Rumor: Patriots Trading Up To 6th Pick?

"According to a report from Greg Bedard of the Boston Globe, the Patriots have had trade discussions with the Browns about the No. 6 overall pick in Thursday's NFL draft. Citing a league source, Bedard reports that the Patriots -- owners of the No. 17 and No. 28 picks in the first round and the first pick of the second round, No. 33 overall -- may want to move up (WEEI)."

Would love to see this, as it is rumored that they would be going after Robert Quinn, who is the exact kind of player the Patriots need on their defense. He is one of those hybrid OLB/DE, which we know Belichick loves, because it gives him a lot of options with his game planning. Haven't really heard much about him? Well because he didn't play last year, he was ruled ineligible by the NCAA for lying to investigators about receiving travel accommodations and jewelry... Cool whatever, thsi guy was a beast in 2009 with 11 sacks (at age 19!).

When scouts try to compare him to someone in the NFL they compare him to Julius Peppers, that good enough for me. Still, I put the probablity of this happening kind of low, just because it is very rare to see the Patriots trade up that high in the draft (if at all). So unless, Belichick really has his eye on this guy it sounds like just another rumor. But I can dream....can't I?

Harrison Barnes Going Back To UNC

Harrison Barnes announced via a press release on Monday that he will return to North Carolina for his sophomore year and bypass the 2011 NBA draft.

I constantly pound players going pro, but this is kind of awesome. With Barnes/ Perry Jones and Jared Sullinger and some of the Kentucky guys coming back that means I'll actually be interested in college bball next year. Also, that means that the Clippers 2012 pick is going to be super valuable because there will be that much more of an opportunity to draft one of these guys.

Barnes could have gone 1st, same could be said about Sullinger, or Jones so with that included in the 2012 draft, that means someone should be around in the 10-15 area, where the Clippers are probably going to be.

With Barnes and Zeller coming back UNC is going to be a force to be reckoned with next year. This could be something that the NCAA really needs.

12 UNC Players Suspended

"Six North Carolina starters -- defensive tackle Marvin Austin, cornerback Charles Brown, cornerback Kendric Burney, wide receiver Greg Little, defensive end Michael McAdoo and defensive end Robert Quinn -- have been declared ineligible for Saturday's season-opening game against No. 21 LSU for "violating school and/or NCAA rules," the university announced Friday.

Six other players also will be withheld from the game while the NCAA's two-pronged investigation continues. Those six are: tailback Shaun Draughn, defensive end Linwan Euwell, safety Brian Gupton, tailback Ryan Houston, safety Da'Norris Searcy and safety Jonathan Smith.

The total number of games those 12 players are expected to miss has not yet been determined, as the NCAA investigates possible improper contact with agents, along with allegations of academic misconduct (ESPN)."

Sucks for UNC they have a really good team, but it looks like this could be a lost season. I am really pissed I couldn't get money on this game. I was staring at the line yesterday when it was sitting at -7 1/2 for LSU. I tried to put a bet in but by the time I did the line was gone. Sucks, because that would've been easy money. Anyways, LSU is going to take no mercy and kick the shit out of this UNC team.

UNC May Be In A Bit Of Trouble Next Year

Not only did UNC lose Ed Davis to the NBA draft and Deon Thompson to graduation, but the Wear Twins are transferring and that does not bode well for Roy Williams and the Tar Heels.

Travis and David Wear, the highly touted, highly recruited McDonald's All-American twins, are going back to the west coast it looks like. The brothers each averaged 10 or more minutes per game as freshmen at Chapel Hill. Travis, who is 6-foot-10 and 235 pounds, averaged 3.5 points and 2.2 rebounds per game. David, who is 6-foot-10 and 225 pounds, contributed 2.9 points and 1.7 rebounds a game. This leaves a lot of players on UNC under 6-4. After a 20-17 season last year, don't expect UNC to finish close to that this year.

I Guess This Is Dismissal Worthy

Another one of Bob's scumbag teams, has another controversy around one of their scumbag players. UNC has released safety Angelo Hadley from his letter of intent to play football for the Tar Heels in the fall. Hadley and his two brothers — Aubrey Elijah, 20, and Adrian, 24, — broke into a Hillsborough County residence and stole assorted jewelry, cash and a shotgun, totaling over $17,000, according to the sheriff's office report.

