While the upsets in the 1st and 2nd rounds of the NCAA tournament are exciting, it is the upsets that occur in the Sweet Sixteen that cement a team's Cinderella status. Teams like Davidson and George Mason have used the Sweet Sixteen to capture the attention of fans nation-wide.
The No. 5 biggest upset in the Sweet Sixteen of the NCAA tournament was when No. 12 Missouri Tigers defeated No. 8 UCLA Bruins 82-73 in the 2002 NCAA tournament. For a matchup between eight and 12 seeds there was a lot of NBA talent on the court. The Bruins featured Dan Gadzuric, Matt Barnes and Jason Kopono. Jason Kopono was the Bruins leading scorer averaging 16 points per game and provided strong outside scoring, while Barnes provided athleticism and defensive tenacity and Gadzuric provided the strong post presence on both ends of the court. The Tigers also featured future NBA talent in forward Kareem Rush who was the leading scorer for the Tigers averaging 20 points per game. Missouri utilized a smart game plan that focused on running Kopono off the three-point line, while on offense Clarence Gilbert led the way with 23 points. The Tigers win over the Bruins was the first time a 12 seed had ever advanced to the Elite Eight.
The No. 4 biggest upset was when No. 5 Arizona Wildcats defeated No.1 Duke Blue Devils 93-77 in the 2011 NCAA tournament. Duke came into the 2010 NCAA Tournament as the defending champions and looked ready to make another run behind point-guard Kyrie Irving, instead the Wildcats blew out the Blue Devils in about four minutes of game time. Kyle Singler and Irving did their part for Duke accounting for 46 of Duke's 77 points, but not another Duke player scored in double digits. The second pick in the 2011 NBA Draft forward Derrick Williams dominated the game with 32 points and 13 rebounds.
The No. 3 biggest upset was when No. 10 Davidson Wildcats defeated No. 3 Wisconsin Badgers 73-56 in the 2008 NCAA tournament. Wisconsin like most Big Ten teams liked to slow down the pace and play solid defense. Davidson was coming off a huge victory in the second round when they defeated No. 1 Georgtown, thanks to up and coming guard Stephen Curry who was averaging almost 26 points per game. Wisconsin possessed one of the best defensive guards in the country in Michael Flowers and believed that if they could stop Curry, Davidson would go down. Flowers was not able to stop Curry as he scored 33 points. Wisconsin was unable to match the scoring output as there highest scorer Flowers only managed 12 points.
The No.2 biggest upset was when No. 11 Temple Owls defeated No. 7 Penn State Nittany Lions 84-72 in the 2001 NCAA tournament. Penn State was led by guard Joe Crispin who led the team with an average of 20 points per game. However, the brotherly duo of Joe and John Crispin only managed to go 6-21 from the field, and the team overall struggled to score as they only managed to shoot 39 percent from the field, thanks to a stifling defense from Temple. Temple was led by guard Lynn Greer who had 21 points.
The No. 1 biggest upset in the history of the Sweet Sixteen was when No.11 Loyola Marymount Lions defeated No. 7 Alabama Crimson Tide 62-60 in the 1990 NCAA tournament. Alabama was a front court heavy team led by future NBA player Robert Horry and David Benoit. Horry played well against the Lions putting up 21 points. However, the Lions featured one of the most offensively potent teams in the country leading the nation in scoring that year with an average of 122 points per game. Guard Bo Kimble led the Lions offense by being the nation's leading scorer averaging 35 points per game. Kimble put up 19 points to lead the Lions to the Elite Eight. The most memorable part of this run happened before the NCAA tournament. All-American Hank Gathers died suddenly during the West Coast Conference tournament championship game, while shooting a free throw. Despite the tragedy the Lions were able to make it to the Elite Eight.
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Monday, March 19, 2012
NCAA Tournament 2nd Round Upsets
Continuing my series on the past NCAA tournament upsets, I will now look at five of the best upsets that have occurred during the 2nd round. While the University of North Carolonia (UNC) has experienced great success in NCAA tournaments they also have faced some horrible upsets that have occurred during the 2nd round, as they appear twice on this list.
