Big 12 Basketball Preview

by Brady Vaughan, posted in Basketball, NCAA Basketball

College basketball is in full swing, and that means that the conference season is upon us! Big 12 play gets underway this upcoming Saturday, January 4th with a full slate of games, as everyone in the conference plays its conference opener.

Today, I’m going to preview each of the Big 12’s teams and give my projected standings and records for each team (see bottom of article).

BAYLOR

Jared Butler drive
Jared Butler drives to the basket vs Arizona at home. Photo per Baylor Athletics

Baylor is good enough to contend for the Big 12 title and equipped to make a deep run in the NCAA tournament come March. Baylor is ranked 11th in the nation in the KenPom rankings, which measures a team’s adjusted efficiency per 100 possessions. They score about 109.1 points per 100 possessions, while giving up only 88.0 points per 100 possessions, meaning their adjusted efficiency is +21.07 points. In addition, they boast one of the better non-conference resumes in the nation thus far, as they have defeated Arizona, Butler, and Villanova (all of whom are ranked in the top 25 in the current AP Poll) – something that Kansas failed to do, as many Baylor fans will quickly let you know that they beat Nova and Kansas did not- but also dropped a game to Washington on a neutral floor in Alaska which they led most of the way. Baylor sure would like to have that Washington match up back, but nonetheless, Baylor is top ten in the AP Poll (currently ranked #6) and in excellent position to compete for a conference championship, though they have not won a regular season conference championship since 1950. One of the biggest strengths of this Baylor team is their depth in the back court. Players like Jared Butler, MaCio Teague, Davion Mitchell, and Devonte Bandoo anchor a loaded Baylor back court, as each one of them brings remarkable athleticism and the ability to shoot the ball from behind the arc, something that Scott Drew-coached Baylor teams are not well-known for. If these guards consistently knock down the 3 ball, Baylor can win the conference for the first time ever since its inception in 1994 and compete for a deep run come March.

3 Key games: @ #22 Texas Tech (January 7th), vs #16 West Virginia (February 15th), vs #3 Kansas (February 22nd)

Key player to watch: Jared Butler

IOWA STATE

Iowa State is certainly not as good as they have been in years past and don’t let anyone else tell you otherwise. Losing players like Marial Shayok, Lindell Wigginton, and Talen Horton-Tucker hurts big time, as they carried Iowa State to a conference tournament title last season when they beat Kansas in the Sprint Center in Kansas City to capture their fifth Big 12 Tournament championship. Good news is they bring back several guys who played key minutes last season, namely guard Tyrese Haliburton and forward Michael Jacobson. Tyrese Haliburton and Michael Jacobson are their biggest one-two punch returning from last season in my opinion, but I believe Solomon Young is a key player for them. He needs to be able to establish himself as a consistent go to option behind Haliburton, Rasir Bolton, and Jacobson. Young averages 10.2 points/game and 3.9 rebounds/game, which is good production, but I believe Young needs to step it up to average around 12-13 points/game and 5 rebounds/game in order for Iowa State to find more success. This Iowa State team has the potential to be very competitive, as seen when Seton Hall, ranked #13 in the AP Poll at the time, came into Hilton Coliseum and left with ten point loss to the Cyclones, but Iowa State just has not shown the consistency yet. At a current record of 7-4, they are probably on the outside looking in at the NCAA tournament heading into conference play, but good thing the Big 12 provides plenty of opportunities to boost the resume. There are no off nights in this conference, so Iowa State will need to bring it every single night if they want to make the NCAA tournament, which is why Solomon Young emerging as a solid go-to fourth option is all the more important for this Iowa State team. If he can do so, this makes Iowa State a much more dangerous team because the defense will have to pay more attention to Young on the block, which could open up more shots on the perimeter for guys like Haliburton and Bolton. They will catch some opposing teams off-guard when opposing teams have to visit Hilton, but Iowa State must show more consistency and be able to win on the road if they are to find success this season.

3 Key games: vs #3 Kansas (January 8th), vs #6 Baylor (January 29th), @Oklahoma State (February 29th)

Key player to watch: Solomon Young

KANSAS

NCAA Basketball: NC-Greensboro at Kansas
Devon Dotson drives to the hoop against UNC-Greensboro in Allen Fieldhouse Credit: Jay Biggerstaff-USA TODAY Sports

Kansas is Kansas. They have a ton of talent coming back from last year while also introducing several freshmen who could very well end up playing three to four years for Bill Self, and were picked to win the Big 12 again. Anyone surprised? Not really.

Kansas is currently ranked #3 in the AP Poll. They boast a sophomore point guard, Devon Dotson, who is arguably one of the best PGs in America, as well as arguably the best big man in the land in senior seven-foot center Udoka Azubuike. Dotson averages 19.2 points/game and 4.7 assists/game and is the unequivocal leader of this Kansas team while Azubuike averages a solid 14.0 points/game and 8.4 rebounds/game. Kansas also flaunts a strong non-conference schedule and has shown they can hang with just about anyone on any given night, as they have two losses by a combined three points to Duke (neutral floor) and Villanova (road). They also have a road win over the Stanford Cardinal, who are ranked in the top ten of the NCAA’s NET Tool, which helps the NCAA tournament committee evaluate potential NCAA tournament teams based on result of games strength of schedule, game location, scoring margin, etc, as well as a neutral site victory over the Dayton Flyers led by potential lottery pick Obi Toppin. Kansas is also coming off the first season in 15 years in which they DIDN’T win the Big 12. Last year, Texas Tech and Kansas State split the conference crown, so Kansas is out to recapture that title. If Kansas is going to recapture the Big 12 crown, guys like Ochai Agbaji, Marcus Garrett, Isaiah Moss, and David McCormack need to step up and help out Dotson and Azubuike on a consistent basis. It would be easy for me to say Dotson or Azubuike is a key player to watch, however, I believe another is freshman guard Christian Braun. He has played tremendously as of late, knocking down shots, attacking on offense, blocking shots on defense, and providing a spark of energy off the bench, especially in the Villanova game. This Kansas team is already poised to make a deep run in March, but if Braun can consistently be a spark of energy off the bench like he has been of late, I like the Jayhawks chances of reaching Atlanta.

