http://www.yardbarker.com/content/player/38156 Recent articles about Eric Gordon en-us Now that we know Eric Gordon is leaving the Indiana Hoosiers after only one season and we almost expect Derrick Rose and Michael Beasley to follow suit, where does that leave big men Tyler Hansbrough and Kevin Love. Will they both become stars or just starters at the next level? www.rawsportsblog.com Fri, 04 Apr 2008 14:04:37 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/228750 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/228750 Indiana freshman point guard Eric Gordon will reportedly announce his intentions to enter the NBA draft, according to the Indianapolis Star. The details of announcement are expected to be released by the university soon. Fri, 04 Apr 2008 12:12:05 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/228688 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/228688 Growing up in Chicago, there were only two options when it come to collegiate sports teams. You were either a Fightin' Illini or a member of Notre Dame nation. Period. Occasional Chicagoans would feel sentimental toward Purdue or DePaul because they had relatives that went there, but that was about it. Regardless which area team you passioned over, the enemy never changed -- and never will. It has always been the hated Indiana Hoosiers. WIth their rich tradition and historical success. Bob Knight and Scott May. Tom Coverdale and Dane Fife. Kelvin Sampson and Eric Gordon.. Thu, 03 Apr 2008 13:03:17 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/227492 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/227492 The Indiana Basketball program can be compared to the Titanic, it's great in size but a sinking ship non-the-less. Two starters, guards Armon Bassett and Jamarcus Ellis, have been kicked off the team for violating rules. This isn't the only time both players have been in trouble before, each was suspended during the regular season. However, according to sources a head coach has been hired to right the ship. www.rawsportsblog.com Tue, 01 Apr 2008 18:58:53 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/226193 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/226193 According to three sources close to the program, Indiana basketball players Armon Bassett and Jamarcus Ellis have been kicked off the team by IU's interim head coach Dan Dakich. The sources say that Bassett and Ellis were required to run at 6am the day after the two missed an arranged meeting with coach Dakich and never showed. According to ESPN.com's Andy Katz, Tom Crean has been hired to clean up the mess in Bloomington. Tue, 01 Apr 2008 11:30:50 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/225912 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/225912 After two rounds of tournament play, much can be said about some of the potential top NBA prospects. FIO and TalkHoops.net writer Zach Harper takes a look at those players whose draft stock is on the rise, and those players who have been hurt by their lackluster play. Fri, 28 Mar 2008 10:25:37 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/222394 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/222394 No amount of Old Spice, Axe body spray or visits to a local confessional will overcome the guilty pleasure that is enjoying NCAA March Madness "one-tourney stand" games. Games where freshman superstars are forced to play one year of college basketball before reaching full eligibility to play in the National Basketball Association are wrong on nearly all account... except entertainment value. Tue, 25 Mar 2008 01:09:48 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/217009 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/217009 The drift of Eric Gordon from peerless national regard and King Hoosier to passive, disconsolate underachiever, a trend that had a sad culmination last night in Raleigh, was one of the most disheartening stories of the year. Sat, 22 Mar 2008 21:18:23 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/214958 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/214958 The drift of Eric Gordon from peerless national regard and King Hoosier to passive, disconsolate underachiever, a trend that had a sad culmination last night in Raleigh, was one of the most disheartening stories of the year. Sat, 22 Mar 2008 18:11:55 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/214724 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/214724 Okay who picked these upsets? March just got a little madder as