The No. 5 greatest upset in NCAA tournament 2nd round history was when No. 14 Cleveland State defeated No. 6 St. Josephs 75-69 in the 1986 NCAA tournament. Cleveland State were already coming off a huge upset over No. 3 Indiana in the 1st round and rode that momentum into the Sweet Sixteen. The Hawks was led by future NBA players Maurice Martin and Wayne Williams. The Hawks struggled in the 1st round to beat No. 11 Richmond, before running into Cleveland State. Ken McFadden led Cleveland State and still holds the school record for career points. McFadden may have had a team high of 23 points, but the key to victory was the performance of Clinton Smith who put up 16 points and 15 rebounds. This was the first time a 14 seed had advanced to the Sweet Sixteen.
The No. 4 greatest upset was when No. 14 UT-Chattanooga Mocs defeated No. 6 Illinois 75-63 in the 1997 NCAA tournament. What made this such an odd upset was how good Illinois had looked in the 1st round as they defeated Southern California 90-77. Kiwane Gerris led the way for Illinois by averaging 19 points and six assists. UT-Chattanooga was able to get the victory due to balanced scoring where five players ended the game in double digits, center Chris Mims led the way with a double-double 12 points and 12 rebounds.
The No. 3 greatest upset was when No. 11 George Mason Patriots defeated No. 3 North Carolina (UNC) Tar Heels 65-60 in the 2006 NCAA tournament. UNC was led by forwards Tyler Hansbrough and Rayshawn Terry. Hansbrough brought tenacity and energy that fueled the team on as he average 19 points and eight rebounds. The key to the upset for George Mason was a good defensive game plan by head coach Jim Larranaga that focused on containing Hansbrough and limited him to 10 points and nine rebounds in the game. On offense, guard Lamar Butler led the way for the Patriots by putting up a team-high 18 points. George Mason was able to stay in the game by getting Hansbrough into foul trouble and keeping the Tar Heels emotional leader off the court. Geoge Mason's Cinderella run did would continue onto the Final Four.
The No. 2 greatest upset was when No. 9 Northern Iowa Panthers defeated No. 1 Kansas Jayhawks 69-67 in the 2010 NCAA tournament. Kansas had a roster that included five future NBA players including Cole Aldrich, Marcus Morris, Sherron Collins, Xavier Henry and Markieff Morris. They also had only three losses on the season, but Northern Iowa was able to bridge the talent gap by play great defense and slowing down the pace. Another key to the upset was Northern Iowa's ability to make plays during the big moments. Guard Ali Farokhmanesh led the Panthers with 16 points and gutsy play. With 35 seconds remaining the Patriots led by one 63-62 with the ball and a chance to run some clock, but Farokhmanesh decided to put end the game right there with a three-pointer that made the score 66-62 and ended the game. If Farokhmanesh had missed the shot he would have given Kansas plenty of time to win the game.
The No. 1 greatest upset in 2nd round NCAA tournament history was when No. 9 Boston College Eagles defeated No.1 UNC Tar Heels 75-72 in the 1994 NCAA tournament. North Carolina featured two future NBA all-stars in Rasheed Wallace and Jerry Stackhouse, not to mention another solid NBA player Eric Montross who led the way for the Tar Heels with 16 points. Not only did UNC have the edge talent-wise they also had history on their side as UNC during the past 13 seasons had advanced at least to the Sweet Sixteen. Boston College also featured two future NBA players in forward Bill Curley and guard Howard Eisley, while both played solidly it was guard Gerrod Abram that took over. Abram had only averaged eight points per game during the 1993-94 season, but against UNC he put up 21 points to lead all scorers in the game. Overall, Boston College had five players get into double digits which allowed them to keep up with a very talented Tar Heels squad.
The No. 5 greatest upset in NCAA tournament 2nd round history was when No. 14 Cleveland State defeated No. 6 St. Josephs 75-69 in the 1986 NCAA tournament. Cleveland State were already coming off a huge upset over No. 3 Indiana in the 1st round and rode that momentum into the Sweet Sixteen. The Hawks was led by future NBA players Maurice Martin and Wayne Williams. The Hawks struggled in the 1st round to beat No. 11 Richmond, before running into Cleveland State. Ken McFadden led Cleveland State and still holds the school record for career points. McFadden may have had a team high of 23 points, but the key to victory was the performance of Clinton Smith who put up 16 points and 15 rebounds. This was the first time a 14 seed had advanced to the Sweet Sixteen.