3 Key games: vs #6 Baylor (January 11th), vs #22 Texas Tech (February 1st), @ #16 West Virginia (February 12th)

Key player to watch: Christian Braun

KANSAS STATE

Kansas State has not been getting the treatment of a regular defending conference champion. The Wildcats have been looked down on to start this young season, but their play thus far has not exactly strengthened their case to be a contender in the Big 12 this season. They have been playing better of late, but they will need to kick it into another level if they are to challenge the likes of Kansas, Baylor, West Virginia, and Texas Tech for the conference crown. Now that guys like Barry Brown and Dean Wade are gone, a lot of the weight for this team falls on the shoulders of returners Cartier Diarra and Xavier Sneed. Both are very capable scorers and shooters and have plenty of experience at this level of play, but if K-State is going to get back to where they were last year, look for guys like Makol Mawien and Mike McGuirl to play a big role. Mawien leads the team in rebounds and blocks per game, at 5.1 rebounds/game and 1.1 blocks/game while McGuirl averages the third most minutes of all players among everyone who has played in all of the Wildcat’s games thus far. Somewhat similar to Iowa State, Kansas State does not flaunt an impressive non-conference schedule, as the best team they’ve played in Marquette came into Manhattan and had their way with the Wildcats, earning a 73-65 win over K-State. Fortunately, the Big 12 is filled with great opportunities to prove yourself. At this moment, K-State is not in the NCAA tournament, but that could all change with a good start to the conference season. Bruce Weber is more than a capable coach and has proven he can win and win at the highest level, but this year might be one of his toughest coaching jobs yet. One key player to watch is junior forward Levi Stockard III. In the limited minutes he’s gotten this season, he is shooting over 50% from the floor. If he can find more minutes and be a consistent presence on the floor for the Wildcats, this team will become that much better.

3 Key games: @Texas (January 11th), vs Oklahoma State (February 11th), vs #3 Kansas (February 29th)

Key player to watch: Levi Stockard III

OKLAHOMA

Oklahoma is a unique team this year. They don’t have any one dominant player like they have in recent memory (see Blake Griffin, Buddy Hield, and Trae Young for example), but they are a solid team. Head coach Lon Kruger always seems to do a good job of getting his guys ready to go, whether his team is especially talented, like the 2015-2016 Oklahoma team that went to the Final Four on the backs of Wooden Award winner Buddy Hield and his back court mates Isaiah Cousins and Jordan Woodard, or if they are obviously out-manned. Oklahoma has three players currently averaging 14 points/game or more in senior Kristian Doolittle (16.7 points/game) and juniors Austin Reaves (16.6 points/game) and Brady Manek (14.2 points/game). Oklahoma is ranked #51 in the current KenPom rankings with an adjusted efficiency margin of 13.91 points per 100 possessions, which isn’t great but they have beaten teams like Minnesota, who is ranked #42 in KenPom as well as Missouri, who is ranked #53 in KenPom. Oklahoma has also lost to several tough teams like Creighton (road), #24 Wichita State (road), and Stanford (neutral site). Oklahoma has played a pretty good non-conference schedule thus far, it’s just that the results in their bigger games have not been there. Both games against Creighton and Wichita State were 10 point losses in hostile environments, but playing those type of non-conference games get a team ready for Big 12 play. With a three headed trio of Doolittle, Reaves, and Manek, Oklahoma is bound to get a few quality wins in the Big 12, but I don’t know if it will be enough for them to make the Big Dance come March. As far as key players go, watch out for freshman guard De’Vion Harmon out of Denton, Texas. Harmon averages 8.1 points/game, 2.4 rebounds/game, and 2.3 assists/game while shooting approximately 38.3% from the field. Harmon also averages 27.5 minutes/game, meaning the opportunities for him to grow and succeed on the court is present. If he consistently performs at his current production level given the minutes he is averaging, he will grow and become a big part of the offensive attack for this Oklahoma team in the near future, and could be the difference between a couple more wins for this Oklahoma team.

3 Key games: @Iowa State (January 11th), @Oklahoma State (February 22nd), vs Texas (March 3rd).

Key player to watch: De’Vion Harmon

OKLAHOMA STATE

Oklahoma State has shown they are a decent team this year. Projected to finish sixth in the conference, I believe head coach Mike Boynton has his guys heading in the right direction. They have taken care of business against the teams that they are clearly better than, but they have lost to tough teams like Minnesota, Georgetown, and Wichita State who are all better than Oklahoma State, however some of these games the Cowboys have been without sophomore guard Isaac Likekele as he has missed some time with an illness. Some of those results need to start changing and going in favor of OSU if the Cowboys expect to go dancing come March, and the return of Likekele should help swing some of those results in favor of the Cowboys. As it stands right now, they are projected in the “Last Four Byes” part of the NCAA tournament according to ESPN Bracketologist Joe Lunardi. The Cowboys are led by Issac Likekele (13.1 points/game), senior guard Lindy Waters III (12.9 points/game), and senior forward Cameron McGriff (6.6 rebounds/game). All three have played very well throughout this young season and have been supported by senior guard Thomas Dziagwa, six-foot ten-inch sophomore forward Yor Anei, and a cast of freshman in forward Kalib Boone and guards Avery Anderson III and Chris Harris Jr. The Cowboys are a very young team and are in a position to make the NCAA Tournament, but with all young teams going forward, there will be some growing pains. One key player to watch the rest of this season for the Cowboys is Likekele. If he is able to stay healthy, he brings a whole new dynamic to this Cowboys team and makes them a very capable opponent.

