Hoop Mania

This is the first in a series of about 4 posts dedicated to the history of college basketball.  As we prepare for the NCAA tournament, and as conference realignment threatens the very bastion of some of the most bitter basketball rivalries.   To celebrate the former and to reminisce on the latter, I am putting together teams from all of the major conferences:  the ACC, Big East, Big 10, Big 12, Pac 10 and SEC, as well two at-large teams comprised of the best of the rest, formed from teams in the east and the west.  This should open up lots of debate over whom should have/should have not been picked for each team, as well as which conference has the best team.

Given the recent realignments, sometimes which conferences teams - and their resulting players - are assigned to which conference is based simply on my whim.  For example, Missouri is not in the SEC, but Boston College is in the.  No real logic necessarily, just where I felt I wanted to place the school.

Instead of simply choosing which players I think are the best (although that is a major component), I tried to select an actual team.  To begin, I am selecting 14 players for each team.  Why 14 - because.  I will be picking teams in three sections:  the starters; the rotation players; and the bench.  The starters for each league are basically the best 5, although there is some component of position in my selections.  The rotation players, which are the next 4, would form the rotation of the team for most games.  The rotations are comprised of a point guard, a wing, a big and a fourth player.  The bench section will be composed of 5 players, comprised generally of a ball handler, shooter, defensive stopper, rebounder and a miscellaneous player - regardless of position.  Sometimes one player can fill more than one need, leaving the general manager, i.e. me, to have more flexibility in selecting the other players.

In determining which players belonged, I consulted simply myself.  I took into account the players entire basketball careers, including their NBA careers, but also gave great weight to their college exploits as well.  I am basically looking for the best players, not just the best college players, for the teams.  In most cases, some really talented players were left off, and some players are just too new to truly be considered.  This collection of teams, like all teams, could be very different in 10 years.

With all of that in mind, today's post is the all time teams from the ACC and the SEC.  Let the debates begin.

ACC

Starters

PG - Chris Paul, Wake Forest
SG - Michael Jordan, North Carolina
SF - David Thompson, North Carolina State
PF - Tim Duncan, Wake Forest
C - Ralph Sampson, Virginia

Most of these are no-brainers.  I included Duncan as a PF because that is where he played most of his NBA career.  David Thompson starting over Worthy and Hill was probably the closest decision, but I imagine both will end up on this team.

Rotation

PG - Kenny Anderson, Georgia Tech
Wing - James Worthy, North Carolina
Big - Chris Bosh, Georgia Tech
Misc - Len Bias, Maryland

Bias never had an NBA career, but he was a beast.  Bosh has proven that he can play, and succeed, with other great players.  Who better to sub for Paul than Kenny Anderson?

Bench

Ball Handler - Nate McMillan, North Carolina State (also doubles as defensive player)
Shooter - Dennis Scott, Georgia Tech
Rebounder - Horace Grant, Clemson
Misc - Grant Hill, Duke
Misc - Christian Laettner, Duke

Nate McMillan is one of those glue guys, that each team needs.  Dennis Scott could always shoot.  Laettner is one of the three or four best college players ever.  Grant was always a workhouse rebounder, and Hill should need no explanation.

So there you have it, your Atlantic Coast Conference team.  Those that merited serious consideration, Stephon Marbury, Mark Price, Rick Barry, Vince Cater and Tree Rollins.  Rollins was made unnecessary by the fact that Duncan can play center, and with Bosh, Bias and Grant on the team, rebounding would not suffer if the team went "small".  My biggest surprises?  Only two Tar Heels and two Blue Devils and Wake Forest having two starters.

SEC

Starters

PG - Pete Maravich, LSU
SG - Allen Houston, Tennessee
SF - Bernard King, Tennessee
PF - Charles Barkley, Auburn
C - Shaquille O'Neal, LSU

A much stronger starting lineup than I originally anticipated.  A little offensive oriented, but Barkley and Houston were better at defense than normally given credit for, and Shaq could always be the shot blocking presence in the middle.  I originally though that Dominique would be starting, but Bernard King is just too good.  I almost had three LSU starters, but I felt that Houston's three-point shooting earns him the nod.