Angelo Hadley was having sex with 14-year-old female at the residence while his brothers committed the burglary, according to the report.

This goes to show you that these are the scumbags that BMack likes. People who break into houses and have sex with 14 year old girls. Actually, wait a second, that is exactly what I did when I was that age too. Small world.

Lawson and Ellington To Go Pro

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. -- Ty Lawson and Wayne Ellington put off a jump to the NBA last season so they could improve their draft standing and make another run at a national championship. Now with that title in hand, the juniors figure it's the perfect time to give pro ball another try.ESPN

What else did they have to prove? They just one the championship and Ty Lawson's stock is not going to get any higher than it is right now. On any other program this would be a big deal, but the way Roy Williams recruits, I'm sure they will have the top 3 recruits. Ty Lawson will be an early lottery pick.

Davis Will Return To UNC

"Ed Davis has announced his decision to return to North Carolina. "(I) will not apply for the NBA Draft," Davis said via a statement released by the school on Sunday. "I love being a student at Carolina and playing with my teammates for Coach (Roy) Williams. I'd like to play in the NBA someday, but my family and I don't think I'm ready to take that step." Davis averaged 6.7 points and 6.6 rebounds coming off the bench this season. The 6-foot-10 forward would've likely been a lottery pick had he entered the NBA Draft (Sportsline).

This kid is going to be the next big thing in college basketball. I am glad he is stay another year at UNC, and I think it is smart, since he has the talent to be a #1 pick if he can tune up his skills. UNC just got another nasty classy of Freshman in, so expect them to reload quickly even with all the players that have lost to graduation/NBA.

89 UNC, 72 Michigan State

Well there goes the feel good story that Michigan State and Detroit was feeling. Last night the UNC Tarheels whooped the shit out of the fiesty Michigan State team from the starting tip off. It was a very easy March, and behind the unrelenting play of Tyler Hansbrough, Wayne Ellington and Ty Lawson, the Tar Heels stomped out Michigan State's inspirational run Monday night. Hansbrough scored 18 points, Ellington had 19 and Lawson led all scorers with 21 and also had a record eight steals. Now, they and Danny Green can all head to the NBA feeling good about their decision to return to school. Either way this game sucked. Michigan State didn't have a chance. And another question that has to be asked is if this Proves the ACC was the best conference this year?

Fuck UNC and Fuck MSU. Tyler Hansbrough is not going to amount to shit next year, Welcome to the D-Leagues.

National Championship Preview

Well the long road ends tonight, and either Michigan St or North Carolina will be the Champions. I know what a lot of our readers are thinking...Who is BMack rooting for? He loves both these teams. Well I am rooting for Michigan St.

First off I love underdogs, and most people thought that there was no way that Michigan St. would get past Louisville let alone UConn, but they did. How did they do it? Great coaching, defense, and toughness. UNC better be ready because this team is going to be all over the boards, and will do anything to beat them up.

Saying that UNC has way to much talent to let this game slide past them. Their transition offense is scary good. Lawson is by far the best PG in college basketball, and I just don't know how anyone can shut him down, and even if they did UNC has so many scorers it is just almost impossible to hold them down.

For the sake of Michigan, who is just devastated by this economy, I hope they can somehow find a way. Sometimes stories like this can make the sport seem like more then a sport. The people in Michigan need some kind of silver lining, and maybe just maybe Izzo can find just enough magic to pull off an unbelievable upset.

Tip off is at 9:21pm

Yesterdays Games

64 Michigan State, 52 Louisville

As part of the Dave Pearce fuckfest Michigan State decided to beat Louisville to knock my second finals team out of the tournament. Goran Suton had 19 points and 10 rebounds as the second seeded Spartans played the game at their pace and reached its fifth final four in the past 11 years. Michigan State played incredible man to man defense the whole game and led to an amazing zero fast break points for Louisville. Also, be careful Tom Izzo, Magic is trying to give you AIDS!

