Friday: Who's going to win the Masters?

Happy Friday everyone!

It’s that time of the year. Time for, “A Tradition Unlike Any Other.” The Masters have already started, and it’s a wide open field this year without Tiger Woods.

Who are the early favorites?

Well, let’s get to three players I think have a legitimate chance at the Green Jacket.

The Favorite

Adam Scott: Last year’s winner has gotten off to a hot start, finishing the first day a shot behind the leader Bill Haas. Scott is always the most consistent golfer in the field. It doesn’t matter what part of his game, he’s good at all of it. Putting especially. Which is why you can expect him to be in that final group on Sunday.

Just Behind

Rory McIlroy: McIlroy has struggled so far this season. He just can’t seem to find his rhythm. One day, he’ll shoot 5-under-par. The next, he’ll go 5-over. That’s not exactly going to win a lot of championships. But after the first round, he’s 1-under and near the top of the field. That’s a lot more solid than the majority of the players in the field. Look for McIlroy to make a run in the second round today, and at that Green Jacket.

My Pick

Louis Oosthuizen: The South African has been in position to wBubba Watson’s insane shot out of the trees? Yeah, Oosthuizen was the player he was in that playoff with. Oosthuizen seems to be the guy here to me. He’s already off to a solid start, trailing the leader by a stroke after day one. I think he’ll win this one in a playoff over Adam Scott.

in before. Remember

Things I missed

-Here's where you can keep track of the Masters. 

-Fascinating story about how to buy college football players. 

-Interesting column by Rick Reilly about Tiger dropping out of the Masters' field.  

Thanks for reading and have a great weekend!

Reach me at: award6344@gmail.com

Follow me on Twitter and Instagram: @_andrewward

Wednesday: My way-too-early Top 5 in college basketball

Happy Wednesday! It’s time for this week’s Top 5.

College basketball is done, but before you get all depressed, here’s a look at what next season’s going to be like.

This week’s topic: My way-too-early Top 5.

1.     Duke: The Blue Devils are always going to be in this conversation, but they look poised to win the national title next season. Stars Rodney Hood and Jabari Parker are likely heading to the NBA draft, though Parker seems to be taking a lot longer to decide this. Duke will return veteran guards Quinn Cook and Rasheed Sulaimon along with big man Amile Jefferson. The biggest difference though will be incoming freshman Jahil Okafor, the top-rated high school center in the country. Okafor will be the next freshman star, so expect him to do big things next season.

2.     Wisconsin: It’s not too often the Badgers are in the discussion for the top 5 this early, but they return almost everybody from a Final Four team. Ben Brust—the school’s all-time leading 3-point shooter—is gone to graduation. But if big men Frank Kaminsky and Sam Dekker decide to avoid the NBA draft for a season, watch out. With Nigel Hayes, Traevon Jackson and Bronson Koenig, the Badgers won’t just be favorites to win the Big Ten. They might just win it all.

3.     Arizona: Like Duke, the Wildcats are kind of waiting on players to decide whether they will declare for the NBA. And Arizona has a lot of those caliber of players. Nick Johnson—the Pac 12 Player of the Year—and Aaron Gordon will likely be lottery picks in the draft, but both have yet to make a decision. Even if both of them declare, Arizona would still be a threat to win it all in 2015. The frontcourt will be fantastic, led by Brandon Ashley and Kaleb Tarczewski. T.J. McConnell gives this team some leadership while coach Sean Miller brings in another solid recruiting class.

4.     Kansas: The Jayhawks always find ways to reload. Andrew Wiggins has already declared for the draft, while center Joel Embiid will likely do so today at 1 p.m. But Wayne Seldon and Perry Ellis return to a squad that lost in the second round of the NCAA tournament. Pair them alongside incoming freshmen Cliff Alexander and Kelly Oubre and the Jayhawks will be favorites (as usual) for another national title. If Embiid somehow decides to come back, this team will likely jump a few spots in this ranking.