3 Key games: @Iowa State (January 21st), vs #3 Kansas (January 27th), vs #22 Texas Tech (February 15th)

Key player to watch: Isaac Likekele

TEXAS CHRISTIAN UNIVERSITY

I’ll be honest, this TCU team is not as good as most other teams in the Big 12 this season. Head coach Jamie Dixon has a lot of work in front of him if he wants to get his Frogs to go dancing. TCU has beaten a ton of mediocre opponents but their three losses have come to Clemson, Southern California, and Xavier. TCU is ranked #67 in KenPom and is only ranked above one other Big 12 team in the KenPom rankings (K-State is ranked #89). The Horned Frogs are led by senior guard Desmond Bane (15.9 points/game, 7.1 rebounds/game, and 3.5 assists/game) and sophomore forward Kevin Samuel (11.7 points/game and 8.6 rebounds/game). Desmond Bane is one of the better guards in the conference, as he won player of the week for the conference once last season and was named to the all-conference second team at the end of the regular season. As far as key players go for this TCU squad, it has to be Bane. If he goes down with an injury at any point, I don’t believe TCU has any shot at the NCAA Tournament. Bane will need to keep up his all-conference play if TCU has any shot to make the postseason.

3 Key games: @Oklahoma (January 18th), vs #16 West Virginia (February 22nd), vs #6 Baylor (February 29th)

Key player to watch: Desmond Bane

UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS

Texas basketball has been a weird situation when looking from the outside ever since Shaka Smart arrived in town. I feel like Shaka is still hanging his hat on his surprise run to the Final Four in 2011 as the head coach of Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) when they beat one-seeded Kansas in the Elite Eight in San Antonio to go to the Final Four. Smart has not been able to produce teams with similar success to the Texas teams of the 2000’s under Rick Barnes. However one thing Smart has been able to do is land high profile recruits, after having players like Myles Turner, Mo Bamba, and Jaxon Hayes come through his program. Its no secret he can send guys to The League, but even with those high-profile players, they have not found much postseason success. This Texas team has shown flashes of potential, as seen when they beat the then ranked #23 Purdue Boilermakers, but have also shown lapses in effort, as seen when getting curb stomped by Providence. The Longhorns are led by guards Matt Coleman (junior, averaging 12.8 points/game and 4.5 assists/game) and Andrew Jones (sophomore, averaging 11.4 points/game). Coleman is also shooting a scorching 47.6% from three point range this season. The Horns were predicted to finish fourth in the conference, but in order to do so they will need consistent play from guys like guard Courtney Ramey and forward Jericho Sims. Sims leads the team in rebounds/game at 6.9 and blocks/game at 1.3. I believe Sims is the key to the Longhorns finishing high in the standings at the end of conference play. If Sims can step up and become a very real post threat on the offensive end (he only averages 8.5 points/game) and become a better rim defender, the floor will open up so much more for the athletic guards that Texas has in Coleman, Ramey, and Jones on the offensive end while also making Texas a much better defensive team. If Sims becomes a better post player, the Horns could surprise some people in conference play.

3 Key games: vs @Oklahoma State (January 15th), #3 Kansas (January 18th), vs Texas Tech (February 8th)

Key player to watch: Jericho Sims

TEXAS TECH

Jahmi'us Ramsey shot
Freshman guard Jahmi’us Ramsey rises up for a jumpshot vs Long Island University during their matchup on November 24th in Lubbock, Texas. Photo per Texas Tech Athletics

Texas Tech has emerged as one of the premier teams in the Big 12. Reaching the Elite Eight two seasons ago and getting to the National Championship game last season, it’s no secret that Chris Beard can coach. This season is a whole different animal though. His first season in Lubbock, Beard had standout senior point guard Keenan Evans and future NBA First rounder Zhaire Smith. Last season he had Big 12 player of the year Jarrett Culver, who now plays for the Minnesota Timberwolves. This season, it doesn’t appear that Texas Tech has someone who can completely dominate a game like Evans/Smith did two years ago or even like Culver could last year. Freshman Jahmi’us Ramsey is certainly an excellent player, but he isn’t a Jarrett Culver (yet), and nobody should expect him to be, as of right now. Good news is Ramsey is an outstanding player and can score in a variety of ways. Combine him with returning senior guard Chris Clarke, junior guard Davide Moretti, sophomore guard Kyler Edwards, freshman guard Terrence Shannon Jr, and senior transfer forward T.J. Holyfield, Tech has an outstanding array of players that Beard can throw at any opposing defense. This team is a guard-dominated team, which bodes well in the modern version of college basketball. However, I believe if Tech wants to win the Big 12 for the second consecutive season, they need to improve their outside shooting ability. Among players who play significant minutes (15 minutes or more/game in my opinion), only Ramsey (46.3%) and Moretti (38.8%) shoot above 35% from three. If Tech as a team can get more guys to consistently shoot the rock, they will be a very tough out. One of their key players is T.J. Holyfield. We all know Ramsey and Moretti are good, but Holyfield was a highly coveted transfer who chose Chris Beard and Texas Tech over the likes of Kansas, but Holyfield has not lived up to all the hype quite yet. He averages 9.5 points/game, 4.9 rebounds/game, and shoots 57.3% from the field as a whole, He has played in all 12 of Texas Tech’s games, but only averages about 6.25 shots/game while playing about 22.9 minutes/game. If he is going to shoot this well from the field, I think Holyfield has to find a way to get more minutes so that he can get more shots up. If he can become another consistent double digit scorer for this team, look to see Tech fight for a spot in Atlanta for the Final Four at the end of the year.

3 Key games: vs #6 Baylor (January 7th), @ #16 West Virginia (January 11th), @ #3 Kansas (February 1st) (Bonus game: vs #17 Kentucky on January 25th as part of the Big 12/SEC Challenge).