The No. 4 greatest upset was when No. 14 UT-Chattanooga Mocs defeated No. 6 Illinois 75-63 in the 1997 NCAA tournament. What made this such an odd upset was how good Illinois had looked in the 1st round as they defeated Southern California 90-77. Kiwane Gerris led the way for Illinois by averaging 19 points and six assists. UT-Chattanooga was able to get the victory due to balanced scoring where five players ended the game in double digits, center Chris Mims led the way with a double-double 12 points and 12 rebounds.
The No. 3 greatest upset was when No. 11 George Mason Patriots defeated No. 3 North Carolina (UNC) Tar Heels 65-60 in the 2006 NCAA tournament. UNC was led by forwards Tyler Hansbrough and Rayshawn Terry. Hansbrough brought tenacity and energy that fueled the team on as he average 19 points and eight rebounds. The key to the upset for George Mason was a good defensive game plan by head coach Jim Larranaga that focused on containing Hansbrough and limited him to 10 points and nine rebounds in the game. On offense, guard Lamar Butler led the way for the Patriots by putting up a team-high 18 points. George Mason was able to stay in the game by getting Hansbrough into foul trouble and keeping the Tar Heels emotional leader off the court. Geoge Mason's Cinderella run did would continue onto the Final Four.
The No. 1 greatest upset in 2nd round NCAA tournament history was when No. 9 Boston College Eagles defeated No.1 UNC Tar Heels 75-72 in the 1994 NCAA tournament. North Carolina featured two future NBA all-stars in Rasheed Wallace and Jerry Stackhouse, not to mention another solid NBA player Eric Montross who led the way for the Tar Heels with 16 points. Not only did UNC have the edge talent-wise they also had history on their side as UNC during the past 13 seasons had advanced at least to the Sweet Sixteen. Boston College also featured two future NBA players in forward Bill Curley and guard Howard Eisley, while both played solidly it was guard Gerrod Abram that took over. Abram had only averaged eight points per game during the 1993-94 season, but against UNC he put up 21 points to lead all scorers in the game. Overall, Boston College had five players get into double digits which allowed them to keep up with a very talented Tar Heels squad.
Sunday, March 18, 2012
NCAA Tournament 1st Round Upsets
Since it is the NCAA tournament time, I thought it would be a good time to look at a few of the biggest upsets in NCAA tournament history. Especially with the big upset that have occurred this year with two No. 2 seeds being ousted in the first round
For this post I will focus on five of the biggest upset that have occurred in the 1st round of the NCAA tournament and in subsequent posts will showcase five upsets in each round of the NCAA tournament.
The No. 5 greatest upset in the 1st round of the NCAA tournament was when the No. 14 Weber State Wildcats defeated No. 3 North Carolina (UNC) Tar Heels 73-70 in the 1999 NCAA tournament. UNC brought a strong inside game to the tournament featuring current NBA center Brendan Haywood where it was believed they would easily overpower the Wildcats. However, the Wildcats responded with a huge performance from forward Harold Arceneaux who put up 36 points against the Tar Heels.
The No. 4 greatest upset was when the No. 15 Coppin State Eagles defeated the No. 2 South Carolina Gamecocks in the 1997 NCAA tournament 78-65. The Gamecocks were led by guards Larry Davis and BJ McKie each averaging at least 16 points per game heading into the NCAA tournament. Being a No. 2 seed it was expected that South Carolina would run all over Coppin State. However, the Eagles were the ones who took control of the game thanks to a 20 point performance from Antoine Brockington and surprise contributor off the bench Danny Singletary who had a team high 22 points. This was Coppin State's first NCAA tournament victory and is significant due to how Coppin State reacted after the first half. South Carolina and Coppin State were tied going into halftime, but it was Coppin State that took control of the second half.
The No. 3 greatest upset was when the No. 15 Santa Clara Broncos defeated the No. 2 Arizona Wildcats 64-61 in the 1993 NCAA tournament. The Wildcats were led by future NBA point-guard Damon Stoudamire who averaged 11 points and 6 assists and forward Chris Mills who averaged a team high 20 points per game. Santa Clara had an NBA talent of there own in Steve Nash, while Nash played a role with his 10 points and 4 assists, it was bench contributions that helped the Broncos with the upset. Pete Elsenrich and DeWayne Lewis put up 19 points and 13 points to lead Santa Clara in scoring.