5.     North Carolina: Yes, the Tar Heels lost forward James Michael McAdoo to the NBA. But this team is still full of talent, particularly at guard. And we all saw what happened with UConn when its guards excelled. Marcus Paige will lead the way alongside Brice Johnson and J.P. Tokoto. Incoming freshmen Justin Jackson and Theo Pinson will give Carolina some depth at forward as well. Watch out for Kennedy Meeks. He has the ability to have a breakout sophomore season.

Top Videos:

-LeBron James is blocked at the buzzer by Mason Plumlee.

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-Ryan Braun answered to some boos yesterday after jacking three homers. 

-Hank Aaron talks on the anniversary of his 715th home run. 

-Who is the favorite to win the Masters with Tiger out? Tournament starts tomorrow. 

Thanks for reading and have a great hump day!

Reach me at: award6344@gmail.com

Follow me on Twitter and Instagram: @_andrewward

Monday: David vs. Goliath play in national championship

It’s Championship Monday! The most entertaining March Madness of my lifetime has come to an end. And why wouldn’t it end with a 7-seed playing an 8-seed for the national title.

This one is literally a David vs. Goliath matchup.

Shabazz Napier (left) and Aaron Harrison, have each
been stars this NCAA Tournament. They face off
tonight with a national title on the line. 

There’s Connecticut—the 7-seed—who beat Florida by playing small ball. The Huskies took out their big men, who had been foul trouble throughout, to pick up the tempo of the game, using their quickness to out play the Gators. 

Then there’s Kentucky—the 8-seed—who starts five freshmen that will all play in the NBA. Oh, and they’re all over 6-foot-6 too. The Wildcats dominate the glass, ferociously attacking it from all angles. There will be lots of dunks tonight, just ask Wisconsin.

Kentucky seems to be the favorite, the sexy pick if you will. But then you have UConn, who’s beaten Florida twice this season, the same Florida team that knocked off the Wildcats not once, not twice, but THREE times.

The Huskies have the best backcourt in the country too, led by do-everything guard Shabazz Napier. Ryan Boatright is pretty darn good in his own right, just ask the Florida guards he hounded defensively Saturday night.

The Wildcats counter that backcourt with a stellar duo as well in the Harrison twins. We all know how good Aaron is in the clutch, but Andrew also has his moments of greatness, particularly when he’s driving and dishing.

And who’s he throwing the ball two?

Well, usually it’s going somewhere around the rim. Perhaps to the 7-footer Dakari Johnson, who uses his 265-pound frame to bully smaller defenders inside. Or it could be Marcus Lee, who always seems to dunk the ball at least a handful of times each game. Or he could give it to Julius Randle, the double-double machine that hasn’t been stopped this tournament.

How does UConn stop that?

It can’t probably, but then again it couldn’t stop Florida’s Patric Young either in the semifinal. UConn counters big teams with its quickness and ability to finish in transition.

That was the difference in Saturday’s game. That and DeAndre Daniels.

The Huskies still managed to outscore the Gators by 12 points in the paint despite the obvious size advantage for Florida. UConn might be a 3-point shooting team, but it still finds ways to get inside.

Daniels was brilliant once again, scoring 20 points and gathering 10 rebounds. He’ll have a tough matchup tonight going up against Randle. If UConn wants to win, Daniels needs to have yet another fantastic game.

Still, Kentucky just seems like the team of destiny this tournament. They’ve won the last three games on big time shots by Aaron Harrison.

It will take a lot for UConn to pull this one off, but it’s been one heck of a ride for the Huskies and I don’t see them backing down one bit.

This game will be another great one, as this has been a tournament for the ages.

Kentucky 75 UConn 73.

Hot Reads

-Phenonmenal story by a classmate on a Nebraska gymnast.

-Interesting comparison between Kentucky and Villanova, the last team to make it to the national championship game as an 8-seed. 

-Kevin Durant completed his 41st consecutive game of 25-plus points, passing Michael Jordan on the all-time list. 