Key player to watch: T.J. Holyfield

WEST VIRGINIA

Death, Taxes, and a Bob Huggins coached-team being good defensively. The three guarantees of life. WVU is ranked #17 in the KenPom rankings and is allowing only 87.5 points/100 possessions, which is good for the seventh best in the country. WVU is an excellent defensive team and always has been. The question is whether their offense can step up to the task. Their leading scorer is freshman forward Oscar Tshiebwe at 11.8 points/game. WVU also only has one player averaging more than 25 minutes/game (sophomore forward Emmitt Matthews Jr. who averages 26.5 min/game). What does that tell you? WVU has depth and Huggins isn’t afraid to use it. Ten different players average double digit minutes per game. This allows Huggins to keep up his team’s defensive intensity that WVU basketball has become known for over the last several years. Having fresh bodies late in games is a big luxury and WVU definitely has that. Projected to finish fifth in the conference, the Mountaineers are already exceeding expectations as they are currently ranked #16 in the AP Poll and just beat then ranked #2 Ohio State in Morgantown this past Sunday. One key player for the Mountaineers in my opinion is sophomore forward Derek Culver. Culver averages 11.0 points/game and 9.4 rebounds/game and has experience in beating tough opponents. Culver played significant roles last season on a WVU team that beat Kansas in Morgantown and bested league champion Texas Tech in the Big 12 tournament. Culver while only a sophomore, can provide some leadership for an up and coming WVU roster that has lots of freshmen and sophomores. If Culver is able to become the leader for this WVU team and provide consistent scoring and defensive intensity, watch out for the Mountaineers as they could challenge for the Big 12 title.

3 Key games: vs #22 Texas Tech (January 11th), vs #3 Kansas (February 12th), @ #6 Baylor (February 15th)

Key player to watch: Derek Culver

PROJECTED FINAL STANDINGS

1. Kansas (14-4)

2. Baylor (12-6)

3. Texas Tech (12-6)

4. West Virginia (11-7)

5. Oklahoma State (9-9)

6. Texas (9-9)

7. Oklahoma (8-10)

8. Kansas State (7-11)

9. Iowa State (7-11)

10. TCU (5-13)

#MonopolyMoney

by Drew Davis, posted in Action

Are your friends big sports gamblers?  Always rattling off these ‘big parlays’ and ‘locks’ they have that always ended up winners?  Are you tired of hearing about it because you know that they truly aren’t in the black…as no gambler ever has been?  Well, you have come to the right place.  Do not let them fool you.  Better yet, don’t be a part of it at all!  Well, of course you still want some stake in the game…just not your cold hard cash…you’re smarter than gambling that away.

That’s why you gamble with and against them, without any physical assets on the line.  But, you know what’s better than proving cash payouts to these prestigious sports aristocrats?  Bragging rights.  #MonopolyMoney takes this old-school principle into full affect. After reading Jeremy’s bogus Pick’s from God, I have decided it is time to introduce #MonopolyMoney to the public. If you are looking for winners, you have come to the right place.

The key is to not waste your built up bragging rights status by making picks just to make picks.  No, #MonopolyMoney only makes picks whenever they see the best lines, the best value, and jumps on it…more times than not with their gut-feeling.  Nothing will drive your gambling-addict friends crazier than if you have bragging rights over them, even if…actually, especially if you don’t have stake in the games.  I’ve heard it stated that bragging rights can win you ‘beach-front property’ in their head.  And nothing could provide you any more satisfaction than that.  So, this article is for all the smart ‘gamblers’, the would-be gamblers, and hell…even real gamblers could benefit from listening to our sound advice sometimes right?

#MonopolyMoney Picks:

-Navy ML against Kansas St

-Buy half a point to get Alabama -6.5 against Michigan

-Baylor +5.5 against Georgia

-Wait to see if the line moves to LSU -6…if it does #MonopolyMoney would really be tempted to take Clemson +6…otherwise #MonopolyMoney is staying away from this thriller and enjoying the game with pizza and a local IPA instead

Fade Fernando’s Picks from God 12-31-19

by Jeremy Fernando, posted in Action

Howdy folks and welcome back to another edition of Picks from God. Last week was a much better performance than the week prior as we went 3-1 (4-0 if the refs hadn’t hammered Clemson -2) and now sit at 5-7 (-2U). The next couple of days we have some great college football bowl matchups that have winners written all over them. The Lord has spoketh to me. Here are the Picks from God for 12/31/2019-1/2/19. Enjoy responsibly.

*Grad School Sports reminds you to please gamble responsibly. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, please call 1-800-522-4700. Picks are in bold.

1. Florida State vs. Arizona State -4: The picture above tells you just about everything you need to know for this game. Yes, that picture was taken earlier this year and is not photoshopped. An FSU receiver actually lined up the wrong way for an offensive snap. That just about sums up the season for this Seminoles squad and gives me complete faith that Herm Edwards and the Sun Devils can take care of business today. Now is either team great? No, but FSU is just that terrible. Coach Willie Taggart was fired midway through the season and at this point I think the Noles would care to be just about anywhere but on a football field. Both teams will have star players who will be sitting out this bowl game due to potential NFL careers. I really liked what I saw from ASU true freshman quarterback Jayden Daniels against Oregon a few weeks ago and I think he has a big game against a very weak FSU secondary. Now you’ll hardly hear the Lord say this, but take the Devil’s side on this one.

2. Utah -7 vs. Texas: Don’t over think this one people. Utah is good and Texas is bad. Plain and simple. Let’s all remember that this is a Texas team, whom in the words of QB Sam Ehlinger, is happy to be 7-5. Yes, the game is in San Antonio, TX which is only a short drive from Austin. However, these longhorns are bad. The offense has struggled to establish the run this season which does not bode well as they will face the top run defense in the country. Thus, while Ehlinger has his moments, he will be forced to throw most of the game against a very stout Utes passing defense. While the Utes don’t have a powerful offensive attack, the Longhorns defense is simply terrible. Look for QB Tyler Huntley to have a big game. Give me the Utes and the points as Texas proves once again that is indeed not back.