The No. 2 greatest upset was when the No. 15 Hampton Pirates defeated the No. 2 Iowa State Cyclones 58-57 in the 2001 NCAA tournament. The Cyclones were led by former NBA point-guard Jamaal Tinsley who averaged 14 points and 6 assists per game. The Pirates did an excellent job of containing Tinsley and were led by forward Tarvis Williams who put in 16 points, including the most important bucket. With 6.9 seconds remaining, Williams flipped in a 4-footer to secure the upset over the Cyclones. Tinsley would add to the drama as he missed a layup with 1.2 seconds remaining. The only reason that this isn't the No. 1 upset is because Iowa State had stumbled getting into the tournament by losing to Baylor during in the Big 12 tournament semi-finals.
The No. 1 greatest upset in the 1st round of the NCAA tournament was when the No. 15 Richmond Spiders defeated the No. 2 Syracuse Orange 73-69 in the 1991 NCAA tournament becoming the first No. 15 seed to defeated a No. 2 seed in NCAA tournament history. Syracuse was led by a high-scoring front court that featured Billy Owens and Dave Johnson and finished the season ranked No. 6 in the country. Richmond led the entire game thanks to former NBA guard Curtis Blair who led the team with 18 points and 6 assists. This upset in 1991 was just as shocking as Duke losing to Lehigh or Missouri losing to Norfolk State. This upset was also significant due to the media recognition, as this was the first 1st round game to be shown on CBS.
There are still upsets waiting to happen, as a No. 16 has never beaten a No. 1.
Next up will be a look at the biggest 2nd round upsets in NCAA tournament history.
For this post I will focus on five of the biggest upset that have occurred in the 1st round of the NCAA tournament and in subsequent posts will showcase five upsets in each round of the NCAA tournament.
The No. 4 greatest upset was when the No. 15 Coppin State Eagles defeated the No. 2 South Carolina Gamecocks in the 1997 NCAA tournament 78-65. The Gamecocks were led by guards Larry Davis and BJ McKie each averaging at least 16 points per game heading into the NCAA tournament. Being a No. 2 seed it was expected that South Carolina would run all over Coppin State. However, the Eagles were the ones who took control of the game thanks to a 20 point performance from Antoine Brockington and surprise contributor off the bench Danny Singletary who had a team high 22 points. This was Coppin State's first NCAA tournament victory and is significant due to how Coppin State reacted after the first half. South Carolina and Coppin State were tied going into halftime, but it was Coppin State that took control of the second half.
The No. 3 greatest upset was when the No. 15 Santa Clara Broncos defeated the No. 2 Arizona Wildcats 64-61 in the 1993 NCAA tournament. The Wildcats were led by future NBA point-guard Damon Stoudamire who averaged 11 points and 6 assists and forward Chris Mills who averaged a team high 20 points per game. Santa Clara had an NBA talent of there own in Steve Nash, while Nash played a role with his 10 points and 4 assists, it was bench contributions that helped the Broncos with the upset. Pete Elsenrich and DeWayne Lewis put up 19 points and 13 points to lead Santa Clara in scoring.
The No. 1 greatest upset in the 1st round of the NCAA tournament was when the No. 15 Richmond Spiders defeated the No. 2 Syracuse Orange 73-69 in the 1991 NCAA tournament becoming the first No. 15 seed to defeated a No. 2 seed in NCAA tournament history. Syracuse was led by a high-scoring front court that featured Billy Owens and Dave Johnson and finished the season ranked No. 6 in the country. Richmond led the entire game thanks to former NBA guard Curtis Blair who led the team with 18 points and 6 assists. This upset in 1991 was just as shocking as Duke losing to Lehigh or Missouri losing to Norfolk State. This upset was also significant due to the media recognition, as this was the first 1st round game to be shown on CBS.
There are still upsets waiting to happen, as a No. 16 has never beaten a No. 1.
Next up will be a look at the biggest 2nd round upsets in NCAA tournament history.