-Finally, the Masters start this week. Here's a ranking of the 97 players in the field. 

Thanks for reading and enjoy the game tonight!

Reach me at: award6344@gmail.com

Follow me on Twitter and Instagram: @_andrewward

Friday: Who's going to advance to the NCAA national championship?

It’s Friday!

I’m back to college basketball today with my Final Four predictions. I’m going to breakdown each matchup and then tell you who I think will advance to the championship game.

So here we go.

No. 1 Florida vs. No. 7 Connecticut, 5:09 p.m. (CST), TBS

This is a rematch to an absolute thriller earlier this season. In fact, it was the last time Florida lost, when Shabazz Napier rebounded his own miss and hit a game-winning 10-footer. There are some extremely interesting matchups here.

1.     Napier vs. Scottie Wilbekin: In today’s game when it’s all about size and strength, it’s refreshing to watch the creativity these players have. No one in the country is as crafty at scoring thebasketball than Napier. He’ll cross you over. He’ll hit a three in your face. He’ll kick out his legs on an jumpshot to draw a foul. He’ll go under the hoop and flip in a layup. Napier has been the best player in this tournament so far, but he might meet his arch nemesis in Wilbekin Saturday night. The Florida senior leader has been brilliant in his own right for the Gators. He wills his team to victory, much like Napier. This matchup might not determine the outcome of the game, but crack open a beer and enjoy it.

2.     Florida’s defense vs. UConn’s defense: Both of these teams have played phenomenal defense in the      tournament, but in different ways. Florida suffocates you with its length and full court press. It just          wears teams down by the time the final buzzer sounds. UConn uses its defense to get out in                    transition more. The Huskies lead the tournament field in steals because of their quickness to the            ball. Florida gets on you, but UConn gets under you. It’ll be interesting to see what style wins.

3.     DeAndre Daniels vs. Dorian Finney-Smith: These players are the X factors for both teams, and both have been brilliant this tournament. Daniels put on a show against Iowa State in the Sweet 16 and then had another solid performance against Michigan State in the Elite Eight. Finney-Smith—the SEC Sixth Man of the Year—has also provided sparks for the Gators. He effects the game more defensively with his length rather than offensively. However, he can still put up points in bunches. The winner of this matchup might be the difference in the game.

Prediction: Florida is just too good defensively. Napier keeps UConn close, but the Gators move on. Florida 65 UConn 60.

No. 2 Wisconsin vs. No. 8 Kentucky, 30 minutes following first game, TBS

An intriguing matchup of differing styles here. The Badgers are all about efficiency on both ends of the floor, while Kentucky just overpowers teams with it’s size and athleticism. Here are some key matchups.

1.     Frank Kaminsky vs. the Kentucky frontcourt: No one has been able to slow down Kaminsky in this tournament. Not even the massive frontcourt of Arizona, which probably has three first round NBA draft picks. The Wildcats boast the same kind of talent up front, but how do you stop Kaminsky? At 7-feet, he can dribble around bigger defenders, he can shoot over the top of smaller ones and is about as crafty as it comes in the low post. Look for Kaminsky to be doubled every time he touches the ball, but that might not work either. He’s good at passing too.

2.     Julius Randle vs. the Wisconsin frontcourt: Other than Napier, I don’t think there’s been a player in the tournament that’s impressed me more than Randle. His maturity has grown immensely during this run. Add that to his freakish athleticism, you’re looking at a damn good player. He’s so aggressive on the glass that it’s impossible to stop him sometimes. Look for Wisconsin to throw multiple defenders at him, including freshman Nigel Hayes and sophomore Sam Dekker. Kaminsky might get a shot at him too later in the game if foul trouble isn’t an issue. There will be some grown men playing basketball in Dallas Saturday night that’s for sure.