Photo by Giphy

3. Georgia vs. Baylor -5.5: Anyone remember what happened last year when Georgia played in the Sugar Bowl? They got stomped by Texas which allowed everyone to think Texas was somehow back again. I really think the same thing happens this year. Matt Rhule is one of the best coaches in college football and this Baylor defense is the real deal. They should have a field day going up against one of the worst QB’s in the SEC, Jake Fromm. Baylor’s offense has had its share of struggles this season which doesn’t bode well going up against a very strong Georgia defense. However, Kirby Smart has yet to say which Bulldog players will miss the bowl game, but it sounds like the list could be incredibly long. In addition, I think Baylor has much more to play for as they look to prove that they can play with the big boys in the SEC. Meanwhile, Georgia once again had its heart broken at Mercedes-Benz Stadium and will have to settle for just another meaningless NY6 bowl. In Matt Rhule I trust. Give me the Bears.

Photo by Giphy

4. Indiana vs. Tennessee -2.5. If you had told Volunteer fans their team would be favored in a bowl game after the 5th week of the season they would have laughed at you. However, Tennessee has gone 6-1 over the last 7 games and head coach Jeremy Pruitt has Rocky Top feeling pretty optimistic these days. QB Jimmy Jarrett Guarantano and WR Jauan Jennings are a formidable duo and the Volunteer defense has established itself as one of the best in the SEC East. The Hoosiers are no slouch themselves and nearly upset Penn State a few weeks back. However, much like my Aggies they really haven’t beaten anyone good this year. Therefore, take the Volunteers who have been playing fantastic football over the last half of the season.

Please remember, I am not a professional gambler. So please do yourself a favor and fade me at all costs. In addition, if you do not have the funds or live in an area where gambling is prohibited by law, please do not gamble. As we conclude this week’s picks, let’s all remember Jeremiah 29:11. Good luck to everyone this week.

Top Ten of The Decade: #2

by Brian Murray, posted in Decade, Top 10

#2. New England Patriots Super Bowl LI comeback win against the Atlanta Falcons, February 5, 2017.

Without a doubt, this was one of the most legendary games, and probably the best Super Bowl game in NFL History.

This game featured several records being set, including largest comeback in a Super Bowl (25 points) and the first game to be won in OT.

Video by NFL

Down 28-3 with a little more than two minutes left in the third quarter, the Pats finally scored their first TD of the game. They then went on to have a 19 point fourth quarter, all the while, holding a conservative Falcons offense to zero points.

Video by NFL

The comeback and game itself was so legendary that it is tough to put into words. There’s a number of plays that stick out though; Edelman’s absurd catch (see above), Amendola’s screen pass catch for the two point conversion, James White’s multiple TDs and game winning TD, Donta Hightower’s fumble forcing sack of Matt Ryan.

I remember not being able to sleep until about four in the morning after the game. I couldn’t get over what I had just witnessed and I just kept smiling at the ceiling thinking about Tom lifting the Lombardi Trophy in Goodell’s face.

If you’ve got a free 20 minutes, I highly encourage you to watch the video below.

Video by NFL

Top 10 of 2019: #2

by wpfeiffer1, posted in 2019, Top 10

#2. Jose Altuve walk-off to win the ALCS

The night was going better than expected. In a bullpen-driven pitching outing the Astros had held the Yankees to just 2 runs through 9 1/3 innings in Game 6 of the 2019 ALCS. However, with one swing, the unstoppable DJ LeMahieu silenced 43,000 fans by launching a sharp line drive just over the right field fence. I had only witnessed a group of people that large go silent once before: 9th Inning, Game 5 of the 2005 NLCS, Cardinals vs. Astros. A hanging slider from Brad Lidge coupled with the MVP-caliber swing of Albert Pujols sent a shockwave throughout the entire city of Houston. Pujols connected for a towering 455 ft blast that cleared the train tracks at Minute Maid Park and paved the way for a Cardinals victory. Although, the Astros would win the series in Game 6, the long term damage had be done. 

14 years later when LeMahieu broke Astros’ spirits with his 9th inning shot, Houston fans experienced flashbacks to that fateful night against the Cards. However, if one man could turn the tides, it was the longest tenured Astro on the team, Jose Altuve. Debuting with the team 9 years ago, Altuve had since amassed 6 all star appearances, 3 AL batting titles, and a World Series victory. If the Astros wanted to put anyone up against the dominate Aroldis Chapman in the bottom of the 9th, I couldn’t think of anyone better than our 5 ft. 6 in. slugger. On Chapman’s 4th pitch of the at bat, Tuve turned on an 84 mph off speed pitch and launched it to left-center. I originally sank in my seat in disgust because it appeared to be a long fly out, but once I saw Brett Gardner turn toward the wall, I knew it was all over. The perennial savior of Houston had come through AGAIN. 

Video by Dodgers Highlights

I’m unsure if it was luck or fate that allowed me to be present at both of these landmark games, but one thing’s for sure, the legacy of Joss Altuve will remain in Houstonians’ hearts forever. 

Photo by Giphy

Top 10 College Football Moments of the Decade

by Alec Murray, posted in NCAA Football, Top 10

As 2019 wraps up in the coming days, so does the second decade of the 21st century. Cole West recently broke down the Top 10 CFB moments of 2019. Here, we’re going to rewind a little further and look at the most dramatic, impactful, and wild moments in college football for the 2010’s. These rankings are far from perfectly objective as different moments and stories stick with all of us differently. Let us know what moments we missed or which ones we over/under-ranked.

#10 UCF’s National Title*

This moment doesn’t make this list for the moment itself, but more because of the implications it will have on college football going forward. In 2015, the Knights were absolutely awful going 0-12 and not putting up much fight in any of their conference games. Things would turn around quite quickly though as Scott Frost and QB McKenzie Milton led UCF to an 11-0 regular season (one game got cancelled due to Hurricane Irma) and a win over Memphis in the American Athletic championship game.