Monday, February 20, 2012
Atlanta Hawks Historic Roster
The Atlanta Hawks have been around the longest among their fellow atlantic division foes. The Hawks began playing basketball in 1946 as the Buffalo (NY) Bisons, then in 1953, the Hawks relocated to the Milwaukee, Wis. they then moved again to St. Louis, Mo. in 1955 before finally landing in Atlanta, Ga in 1968. The Hawks have had a history of great players.
The best center in Hawks franchise history was Walt Bellamy. Many fans would point out Dikembe Mutombo, don't worry Mutombo will be included on the Denver Nuggets list of stars. By the time, Mutombo came to the Hawks, he was just a defensive enforcer. When you think of Ballamy think Dwight Howard, in terms of stats, Ballamy averaged around 20 points per game and 14 rebounds per game, unfortunately the NBA did the record blocks until the end of his career. Howard averages 18 points and 14 rebounds per game, respectively. Ballamy is still the Hawks franchise leader in total rebounds and is No. 9 in NBA history for rebounds.
The best player and power-forward in franchise history was Bob Petit. Petit is considered to have changed power-forward position and was elected to the All-Star team ever single season he played. Generally considered to be the No. 3 big men in the league behind Wilt Chamberlain and Bill Russell. Petit averaged 26 points and 16 rebounds per game during his 11 year career. Petit led the Hawks to their only NBA title in 1958.
The best small-forward in Hawks history was Dominique Wilkins. While Petit was the best player in franchise history, Wilkins was the most popular player in franchise history. Wilkins is most well-known for defeating Michael Jordan in the 1985 slam dunk contest. Wilkins was an electrifying player who could get to the rim with ease and was always among the league leaders in points scored per game, winning the scoring title in 1986. The only thing that held Wilkins back from being the franchise's best player was the fact he was unable to win an NBA title, while Petit was able to overcome the franchise's hurdle. Unfortunately, Wilkins' brilliance was overshadowed by the Jordan era.
The best shooting-guard in Hawks history was Pete "Pistol" Maravich. Maravich took the league by storm when he entered the NBA in 1970, he introduced moves like the "behind-the-back" pass and "between-the-legs" dribble. Pistol Pete was the 1970s version of Steve Nash, making passes that that were unbelievable and combined the great ball handling with an outstanding jump shot. Marivich averaged 25 points per game and just over 5 assists per game, at a time when assists were hard to come by. Maravich was unable to win a title in Atlanta, but was able to secure the elusive title when he was signed by the Boston Celtics.
The best point-guard in Hawks history was Lenny Wilkins. Wilkins is the only person NBA history to be inducted into the NBA hall of fame as a player and as a coach, both of which he accomplished as a member of the Hawks. Wilkins averaged 17 points, 7 assists and 5 rebounds per game, the most impressive being the rebounding numbers for a 6-1 point-guard. He also finished second in MVP balloting to Chamberlain for the 1968 season.
The best center in Hawks franchise history was Walt Bellamy. Many fans would point out Dikembe Mutombo, don't worry Mutombo will be included on the Denver Nuggets list of stars. By the time, Mutombo came to the Hawks, he was just a defensive enforcer. When you think of Ballamy think Dwight Howard, in terms of stats, Ballamy averaged around 20 points per game and 14 rebounds per game, unfortunately the NBA did the record blocks until the end of his career. Howard averages 18 points and 14 rebounds per game, respectively. Ballamy is still the Hawks franchise leader in total rebounds and is No. 9 in NBA history for rebounds.
The best player and power-forward in franchise history was Bob Petit. Petit is considered to have changed power-forward position and was elected to the All-Star team ever single season he played. Generally considered to be the No. 3 big men in the league behind Wilt Chamberlain and Bill Russell. Petit averaged 26 points and 16 rebounds per game during his 11 year career. Petit led the Hawks to their only NBA title in 1958.
The best shooting-guard in Hawks history was Pete "Pistol" Maravich. Maravich took the league by storm when he entered the NBA in 1970, he introduced moves like the "behind-the-back" pass and "between-the-legs" dribble. Pistol Pete was the 1970s version of Steve Nash, making passes that that were unbelievable and combined the great ball handling with an outstanding jump shot. Marivich averaged 25 points per game and just over 5 assists per game, at a time when assists were hard to come by. Maravich was unable to win a title in Atlanta, but was able to secure the elusive title when he was signed by the Boston Celtics.