two no. 13 seeds and two no. 12 seed have won. So what does this do to your tournament brackets? But as we size up our sheets, how did the fab freshman do in their first NCAA experience? www.rawsportsblog.com Sat, 22 Mar 2008 10:38:43 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/214072 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/214072 Thursday's 1st round games were not as exciting as some people thought they would be. Only 2 lower seeds won (#9 Texas A&M and #11 Kansas State) and the two potential upsets (#14 Georgia over #3 Xavier and #15 Belmont over #2 Duke) were so close too happening, yet so far. So what will the 2nd day of the NCAA Tournament bring us? (10) Davidson vs. (7) Gonzaga In a great Mid-Major matchup, the Davidson Wildcats of the Southern Conference take on the Gonzaga Bulldogs of the West Coast Conference. The Zags have been here before with guys like Jeremy Pargo, Josh Heytvelt and David Pendergraft. Davidson may have the best overall player playing in this game with son of former NBA sharp-shooter Del Curry, Stephen Curry. The younger Curry averages 25 points per game on the season and can be deadly on the outside. If the Wildcats want to win, Stephen Curry has to be on target. If he is not, look for Gonzaga to buckle down and use the experience to advance to the 2nd round. SFB Prediction: Davidson wins 81-77 (10) Saint Mary's vs. (7) Miami (FL) Should this matchup really be happening? The Saint Mary's Gaels, who spent a good portion of the year in the Top 25 get a #10 seed and the Miami Hurricanes, who struggled towards the end of the season, get a #7 seed. Very questionable. But nonetheless, these teams square off for a very interesting matchup. For the Hurricanes, guard Jack McClinton leads the team with about 17 points per game. Saint Mary's is led by point guard Patrick Mills with 14.5 PPG and 3.4 assists per game. Something that is interesting about this game is that the Gaels are not your typical "shoot-the-three" Mid-Major squad. In addition to Mills, they have two solid big men inside with forward Diamon Sampson and center Omar Samhan. So unlike other Mid-Majors, Saint Mary's certainly has the ability to pound it inside. SFB Prediction: Saint Mary's wins 77-69 (12) Western Kentucky vs. (5) Drake The Drake Bulldogs of the Missouri Valley Conference have had a great season finishing the year 28-4 and nationally ranked. Led by point guard Adam Emmenecker, the Bulldogs play a very interesting style of play and have the ability to score the basketball. Josh Young leads the team in scoring and Klayon Korver is deadly from 3-point range. But don't forget about the Western Kentucky Hilltoppers, who have a player by the name of Courtney Lee who averages over 20 points per game. The senior stands at 6'5" and will give Drake some matchup problems in this game. SFB Prediction: Drake wins 75-65 (10) South Alabama vs. (7) Butler Here is yet another solid Mid-Major matchup. And again, a question arises with placing the Butler Bulldogs as a #7 seed. But we do have a great matchup here with Butler battling the South Alabama Jaguars, who received an at-large bid out of the Sun Belt Conference. The Bulldogs are led by guards A.J. Graves and Mike Green but they also have a balanced attack with four players averaging over 11 points per game. The Jaguars also have a balance with 4 players averaging over 10 points per game, led by 20-point per game scorer Demetric Bennett. SFB Prediction: Butler wins 88-87 in overtime (11) Saint Joseph's vs. (6) Oklahoma This seems to be the trendy "upset" pick for many sports fans out there with the Saint Joseph's Hawks taking on the Oklahoma Sooners. The Hawks are led by three athletic big men with Pat Calathes, Ahmad Nevins and Rob Ferguson. All three of these players can score inside, outside and run the floor. This is something Oklahoma needs to prepare for if they want to hang with the Hawks. Of course St. Joe's will have to contend with Oklahoma's big men, 6'10" Blake Griffin and 6'11" Longar Longar. The key to this game for either team is to control the pace of the game. As fast-paced game is in the Hawks favor and a slower-paced game is Oklahoma's favor. This should be a great game. SFB Prediction: Saint Joe's wins 73-70 (13) Siena vs. (4) Vanderbilt As said in a previous Blog, this could be the upset of the tournament with the MAAC champion Siena Saints defeating the Vanderbilt Commodores. However, it certainly will not be easy. Vandy has SEC Player of the Year Shan Foster in their corner in addition to 