Week 2 College Football Preview

Welcome to Week 2! Did you manage to make it out of the madness of opening weekend unscathed? Nice, good to hear. I'm fully aware I was nowhere to be found with my Week 1 Shoutouts, as I decided to focus my attention on chronicling my time at Made in America instead. So, allow me to quickly run through my stars of the first week:

First shoutout goes to Tyler Matakevich, star linebacker for my Temple Owls and the Freddy Krueger to Christian Hackenberg's future attempts at peaceful sleep. Usually a tackle machine anyway, his current total of 362 tackles is the most among active FBS players, Matakevich was also living in the backfield last Saturday as evidenced by his 3 sacks for a net loss of 20 yards. The red-bearded wonder may not look like the most fearsome player on the field when he's getting off the bus, but put a helmet and pads on the guy, line him up across from American Conference offensive lines, and he transforms into Lawrence Taylor while looking absolutely nothing like Lawrence Taylor. I mean, how is that the most dominant LB currently playing college football (Scooby Wright III is injured, so yeah, I'm going for broke with my man Matakevich):

Atypical physical superiority aside, Matakevich will continue to terrorize opposing QB's all season, which will likely vault himself into a Day 2 (Rounds 2 & 3) NFL Draft selection. Go Owls.

Next shoutout belongs to Derrick Henry, RB from Alabama. Henry, 6-3 and 243 lbs, churned out 147 yards and 3 TD's on just 13 carries, good for a stellar 11.3 yards per carry. Wisconsin, known for their rugged, stifling defenses, probably couldn't tackle Henry even if he tied his feet together and hopped his way to the end zone. Pretty much the exact opposite of Matakevich when it comes to natural, physical gifts, Henry is a beast of a back who possesses good lateral agility and top-end speed for a man of his size. If he doesn't hear his name called next April around the same time as Matakevich, it will likely be even sooner after the season I expect him to have as the Tide's unquestioned #1 back.

Final shoutout, of course, goes to Ohio State QB-turned-WR Braxton Miller, who snatched the title of best athlete in college football like it was an unnoticed $20 bill laying on the ground. The #Braxspin, courtesy of Mark Titus, was undoubtedly THE highlight of the entire Week 1 slate, and could conceivably already be named the play of the year. Effortlessness doesn't even do the ease with which Miller ended the lives of not one, but two (!) Virginia Tech defenders' lives justice. On the night, Miller compiled 140 total yards and 2 scores on a meager 8 touches. Almost unfathomable, until one remembers he was basically performing at this level before his unfortunate injury and "demotion" from starting QB to gadget player. Miller will not be denied, it seems, from making as large of an impact as possible on every single Buckeye game he suits up for despite the fact that he's not beginning each play with the ball in his hands. Salute to you, Braxton, for excelling immediately in a new role that could very possibly bode better for your fortunes at the next level better than playing quarterback ever would've.

Aaaaaaaand now onto my Week 2 picks (how was that for a transition?):

19 Oklahoma at 23 Tennessee (PK) - 6:00 PM ET (ESPN)
Per usual, Vegas nailed this line on the head. I've been staring at this matchup for 20 minutes now and I still can't figure out who's going to win. I'm honestly going to make my pick based on how I describe the two teams over the next few sentences. Let's see how this goes. Both teams lit up the scoreboard against inferior opponents last week, though the Vols defense did relent 36 points to VMI...not ideal. Tennessee was a popular preseason "breakout team" pick by many, and it's not hard to see why. Butch Jones has put together a couple really good recruiting classes, and all that talent is finally developed and out on the field. RB Jalen Hurd and Alvin Kamara are bonafide studs, WR Josh Malone is expected to step up in star receiver Marquez North's absence, and QB Josh Dobbs has proven to be a very capable leader of the offense. But man, how is that D going to stop Samaje Perine if VMI hung 36 on them? Who's Samaje Perine, you may be asking? Oh, I don't know, maybe the current FBS record holder for rushing yards in a single game (427). The Crimson Wrecking Ball, as only I call him, was only a true freshman when he delivered that performance a season ago, so expectations are sky-high for his sophomore campaign. He started the season off with a pedestrian 11-33-1 stat line, and is likely looking to return to his world-beating form from last year. The edge here is home field advantage, as I'm leaning toward Tennessee in this likely shootout.

7 Oregon at 5 Michigan State (-4) - 8:00 PM ET (ABC)
The unquestioned game of the week. Connor Cook vs. Vernon Adams. Mark Helfrich vs. Mark Dantonio. High-speed offense vs. physical, punishing defense. So many intriguing storylines to follow in this one, chief among them being the surprising clear edge that the Ducks have in the running game. Royce Freeman might just be the best overall running back to come through Eugene in years, yet it seems like no one is willing to give him that kind of credit. The Spartans will always showcase a powerful, successful running game, but I'll take Freeman over MSU's L.J. Scott any day of the week (especially Saturday). The winner of this game, though, will likely be the team that generates more turnovers, as Cook and Adams, while very good quarterbacks, should likely be on the hook for a couple mistakes here and there. Whichever defense capitalizes on those mistakes will prove to be victorious, so I'll take Shilique Calhoun and all those ballhawking defensive backs on MSU to edge the Ducks.

14 LSU (-4) at 25 Mississippi State - 9:15 PM ET (ESPN)
The Dak Attack has a hell of a task in front of him, as The Mad Hatter and his LSU Tigers come rolling into Starkville this week. I'm just going to get this out of the way now: there is no one on Mississippi State capable of checking Leonard Fournette. He's going to get his, no matter how much the Bulldogs stack the box. Where they have a chance, though, is in bothering young signal caller Brandon Harris enough to take the ball out of Fournette's hands and into Prescott's. The very underrated loss of Josh Robinson from Mississippi State's backfield must be remedied Saturday night, as it is imperative that either Ashton Shumpert or the diminutive Brandon Holloway steps up in a big way against a loaded (surprise, surprise) LSU defense. Leading the Tigers on that side of the ball is prime breakout candidate S Jalen Adams and heart-and-soul LB Kendall Beckwith, among others as well. The plethora of young, hungry, new starters will be tested by Prescott for sure, but I have a strong feeling Les Miles will have them prepared enough to return to Baton Rouge with a key early-season road victory.