The best point-guard in Hawks history was Lenny Wilkins. Wilkins is the only person NBA history to be inducted into the NBA hall of fame as a player and as a coach, both of which he accomplished as a member of the Hawks. Wilkins averaged 17 points, 7 assists and 5 rebounds per game, the most impressive being the rebounding numbers for a 6-1 point-guard. He also finished second in MVP balloting to Chamberlain for the 1968 season.
Wednesday, February 15, 2012
Best players in Miami Heat history
The next historic lineup I will look at is the Miami Heat. The Heat entered the NBA one year before the Magic in 1988 and made their first playoff berth in 1992.
The best center in Heat history was Alonzo Mourning. Mourning is the best player in Heat history, as he is the franchise leader in points, rebounds and blocks. When Mourning joined the Heat 1995, he turned the franchise from a 7-8 seed in the playoffs to a title contender. Mourning left the Heat in 2003, only to return in 2004, he was able to make. Mourning continued playing despite having one of his kidneys removed and is still a force in Heat community
The power-forward position is the weakest position in Heat history, but the best power-forward was Brian Grant. Grant's best season with the Heat was in 2000, the first year Grant was with the team, he averaged 15 points and nine rebounds. His biggest contribution for the Heat was as a rebounder, Grant could be counted on to grab eight to 10 rebounds per game.
The best small-foward in Heat history was Jamal Mashburn. Early on in Mashburn's career, he was an outstanding scorer averaging more than 20 points per game. When Mashburn was traded to Miami to Dallas his role diminished as he became the third option behind Mourning and Tim Armstrong. Mashburn was still capable of generating huge scoring numbers on any given night, but he was not a good defender, passer or rebounder. Later in his career, he struggled with injuries that severely limited his mobility.
The best shooting-guard in Heat history was Eddie Jones. Jones did was a very solid all-around player for the Heat, who played during the rebuilding stages of the Heat. He was a dependable shooter averaging around 18 points a game and an outstanding on-ball defender, who gave maximum energy. Jones' career would end with the Dallas Mavericks in 2008, but what Jones is most famous for is getting traded from the Los Angeles Lakers to the then Charlotte Hornets for rookie Kobe Bryant.
The best point-guard in Heat history was Tim Hardaway. Hardaway was one of the best point-guards in the league during his Golden State Warriors and Heat day. He averaged 18 points and eight assists per game for his career and created scoring opportunities for himself and teammates with one of the best crossover dribbles in the NBA. His career would end in 2003 with the Indiana Pacers.
The best center in Heat history was Alonzo Mourning. Mourning is the best player in Heat history, as he is the franchise leader in points, rebounds and blocks. When Mourning joined the Heat 1995, he turned the franchise from a 7-8 seed in the playoffs to a title contender. Mourning left the Heat in 2003, only to return in 2004, he was able to make. Mourning continued playing despite having one of his kidneys removed and is still a force in Heat community
The power-forward position is the weakest position in Heat history, but the best power-forward was Brian Grant. Grant's best season with the Heat was in 2000, the first year Grant was with the team, he averaged 15 points and nine rebounds. His biggest contribution for the Heat was as a rebounder, Grant could be counted on to grab eight to 10 rebounds per game.
The best small-foward in Heat history was Jamal Mashburn. Early on in Mashburn's career, he was an outstanding scorer averaging more than 20 points per game. When Mashburn was traded to Miami to Dallas his role diminished as he became the third option behind Mourning and Tim Armstrong. Mashburn was still capable of generating huge scoring numbers on any given night, but he was not a good defender, passer or rebounder. Later in his career, he struggled with injuries that severely limited his mobility.
The best shooting-guard in Heat history was Eddie Jones. Jones did was a very solid all-around player for the Heat, who played during the rebuilding stages of the Heat. He was a dependable shooter averaging around 18 points a game and an outstanding on-ball defender, who gave maximum energy. Jones' career would end with the Dallas Mavericks in 2008, but what Jones is most famous for is getting traded from the Los Angeles Lakers to the then Charlotte Hornets for rookie Kobe Bryant.