3.     Wisconsin backcourt vs. Kentucky backcourt: All right, enough talk about the big men. What about those guards? Wisconsin’s guards haven’t been great this tournament, but they are always reliable when it counts. And boy, can all of them shoot the basketball. Kentucky’s length will come in handy while trying to stop that 3-point shooting. The Harrison twins have been playing lights-out basketball, and James Young has been spectacular as well. I’ve often underestimated the Badger backcourt, but Kentucky seems to have the edge here.

Prediction: Kentucky has been playing the best basketball in the tournament of any team, but I just have a hunch here about Wisconsin. The Badgers always seem to play better when they are the underdog and no one seems to be giving them a chance. Bo Ryan advances. Wisconsin 78 Kentucky 75.

Things I missed:

-More Final Four predictions here.

-Doug McDermott and Gregg Marshall took home AP honors yesterday. 

-Interesting story about an NFL cheerleader.

Thanks for reading and have a great weekend!

Reach me at: award6344@gmail.com

Follow me on Twitter and Instagram: @_andrewward

Wednesday: Top 5 moves in NFL free agency

It’s Wednesday and time for this week’s Top 5.

I’m going to stray away from college basketball today in light of another big signing in the NFL last night. I know, it’s been a while since I’ve talked about anything but college basketball, but other news is starting to pick up.

So this week’s topic: Top 5 moves in NFL free agency.

1.     DeMarcus Ware, from Dallas to Denver: When teams play the Broncos, they are most likely passing a lot because they have to play from behind so often. This is why a pass rusher is so vital to Denver right now, especially when Von Miller can’t seem to stay healthy or pass a drug test any more. Ware is still a viable threat to take down the quarterback every play, even though he’s almost 32 years old. He managed 6 sacks last season, despite missing three games due to injury. And those were the first games he’s ever missed as an NFL player. Look for Ware to make an immediate impact for the Broncos.  

2.     DeSean Jackson, from Philadelphia to Washington: This one might surprise you, but I love this pick up for the Redskins. Robert Griffin III doesn’t have any deep threat receivers. Pierre Garcon and Santana Moss are both solid receivers, but are getting up there in age. Jackson, even with the locker room baggage he carries, will make an instant impact for the Redskins. RGIII has always been able to throw a pretty deep ball and that threat might open up some running lanes for him as well. 

3.     Aquib Talib, from New England to Denver: Like I said earlier, whoever plays Denver better be prepared to pass the ball because you’re going to be down. Talib is another great pick up for the Broncos, especially since Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie signed with the Giants. Talib is an upgrade from Rodgers-Cromartie though, and will likely take the opposing team's best receiver. He will also bring some swagger back to a defense that got destroyed in the Super Bowl.

4.     Jared Allen, from Minnesota to Chicago: Allen is one of the best pass rushers to play the game and deserved to be signed by a contender. The Bears aren’t that far away from being a legitimate Super Bowl threat, and this signing makes them that much closer. Out is Julius Peppers, who’s contract and inability to stay healthy became a burden for Chicago. In is Allen, who has had seven straight seasons of double digits sacks. A fantastic move for the Bears.

5.     Knowshon Moreno, from Denver to Miami: This move was the quietest on this list and I thought it warranted a little more excitement. The Dolphins are another team that isn’t that far off either. They have a great defense and a rising star at quarterback in Ryan Tannehill. They weren’t getting anywhere in the run game with Daniel Thomas, so Moreno makes perfect sense to me. Many don’t realize how good Moreno was last season, rushing for almost 1,000 yards and seven touchdowns in a pass-heavy offense. He’ll make an impact for Miami. If he doesn’t, expect this:

 Top Videos:

-Steph Curry hits another game winner to help the Warriors knock off the Mavericks last night. 

-Tiger Woods will have to wait another year to get that Green Jacket again. 

-The NCAA women's Final Four is set after Stanford and Maryland won last night. 

Thanks for reading and have a great day!

Reach me at: award6344@gmail.com           

Follow me on Twitter and Instagram: @_andrewward

Monday: SEC teams seem poised to win the national title

Happy Monday everyone!