The Knights were left on the outside looking in to the College Football Playoff and had to settle for a Peach Bowl match-up with #7 Auburn. After defeating the Tigers 34-27, UCF would crown themselves 2017 National Champions which would be somewhat backed up by the NCAA and the Colley Matrix (a former BCS ranking algorithm).

2018 was a similar story, as UCF would again go 11-0 with a hurricane-cancelled game and a win over Memphis in the conference championship. And yet again the selection committee refused to take them seriously, leaving them in the Fiesta Bowl against LSU.

The UCF story probably makes your average blue-blood fan pretty uncomfortable because it throws some stones at the system that they have dominated for years. Why call it an FBS championship or playoff system when there are 5 conferences that will never be allowed to compete for the title? As long as group-of-five schools continue to put together impressive undefeated seasons, the current 4-team playoff system will be challenged.

Wouldn’t an 8 team playoff solve so much?

#9 Miami Kick Return to “Beat” Duke

Probably one of the wildest plays of the decade, trailing by three with just seconds left on the clock, Miami lateraled the ball eight times on a kick return that eventually broke loose for a game winning touchdown.

The real story on this play was the officiating, or lack thereof. Initially, there was a flag down for a block in the back on the return team which would have negated the score (correctly so, as you can count at least three and maybe more such blocks on replays). There was also a review to see if a Miami player’s knee was down at one point. After the review, the officials incorrectly concluded not only that the knee was not down but also that the illegal block in question had come from the side and not from behind. Reminder: very few penalties are reviewable and blocks in the back are not one of them.

The touchdown stood and Miami “won.” The ACC ended up temporarily suspending the entire officiating crew and issuing a statement admitting the mistakes. This play has really begun to embody the terrible reputation that ACC refs have come to earn this decade.

#8 Jadaveon Clowney Hit

My unofficial pick for Most Satisfying to Watch Sports play of the decade, words just don’t do justice for this hit from South Carolina DE Jadeveon Clowney against Michigan in the 2013 Outback Bowl. Clowney was already starting to turn some heads, but this play really put the country on watch and was instrumental in earning himself the first overall selection in the 2014 NFL Draft.

#7 Oh he has trouble with the snap!

In college football, there are some coaches who can coach and motivate their teams in big games. Take Ed Orgeron, for example. Since taking over in Baton Rouge in 2016, Coach O has led LSU to a 15-7 record against ranked teams while picking up 11 of those wins over top 10 teams. Then there are coaches who can’t seem to get it done in big games. Jim Harbaugh comes to mind. At Michigan, Harbaugh has a 10-13 record against ranked opponents, beating just two top 10 teams in the process.

Perhaps the most heartbreaking of those losses came in 2015 at the hands of Michigan State. Punting from around midfield with a two point lead and only 10 seconds left on the clock, the Wolverines were all but guaranteed to knock off the 7th ranked Spartans. But we wouldn’t be talking about this game if that were the case. Blake O’Neill fumbled the snap and was swallowed up by Michigan State defenders before he could get any sort of punt off, and Jalen Watts-Jackson took the ball into the endzone as time expired to steal the win and providing the world with one of the more famous surrender cobras of all time:

#6 Texas is Back?

In a wild game against the 10th ranked Notre Dame Fighting Irish, Tyrone Swoopes stretched across the goal-line to win the game for the Longhorns in double overtime. Texas football had been scuffling for the prior 5 years and was slipping from national prominence just six years removed from a trip to the national championship game. A win over a top 10 team to open the year would be huge for getting the program back on track. Thus, thanks to Joe Tessitore, the three-word phrase that has probably been used more than other in college football this decade was born. Texas is back.

The Longhorns catapulted up to #11 in the AP Poll before the country quickly realized that Texas was not, in fact, back. Texas finished the season 5-7, losing to Big 12 doormat Kansas along the way and firing head coach Charlie Strong when all was said and done. It turned out Notre Dame was pretty awful that year as well, as the Fighting Irish finished 4-8.

That one moment has lived on thanks mostly to the large contingent of college football fans across the nation who despise the Longhorns. The phrase does owe some credit for its survival to current Texas quarterback Sam Ehlinger and his postgame interview after Texas beat the Georgia Bulldogs in the 2019 Sugar Bowl.

Texas would follow that up by going 7-5 in the 2019 season. Horns down.

#5 Cardale Jones and the 2014 CFP Controversy

The 4-team College Football Playoff system was introduced to produce a more systematic approach to determining a college football national champion with less controversy. So it’s only natural that the first year under the system was steeped in controversy. The controversy was multiplied thanks to the performance of an unlikely hero, Cardale Jones.

Partly famous now for the above tweet, Jones was the third string QB for the Buckeyes at the start of the season behind Braxton Miller and JT Barrett. Thrust into the starting role after Barrett went down with a leg injury in the regular season finale, Cardale Jones led Ohio State in an absolute drubbing of Wisconsin 59-0 in the Big 10 Championship. This gave the selection committee quite the difficult task. It was already pretty well decided that the first three spots in the playoff would go to Alabama, Oregon, and Florida State respectively. The last spot was expected to be given to either Baylor or TCU, whom the Big 12 had somehow declared conference co-champions despite Baylor having beaten TCU head to head. Then the Buckeyes gave the committee an out. Rather than try to disentangle the Baylor-TCU debate, the committee selected Ohio State who went on to win the title, beating Alabama and Oregon along the way.

#4 Iowa State Upsets Oklahoma State with help from Missed FG in 2011

There are very few single plays that have had the same direct impact on the landscape of College Football as a certain field goal in this game did. Ranked #2 in the nation and just two wins from the BCS National Championship game, the 10-0 Oklahoma State Cowboys were having to play just a day after receiving news that a plane crash had taken the lives of the Oklahoma State women’s basketball coach and an assistant.

After giving up a 10 point halftime lead on the road to Iowa State, Mike Gundy, Brandon Weeden, and co. had a chance to take the lead on a 37 yard field goal with less than two minutes remaining in the game. Quinn Sharp only missed 4 kicks (one of which was an extra point) all season, but unfortunately this was one of them. The ball sailed directly over the right upright and the game went to overtime where the Cyclones pulled off the upset. Watch the field goal attempt here.