Wednesday, February 8, 2012
Podcast blog #1
Doing the podcast was pretty easy, my group consisted of myself (Chris Lee), Marisa Gottesman, Rebecca Timmons and Tyler Parks. To record and edit the podcast we used audacity. All of our laptops have built in microphones, so we didn't need to use any additional audio recorders. Tyler edited the podcast since he had the most experience with audacity. Our podcast is called the Weekly Sports Scene and will contain information on the biggest sporting events. For our first podcast we focused on the Super Bowl, in particular super bowl myths, predictions, former Florida Gators who have played in previous Super Bowls and former Gators who are played in this year's Super Bowl. The song used in the opening was "Dreams" by RO-M and our tagline is "An Orange-and-Blue-Flavored Take on the Biggest Stories in Sports".
Monday, February 6, 2012
Historic Rosters part 1
Over the next fourteen weeks, I will be breaking down a team in each post and will be looking at the best players by position in that franchise's history until we get through the NBA. In order to be eligible, the players will have to be retired, so for example, when I get to the Cleveland Cavaliers Lebron James will not be on the roster. Which also means some current teams may not be in the rankings, most notably the Oklahoma City Thunder.
The first team I will look at is the Orlando Magic.
The best point-guard for the Orlando Magic was Penny Hardaway. Today most people compare Lebron James to Magic Johnson. However, the closest a player has come to the Magic Johnson is Hardaway. Hardaway was a 6-7, point guard, who in his prime was averaging 22 points per game and 7 assists. Hardaway has not always been adverse to controversy, as during the 1997 season, he led a players coup that forced out then head coach Brian Hill. Hardaway was traded after the 1999 season and was never the same due to bad knees and an ailing back. However, Hardaway was the most dynamic play maker the Magic have ever had
Shooting-guard is probably the Orlando Magic's biggest strength outside of the Center position thanks to Tracy McGrady and Nick Anderson. Despite McGrady's accomplishments in Orlando, Nick Anderson will go down as the best shooting-guard in franchise history. Anderson was the Orlando Magic's franchise leader in point scored, until Howard broke it in January. Nick possessed one of the smoothest strokes in the NBA, could attack the rim and was the Magic's best perimeter defender. His best scoring seasons were before the Penny-Shaq years, but once Penny and Shaq joined the Magic, he became an extremely solid third option. He also has the most iconic image in Magic franchise history as during the Magic's run to the finals in the 1994-95 season they faced the Michael Jordan led Chicago Bulls. To seal the last game of the series, Anderson stole the ball from Jordan for a dunk the other way.
The small-forward position has been a weakness for the Magic for some time. However, the best small-forward was Dennis Scott. The Magic teams in the 90s were built similarly to the current Dwight Howard led Magic team and Scott filled the J.J. Redick role for the Magic. Scott was a straight-up three-point shooter and a solid defensive played. His three point shooting helped take the pressure off of Shaq in the post. Scott's best year were also before Shaq and Penny's arrival as he averaged around 20 points per game then became more of a supporting option during the Shaq era.
The best power-forward in franchise history was Horace Grant. By the time Grant joined the Magic in 1994, he had helped the Bulls win 3 NBA titles and brought a much need championship presence to the Magic. Grant was an unbelievable defensive player and took up much of the load in the post since Shaq was never a good defensive player. Grant's defensive performance did not come from block shots, but simply good solid defensive and an excellent low base, which made Grant hard to move. The Magic could count on Grant to get a double-double most nights and could be counted on to provide 15 points from the elbow and 10 rebounds every night. His elbow jumper just outside the paint was his go to offensive move.
The Center position was the Gators position of strength throughout its history. The best Center in Magic franchise history was Shaquille O'neal. Shaq was simply a beast with speed and was a nightmare to defend due to his 300-pound frame and his quick feet. However, Shaq was not a great defensive center, although in some seasons he averaged close to 3 blocks per game. He struggled with on-ball defense, but made up for his defense by averaging around 10 rebounds per game and around 30 points per game in his prime. Shaq's most obvious weakness is his free-throw shooting as many opposing coaches would simply foul Shaq in the closing minutes knowing he would most likely miss the free-throws. Shaq will still go down as the best player in franchise history, until Dwight Howard retires.
