missing the NCAA tournament for the first time in recent memory last season, and loosing key games this year has made attendance lack luster. That could change starting Saturday afternoon. "We anticipate having another full crowd. They were spirited (Sunday), for a combination of factors. The McKale Center crowd is great in that way - once the game gets close, and the team needs their support, they respond, " said James Francis, UA's associate athletic director for external operations to the Arizona Daily Star Newspaper.

The game after the memorial service was against in-state rival in Arizona State. The crowd was at capacity & they walked away with a victory. The energy, support what we hope will be the continuation of Arizona's winning will be a factor in the healing process.

A 13-3 record did not look good to Arizona fans on January 7. A 15-3 record on January 15 will looks very good. At the end of the day, records do not matter. It is only entertainment, in a way that bonds a community full of wounds.

I will be there, healing & cheering, 3,000 miles away, while putting life in perspective.

Follow Clair on twitter @ClairDogg.

Get ready Boston, this is going to be a year where we very well could win a championship in all four major sports. This isn't the first encounter that we've had with bandwagon jumpers, after the Patriots won 3 Super Bowls in four years at the beginning of the decade, the birth of Red Sox Nation in 2004, Green 18 and the "We want it as bad as you do" era of the Bruins.

There's no need to get our boxers in knots, panties in bunches and start to get defensive. We know who we are and the fairweather fans may never have the intensity that we do, but the more noise that's made and the more support for our teams can't be hurtful in any way. So with open arms, come aboard the bandwagon ladies and gentlemen, enjoy the ride that we've been waiting for our whole lives and have had the opporunity to enjoy over the past decade.

The sports calendar is jammed packed in the US. Football season is in full swing and fans are recovering from 7 months of baseball. People locally in Boston are paying attention to the Celtics & Bruins. It is also close to the end of the year where family tends to take higher priority. There is a lot on everyone’s plate.

Well, college basketball is just starting up. Everyone gets into the madness in March, but the early part of the season is close to non-existent among a lot of fans. Believe it or not, these early games can shape how some teams are during the season. It could also be make-or-break for the NCAA tournament, due to conference schedules. It is also the opportunity for “mid-majors” to make some noise. With the parity in college basketball the past couple of years, a major team not playing up to there potential can get upset by a well-established team (read: loaded with juniors/seniors) can pull off an upset. For the powers, early victories will help gain confidence, but losses will make people think about where they truly stand nationally. So, every game is critical for each of these teams, even with the long season.

Granted, like any other sport in the early season, teams are trying to get their chemistry together. Teams can still start slow & gain steam as the season goes on (ask Michigan State).

There are still some intriguing match ups (or potential matchups) in the early season tournaments. Each day this week we will be previewing a tournament to keep an eye on. Keep in mind, this is only a sampling of what is in store. There will be plenty to think about when you are also thinking turkey.

Preseason NIT (November 15/16/17/24/26)

Fully expect Villanova to run away in the tournament, but there are teams to watch out for. UCLA may have has a lackluster year last year, but you do not walk on the court thinking you are going to beat Ben Howland with your eyes closed. VCU, Nevada and Winthrop has a history of making some noise and Tennessee is a household name in college basketball. Boston University is in the 2nd round, and can play Villanova with a win over George Washington.

Puerto Rico Tip-Off (November 18/19/21/2010)

This field is intriguing with several major conference teams, and a handful of mid-majors. In my opinion, this is one of the most interesting fields due to the balance of all the programs. These are solid teams, but not super powers, so a good performance will mean more when March rolls around. The most interesting in the first round is Minnesota and Western Kentucky. Minnesota is trying to get well established (Tubby Smith can & will do that!). Minnesota is in the conference pundits say will be the toughest this year. Meanwhile Western Kentucky has proved the past couple of years they can play with majors. Final Four participate last year, West Virginia, needs to do well for itself, and the Big East, as they play Davidson, winner of Nebraska, and Vanderbilt, both solid teams for the early season. A statement can be made with solid wins. Hofstra, and North Carolina are also in it. If UNC is not in the title, readjusting needs to be done, and/or Minnesota/Western Kentucky will be teams to watch out for this season.