20 Boise State (-2.5) at BYU - 10:00 PM ET (ESPN2)
There has to be one upset, right? Boise State, even post-Kellen Moore, has stayed remarkably consistent, adding 20 more wins over the past two seasons on top of the remarkable 50 that Moore collected during his time as a Bronco (making him the winningest QB in FBS history). Coach Bryan Harsin, OC of the Moore-led squads, leads a creative, efficient offense that tends to give the Mountain West fits every year. Only problem is, BYU is Independent. But that's not why their winning this game. The Cougars will topple Boise because of the incredible amount of team resiliency and unity they exhibited last week after starting QB/Longhorn slayer Taysom Hill went down yet again with a serious, season-ending injury that will sadly mark the end of an enigmatic career to say the least. Backup QB Tanner Mangum is a former Elite 11 darling, and perhaps the better passer between him and Hill. I'm not implying that Hill's injury will benefit the Cougars, but Mangum's presence should ease the concerns of any BYU fans ready to push the panic button on the 2015 season. Seeing is believing, though, and I'm sure after seeing Mangum light up an unsuspecting Boise defense on Saturday night, BYU fans everywhere will be plenty convinced that all hope was not lost with the tragic fate of their star QB.

Dazed But Never Confused: Finding Meaning at Made in America Day 2

Fluorescent lights, mindless people hanging from trees, and mass hysteria in crowded spaces. Nothing out of the ordinary.
Made in America 2015, Philadelphia, PA

Truthfully, Made in America begins way before you get your ticket scanned, prove to the ornery security guard that your bag contains no illegal substances, and are allowed entry into the festival. The day actually begins on the walk to the closed-off section of Philadelphia that is transformed into an entirely separate entity, one that's neither urban nor barren. Entire sections of the Ben Franklin parkway were closed off and prepared for the ensuing destruction. Despite being located in the middle of the city, the Made in America grounds were truly their own world, a conscience-numbing environment where time stops, the "real world" is not a thought, and primal instincts reign supreme.

Characters play a rather sizable role in my journey, and none is bigger than my brother Dylan. By my side for the entirety of the 2-day festival, Dylan was my partner-in-crime and engine that kept me going. All the other temporary friends my brother and I collected that Sunday were organic byproducts of our unstoppable quest for pure, unadulterated joy.

Immediately upon exiting the subway, my brother and I met up with a group of people also en route to MiA. Comprised of two guys, four girls, and a whole lot of alcohol, this group was a collective mess, so naturally my brother and I stuck with them for a little bit. "A little bit" lasted until they were taking just a touch too long at a Dunkin Donuts along the way; Action Bronson was coming on at 3:00 and our mental clock was ticking. As we did the whole weekend, Dylan and I pursued our own interests and finally got to the entrance.

Briefly split up as a result of a ticket snafu, I was forced to wait just inside as my brother sought another entrance. During this time, fate intervened in my life for the first time that day. Who else do I see but the two guys from Dunkin Donuts, Tony and Micah. I figured I'd reconvene with them since Dylan still hadn't emerged yet, and I seamlessly worked my way into being "one of theirs" anyway. Students at the University of Connecticut, Tony and Micah were in Philly with the four girls, some from Connecticut, some students at La Salle, and were simply down to have a good time with anyone they encountered, just like Dylan and I. Once Dylan met back up with us, we embarked on Day 2, following the booming sounds of a wheezy, enthusiastic Bronson in the distance.

Unfortunately, we arrived at the Rocky Stage (Bronson's stage as well as the main stage of the festival) in time to only hear perhaps the final 2 or 3 songs of Bronson's set. Even in such a limited sample, Bronson was mesmerizing. The sight of a round, white, orange-bearded man prancing around, joint in hand, rapping like his life depended on it was honestly the ideal start to the day. At least for me, MiA was about experiencing all things foreign to me: live hip-hop music, mass crowds of intoxicated college-age kids, and overall anarchy. I embraced all these elements with surprising ease, as the comfort I felt with my newfound friends allowed me to move from place-to-place without any worry, an absolute anomaly for someone as plan-oriented as I am.

Tony and Micah, sporting a crisp, black Penny Hardaway jersey, were apparently most interested in seeing Future, so we headed over to his stage, the Liberty Stage, about an hour before his set was scheduled to begin. Santigold was performing by the time we clawed our way to a favorable spot near the stage, plenty close enough to examine a flawlessly executed orange-ribbon/checkered-blue jumpsuit get-up that I'm sure Prince probably rocked three decades ago. Santigold's mezzo-soprano voice and M.I.A.-reminiscent musical style influenced a growing crowd in size and volume. Her set seemed to fly by, but this was most likely due to the vodka still flowing through my veins and the scarcely-dressed young woman who was tugging at the strings of my Adidas backpack.

As Future's set time neared, the Liberty Stage became a glut of glossy-eyed millennials scrambling around with seemingly no purpose in mind. Dylan and I decided to depart from our dear hour-long friends Tony and Micah as we decided that seeing Big Sean without a squad was better than enduring Future - and that crowd - with one. This is where absolute madness led me to fate once again. Finding our way out of the scrum of the Liberty Stage was one of the most challenging exercises in patience and focus that I've ever experienced, complete with some unfortunately obnoxious people armed with a sense of entitlement that the crowd should part for them like they were Prince Akeem of Zamunda himself.