After throttling Oklahoma 44-10 the following week, Oklahoma St. still lost out on the #2 ranking and a BCS championship berth by the slimmest of margins to Alabama. The controversy surrounding this decision is what sparked the conversation and reformation that brought us the current College Football Playoff system. Not to mention that without this one missed kick, we would have missed out on the rematch of the Game of the Century™, one of the most exciting* national championships in recent memory in which LSU racked up 92 whole yards of offense! (*heavy dose of sarcasm)

#3 Tua Tagovailoa Leads the Comeback over Georgia

While seeing a rematch of an SEC championship game that was just played a few weeks prior was not the most appealing national championship match up, the game itself did not disappoint. Down to Georgia 13-0 at halftime, Nick Saban benched Jalen Hurts in favor of true freshman QB Tua Tagovailoa who led the Tide back in the second half and forced overtime. After the Alabama defense held the Bulldogs to a field goal, Tagovailoa hit DeVonta Smith up the sideline for a dramatic walk-off touch down to claim Alabama’s fifth title in ten years.

#2 Deshaun Watson Sinks Alabama to Win the 2016 National Championship

There is one primary reason that the top 2 moments in these rankings are the top 2. (Spoiler) They were to beat Alabama. You can’t talk about college football in the 2010’s and not mention the absolute dominance that the Alabama Crimson Tide had on the sport. Nick Saban led the program to 4 titles in the decade while appearing in 7 of the 10 championship games. This moment, when Deshaun Watson hit Hunter Renfrow to give the Clemson Tigers the lead with two seconds to go, not only showed a crack in Alabama’s dynasty, but also cemented Clemson as a national staying power. This was also one of the more thrilling National Championship games of the decade.

#1 The Kick Six and 2013 Auburn

There really can’t be any debate here. Chris Davis’ 109 yard kick return to knock the previously undefeated Crimson Tide out of the SEC- (and consequently the National) -title race ranks in the top 10 of the most dramatic moments across all sports. Not much more needs to be said about a top 5 matchup in one of the most heated rivalries in CFB ending in one of the most ridiculous ways possible and having drastic National Championship implications. And the cherry on top is the famous radio call by the late Rod Bramblett:

The Kick Six overshadows an insane game winning TD for Auburn earlier in the year against Georgia when the Bulldogs secondary batted a deep Nick Marshall pass up for Ricardo Louis who scampered into the endzone to take a 5 point lead with 25 seconds left:

The Kick Six and Immaculate Reception were good enough to propel the Tigers to the National Championship where their luck ran out against Jameis Winston and the Florida State Seminoles.

The Top 10 of 2019: #3

by emmaroderick20, posted in 2019, Top 10

3. U.S. Women’s National Team wins the World Cup

Video by Fox Soccer

Once every 4 years, Americans come together to partake in the viewership of the Women’s World Cup in which the U.S. Women’s National Team (USWNT) attempts to bring home the gold medal. 2019 was no different. Filled with star talent such as Alex Morgan, Megan Rapinoe and Alyssa Naeher, the USWNT once again put on a show for the Red, White and Blue. The Americans brought home the Gold medal by winning games against other power-house teams such as Spain, France, England, and The Netherlands. With the 2-0 win over The Netherlands in the final, featuring goals from Megan Rapinoe and Rose Lavelle, the USWNT had won consecutive World Cups and captured their 4th overall win. With a swagger not seen since the days of “The U” and a confidence unrivaled by any in the tournament, the USWNT quickly captured the hearts of Americans. As the team currently holding the most World Cup titles, the USWNT have cemented themselves as the team to beat amongst the global elite.

Video by Fox Soccer

Top 10 of The Decade: #3

by Jeremy Fernando, posted in Decade, Top 10

#3. Derek Jeter’s final game at Yankee Stadium

Photo by Giphy

Derek Jeter. The MLB icon who enjoyed a storybook career playing for his childhood team, the New York Yankees, decided 2014 would be his final season as a baseball player. Thus, the whole season was dedicated to Jeter’s farewell tour in which he received numerous gifts from each opposing ballpark he visited. As Jeter’s career drew to a close, his legacy as a player was discussed by analysts and fans alike. Pretty much everyone other than Keith Olbermann, marveled at the illustrious career Jeter had in Pinstripes. As Jeter’s Yankee career drew to a close in his final game at Yankee Stadium on September 25, 2014, baseball fans of all ages gathered around their T.V.’s to witness greatness one last time. And similar to the rest of his storied career, he would not disappoint.

Video by Wall Street Journal

In his 1st at-bat of the game facing Orioles pitcher Kevin Gausman, Jeter ripped a 3-1 fastball that nearly cleared the left-center field fence. The ball hit off the very top of the wall and Jeter coasted into second base with a double in front of 48,000 screaming fans. The the next 2 at-bats were less successful and Jeter stepped to the plate in the 7th inning, many fans expecting this to be his last home at-bat. With the game tied 2-2 and the bases loaded, he grounded to shortstop J.J. Hardy who, in an attempt to turn a double play, threw the ball into the outfield. 2 runs scored and Jeter arrived safely at first.

Heading into the 9th inning, the Yankees were up 5-2 with star closer David Robertson in the game. The crowd broke into “Thank you, Derek” chants expecting Robertson to end the game. However, 3 runs later and the game now tied, the Yankees came to the plate hoping to give Mr. Jeter one last at-bat in the Bronx. With a runner at second base and 2 outs, Jeter stepped up to the plate. Bob Shepherd’s legendary voice echoed through the stadium with the words “Now batting for the Yankees, No. 2, Derek Jeter, No. 2.” Yankees fans around the country did what they had done for the last 20 years: expect Derek Jeter to come up clutch. And that he did. He jumped on the first pitch from Orioles pitcher Evan Meek and hit it, in typical Jeter fashion, between the first and second baseman into the outfield for a base hit. Runner Antoan Richardson raced around third and slid in safely at home and pandemonium broke out in the stadium. Jeter leaped into the air with his smile beaming from ear to ear. A Yankee legend had once again left his mark.

