With all the attention surrounding the revamped Miami Heat, the struggling Boston Celtics and the resurgence of the Chicago Bulls not many people have given much credit to the Orlando Magic this season. Not only have the Magic flown under the radar this season, but they have gotten arguably the best season out of their All-Star center in Dwight Howard. Continue Reading…

One of things that the NBA lacks these days is dominant big men as the days of Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, David Robinson and that Shaquille O’Neal in his prime are officially over. Even though there are some promising big man prospects in the game today like Andrew Bynum of the two-time defending NBA champion Los Angeles Lakers and Kendrick Perkins of the Oklahoma City Thunder, there is only one player in the league today that actually embodies the kind of dominance of the old-school big man. Continue Reading…

UConn Huskies (3) vs. Butler Bulldogs (8) Mon. April 4, 2011 9:23 p.m. EST

The 2011 NCAA Tournament has been a thrilling roller coaster ride once again this season in college basketball, but now the tourney has come down to just two teams as the underdog Butler Bulldogs (8) are set to take on Kemba Walker and the UConn Huskies (3) in the NCAA National Championship game in Houston, Texas. Continue Reading…

Coming into the Final Four, no team had more pressure to win or step it up on the biggest stage in college basketball than Jim Calhoun’s UConn Huskies (3). Even though they were the slight underdogs against John Calipari’s Kentucky Wildcats, Kemba Walker came into Houston, Texas as if they were professionals with all the confidence in the world.

Despite a rocky first half by both teams in which there were sloppy turnovers and a lot of missed jumpers, the Wildcats and the Huskies started to get back on track in the second half and prove why they both belonged in the Final Four.

There was no question that all eyes were on Player of the Year candidate Kemba Walker to step it up yet again in this Final Four matchup with the Kentucky Wildcats on Saturday night, but even though he didn’t have his best game of the 2011 NCAA Tournament, the dynamic guard was able to do just enough to lead his team to victory once again with 18 points and seven assists in this uncharacteristic lower scoring affair.

Walker did have trouble shooting the basketball over double teams and much bigger defenders as he went just 6 for 15 from the floor, but with the Kentucky defense concentrating on stopping UConn’s leading scorer, Jeremy Lamb was able to have another big game with 12 points and nine rebounds.

Ultimately, the UConn Huskies (3) were a little too much for the Kentucky Wildcats to handle on Saturday night in Houston, Texas as Jim Calhoun’s squad were able to hold off the comeback and get the win 56-55 in the closing seconds.

Even though this won’t go down as the best game of the 2011 NCAA Tournament by any means, this game was entertaining and a true test for UConn (3) as they will now face off against Butler (8) in the National Championship game on Monday night.

Kentucky Wildcats (4) vs. UConn Huskies (2) Sat. April 2, 2011 8:49 p.m. EST

As arguably the most anticipated match up in the Final Four, the UConn Huskies (3) will go head-to-head against the Kentucky Wildcats (4) for chance to advance to the national championship game and be crowned NCAA champions. This is one of those scenarios in which most people would love to see these two meet in the national championship game, but unfortunately that’s not the case as only one can advance. Continue Reading…

The 2011 NCAA tournament is down to just four teams or what is better known as the Final Four. Even though there are two storied college basketball programs coming into the Final Four in the UConn Huskies (3) and the Kentucky Wildcats (4), there are two other college basketball programs that are in unfamiliar territory coming into one of the final stages of the NCAA Tournament in the Butler Bulldogs (8) and the VCU Rams (11).

The VCU Rams (11) are without a doubt this season Cinderella story and have played some very impressive basketball it to this point and pulled off upset after upset after upset, but what is perhaps more surprising is the fact that the Butler Bulldogs (8) have been able to defy the odds for a second straight season and reach the Final Four in two consecutive years.

Last season the Butler Bulldogs (8) were the VCU Rams (11) of the 2010 NCAA tournament as no one expected them to do much of anything during March Madness as they were a long shot just to win even one game. Despite getting the underdog tag immediately out of the gate, the Butler Bulldogs (8) were able to reach the Final Four and then the national championship game against the eventual NCAA champion Duke blue Devils.

This season many more people were aware of the Butler Bulldogs (8) potential to pull off upsets and go deep in the 2011 NCAA Tournament, but no one expected them to reach the Final Four for second straight year and now they’ve done just that as there were able to beat the Pittsburgh Panthers and the Florida Gators in consecutive games in order to advance to the final four.

Whether or not the Butler Bulldogs (8) can get it done once again against a very motivated and inspired VCU Rams squad in the final four remains to be seen, but it will be interesting when these two underdogs go head-to-head for chance at a national championship appearance.

VCU Rams (11) vs. Kansas Jayhawks (1) Sun. March 27, 2011 2:20 p.m. EST

Coming into the 2011 NCAA Tournament, the Kansas Jayhawks (1) were using last season’s upset to Northern Iowa in the second round to motivate this team to go the distance in the Big Dance. With a number one seed in the Southwest Region, the Kansas Jayhawks (1) were the team to beat within their region once again, but this time the competition was weaker than in any other region as it could be argued the Jayhawks have had the easiest path of high seed in the tournament. Continue Reading…

Elite Eight: Butler Bulldogs (8) vs. Florida Gators (2) Sat. March 26, 2011 4:30 p.m. EST

The Florida Gators (2) came into the 2011 NCAA Tournament flying relatively under the radar as they were able to snag the second seed in the Southwest Region. With Jimmer Fredette and the BYU Cougars (3) getting all the attention, head coach Billy Donovan was able to motivate his boys and lead them to the Elite Eight with an impressive win over the Cougars. Continue Reading…

Sweet 16: Ohio State Buckeyes (1) vs. Kentucky Wildcats (4) Fri. March 25, 2011 9:45 p.m. EST

As perhaps one of the most anticipated matchups of the Sweet 16, Jared Sullinger and the top seeded Ohio State Buckeyes (1) will take on John Calipari’s Kentucky Wildcats (4) for a chance to advance to the Elite 8 and face either the North Carolina Tar Heels (2) or the Marquette Golden Eagles (11). Continue Reading…

Sweet 16: VCU Rams (11) vs. Florida State Seminoles (10) Fri. March 25, 2011 9:57 p.m. EST

The 2011 NCAA Tournament is down to just 16 teams or what it is better known as the Sweet 16. Even though there are still quite a few high seeds left in March Madness like Ohio State Buckeyes (1), Duke Blue Devils (1), Kansas Jayhawks (1), BYU Cougars (3) and UConn Huskies (3), there are two Cinderella stories brewing as the VCU Rams (11) and the Florida State Seminoles (10) are still alive and ready to shock the country by advancing to the Elite 8. Continue Reading…