Rotation

PG - Chris Jackson/Mahmoud Abdul-Rauf, LSU
Wing - Dominique Wilkins, Georgia
Big - Anthony Davis, Kentucky
Other - Jamal Mashburn, Kentucky

Anthony Davis may be the most controversial choice, but he had one of the best freshman seasons ever in leading the team to the title, plus the shot-blocking is a rare skill that every team needs.  People forget just how good Mashburn was in college (he led a bunch of "nobodies" into the Elite Eight against Duke, and his NBA numbers were fantastic.

Bench

Ball Handler - Rajon Rondo, Kentucky
Defensive Stopper - Alvin Robertson, Arkansas
Shooter - Dale Ellis, Tennessee
Rebounder - Joakim Noah, Florida
Misc - Alex English, South Carolina

Rondo could end up starting on this team by the time his career is over.  I am not sure you can name three shooters better than Dale Ellis, and Alex English is one of the most all-time underrated players.  Noah is really coming into his own, on both ends of the court and Robertson is one of the all-time best on-the-ball defenders.

Here is your all Southeastern Conference team.  Those that merited serious consideration included John Wall (too small a sample size), Rex Chapman, Dan Issel, Robert Horry (almost took the miscellaneous spot from Alex just because of his big shot ability), Tayshaun Prince, Sydney Moncrief, Bob Petit, and Jeff Malone (just for his shooting ability).  Tony Delk should have made it just to piss off Sinickal.

Next post - Big East and Big 10.

The Trouble with Te'o

This is meant to be the definitive word on the Manti Te'o story.  But, since lots and lots of people have pretty much said all there is to say, I have nothing really more to add.  So this is simply just a collection of some of the best, and funniest comments I have seen on television, heard on radio, or read on twitter and facebook.  Wherever possible, attribution is included (and wherever I can read the name in my notes).  After this, I swear I will not make any more comments regarding Te'o and his fake girlfriend, at least until the draft.

The Manti Te'o Story:  The first story that even Twitter couldn't keep up with. - Darren Rovell

Te'o sounds like the kind of guy who would send his life savings to a well-connected Nigerian banker in trouble. - Sam Stein

Reminding today's youth that someone who you have never met can never, ever be called your girlfriend. - Darren Rovell

Hey [to girlfriend], do you pinky promise that you're real? - Logan Morrison

These Te'o jokes are all very funny, but let's all try and remember that a person who never existed is dead. - Seth Meyers

Weird how the Notre Dame statement didn't mention the hoax of them being in the national championship game. - Name illegible in my notes

Lance Armstrong said "I've never tested positive for a fake girlfriend". - Author Unknown

This gives new meaning to the term "fantasy football". - Conan O'Brien

I don't see the big deal, pretty much every guy I know has a fake girlfriend. - Jason Dufner

According to Kevin Garnett, Manti Te'o's ex-girlfriend smells like Frosted Flakes. - Jason Whitlock

Deadspin reports that ND LB Manti Te'o's girlfriend's death was a hoax cuz she never existed!  Neither did ND's defense! - DL Hughley

Boston College is one Catholic institution whose Linebackers don't need to make up a dead girlfriend to gain sympathy. - I don't remember.

I once had a fake girlfriend.  She was really hot. - Jason Dufner

I'm pretty sure if I was a 21 year old star football player at Notre Dame I wouldn't be dating someone online.  I'd probably also have 8 kids. - Logan Morrison

A.J. McCarron's girlfriend is real and spectacular.  - Paraphrasing Brent Musberger

I wonder if Te'o's facebook relationship status is now listed as "it's complicated" - Eric Erickson

Happy Hour - Imaginary Girlfriends Drink Free #lennaykukocktails - Samantha Steele

I wish Te'o was dating Nicki Minaj and her dumbass wasn't real. - Red Forman (Twitter Handle)

Manti Te'o, thank you for taking single problems to a whole 'nother level. - Melissa Montes


And that's all folks.

Nevermore

Just to get my pics on record.

San Francisco 49ers to win.  Baltimore Ravens to cover.  Under.

Why?  Let me tell you.