Out from the endless waves of faceless figures appeared two girls in matching pink hats that read "You Can't Drink With Us." Fighting out of a crowd that would cause even the slightest claustrophobe to pass out tends to create solidarity for any small group of people looking to make their way out. This is exactly what happened with my brother, me, and these two girls as we grabbed ahold of each other and pursued every crack and crevasse in the masses to find any type of open space. The two girls, Megan and Sam, said they were separated from two of their other friends, also wearing the pink hats, so we figured we'd help them look for them as we continued to push through. Finally, as we made it far enough away from Future's domain to get some breathing room, a third pink hat was spotted. Not long after, the fourth girl in their group was reunited with her friends, and just like that, Dylan and I had found another bunch of young, excitable people to explore the increasingly hazy, sweaty realm known as Made in America.

It's well past 5:00 now. Future is lighting his crowd on fire with his signature deep voice and booming beats, but all I'm focused on is making it to Big Sean, who will kick off an epic trilogy at the Rocky Stage that will also see J. Cole and The Weeknd follow. The girls that are traversing the perilous concession stand lines with us are perfect fits for us: outgoing, drunk, attractive, and absolutely not willing to give a fuck. Sam, a petite blonde with a gorgeous smile, especially took a liking to me despite the fact that I was the only non-21-year-old among us. Megan, GoPro in hand and feet always moving, Ria, the most wild and active of the bunch, and Patti, the de facto leader and "mom" as I heard the other girls call her, were also on their way to see Big Sean, so our partnership would at least continue for a while longer.

Big Sean killed it. Let me just say that right off the bat. His energy level was off the charts compared to an admittedly sub-par Meek Mill set the day before, and his setlist was pretty flawlessly constructed. He opened with "Paradise", his manic, 2-versed obliteration of conventional flows and unofficial lead track off his new album Dark Sky Paradise. He continued with a balanced mix of old and new songs, and all of them aside from "One Man Can Change the World" got the crowd erupting into a crazed frenzy. "One Man" did resonate with the crowd on another level, though; Sean's pre-song speech about his late grandmother, the inspiration for the song, wrought a sense of genuine sympathy and raw emotion among the audience that could also be heard in Sean's performance of the song. As a result, the atmosphere during that song and the rest of the set was marked by an overwhelming sense of unity and togetherness. I knew this to be true simply off the connections made by my brother and I during the set. Naturally, we were dancing with our pink-hatted friends the whole time, but everyone surrounding us seemed drawn to anyone expressing a willingness to let themselves be absorbed by the music, which most certainly described us. The set concluded with the post-breakup anthem "I Don't Fuck With You", making for a beautiful contrast with the mood of the rest of the set. In between several songs, Big Sean would preach to the crowd about pursuing your dreams and all that good stuff that I don't mean to yada-yada because I share the same views, but I must to make this point: As Sean sang his lyrics of resentment and disapproval toward his ex to the sea of screaming fans, the message of the song became suddenly clear to me. Don't get hung up on something or someone that had a negative impact in your life. Keep moving forward and only surround yourself with positive influences. In that moment, I gained a newfound respect for a rapper that many used to poke fun at for simplistic views of fame and mostly corny puns.

The sun was beginning to set as my brother, the pink girls and I decided to head toward the bathroom facilities following Big Sean's set. I knew for a fact that the day was only beginning, though, as I eagerly awaited my favorite artist, J. Cole, to come on at 7:30. The central aisle of the festival was lined with concessions on either side of a wide, paved walkway that only continued to get more congested as the night progressed. It was precisely during our descent into the dust-filled depths of this area that Dylan and I were separated from the girls. Unfortunate, sure, but certainly an expected occurrence in such a situation. We quickly gathered ourselves and agreed upon making our way back to the Rocky Stage to nudge our way as close to the front as possible. Despite the short memory I expressed outwardly, something in the back of mind told me to still be on the lookout for a couple of bobbing pink hats buried in the crowd. The logical side of my brain told me there was simply no chance I'd see Sam and the rest of them again, it was just too improbable. Yet, some sort of indescribable pulling from deep within me swayed me to stay vigilant. Well, I'm sure you can guess what happened next. One glance behind me as Dylan and I settled into our spots for J. Cole yielded me a view of the girls and those bright pink hats reappearing to us.

Believe it or not, this encounter sparked a change in my entire being. Maybe I'm overdramatizing the whole thing, but the manifestation of a chance reunion that I would usually have never imagined could happen, yet I somehow knew was going to happen anyway, caused me to at least give credence to those who subscribe to the enigma known as "fate." Made in America, where life-altering cosmic lessons apparently fucking happen.

Now, when I say Big Sean killed his set, I meant it. He was sensational. That being said, J. Cole committed premeditated murder on his hour-long performance at MiA. Emerging from backstage to the eternally hopeful "Intro" off his newest album 2014 Forest Hills Drive, Cole gleefully strolled to the front of the stage and greeted the audience with such brazen joviality that I suddenly found myself with the most childlike grin plastered on my face within seconds. "Intro" along with the final song performed off the album, "Love Yourz", created the perfect bookends to sum up the message of 2014 FHD, which is that each person's singular focus in life is to find happiness, however that may come to you (implied is that it should be a positive outlet). Family, friends, fulfillment, and love are what add up to a life worth living, and all other bullshit just doesn't matter. Few, if any, rappers are currently basing their music on these principles, making J. Cole, combined with his respect for those stuck in "the hustle" that he witnessed growing up in Fayetteville, NC, truly the realest rapper out right now. People may hate on him for his vulnerability and (in my opinion) meritless view that he is "uninteresting", but the guy simply goes out there on that stage and delivers his heart and soul for each and every person in the crowd. It's not all sensitive shit and phone-flashlight-waving songs either; "A Tale of 2 Citiez" absolutely bumps in a live setting, with the noise level reaching its apex during the part of the song where Cole commands everyone to put their "hands in the air now, hands in the air." 