Only four of 68 remain after another brilliant weekend of college basketball.

We have a one-seed (Florida), a two-seed (Wisconsin), a seven-seed (Connectitcut) and an eight-seed (Kentucky) remaining. 

This was about as shocking an Elite Eight I’ve seen in a while. Probably since Butler and VCU won their respective regions. I know that matchup wasn’t that long ago, but who wants a boring Final Four with all top seeds?

The NCAA tournament has always been about upsets and what title favorites can survive them. I don't want a predictable Final Four. Give me some new blood and high seeds. I mean who saw these four teams making the final weekend? 

And which team are you going to pick to win it all now?

Florida seems destined for a national title after surgically removing Dayton in the Elite Eight. The Gators are the clear favorite entering Saturday’s matchups, led by four seniors.

Scottie Wilbekin is incredible at point guard, but it’s the versatility of Florida’s frontcourt that makes it something special. Patric Young, Will Yeguette and Dorian Finney-Smith all can guard multiple positions on the floor and are crucial to the Gators’ full court press.

Flordia might be the favorite, but its rival from the SEC is a close second. Very close second.

Kentucky has played in three of the best games of the tournament, and each one impressed me. The Wildcats have matured more than any other John Calipari coached team I’ve seen in recent years. That includes the team that won the tournament in 2012.

There were seniors and other upperclassmen on that squad. This year’s Kentucky team only plays freshmen. Seven of them! 

Alex Poythress is the only sophomore that sees any playing time, yet this team plays with a maturity beyond its years. The Wildcats wore down their opponents, and imposed their will at the end of games. And it wasn't like they were playing cupcakes either. They had to beat a nine-seed, a one-seed, a four-seed and a two-seed just to get to the final weekend. Are you kidding me? 

Kentucky is playing like the best team in the country right now, as was predicted at the beginning of the year.

The SEC seems to have the upper hand in this year’s Final Four, but what about the other teams?

Wisconsin makes its first trip to the Final Four since 2000, and the first trip for coach Bo Ryan. The Badgers are led by a goofy looking 7-footer in Frank Kaminsky, who can somehow score in as many ways as Doug McDermott. OK, slight exaggeration, but the guy has become a stud this season. 

Wisconsin can also shoot with the best of them, as every player on the floor will be able to hit a three consistently except for freshman Nigel Hayes, who is dangerous in other ways.

This team is the complete opposite of its Final Four opponent, Kentucky. It is filled with nerdy seniors, trying to win a national title before taking on the world in other ways. There is no hope of an NBA career for almost all of Wisconsin's players. It will be an intriguing matchup to say the least. 

On the other side of the bracket, Connecticut returns to the Final Four, but this time with second-year head coach Kevin Ollie. The Huskies are led by do-everything point guard Shabazz Napier, who is searching for his second national title.

Napier is the man, but other players have stepped up this tournament. Ryan Boatright consistently scores in double digits and is excellent from the free throw line while forward DeAndre Daniels has become a star this tournament.

It will be an interesting matchup for Florida as will the Wisconsin-Kentucky game.

I have no idea what to expect in this year’s Final Four, but I can’t wait for it.

March may be almost over, but Madness is still here.

Hot Reads

-Twenty observations from the second weekend of the NCAA tournament by none other than Mark Titus.

-It's opening day in the MLB. Find out when your team is playing. Also, the Padres took down the Dodgers for the first night game of the season last night. 

-This is usually a football question, but can anyone keep the SEC from a national title? 

That's all I got. Thanks for reading and have a great start to your week!  

Reach me at: award6344@gmail.com  

Follow me on Twitter and Instagram: @_andrewward

Thursday: It's time for some Sweet 16 predictions

The wait is over! It’s Thursday, and time for those Sweet 16 games!

Lets get to those predictions, region by region.