First, San Francisco 49ers' vaunted defense has been relatively pedestrian lately.  Aldon Smith, he of the 19 sacks, has only had one since Justin Smith got hurt.  If Justin Smith isn't effective, San Fran might have trouble getting to the quarterback.  If Flacco has time, either Torrey Smith or Anquan Boldin could get open deep, or Dennis Pitta can run away from Willis or Bowman when they are back in coverage.

That being said, I think that San Francisco is overall too talented. and I think they will move the ball on Baltimore.  There are three reasons that Ray Lews leads the NFL in tackles this postseason:  1.  He is playing great; 2.  The Ravens defense has not gotten off the field early in drives, meaning opposing offenses have been taking a lot of snaps; and 3.  Running backs have been getting passed the Ravens defensive line and Lewis's tackles are occuring 5 to 7 yards from the line of scrimmage.

Given the stats above, and with all of the talk about whether or not the Ravens can contain Kapernick, I think Frank Gore could have a great game.

For San Francisco's sake, I do hope it does not come down to a late field goal for Akers.  This has not been his year.

Ruing a Raven

Let me get my Super Bowl pick out of the way.

49ers -3.5/Under 47.5

And now, the rest of this post...

So, this is a story about religion, the media and the assumption of fairness in competition. If you know me, and don't read this carefully, you might think it is about murder, cheating, and paternity and civil suits. Funny how sports can get us here, right?

Look, sports is filled with athletes we love, athletes we despise, and athletes we could care less about. And there are many reasons for why each of these is true. I point to such things as style of play, attitude during competition, or off the field topics. The athletes that I currently love include Kevin Durant, Bryce Harper, Ed Reed, Julio Jones and Derek Jeter. Athletes that I currently despise include Alex Rodriguez, Jay Cutler, Dwight Howard and Darrelle Revis. I could explain why, but it isn't important to this story.

This story is about Ray Lewis. I despise him.

I should make sure that you understand that I believe Ray Lewis is the Greatest inside linebacker that I have seen play in my lifetime. A first ballot Hall Of Famer and the poster for inside linebacker play if you are teaching. Seventeen years of brilliance at the position. And yet, I still don't care for him.

Why? The answer is simple. I don't think that he is all that great a human being and, for me, that means something. Consider the following:

1. Is Ray Lewis a murderer? Of course not. Or, at least I don't belIeve so. But his conviction for obstruction of justice can only lead one to believe that we don't know the full story of what happened in Atlanta, and that he does know significantly more than he testified to. The facts in that case are frightening given the actual punishment handed out. Don't believe me, or remember the case? Read this. Don't forget, he also settled two civil suits out of court with confidentiality agreements.

2. Is Ray Lewis a bad father? Probably not, but I don't really know. What I do know is that he has 6 children by 4 women. That's not good in any culture or religion. In 2000, while partying in Atlanta, he wasn't with his pregnant fiancé, he was escorting another woman around all week. Is that what a role model and a self professed man of God looks like to you?

3. Is Ray Lewis using PEDs? Not sure. But does this pass the smell test? At 37 years old, Ray Lewis recovered from a torn bicep muscle in approximately 2 months. In ALL of athletics, the standard for this type of injury is 6-8 months! By the way, that 37 year old man is currently the leading tackler in the playoffs. I don't care how much you believe in God, do you REALLY believe this? We now know that there are accusations, and we will likely never know what is true, but this just doesn't feel good.

None of this moves me from my position that he is a phenomenal football player. What truly bothers me with this is the self proclaimed prophet status that Lewis has bestowed on himself, and the irrational love affair people seem to have? with this "great" man. And this last ride is horrifying!

Really?

Does Ray Lewis always dance...in front of a camera?
And always mug...in front a camera?
And always caress his owner...in front of a camera?
And always manipulate scripture...in front of a camera?

The media fascination is ridiculous right now, and it is reminiscent of the coverage of Tim Tebow and Jeremy Lin. Of course, as far as we know, neither of them had to hastily dispose of all the clothes they were wearing after a night on the town.

I get that Lewis is a story in this, his last season. I despise him and I always have because I don't think he is real with fans. He is absolutely a leader of men and an athlete that others seek out for leadership. What he is not, is a good and honest person to those fans who look up to him and that should matter a little.