72 UNC, 60 Oklahoma

UNC advances, so that means I get to watch more clips of Beaker. It came pretty apparent that Oklahoma is a one man band with Blake Griffen. Griffen had another amazing game scoring 23 points and having 16 boards, but that wasn't enough for the total team effort of UNC. Ty Lawson had 19, Danny Green had 18 and Deon Thompson had 10. Beaker, I mean Tyler Hansbrough only had 8 due to foul trouble. But as of right now, UNC looks like the team to beat in the tournament.

Lawson Ready To Go

"North Carolina point guard Ty Lawson says he plans to play in the Tar Heels' game against Gonzaga on Friday. And coach Roy Williams is also optimistic the Atlantic Coast Conference player of the year will play in the NCAA tournament's round of 16 (ESPN)."

Lawson looked good against LSU, and we all know UNC has no shot of winning this thing if Lawson is out. Lawson experienced some minor swelling in the right big toe after the LSU game, but nothing like what followed the game against Duke that forced him to be sidelined. He has been icing it, and said he has been walking on it much better, and doesn't think there is any chance he will miss time. Well, my bracket certainly hopes so....

Ty Lawson Is Game-Time Decision

We'll we are going to find out how hurt Ty Lawson is when UNC plays LSU tomorrow. He was able to practice today, so now they need to see how his toe responds. If it swells he won't play, but it they are able to control it I would expect him to be in the game. LSU is no pushover, and DP has LSU knocking out UNC, so I really need Lawson to get his ass back on the court. I think he will, and UNC will handle LSU.

Ty Lawson to "Toe" The Bench

Ty Lawson's troublesome toe could keep North Carolina's speedy point guard sidelined for the Tar Heels' NCAA tournament opener.

I am not worried about the tournament opener, I am worried about the games that proceed it. UNC could beat Radford with playing only four players but they will need a healthy Lawson to play Butler or LSU. Lawson has had an incredible year and often been the consistent play maker and clutch scorer. Even with Lawson playing gimpy that will destroy the Tarheels chance to win the national championship.

Around College Basketball

79 UNC, 71 Duke

Beaker, I mean Tyler Hansborough scored 17 points in his final home game to beat the Faggot Blue Devils 79 to 71 and win the ACC conference regular season championship. Ty Lawson added 13 points and several key plays late for the Tar Heels who earned the top spot in the ACC Tournament. UNC shot 53 percent for the game and led most of the second half. If you are a Duke fan (Wilde) than you have to be scared over this loss. Duke has had an up and down year so far, and the way they have played has not instilled any confidence that they are tough enough to make a run in the tourney. Looks like another vintage second round knockout from Duke.

And on Saturday Pitt defeated UConn again to have the season sweep and pretty much guarantee a number 1 spot in the tourney. The more I think about it, the harder it is for me to think of who will be the 4 number 1 spots come tourney time. My predictions are Pitt, UConn, Louisville, and the winner of the ACC Tourney (UNC).

UNC 101 - Duke 87

This game was more exciting than the score would indicate through most of this game. This is always a huge ACC match up and always a game worth watching, whether or not you re a fan of either team. I am not, and yet i watched the whole thing. Here is what I gathered.

UNC would be THE best team in all of college hoops hands down if they could play defense. its no surprise that they have struggled on that side of the ball and have more or less relied on their offense clicking as well as it usually does to get them wins. A strategy that has been working thus far, but tonight it almost got away from them as Duke started out very strong and went into the locker room at half up 52-44. The second half was a different story, and it began like this: Once upon a time there was a guy named Ty Lawson....



Ty Lawson blew up in the second half scoring 21 of his 25 pts in the half and giving UNC the boost they needed to pull away. UNC also decided to play some defense. they started trailing the Duke shooters off the ball much better and Duke failed to make a 3pointer the whole 2nd half. UNC then methodically and yet dominantly pulled away from Duke and has now won four straight games in Cameron Indoor. Furthermore Tyler Hansbrough and Danny Green have won at Duke all four years of their collegiate career, an impressive accomplishment.