By the time the aforementioned "Love Yourz" was introduced by Cole as "not a festival song," I'm sure no one in the crowd could care any less. "No such thing as a life that's better than yours," the song's unifying theme, more than aptly described my thoughts at that exact moment. I've never been to any type of concert or music festival like MiA before, so everything I saw and felt that day was new territory. Seeing my favorite artist live, performing songs that speak to my ideals about love, personal strife, and overall happiness created a feeling inside me that I honestly have trouble putting into words (ironic considering how many words you've read up to this point). Add that to the beautiful girl I got dancing on me, telling me I'm giving her goosebumps, and suddenly she isn't the only one. Being keenly aware of natural euphoria as it hijacks your entire existence is a rare occurrence; I was able to experience that phenomenon at this precise moment. A sincere thank you to J. Cole, and Sam, for helping me achieve this. Hopefully the two of you were able to experience your own unique fulfillment in that moment as well...

But the night is not over, not by a long shot. After J. Cole wrapped his set up, we didn't have any pressing needs to attend to. The Weeknd was scheduled to come on at 9:30, so we had about an hour to kill. It was during this motiveless allotment of time that the mysticism of the event hit me like I was the victim of Kam Chancellor's steadfast protection of the middle of the field. The combination of dust and smoke - from cigarettes, hookah vapes, and weed alike - created a dreamlike environment that, doused in the electric magic emanating from EDM DJ's Axwell and Ingrosso's turntables, stimulated my brain like I've never known before. I allowed myself to let go of any and all inhibitions; all my fears, faults, and past mistakes were nonexistent. Alcohol wasn't even part of the equation anymore. I, along with my brother and the pink girls, positioned myself squarely in the middle of the center aisle and decided to create my own stage. Somehow we were able to recreate the innocence of a grade-school dance mixed with the twisted nature of such a drug-and-alcohol-inspired event with some admittedly insane dance circles. Megan's GoPro served as the ladle that stirred the pot, as anyone bold and free enough to make their way into our circle was captured forever by her camera. And man did we attract some bold and free people! Shoutout to my man Gresdin (probably terribly butchering his name) in the fresh T-Mac Raptors jersey who confirmed my previously unproven thoughts that I am in fact a good dancer. He was tearing it up so I can say with a good deal of confidence that his opinions are valid. Soon enough we were the main attraction of all those who weren't actually at a stage, drawing in all bystanders with our infectious energy and, as I'd like to think, exceptional moves. This lasted for at least 30 minutes, only ceasing when our bodies were almost ready to give out and we wisely decided to save whatever we had left for the night's final act, The Weeknd.

The twilight hours of MiA gave off a much different feel than the earlier hours. Illegal substances took their toll on the less disciplined, dehydration likely claimed its share of the unwise as well. Dylan, our night-long pink capped friends, and I would not be denied, however, of our rightful nightcap. Dreary bodies were strewn across the lawn like I was walking through a military shelter for wounded soldiers, just with dirt instead of blood splattered across the clothes. Only through sheer persistence did we manage to slither our way to a favorable spot in the crowd. Even the wait for The Weeknd to come on was compelling, simply because of the tangible anticipation that draped over the crowd as if it was the world's largest blanket.

I was a way bigger Big Sean, J. Cole, Action Bronson, and even Meek Mill fan coming into MiA than I was with The Weeknd. I enjoyed his features on "Crew Love" by Drake and "Pullin Up" by Meek, and the catchiness of "The Hills" and "Can't Feel My Face" obviously permeated my ears and attracted some interest, but I knew virtually none of his catalogue besides that. I was looking forward to his performance nonetheless, as I was aware of how his music generally resonates with crowds at live events such as this. Well, I had no fucking idea as to how much The Weeknd resonated with me at a live event such as that. Sonically, his voice synced with the synths and other wizardry involved in his beats is likely the best I've ever heard at the concert setting. The successive (or close to successive) performances of the two songs mentioned above along with "Tell Your Friends," set off a gradual chain of reaction in the crowd the likes that I've never seen before at a concert, party, or any social event. The entire concept of people dancing/standing alone ceased to exist. All that remained was the ability to congregate in partners for the most part, groups as well, as The Weeknd preached his hazy, twisted, yet romantic sermon. His falsetto delivery is all-encompassing as it explodes through the assuredly Jay Z-approved speaker system (MiA is Hov's event, sponsored by Budweiser, what's up Budweiser? *winks for some sponsorship attention*). His songs build an Inception-like dreamscape that somehow doesn't seem unnatural, you never receive the kick as long as the music is still playing. And for an insanely lucky guy like me, the partner I had in taking in the exclamation point for the entire day was Sam, yeah, one of those "pink hats" I kept tossing into scattered sentences. She seemed equally engulfed by the whole experience, and positively affected by my involvement in her time there, which is only especially notable to me because Made in America is, at its core, a musical festival. Only The Weeknd and all the other great acts are able to convince you into thinking there is no other place that you could be. And as the ringleader of our collective madness proclaimed that he couldn't feel his face, there's no place I'd rather be (though I was entirely cool with maintaining feeling in my face). I'd never think such a strong connection could be felt with another person entirely accompanied by music. The whole crowd surely sounded like they thought differently.