Te'o Pod

So, as some of the details of the Manti Te'o - Lennay Kekua relationship have come to light, I wanted to get some information first-hand.  I traveled across the state to Bradenton, where Te'o is training for the NFL combine, to see if he would speak to me first hand.  Having no idea who I am, Te'o refused the interview.  But in doing so, he hastily dropped his iPod, which I, of course, found it to be my duty to review.  He happened to have a mix named "Lennay Kekua".  And it consists of these 15 songs:

15.  Missing You - John Waite

14.  Finlandia - Sibelius

13.  Have You Seen Her - Chi-Lites

12.  Brown-Eyed Girl - Van Morrison

11.  Computer Love - Zapp and Roger

10.  C'Mon Babe - 2 Live Crew

9.  Dude Looks Like a Lady - Aerosmith

8.  Digital Display - Ready for the World

7.  Have You Seen Her - Donnel Jones

6.  Country Roads - John Denver

5.  Suspicious Minds - Elvis Presley

4.  Have You Seen Her - MC Hammer

3.  Just My Imagination - The Temptations

2.  I Knew I Loved You Before I Met You - Savage Garden

1.  Imaginary Lover - Atlanta Rhythm Section

So there you have it - definitive proof that Te'o knew something was suspicious about the Kekua situation.  Either that, or he has really eclectic musical tastes.

All-Professional Footballers

As we approach the NFL Final Four, and on the heels of naming my collegiate Pepster All-Americans, it is time to name the best professional footballers of this NFL season.  This is my reflection of the best players from throughout the NFL.  It is simply who I thought played the best this year.  Although there are more than 11 offensive and defensive players listed, the team is selected to account for the various offenses and defenses used around the country (trip receivers, spread, 3-4, 4-3, etc.). I also choose some backups to account for different styles of players. I chose to explain my picks in some instances, and not in others. Why? Because I feel like it. Now here are the Pepster 2012 All-Pros.


Offense

QB - Aaron Rodgers, Green Bay Packers; Tom Brady, New England Patriots - Controversy out of the gate as no Peyton Manning and none of the "young guns".  Don't worry RGIII, you will have plenty of time to make this list if you stay healthy, and Luck and Wilson look like future staples.  As far as no Manning, Rodgers and Brady just looked much more in control of games, against much stiffer competition than the AFC West this year.  Rodgers was first in QB rating, and Brady's Patriots led the league in scoring.

RB - Adrian Peterson, Minnesota Vikings; Marshawn Lynch, Seattle Seahawks; Alfred Morris, Washington Redskins - No explanation should be necessary, nor will be forthcoming.

WR - Calvin Johnson, Detroit Lions; Brandon Marshall, Chicago Bears; Andre Johnson, Houston Texans; Wes Welker, New England Patriots - C. Johnson with a single season record 1,964 yards and 122 receptions and Marshall with an often electrifying 118 catches, for 1,508 yards and 11 TDs.  Johnson and Welker with equally spectacular seasons, although 118 catches for Welker can be described as ho-hum.  Remember all of the "where is Wes Welker in the playbook" discussions the first quarter of the season?

TE - Tony Gonzalez, Atlanta Hawks; Jason Witten, Dallas Cowboys - Two of the all-time greats.

T - Ryan Clady, Denver Broncos; Joe Staley San Francisco 49ers; Joe Thomas, Cleveland Browns - Clady and Staley are nasty.  Staley's performance with one hand against Matthews was phenomenal.

G - Mike Iupati, San Francisco 49ers; Marshal Yanda, Baltimore Ravens;  Logan Mankins, New England Patriots - Iupati, in my opinion, is the best offensive lineman in the game.  Yanda always seems to control his guy.  Mankins because the highest scoring offense has to get some line credit, and he is the best on that team.

C - Mike Pouncey, Miami Dolphins; Maurkice Pouncey, Pittsburgh Steelers - Mike doesn't get much credit yet because of his team.  When I asked Mike who should back him up on this team, he responded, "My brother Maurkice, calling up the freaks"!