South, Thursday

No. 10 Stanford vs. No. 11 Dayton, 6:15 p.m. (CST), CBS: These are the two teams I know the littlest about. But I watched each play both of their games and both are excellent squads. Stanford boasts a strong frontcourt, led by Dwight Powell. Dayton plays strong defense with timely shooting. I like the Flyers in this one. They came up clutch against both Ohio State and Syracuse. This one will be close, but Dayton prevails. 

Dayton 60 Stanford 59.

No. 1 Florida vs. No. 4 UCLA, 30 minutes after game 1, CBS: Here’s a battle of different styles. Florida lives for the half court, where its suffocating defense wears opponents down. UCLA, on the other hand, likes to get out in transition and score quickly in its set offense. The Bruins will need to be patient and efficient on offense if they want to stick with the top-seeded Gators. I don’t think they can. 

Florida 70 UCLA 61.

West, Thursday

No. 6 Baylor vs. No. 2 Wisconsin, 6:47 p.m., TBS: This one will be interesting. Both teams like to score, as both put up big numbers in the round of 32. Baylor has size that will give the Badgers fits with Cory Jefferson and Isaiah Austin. Wisconsin has shooters at every position, making them extremely difficult to guard. However, Baylor wins this one because of its length and athleticism. It’s just a bad matchup for the Badgers. 

Baylor 75 Wisconsin 70.

No. 1 Arizona vs. No. 4 San Diego State, 30 minutes after game 1, TBS: This is a rematch of earlier this year, when Arizona took down the Aztecs in the second game of the year. The Wildcats have been playing fantastic basketball, while SDSU struggled with New Mexico State and North Dakota State in the first two rounds. However, the Aztecs will give Arizona all it can handle with their half court defense. Wildcats win, but it won’t be easy. 

Arizona 62 San Diego State 57.

Midwest, Friday

No. 11 Tennessee vs. No. 2 Michigan, 6:15 p.m., CBS: You want athleticism, tune into this one Friday night. Tennessee has plenty of it, led by Josh Richardson and Jordan McRae. Michigan is led by Glenn Robinson III and Nik Stauskas and can score with anyone in the country. I like Tennessee in this one though. The Volunteers are playing great basketball and beat their last two opponents by an average of 17 points. Michigan can score, but Tennessee shuts it down. 

Tennessee 68 Michigan 62.

No. 4 Louisville vs. Kentucky, 30 minutes after game 1, CBS: This is the one everyone is talking about. The rivalry game. The rematch. Rick Pitino vs. John Calipari. Kentucky is finally playing well and Louisville struggled in each of its first two games, so the logical choice would be the Wildcats. But, I picked the Cardinals to go to the Final Four and I’m sticking with them. 

Louisville 78 Kentucky 75.

East, Friday

No. 7 Connecticut vs. No. 3 Iowa State, 6:27 p.m., TBS: Here’s another dream matchup, Shabazz Napier vs. Deandre Kane. Other than Florida’s Scottie Wilbekin, these are the two best point guards remaining in this tournament. Both have hit clutch shots this tourney and both will make big plays Friday. Kane has the better supporting cast though, and Iowa State wins this one in an epic battle. 

Iowa State 80 Connecticut 78.

No. 1 Virginia vs. No. 4 Michigan State, 30 minutes after game 1, TBS: This one will be a bloodbath. Both teams play brutal defense and rebound extremely well. Offensively, both squads are as efficient as they come. Virginia is led by Joe Harris, who’s playmaking abilities are unrivaled. However, Michigan State has too many weapons for Virginia’s defense to stop and Adreian Payne will give the Caviliers too many problems inside. 

Michigan State 67 Virginia 63.

Things I Missed

-Rick Reilly writes about Sean and Archie Miller’s run to the Sweet 16.

-Tennessee’s Cuanzo Martin has been criticized for many years, but he’s finally making a difference.

-Northwestern football players take one step closer to being allowed to unionize. 

Thanks for reading and enjoy the games tonight!

Reach me at: award6344@gmail.com

Follow me on Twitter and Instagram: @_andrewward