And then, it was over. It happens just that quick. Next thing I know Sam and her friends are scurrying away, and it's just Dylan and I once again. All of the highs wrapped up in dancing with that one girl, with this one dude pouring his heart out into a microphone in front of all of us, swiftly becomes a thing of the past, and our focus suddenly shifts to finding our way out of the ensuing mass exodus. Those girls, Tony and Micah wherever they were, and even the dude from Houston we became 60-second friends with as all our girls departed from us, are back to their lives, likely to never be seen again (hit me up if you're ever in Philly again though Sam *winking face emoji*).

As Dylan and I eventually worked our way out of Tidal Kingdom, and all these thoughts that I've managed to put into words were just developing as reactions in my head, fate decided to poke its head out one last time. Not fate in a world-changing way, but still meaningful. Recalling the entire day aloud with Dylan and visually in my mind inspired me to compose this very (hopefully) compelling blog post that I've had a blast writing. Made in America taught me many lessons that Sunday, but none greater than this: take advantage of every opportunity to experience any type of (safe) joy and happiness that you can.

Just as MiA begins on the way there, it doesn't end til you're back home. My way home included a nostalgia-filled account of our night to some subway strangers, two of whom were Penn State students, which meant as a Temple student, I had automatic bragging rights over them after Temple's 27-10 win over the Nittany Lions on Saturday night.

When you're having a good day, everything just ends up working out in your favor, you know?

Week 1 College Football Preview

Football is back! 10 AM in Philly is back!!! I'M BACK!!!!!

After essentially taking the whole summer off, I've returned to my perch atop the blogosphere to deliver my sermon upon you, my deserving reader(s). Summer had been great, but there's nothing quite like fall. Leaves are changing colors and falling to the ground, the weather is cooling down, and, most importantly, the pads are coming on, cleats coming out, and the grass (or turf) is green as ever. That's right, I'm talking about some football.

NFL action may still be a week away, but my beloved collegiate game is already underway, with some ranked teams, including playoff contenders TCU, playoff dark horse Georgia Tech, and a sneaky-good Arizona squad taking care of business Thursday night. With the rest of the week 1 slate (except Baylor on Friday night and defending champs Ohio State on Monday) ready to kick off on Saturday, I'm here to run through some of my favorite storylines for this upcoming year, highlight a couple of my players primed for breakout years, and of course give my picks for a few of the weekend's most anticipated matchups.

First off, I'd like to say thank you to anyone reading. I'm hoping to be on top of my shit this time around, as my inaugural year running this blog definitely had its share of ups and downs. Hopefully, with your eyeballs and minds as my support, I'll be able to provide all you with compelling content on at least a semi-regular basis.

Now, onto some college football. We all know about Ohio State's dominance in the preseason polls by now, so I'll just skip right on to the #2 team in the country, the TCU Horned Frogs. Head coach Gary Patterson has quietly been perhaps the top defensive coach in college football for almost a decade now, regularly fielding absolutely ferocious defenses dating back to his days in the Mountain West, and he hasn't slowed down one bit since the move to the Big 12. A funny thing happened last season though, something that the Horned Frog faithful haven't seen since the days of Andy Dalton: a legitimately potent and downright scary offense. Led by out-of-nowhere sensation Trevone Boykin, TCU's newly installed Air Raid offense took the nation by storm in 2014, resulting in sky-high expectations for the returning Boykin for the 2015 season, and serving up notice to the usual powerhouses that a new program is here to challenge anyone. Boykin is certainly not doing it alone either. Running back Aaron Green was the conference's best kept secret in 2014, averaging 7.1 yards per carry to go along with 11 total touchdowns. Now clearly "the man" in that backfield, Green should explode in 2015 and likely catapult up some draft boards. In addition, receiver Josh Doctson is a straight up beast on the outside. A master of jump balls and being more physical than his opponent, Doctson emerged as Boykin's go-to guy in the passing game. With all this talent returning, plus the guaranteed stout defense Patterson ensures each and every season, TCU easily has the best chance to unseat the Buckeyes.

Championships may be the ultimate goal, but it's still about 4 months away, so excuse me as I shift my focus over to some week 1 storylines. What better place to start than in Tallahassee, where former Notre Dame QB Everett Golson has been handed the keys to the Seminole offense, one that must replace a lot of production, and quickly if this team has playoff aspirations like I know they do. Lucky for Golson, his backfield mate just might be the most talented back in the country. The troubled but electric Dalvin Cook burst onto the national scene as a true freshman a season ago, compiling 1008 yards and 8 touchdowns on only 170 carries. Jimbo Fisher will likely lean on Cook heavily as Golson finds his footing with an array of athletic underclassmen at wide receiver.

Speaking of talented running backs, Leonard Fournette though! Cook might be the most talented back in the country, but realistically, Fournette is. Labeled as an ungodly cross between Adrian Peterson and Michael Jordan as an uber-prospect coming out of high school, Fournette possessed an NFL body the second he stepped on the LSU campus, and is just now, as a sophomore, growing into the complete running back he is expected to be. Other sophomore sensations to keep an eye on are Oklahoma power-back and current record holder for most rushing yards in a game Samaje Perine, Nick Chubb, the new lead guy in the always-stacked Georgia Bulldog backfield, and Royce Freeman, the thunder to Oregon's usual plethora of lightning-fast skill players. Fournette, Cook, Chubb, and the others are names that you will certainly be hearing and seeing all over the place as the season progresses. Not only are they supreme talents who will rack up some impressive numbers, but all their teams are contenders who will surely be playing in some extremely meaningful games late in the season.

As for those you don't know yet, or those who won't be playing in meaningful games deep into Novemeber and December, I got you covered. 7th in rushing yards, 3rd in rushing touchdowns just a season ago, Pitt RB James Conner is the most underappreciated star in college football at the moment. With just one other notable playmaker helping him out on offense (WR Tyler Boyd), Conner is tasked with moving the Panther offense down the field despite the 11 guys on the other side of the ball being distinctly aware that he will be receiving the handoff on the majority of the plays. A bowling ball of a man at 6-2, 240 lbs, Conner's running style is downright vicious, and I certainly do not envy all the ACC defenders who happen to get in his way this season.