Defense

DE - J.J Watt, Houston Texans; Julius Peppers, Chicago Bears; Cameron Wake - No discussion necessary.

DT - Vince Wilfork, New England Patriots; Justin Smith, San Francisco 49ers; Haloti Ngata - Again, no discussion necessary, but I will say that Wilfork, Watt and Charles Tillman should be the only 3 vote getters for defensive player of the year.

OLB - Aldon Smith, San Francisco 49ers; Von Miller, Denver Broncos; Chad Greenway, Minnesota Vikings - Smith and Miller are game changing defensive players.  Greenway led all outside backers in tackles.

ILB - Patrick Willis, San Francisco 49ers; NaVorro Bowman, San Francisco 49ers; Luke Kuechly, Carolina Panthers; London Fletcher, Washington Redskins; Jerod Mayo, New England Patriots - The Niners picks are no brainers, Kuechly led the league in tackles, and Fletcher has been good for a long, long, long time!!!

CB - Charles Tillman, Chicago Bears; Richard Sherman, Seattle Seahawks; Tim Jennings, Chicago Bears; Patrick Peterson, Arizona Cardinals - See my Tillman note above, and Sherman was fantastic.  Jennings led the NFL in picks with 9.  As for Peterson, remember when the Cardinals were undefeated and had a great defense - yeah me either - but Peterson is awesome.

S - Dashon Goldson, San Francisco 49ers; Thomas DeCoud, Atlanta Falcons; Morgan Burnett, Green Bay Packers; Thomas Davis, Carolina Panthers - Goldson is always around the ball, on runs or passes, and DeCoud caught every overthrown pass in the NFL. Burnett led all safeties in tackles, and I just love watching Thomas Davis play.

Special Teams

K - Blair Walsh, Minnesota - One of the greatest kicking seasons in history.  36-36 on extra points and 35-38 on FGAs, including 10-10 over 50 yards.

P - Andy Lee, San Francisco 49ers - I don't normally care about punters, and Lee led the league in net yardage (along with Thomas Morestead), but dropped more than Morestead inside the 20.

R - Jacoby Jones, Baltimore Ravens (Kicks); Leodis McKelvin, Buffalo Bills (Punts); T.Y. Hilton, Indianapolis Colts - all three were incredibly exciting, although Trindan Holliday marks a huge run after his playoff performance.  I could also just have Patrick Peterson return kicks as well.

Everybody's All-American

As college football has concluded its 2012 campaign and we are 1 step closer to a playoff to decide the national champion, this seems as if it is the right time to name the Pepster All-Americans.  This is my reflection of the best players from college, and by no means is meant to indicate who will be high draft picks, or as my prognostication as to which players will become good or great professionals.  It is simply who I thought played the best last year.  Although there are more than 11 offensive and defensive players listed, the team is selected to account for the various offenses and defenses used around the country (trip receivers, spread, 3-4, 4-3, etc.). I also choose some backups to account for different styles of players. I chose to explain my picks in some instances, and not in others. Why? Because I feel like it. Now here are the Pepster 2012 All-Americans.


Offense

QB - Johnny Manzell, Texas A & M;  Jordan Lynch, Northern Illinois; Geno Smith, West Virginia- Manzell needs no explanation.  Lynch set the record for most rushing yards by a quarterback and Smith put up ludicrous numbers - which he had to do because his defense was ludicrously awful!

RB - Kenjon Barner, Oregon; Montee Ball, Wisconsin, Stefphon Jefferson, Nevada - If you are asking why Barner and Ball, then you are not a true college football fan.  Stefphon Jefferson because he was second in yards, second in touchdowns scored and first in "he spells his name, How?"  Duke Johnson will be on this list next year - Guaranteed!

WR - Marquise Lee, USC; Stedman Bailey, West Virginia; DeAndre Hopkins, Clemson; Terrance Williams, Baylor - Lee had 118 receptions for 1721 yards; Bailey had 114 receptions for 1622 yards and 25 TDS!!!!  Hopkins had only 82 catches for 1405 yards, but 18 TDs, while Williams had an astounding 1832 yards - on 97 catches - after losing Robert Griffin III.