2K Sports Classic Coaches vs Cancer (November 18/19)

The 2K Sports Classic Coaches vs. Cancer is an already established mini-tournament in Madison Square Garden in New York City that also has a few regional games. Pittsburgh, Maryland, Illinois, and Texas will compete. All these teams have been powers the past 10 years, and all are expected to do very well in their respective power conferences. Illinois needs to do well to gain early confidence, due to the powers in the Big Ten this year. Pittsburgh struggled in a win over Rhode Island last week (a team that has not made the NCAA tournament in recent years), so coming out with a strong performance. All these teams are expected to make the NCAA Tournament, but this will give a test to see where they compare nationally.

CBE Classic (November 22/23)

The CBE Classic is set-up similar to the Coaches vs Cancer, with a mini-tournament at the Sprint Center in Kansas City, MO. Duke, Marquette, Kansas State, and Gonzaga make up the field. All these tams are simply well balanced. Duke maybe the champions with several All-Americans, but they cannot over look these majors where any of these teams can beat each other on any given night when both teams bring there A game. These are all power team from power conferences. Marquette exited in the 1st round last March by only 2 points to Washington, and finished 5th in the Big East last year. Kansas State lost in the Elite 8 to Butler in a game that was closer then the score looked. Plus, everyone’s favorite, Gonzaga, who knows these early season games mean something, due to their conference. Kansas State needs to show they can still ply up to their level as they did last year without Denis Clemente. Just like the Coaches vs Cancer Classic, all these teams are expected to be dancing in March, but where they stack up nationally will be on there minds.

Maui Invitational (November 22/23/24)

This is the granddaddy of all early season tournaments. Granted, one team has to play a division II team to get to the title game, but the rest of the field makes the trip worth it. This could be an important time for UConn (who plays Wichita State in the 1st round). UConn has been sliding past couple of years on the court, and Jim Calhoun has turned into a grumpy old man. A solid performance will show they can still play, and have the potential to do well this season. A poor performance will diminish expectations.
Virginia, Washington, Kentucky, Oklahoma, and Michigan State make up the rest of the field. Kentucky lost a lot of talent last year, so this will be an excellent measuring stick on what to expect from them. Washington was the king in a mediocre (at best) Pac-10 last year, which are projected to finish on top this year. Michigan State is coached by the master when it comes to managing the season. He knows when to win, and how. Regardless of performance in the tournament, they will at least make the sweet 16 in March.

Thanks to Kevan Emmott for the picture of Gerry MacNamara.

Clair Wyant is a sports fan, a former sports reporter for the Tucson Citizen newspaper, currently a foreign exchange professional. You can also follow Clair on twitter @ClairDogg.

In my humble opinion, Jermaine O'Neal is a bum and was the biggest waste of money that the Celtics could have used elsewhere this season. Shaq is known for missing a few games every season and it's better to be done at the beginning during a weak stretch of the schedule as opposed to late in the season when each game becomes a mini playoff series to make sure we get into the post season. Also, I strongly believe that Glen Davis has matured enough that what he lacks in size can be made up with athleticism and determination in the paint offensively and defensively.

Just realizing that I have yet to mention Ray Allen, Kevin Garnett and Rajon Rondo, I feel like I may be taking away from just how deep and talented this 2010 Celtics team is. Who else opens a story and doesn't mention three all-stars until halfway through? I can not wait until Perk comes back to solidify the starting five and give us yet again, similar to 2008, the best bench in the NBA...and that's the truth.

Thanks to Keith Allison for the photo of Paul Pierce.

With the Miami Heat's presumed super-team including my boy, Dwyane Wade with LeBron James and Chris Bosh being hated by the majority of NBA fans, does it surprise you in anyway that they lost their season opener in a too close for comfort game against the Celtics at the Garden? As if it were necessary for the NBA to ensure that the team has no aspirations to go 82-0 (no matter how unrealistic that sounds), following that up with a 10 point win over the 76ers (after being up by 36 points in the third quarter). Not to mention the fact that on the same night, the Celtics lost to a LeBronless Cavaliers team after holding double digit leads throughout the majority of the game only to fall behind in the last two minutes with terrible calls on both ends of the floor.