 Despite not getting perhaps all the recognition I feel he deserves, Conner was a full-fledged star last year. There's no disputing this; his stats hold up against any returning back in the country. Someone whose stats may not jump out to you and scream "BREAKOUT" is USC CB/WR/returner/possible alien Adoree' Jackson. Watch one play in any phase of the game that Jackson is involved in, though, and his game-breaking speed immediately jumps off the tape. Extremely agile with fluid hips and plenty of natural athleticism, Jackson's future is likely at corner, just as ESPN predicted when they ranked Jackson as the #9 overall recruit in the 2014 class. Jackson will be an important piece to a Trojan squad that, led by QB Cody Kessler, looks to regain the national prominence they held about a decade ago.

I can't just identify the obvious ones, right? You come to me for those deep sleepers, those "who the fuck is that guy" picks where you can say you heard about him before any of your buddies. Well, mark these two names down then: Robert Foster and Joseph Yearby. Hardcore recruiting nerds as well as fans of Alabama and Miami will be plenty familiar with these two, but to the large majority of the country, those two names could very well be two obscure presidential candidates for the 2016 election who will inevitably concede to Trump and Hillary. Make no mistake, though, Foster and Yearby will no longer be confused for anything but bonafide college stars after this season. Foster, a wideout for the Crimson Tide, must work quickly to fill the rather large vacancy left by OBJ-lite Amari Cooper (who is also looking primed for a put-everyone-on-notice type of rookie year). I have little doubt that Foster will rise to the occasion. At 6-2 and nearly 200 pounds, Foster has the size to battle with the notoriously physical SEC secondaries while also possessing the speed and after-the-catch wiggle to become Bama QB Jacob Coker's new best friend.

Yearby is also stepping in for a recent NFL draft pick (that would be Cleveland Browns RB Duke Johnson), and his impact could very well surpass that of Foster, especially if Miami is to enjoy the kind of success that is expected out of coach Al Golden and the rest of the underwhelming Hurricanes program the past few years. A smaller back that may remind some of Johnson, Yearby actually runs with a different style than his predecessor. Built compactly in his 5-9, 205 pound frame, Yearby has some between-the-tackles juice to go with his open-field agility and elusiveness. Just like the Duke, however, is Yearby's knack for taking receptions out of the backfield for some serious yardage. In 2014, Yearby took just 8 catches for 118 yards and a touchdown to go along with his 86 carries for 509 yards.

And with that, onto the picks! First matchup is...
Texas at 11 Notre Dame (-9.5) - 7:30 PM ET (NBC)
Were you even expecting anything else? Yes, I'm an unapologetic Longhorn fan, but that doesn't mean I can't provide unbiased analysis! Or maybe it does...either way let's talk about this showdown of two of the most prestigious college football programs in the country. Notre Dame is completely deserving of their lofty preseason ranking and two-possession spread they are given, as I expect the Irish to topple my Horns. However, this young Texas defense has some playmakers, highlighted by freshman sensation Malik Jefferson, that can really bother Malik Zaire, Notre Dame's newly minted full-time starting quarterback. As long as the talented Irish offensive line holds up like it should, however, than Texas likely won't be able to apply the type of pressure needed to frazzle Zaire and really throw him off rhythm. On the other side of the ball, Tyrone Swoopes will be staring down star LB Jaylon Smith all game, and let's just say I'm not expecting anything too beneficial to come out of that matchup. As sad as I am to say it, I think Notre Dame puts on a show for the home crowd and disposes of Texas by a score of 31-17.

15 Arizona State at Texas A&M (-3) - 7:00 PM ET (ESPN)
Do the handicappers think Johnny Football is still taking the snaps in College Station? I mean, Kyle Field is a savage environment for road teams to enter into, but come on: Arizona State is for real. QB Mike Bercovici and RB/slot receiver D.J. Foster are back and ready to lead an explosive Sun Devil offense that figures to seriously compete for the Pac-12 crown. Though unranked, A&M figure to make it into the top 25 at some point this season, just not in the first week. This team is insanely talented though; guys like Kyle Allen, Speedy Noil, and Myles Garrett are going to be making their presence felt in the SEC for sure. This blogger just doesn't see it coming together for the Aggies in week 1. ASU wins a shootout behind 200 combined rushing and receiving yards from Foster, with a final score of 51-45. #ForksUp

20 Wisconsin at 3 Alabama (-14) - 8:00 PM ET (ABC)
No one's giving Wisconsin a chance. The Badgers' first game of the post-Melvin Gordon era is against Saban and his robot factory in the less-than-friendly confines of Tuscaloosa? Every college football fan is seeing that and staying the hell away from Wisconsin, even with the 2-touchdown gift. Well, this is where I come in and say...eh, give me 'Bama too. I know, I know, easy cop out. Let me explain though: Alabama is pretty damn loaded this year, and not even the usual degree of "loadedness" that we usually assume Alabama will be boasting. Jacob Coker was only just barely beat out by a certain man named Jameis Winston while he was at Florida State, and I believe he is fully capable of running the Tide's offense to perfection. The secondary is the strength of this defense once again, as sophomore cornerback Tony Brown is on the verge of becoming the next household name and 1st-round pick to come out of the Saban assembly line. Gordon's replacement, Corey Clement, also figures to be next in a long line of productive Wisconsin backs, but don't expect his ascent to begin Saturday night. Roll Tide roll, 38-21.

Look out for my Week 1 College Football Shoutouts likely coming out on Monday, and good luck to all your squads this weekend!