TE - Zach Ertz, Stanford - and since nobody uses TEs anymore, no Tyler Eifort.

T - Luke Joeckel, Texas A & M; Cyrus Kuandijo, Alabama; D.J. Fluker, Alabama.  Joeckel is by far the best offensive lineman in the country, and well, did you see Alabama's running game?

G - Chance Warmack, Alabama; Cyril Richardson, Baylor - Once again - Alabama's offensive line and as for Richardson, just watch the Kansas State tape, with Lache Seastrunk constantly running up the middle.

C - Barret Jones, Alabama - Seriously, they were that good.

Defense

DE - Jadeveon Clowney, South Carolina; Damontre Moore, Texas A & M; Bjoern Werner, FSU - Clowney - just for the bowl game hit.  Yes THE Bowl Game HIT!  Moore because A & M played a lot more than just offense.  Werner is most people's starter, but I thought he just took too many plays off.

DT - Star Lotulelei, Utah; Sharif Floyd - Lotulelei might have been the best player of which you have never heard.  Floyd was a beast that anchored a darn good Florida Gator defense this year (and to appease the Gator fans before they see that I did not include Matt Elam on my team).

OLB - Jarvis Jones, Georgia; Khaseem Greene, Rutgers; C.J. Mosley, Alabama - Jones needs no explanation - but he did lead the country in sacks, and the only reason Greene needs an explanation is because nobody watches Rutgers.  Mosley is phenomenal, and to be honest, the only reason I have Greene ahead of him is that I really like watching Greene play.

ILB - Manti Te'o, Notre Dame; Arthur Brown - Kansas State - Te'o received most of the acclaim and all of the apostrophes, but Arthur Brown can flat play defense as well.

CB - Dee Milliner, Alabama; Johnthan Banks, Mississippi State; Jordan Poyer, Oregon State - Milliner was my MVP of the BCS Championship game, and Banks allowed Mississippi State to play an extra safety in the box against all of the tough SEC offenses.  Poyer had 7 interceptions.

S - Phillip Thomas, Fresno State; Ed Reynolds, Stanford; Eric Reid, LSU - Thomas led the country with 8 interceptions, while Ed Reynolds anchored a tough, tough Cardinal defense.  Eric Reid is included because the LSU defense was way too good to not have someone on the team, and I personally found Barkevious Mingo incredibly disappointing - and I can give lots of examples, if you prefer.

Now for my Matt Elam aside.  I attended 3 Florida games and watched at least a portion of every other game.  While Elam is a talent, (he was a consensus All-American for everyone else and is the highest rated safety in the draft - to date), he often runs himself out of plays, is often out-of-position, over pursues way too much, is way too eager to make the big hit/play rather than make a tackle and takes stupid - and I mean STUPID - penalties, often personal fouls.  I personally saw that in the LSU game there were times where Elam was on the bench in the second half for several plays - and not for an injury or equipment reasons either.  In fact, his signature play, running the receiver down and causing the fumble in the LSU game, only happened because he bit horribly on the play-action fake and was WAY out of position.  I will give him credit for not giving up on the play, though.

Special Teams

K - Cairo Santos, Tulane - 47 - 48 on the year, and that miss was on an extra point.  Plus, my Palm Beach County brethren, the Palm Beach County Sports Commission, felt he was the best kicker in awarding him the Lou Groza award.  This was a category that should have, and was, fought over by the 3 Florida kickers, Dustin Hopkins, Caleb Sturgis and Jake Wieclaw, but Santos rose above them all.

P - Kyle Christy, Florida - Although Christy only finished seventh in punting with a 45.8 yard (Ryan Allen of Louisiana Tech had an astounding 48 yard average, Christy affected each and every game with his punts, giving the Gators great field position on subsequent drives after pinning the opponents deep in their own endzone, and the Gators desperately needed the short field with their offense.

R - Marcus Murphy - Missouri - He had a 24.1 yard kickoff return average with 1 touchdown and a 13.9 yard punt return average with 3 touchdowns.  I would love to put Duke Johnson here, but he didn't return any punts  I could divide the return duties, but then I would just be playing favorites.