It's also been very noticable that Shaq has been called for fouls on anything close to the basket. If Shaq is within arms length of any opposing player going to the hoop in the paint, he's been called for a foul. Everyone in the league, including referee's know that the Celtics do not have an adequate backup for O'Neal and taking him out of the game alone will cause the opposition to dominate the boards and begin a run of thier own by getting to the basket more easily.

So whether it be against the spread or the over/under, I have a strong feeling that referee's have a personal agenda in most, if not all of the games played in the NBA. They're either making money through gambling or being told that ratings for the NBA need to go up. What other way to make ratings go up than to keep games close yet also high scoring, playoff series going seven games and building up rivalries for competition. Play it striaght or don't play it at all.

Thanks to Eric Kilby for the picture of Gino on the big screen at The Garden.

Regular Season : 53-29 (2nd in East)
Playoffs: NBA Champions

The Celtics are going to compare very well with their record from last season, however, the addition of Shaq followed by the return of Perkins later in the season coupled with the amazing team chemistry is going to help them grind out a few more wins a push them to finishing with the 2 seed in the East.

The Celtics, according to last years statements from Doc Rivers, are going to make "one last run at it" with this team. With the talent, veteran leadership and chemistry, the Boston Celtics are going to play with a chip on their shoulder as if they have something to prove. Factor in the feelings that this may be the last shot for some of these guys and a great opportunity for the younger guys, the Celtics are going to have one hell of a season. A return to the NBA Finals capped by knocking off the "super-team" Miami Heat and taking the Lakers down for revenge from last year is going to cause some ruckus in Boston.

Adam Pieniazek

Regular Season : 51 - 31 (3rd in the East)
Playoffs: NBA Champions (in 5 games vs. LA)

The NBA went through quite a revolution during the offseason but the champions remained basically the same while the runner-ups turned one of their weaknesses into one of their strong points. Regardless of what the Lakers, Heat, Magic or any other team did, the Celtics just added a sure-fire Hall of Fame center to a team with three Hall of Famers and potentially two more already in their starting line-up. Rondo is a proven great player and Perkins has proven himself a very good player with superb defensive skills.

Some analysts point to Shaq's defense as a troubling sign but he's the perfect complement to Perkins. The Celtics have needed a big man to score from 2 feet from the basket for decades. And through the past three years it's remained our one gaping hole. Get ready for a helping heaping of Rondo to Shaq as that fatal flaw is gone.

The Celtics will not have the best record in the league, it'll likely go to the Heat (if they stay healthy). But when the Heat and C's match up in the playoffs, our 4/5/6 Hall of Famers will prove too much for a team with just 3. The Heat are stacked at three position, the Lakers are stacked and the Celtics are now super stacked. If the Celtics follow last year's formula and get the bench involved during the season, heck even start them here and there, then when the Playoffs come around everyone will be ready, healthy, and have energy and experience to win the NBA championship in possibly the toughest postseason ever.

Matthew Simonini

Regular Season : 59-23 (1st in Atlantic)
Playoffs: NBA Champions

The new season is upon and it I think I've recovered from the heart wrenching loss in the Finals this past summer. There have been a few new roster changes to make note of this offseason, Delonte West returns to Boston along with the new arrivals of the O'Neals, Shaq and Jermaine. With the loss of Kendrick Perkins to knee surgery I feel that we found a reasonable inside presence to fill the void of Perkins. This season looks to be an exciting one especially with the level of competition in the Eastern Conference that are on the teams from Florida. I expect another strong post season run from the Celtics especially if they take a similar approach like last season and cruise along through the regular season saving strength and staying healthy leading to the playoffs. Let's hope this is the season that banner number 18 comes to the Garden.