6'11" Aussie B.J. Ogilvy. On the other side, the Saints have sharp-shooters named Kenny Hasbrouck, Tay Fisher and Edwin Ubiles along with forwards Alex Franklin and Josh Duell on the inside. Even if Siena doesn't pull off the upset, this will be a great game to watch. SFB Prediction: Siena wins 85-81 (9) Oregon vs. (8) Mississippi State Again, these #8 vs #9 games are always very competitive on paper. The Ducks have 4 players averaging in double figures in points led by 6'6" guard Malik Hairston. The Bulldogs also have four players scoring in double figures in points including leading scorer Jamont Gordon and sharp-shooting Ben Hansbrough, Tyler's little brother. Look for this game to be action-packed, high-scoring and very exciting. SFB Prediction: Mississippi State wins 79-74 (9) Arkansas vs. (8) Indiana Another "seeding" question comes to mind when we see the Indiana Hoosiers with a #8 seed. Perhaps the NCAA Tournament Committee is sending a message that the Hoosiers can't win without their former head coach Kelvin Sampson. Despite this fact, Indiana is still a great basketball team led by guard Eric Gordon and big man D.J. White. But Arkansas has the sights set on getting to the 2nd round as well. The Razorbacks are led by forward Sonny Weems, who averages over 14 points per game. SFB Prediction: Indiana wins 69-61 (12) Villanova at (5) Clemson The Clemson Tigers finished the season strong making it all the way to the ACC Championship game. Many sports fans believe Clemson to be a potential sleeper team that can take down a #1 seed in the Regional Semi-Final round. Well with a balanced, athletic attack led by 6'6" junior K.C. Rivers, it's not surprising why sports fans are picking this team to go far in the NCAA Tournament. But before the Tigers think about that, they must deal with Villanova Wildcats, who perhaps was the last team to be put into the Field of 65. Villanova is led by sophomore guard Scottie Reynolds, who averages just under 16 points per game. But to win this game, the Wildcats need big games from guys like Dante Cunningham and Shane Clark. SFB Prediction: Clemson wins 77-65 Fri, 21 Mar 2008 08:36:55 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/213140 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/213140 As the NCAA tournament is set to begin Thursday, college basketball is sinking to an all time low...not in enthusiasm but in the attitude of its fans. Sports Illustrated chronicled the story of Kevin Love and his family, and how they were greeted by the Oregon Ducks fans during their home match up with UCLA. The death threats left on his cell phone got so bad that the freshman phenom had to call and cancel his phone plan. His father, Stan Love, is the sixth leading scorer in Oregon basketball history, and he was at the game to watch his son. The home crowd. www.rawsportsblog.com Wed, 19 Mar 2008 20:34:55 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/211078 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/211078 The Tar Heels were rewarded for their great season with the #1 overall seed in the 2008 Tourney, but the favors stop there. UNC is in the same bracket as a dangerous Indiana team, #2 Tennessee, Washington State, Notre Dame, Butler, and Louisville. That's quite a bracket, as UCLA seemed to get the easiest route to San Antonio. Indiana is a very real second round matchup, and that will be a tough one to handle as DJ White will matchup well with Hansbrough and Eric Gordon is a good player. Tar Heels will have a challenging road to San Antonio this year. Mon, 17 Mar 2008 20:13:49 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/207057 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/207057 In knocking of the Indiana Hoosiers, the Minnesota Golden Gophers overcame a referee corps that did everything in its power to get the home state team to Saturday, the continued absence of Spencer Tollackson, and another monstrous double-double from D.J. White in notching what constitutes the first signature win of the Tubby era in the Twin Minny. Sat, 15 Mar 2008 12:08:40 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/201206 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/201206 My boy PJN is getting his feet wet. Come devour his brain... if you disagree, comment so he can tell you why you're wrong! I couldn't tag a bunch of cats that were actually written about here... Wed, 12 Mar 2008 00:59:08 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/192123 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/192123