The best Magic team was the 1994-95 team that got swept by the Houston Rockets in the finals. The Magic dominated the Eastern Conference with a 57-25 record. During the playoffs, the Magic swept the Boston Celtics in the last games ever played in the Boston Garden. Then they defeated the Bulls in six games, which is the only time that any team was able to beat the Bulls with Jordan after he one his first title in 1992. The Magic then played a grueling 7 game series against the Reggie Miller led Indiana Pacers. Then the Magic got swept by the Rockets, after going to the Finals for the first time in NBA history.
The first team I will look at is the Orlando Magic.
The best point-guard for the Orlando Magic was Penny Hardaway. Today most people compare Lebron James to Magic Johnson. However, the closest a player has come to the Magic Johnson is Hardaway. Hardaway was a 6-7, point guard, who in his prime was averaging 22 points per game and 7 assists. Hardaway has not always been adverse to controversy, as during the 1997 season, he led a players coup that forced out then head coach Brian Hill. Hardaway was traded after the 1999 season and was never the same due to bad knees and an ailing back. However, Hardaway was the most dynamic play maker the Magic have ever had
Shooting-guard is probably the Orlando Magic's biggest strength outside of the Center position thanks to Tracy McGrady and Nick Anderson. Despite McGrady's accomplishments in Orlando, Nick Anderson will go down as the best shooting-guard in franchise history. Anderson was the Orlando Magic's franchise leader in point scored, until Howard broke it in January. Nick possessed one of the smoothest strokes in the NBA, could attack the rim and was the Magic's best perimeter defender. His best scoring seasons were before the Penny-Shaq years, but once Penny and Shaq joined the Magic, he became an extremely solid third option. He also has the most iconic image in Magic franchise history as during the Magic's run to the finals in the 1994-95 season they faced the Michael Jordan led Chicago Bulls. To seal the last game of the series, Anderson stole the ball from Jordan for a dunk the other way.
The small-forward position has been a weakness for the Magic for some time. However, the best small-forward was Dennis Scott. The Magic teams in the 90s were built similarly to the current Dwight Howard led Magic team and Scott filled the J.J. Redick role for the Magic. Scott was a straight-up three-point shooter and a solid defensive played. His three point shooting helped take the pressure off of Shaq in the post. Scott's best year were also before Shaq and Penny's arrival as he averaged around 20 points per game then became more of a supporting option during the Shaq era.
The best power-forward in franchise history was Horace Grant. By the time Grant joined the Magic in 1994, he had helped the Bulls win 3 NBA titles and brought a much need championship presence to the Magic. Grant was an unbelievable defensive player and took up much of the load in the post since Shaq was never a good defensive player. Grant's defensive performance did not come from block shots, but simply good solid defensive and an excellent low base, which made Grant hard to move. The Magic could count on Grant to get a double-double most nights and could be counted on to provide 15 points from the elbow and 10 rebounds every night. His elbow jumper just outside the paint was his go to offensive move.
The Center position was the Gators position of strength throughout its history. The best Center in Magic franchise history was Shaquille O'neal. Shaq was simply a beast with speed and was a nightmare to defend due to his 300-pound frame and his quick feet. However, Shaq was not a great defensive center, although in some seasons he averaged close to 3 blocks per game. He struggled with on-ball defense, but made up for his defense by averaging around 10 rebounds per game and around 30 points per game in his prime. Shaq's most obvious weakness is his free-throw shooting as many opposing coaches would simply foul Shaq in the closing minutes knowing he would most likely miss the free-throws. Shaq will still go down as the best player in franchise history, until Dwight Howard retires.
The best Magic team was the 1994-95 team that got swept by the Houston Rockets in the finals. The Magic dominated the Eastern Conference with a 57-25 record. During the playoffs, the Magic swept the Boston Celtics in the last games ever played in the Boston Garden. Then they defeated the Bulls in six games, which is the only time that any team was able to beat the Bulls with Jordan after he one his first title in 1992. The Magic then played a grueling 7 game series against the Reggie Miller led Indiana Pacers. Then the Magic got swept by the Rockets, after going to the Finals for the first time in NBA history.
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