The Re-Definition of the Point Guard Position

Oscar Robertson was a freak of nature before the phrase was even coined. He was a 6'5", 205-pound monster who terrorized the NBA with a combination of size, skill, and will that was truly only rivaled by the giants of the game at the time, centers Bill Russell and Wilt Chamberlain, among others.

Alas, the Big O was a point guard. He was not a lumbering pile of limbs like the centers of those times, whose games revolved around being as close to the basket as possible upon receiving the ball, then using their towering height to gain an advantage in tossing the ball over the man guarding him and into the hoop. No, sir, Oscar's game did not resemble that one bit, though he did hold an advantage of his own. Oscar Robertson was the very first "jumbo point guard" (as I like to call it) in an era where the smallest person on the roster was a team's point guard, and the unfortunate receiver of Robertson as his matchup. Imagine the luxury Robertson had of going up against the likes of Bob Cousy (6'1", 175 lbs), Lenny Wilkens (6'1", 180 lbs), and Jerry West (6'2", 175 lbs) on a nightly basis, and those were the best PG's in the league, too. Against all the others, Robertson's dominance would only be that much easier to impose on his opponent.

This is not meant to take anything away from Oscar Robertson. Robertson is an all-timer no matter what the size of his peers were. Also, I am not suggesting that Robertson was the only big point guard in the league during the entire duration of his career. 6 years after Robertson's rookie year, the 6'4" Walt "Clyde" Frazier made his debut and proceeded to take the league by storm as the leader of the famous early-70's New York Knicks.

Simply put, Oscar Robertson was the first player to bring the ball up the court every possession and be his team's best option to score, shoot, and distribute, all while being bigger and taller than anyone else at his position. He was an anomaly, a once-in-a-generation force that took basketball as we knew it in the 1960's and changed it forever. Above all else, including his unfathomable triple-double season, a season which also featured Wilt's 100 point game, Oscar Robertson re-defined the point guard position and paved the way for the unconventional yet remarkable players we have playing the position today.

As any basketball fan knows, Magic Johnson came along in 1980 and took Oscar's game to an entirely different level. Standing 6'9" and possessing all the flair and dynamic ability of Maravich, Cousy, and other smaller guards, Magic was the ultimate showman. Different than the Big O in terms of playing style, but cut from the same cloth as point guards not defined by their size.

Magic, for the purpose of this exercise, was but a piece of the puzzle. He made a contribution toward the larger goal of the complete, modern-day point guard. Penny Hardaway, though only for a very limited amount of time, added on to that model in the 90's with his exceptional athleticism and ability to play multiple styles and blend well with the talent around him.

It wasn't until 2003, however, that the manifestation of all these traits were put together in one player. I think you can guess where I'm going here: LeBron James entered the NBA to fulfill his destiny as the ultimate ball-handler who can score just as easily as he can distribute. In other words, the most complete point guard in NBA history.

No, this isn't another LeBron dick-ride blog post that you can probably find anywhere on the Internet. That being said, he doesn't receive all the attention that he does for no reason. LeBron, standing 6'8" and 250+ lbs, while also possessing elite court vision, an innate feel for finding the open man, an improved jumper, and the best ability to finish around the rim that I have ever seen, is the embodiment of the perfect modern NBA point guard. He is not a small forward as 2K might tell you. Watch a Cavaliers game and it should be apparent by the end of the first quarter that the role LeBron plays in the Cavs' offense would check off every duty of your typical 6'2" point guard. Conversely, Kyrie Irving, who, when healthy and with more experience, is possibly the better Robin to LeBron's Batman than Dwyane Wade ever could be, may be listed as a point guard by any website or video game, but you watch his game and he plays awfully similar to some insane cross between Jamal Crawford, Monta Ellis, and a touch of Ray Allen. The commonality between the three players I just listed: they are all universally agreed upon as shooting guards. Kyrie Irving is a shooting guard. Just because he isn't 6'6" that doesn't make him anything else but a SHOOTING guard.

I suppose this dedication to labeling these players as a certain position may seem slightly pointless to some, especially Jalen Rose, who claims "positions were created so a novice can follow the game." This may be true, but since we do have positions, why not get them right?

Another example of a misidentified player is MVP runner-up James Harden, who is incorrectly referred to as a shooting guard. The Beard brings the ball up virtually every time for the Rockets (except for the always-entertaining Josh Smith trials at PG that we've seen lately) and is their leading assist man. Harden initiates all the Rockets' sets, and is the foul-drawing engine to the Rockets' 3-point driven offense. The Rockets may start the shorter Jason Terry (or Patrick Beverly when he's healthy) alongside Harden in the backcourt, but that does not change the fact that Harden is the primary, secondary, and tertiary ball handler and playmaker of the Houston Rockets.

Since I've already touched on the point guards of two of the four remaining teams in these playoffs, it's only right that next up in this discussion is none other than the man who beat out Harden for this season's MVP, the current phenomenon known as Steph Curry. A man of many nicknames, Chef Curry with the Pot is unlike LeBron and Harden in that mostly everyone considers him a point guard. So why even bring up this Brother of Splashes then? I'm glad you asked. I am prone to overstatements, so keep that in mind when I say that I believe Steph Curry is the greatest shooter in the history of the sport of basketball. Move aside Ray Allen, Reggie Miller, and Drazen Petrovic, Curry has chucked his way past all of them. Whether it's off-the-dribble, catch-and-shoot in the corner, or curling off a screen, Curry makes every single shot he takes look like he's taking wide-open jumpers in the gym. Even when he's forced to contort his perfectly sculpted shooting stroke because there's actual defense being played that he must account for, he still manages to find a way to put the ball through the hoop. No point guard in the history of the NBA has been as prolific a shooter as Curry in every facet of the art of the jump shot. Not Steve Nash, not Pete Maravich, not Chris Paul. Those legendary point guards do share a skill with Curry, though: the ability to drop a jaw-dropping dime whenever they feel like it. Curry only recently added this to his arsenal in-game, which likely contributed to his takeover as the sport's most popular player among the youngest generation of fans. Curry, like Maravich and Magic before him, is a showman who is always aware of what the fans want, and how to deliver (by the way, I highly recommend watching that video I linked to of Maravich if you're not familiar with his game. I find his highlight reels more entertaining than anyone else).