Video by MLB

With Frank Sinatra’s “My Way” echoing throughout the stadium, Jeter was met by Yankee legends and former teammates Bernie Williams, Mariano Rivera, Andy Pettitte, Jorge Posada, Tino Martinez and former manager Joe Torre. A memorable exit for a truly remarkable baseball player. Derek Jeter was a figure that was larger than life whose consistent play and flare for the dramatic made him an all-time great and a crowd favorite. As a Yankees fan growing up, it was always his dream to suit up in the Pinstripes. Thus, Michael Kay’s words “Derek Jeter: Where fantasy becomes reality” rang true, especially in that final at-bat. Jeter’s last home game at Yankee Stadium will go down as one of the most iconic moments in MLB history.

Texas A&M- Oklahoma State Game Review

by noblequy, posted in NCAA Football

JUST ENOUGH. This was the motto for the Texas A&M Aggies last night as they came back from a 14-0 lead and then held onto for a close win, 24-21, over the Oklahoma State Cowboys. It looked ugly early on for the Aggies as Kellen Mond fumbled twice in the first quarter and fell behind 14-0 quickly. However, after a bad punt by Oklahoma State that got downed at their own 22 yard line, A&M capitalized on the field position and managed to be only down by a score, 14-7, going into halftime. After the A&M defense forced another 3 and out, they again capitalized on the situation and took a 60 yard drive, capped off by a 10 yard slant route touchdown pass from Mond to Jhamon Ausbon. After both offenses traded off multiple punts back and forth, Kellen Mond ripped off a 67 yard run through the heart of the Cowboys defense, giving A&M the lead for the first time all night. After forcing another punt, the A&M offense took a 9 play drive and kicked a 24 yard field goal with 2:52 left in the game to make it a 2 possession game. That FG would be the difference in the game as the A&M defense, for all the improvements they made in the 2nd half, gave up an Oklahoma State touchdown drive with a 1:04 left in the game. However, the onside kick attempt fell short and after A&M recovered and took a couple of knee downs, A&M completed the comeback and held onto to win the game and finish the season with an 8-5 record.

Player Notes:

Kellen Mond- failed to throw for a 100 yards but made up for it by leading the team in rushing with a 117 yards on the ground on 12 attempts, including a rushing touchdown.

Ainias Smith- it could be argued that once the freshman receiver found his way onto the field was the time that A&M found its spark on offense. While only pulling in 2 receptions, his explosive presence seemed to help kick start the previously anemic offense by being the other back, providing the explosive threat needed by A&M.

Chubba Hubbard- had another good night as he averaged 7.5 yards per run, with a total of 158 yards on 19 attempts. To A&M’s credit, the defense stopped him when they needed to and kept him out of the endzone. Oklahoma State fans eagerly wait on the redshirt sophomore’s decision to declare for the NFL Draft or not.

Braydon Johnson- had a very good night, averaging almost 25 yards a catch with 2 TDs and 124 reception yards, scorching the A&M secondary.  

What’s Next?

Oklahoma State- While not getting the result they wanted from last night, Coach Mike Gundy remains optimistic for the Cowboys’ future, with the return of sophomore receiver Braydon Johnson and the hopeful return of Hubbard.

Texas A&M- Finally got a win over a good team, ranked in the Top 25, and got to 8 wins. Texas A&M will look to build off this win in the offseason for a 2020 season that is much more forgiving, swapping out SEC East opponent Georgia for Vanderbilt and nonconference Clemson, for UNT. With another top 10 recruiting class, Jimbo Fisher looks to continue to rebuild and retool Texas A&M into an SEC & CFP contending team.

Top 10 of 2019: #4

by Jeremy Fernando, posted in 2019, Top 10

4. Rams vs. Saints blown call by officials in NFC Championship game.

Where were you when the referees didn’t throw their flags on one of the most blatant pass interference calls in NFL history during the 2019 NFC Championship game between the Saints and Rams? I, for one, was on my couch in College Station, TX watching Drew Brees lead the Saints offense down the field, and about ready to cash my Saints -3 and Saints NFC Champion tickets. Then, in a flash, a blown pass interference call forced the Saints to settle for a FG on the drive, leaving just enough time for Jared Goff to lead the Rams down the field to kick a FG of their own to force the game into overtime. 10 minutes later, Greg Zuerlein kicked a 57 yard FG in OT and the Rams were headed to Super Bowl 53.

Just how bad was the call? Well, just see for yourself.

Video by Fox

Analysts and fans around the country were up in arms over the ruling on the field. Saints head coach Sean Payton looked about ready to commit first-degree murder. And the Saints fans in the Super Dome looked like they were ready to storm the field in French Revolution style. In fact, there were several lawsuits that were filed against the NFL after the game. It was a call that would live in infamy.

Video by NFL
Video by WWLTV

The significance of the no call? First, obviously it cost the Saints the chance to play in Super Bowl 53. Secondly, NFL fans were  stripped of the opportunity to see a Brady v. Brees Super Bowl and instead were forced to sit in agony and watch one of the most boring Super Bowls in recent memory. Third and maybe most important to gamblers, the call cost bettors millions of dollars. Many had the Saints -3.5 and also had the Saints winning the NFC. It was a multi-million dollar blown call. One would think that after such an incredible mishap on one of the biggest stages in sports, the NFL would have found a substitute for officials. However, the 2019 NFL regular season has seen missed call after missed call from the men in stripes. Maybe a few more lawsuits from the fans down in New Orleans will help change that. A horrific blown call which cost the New Orleans Saints and Drew Brees a potential Super Bowl Ring is our 4th best sports moment of the year.

Video by TPS