Duke is one of the top defenses in the NCAA and tonight they gave up at least 100 points for the first time since 2005 against UCLA, a nice little stat for ya. Well if they want to go on a nice little run like that again they need some post presence. Duke has no big man threat down low in the pain. Although they have Singler, he more of a threat from outside. Im talking about a guy who can muscle and bump down there and work hard for the deuce. tonight it seemed like they couldn't answer back to UNC's strength under the boards down the stretch. Duke has now lost 3 of their last 5 and is sitting within a 4 way tie for 2nd in the ACC standings.

Side Question:
This game featured a handful of NBA hopefuls. Between Hansbrough, Lawson, Singler, and Henderson I'm sure an MBA scout or two were watching this game. My question is who do you think will have the best NBA career?
I think Lawson. Something about this guy just feels right. He is like a cross breed of Chris Paul and Derek Rose and I feel like hes only going to get better. Your thoughts?

Where Do You Rank This Catch?

In terms of "catch of the year", where do you rank this catch by UNC's Nicks?

-BMack

DC Exclusive: UNC Is Going Wire to Wire

And not because they thumped the best of the Big 10 tonight. Mostly because JJ Redick said so. In between shooting warm ups at TD Banknorth Monday night, the NCAA all time 3-Point King took some time to chat up a DC informant. After predicting a Sweet 16 for his alma mater, JJ declared this year's champs would be conference rival UNC. Why? Because they are just too damn good.

And that W at Ford Field tonight didn't look so bad either. Ty Lawson is the real deal. Two weeks into his NBA rookie season most people will be thinking Rajon who? I think it is cute that guys like Dicky V are putting Lawson and Stef Curry in the category of best point guards in college right now but let's get serious. Curry will make a nice name for himself in Barcelona or Athens. Lawson will average a triple double over his entire career.

One other take away from the MSU/UNC tilt - how terrible is it watching hoops at Ford Field? I know we've seen regional finals and other big games there in the past but I'm not looking forward to watching the Final 4 there come April.

BC underrated or just over achieving?

Is it a shock that BC is once again in the ACC championship or just by default? To be quite honest BC is a roster full of no names on offense but the defense is where they excel. Personally, Ive never been a fan of the Eagles, and I have no idea who is good on the offensive end besides O-linemen whose names are really irrelevant to me as a fan. But my ignorance of anything BC football is really a testament to the coaching in Chestnut Hill. Whether it be Crane or Davis under center they seem to just get it done. What has stuck out to me the last few times I have watched this team is their D, which should be no surprise because they continuously are year in and year out are among the top in the country. Regardless, are they that good or does the ACC just suck. Its not obvious to see that the ACC isnt as prominent as it once was amongst college football. The U sucks, and probably will never amount to anything other than creating stud defensive prospects who dont win anything but a large pay check after their less than spectacular team performance in college. VA Tech is always intriguing because of their system is so well run. Virgina tends to have the nack for the occasional upset, usually at the expense of the Hookies. UNC has become a nice surprise, eventually they would get some recognition other than producing Julius Peppers and Micheal Curry. Every other team isnt worth mentioning because frankly who cares about Duke or Wake Forest?

When You Were Busy Taking A Picture Of Erin Andrews

North Carolina freshman forward Tyler Zeller is likely gone for the season after undergoing surgery Wednesday to repair a fractured left wrist suffered when he fell attempting a dunk during Tuesday's win over Kentucky. ESPN

This is a huge blow to North Carolina especially with Tyler Hansbrough being banged up. Zeller would add the much needed depth at the 4 spot, but with him gone they will turn to Junior Deon Thompson and freshman Ed Davis.

The Winner of the 2009 NCAA Tournament is... UNC

Ty Lawson, Wayne Ellington and Danny Green are all going back to UNC to pretty much secure a title next year. With those three and the return of Beaker, I mean Tyler Hansborough, they have to be the favorites next year. UConn will also be in the lead for a championship next year, but as we know, UConn doesn't really try during the tournament.

I don't like UNC but at least they will beat Duke next year.

Other notes:
Bill Walker(KSU) despite his knee injury is still in.
Joe Alexander(WVU) is still in.
Sherron Collins and Mario Chalmers(KU) still in.
Ronald Steele (Bama) out.
more to come