Eddie Skryzniarz

Regular Season : 52-30 (3rd in East)
Playoffs: NBA Champions

The regular season means nothing. The Celtics made that point very clear by making an improbable run to the Finals last season, just half a quarter collapse away from being NBA Champions for the 18th time. The Celtics' path to the playoffs will closely mirror last year. There will be a strong start that leads into the January through February lull, followed by the Celtics limping into the playoffs with injury and durability issues. Experts and fans alike will wonder how far this team can go and is this the end of the Big Three. But if there is one thing to be learned, don't count this team out come playoff time.

The additions of the O'Neal brothers addresses the glaring rebounding weakness the Celtics had during the Finals. While the Miami Heat decided to start their own fantasy basketball league, the Celtics quietly signed the right pieces to outmatch the Heat, Magic, and Bulls come playoff time. The East has become a significantly stronger conference but the Celtics are built to outlast everyone.

This of course all hinges on how healthy the team is. Perkins's knee is the biggest question. Will he ever be the same player? The O'Neal brothers can hold the fort until his return but his presence will be needed if the Celtics expect to return to the Finals. But after watching how much fun this team is having during training camp and the preseason, I don't see anyone having better team chemistry than the Celtics. While the time will come for the Heat to dominate the Eastern Conference, the Celtics will stand in their way for one or two more seasons until a major roster overhaul. I see a Celtics-Lakers Finals for the third time in four years and the Celtics coming out on top after addressing their rebounding problems from last season.

Clair Wyant

Regular Season : 57-25
Playoffs: Eastern Conference Finals

The talent will still be there, but age will continue to show on this team (Pierce/Allen/Garnett/Shaq). Doc Rivers proved to everyone last year that he knows it. He will do what he needs to do to get a solid seeding in the playoffs then come out in full force. The number one concern is injuries, especially after last season. They can still make it to the NBA finals and win it all. It will be tough to do with the talent in the eastern conference to repeat what they did last year (but with the title). There is one thing that will be guaranteed and that is an entertaining season both on and off the court! Enjoy it while it lasts!

Photo credit: Chris Devers | CC NC ND 2.0

More recently, Tom Brady's tuck rule that eventually led to Adam Vinatieri's legendary field goal in the snow against the Raiders to propel the New England Patriots to their first of three Super Bowl victories. David Ortiz single-handedly helping the Red Sox come back from a 3-0 deficit in 2004 to beat the New York Yankees and eventually win their first World Series in 86 years. The Celtics new Big 3 taking the team and fans on an extreme journey for Banner 17 against the Los Angeles Lakers.

Although those moments haven't escaped our minds and for the true fans, never will, it has been a number of years since there have been any significant moments in Boston sports history. The big play, the instant classic and that moment that will be embedded in our memories forever are few and far between. Is that era of moments in Boston sports history gone forever, or do we just need to wait another few decades before our time comes again? Will our children be telling their children about curses and bad luck that has made it impossible for them to see their teams win their respective championships?

Don't take anything out of context. I'm not saying that I'm ungreatful in any way at all. In a matter of eight years, I've seen my teams win six championships and I don't expect the Red Sox, Patriots or Celtics to hit another drought before my time passes. I just haven't seen that magical moment take place for a few years and I'm not sure if there ever will be moments like that for us again. Just think of all the moments mentioned earlier and you tell me if you think that Tom Brady will ever benefit from throwing an incomplete pass again that would result in a playoff win. How many more times will a bench player steal a base and then come around to score a tying or winning run in an ALCS game against our rivals when we're all but counted out of the series? With the NBA conforming to the 2008 Boston Celtics formula, will we ever see a Big 3 in Boston better than Paul Pierce, KG and Ray Allen that can win Banner 18?

I live for and die by those moments. The times when your palms sweat, your heart races and you have no words when your friends start calling your phone off the hook other than, "I don't know what to say". So you tell me, where have all the moments gone and for God's sake, when will there be more?

Thanks to shriak for the photo of the New England Patriots v. Oakland Raiders Playoff game in the snow.

If you thought I wouldn’t post a video Big Baby Davis made of himself dancing to a rap song, you don’t know me at all. AT ALL.

Enjoy!