Finally, Jeff Teague deserves a mention as the point guard of the soon-to-be-runner-up Eastern Conference champion Atlanta Hawks, right? Well, kinda. You see, Teague represents the new age of point guards that have come up over the past couple of years and will continue to thrive in today's NBA. Teague's ultra-agressive attacking mentality combined with a decent shooting stroke (34% 3-pt) is what most teams are looking for in their floor generals, as opposed to the traditional, less athletic, pass-first point guards that formerly were found throughout the league. Guys like Damian Lillard, Ty Lawson, Mike Conley, and Kyle Lowry probably make up the bottom of any Top 10 Point Guard list you might have with your friends, as their skill sets are highly coveted by NBA GMs who are aware that finding the next Curry, Harden, or even Chris Paul or Russell Westbrook (who deserves his own category) is a fool's errand.

So the Teague-type point guard is just one that is taking over the league. The other? The freakishly-athletic, super-sized point guard that is also taking the NBA by storm. The value of these guys are absolutely skyrocketing league-wide. Why else do you think the Bucks were so comfortable with trading away Brandon Knight? Because they adore the length, athleticism, and raw ability that Michael Carter-Williams brings to the table, despite his clear inability to shoot with any proficiency and a troubling propensity to turn the ball over. Other examples of these kinds of point guards are John Wall, Elfrid Payton, Marcus Smart (kinda), and Emmanuel Mudiay, who will be a top 10 pick in the upcoming draft. Their games breed excitement above all else, with efficiency and selflessness occasionally taking a back seat. The best example of one of these players "putting it all together" is of course Wall, who was also a mega-prospect coming out of high school and college. He was always expected to be a star, though that doesn't make his progression over the past 2-3 years any less impressive.

The state of the point guard position is undoubtedly the brightest of any other position in the league. Klay Thompson and Jimmy Butler are holding down the shooting guard fort as Kobe enters what could very well be his final season, while other SG's fail to take the next step like Klay and Butler have, for various reasons. Players such as Demar Derozan (poor shot selection and lack of a reliable 3-point shot), Wesley Matthews (a truly unfortunate injury), and Lance Stephenson (who the hell knows) will hopefully turn their fortunes around sooner than later.

Small forward is murky as well, especially with the league preferring complimentary, "3-and-D"-type SF's to ball-dominating ones. Guys like Demarre Carroll, Khris Middleton, and Trevor Ariza will never be known as stars, yet they are the exact kind of players that are attracting the most attention at the position from teams around the league. Obviously, Kevin Durant will never go away, Kawhi Leonard is the reigning Defensive Player of the Year, Carmelo Anthony is an elite scorer when healthy, and Paul George will likely regain his All-NBA form, but don't expect the small forward position to surpass the point in terms of star power any time soon.

Power forwards are an interesting bunch. Anthony Davis is the crown jewel PF right now, while Lamarcus Aldridge and Blake Griffin are right there as well. Davis is basically everything I said about LeBron as a ball-handler, but applied to every skill you want out of a big man. Aldridge is the ultimate stretch-4, while Griffin is the league's premier athlete at the position, along with other interesting, and improving, abilities. All the non-stars at the power forward position are expected to consistenly knock down a 15-17 foot jumper, rebound effectively, and provide steady defense. The best example of this is Serge Ibaka, who is the consummate third banana and complement to two scorers such as Westbrook and Durant. Ibaka is the model for all role-playing power forwards entering the league, though very few will possess the natural athleticism that Ibaka has been blessed with.

Finally we get to centers. The slower, bulkier, back-to-the-basket low post scoring center is as obsolete as ever, as only Brook Lopez and Al Jefferson really succeed in that role. Maybe it's not a surprise that their teams don't, though, as the league has clearly gone away from building a team around that kind of center. The big man model created by Tyson Chandler and perfected by Deandre Jordan is now ruling the NBA, as guys like Rudy Gobert, Andre Drummond, and others are much more agile and fit better in the pace-and-space offenses. Marc Gasol and Demarcus Cousins are likely the best centers in the game today, and that is mostly a result of their versatile, efficient styles of play. Unfortunately for all the old-school NBA fans, centers have lost more importance and influence in the game than any other position by a significant margin.

This brings us back to the point guard position, as most NBA discussions do. They lead their offenses, collect the best stats, and generally draw the most headlines. There are more stars playing point guard than at any other position, and this is not an accident either. Offenses in today's NBA revolve around the ball-handler's ability to be a threat to shoot from anywhere, drive to the hoop and score, or find the open man. These are essentially the three most important skills a basketball player can possess, so it's only natural that a team's featured player is going to be its point guard.

You won't see any complaints out of me about this, as guard-driven basketball is extremely entertaining, as evidenced by the NBA's ever-increasing popularity and league wide revenue. The NBA's new TV deal for 2016 is a clear indication that people love watching basketball in 2015, and the way the game is currently played is unsurprisingly a large reason why. It seems like the league will continue to grow as the point guard position grows, both in terms of talent and importance. If the past couple years are any indication, it's a safe bet that the NBA will continue to be a booming business for years to come.

Noah's Archetype

In the suburban swampland known as West Nyack, NY, a superstar-to-be graced a stage and spread his word to a congregation of people who flocked to this particular venue to assess the enigma for themselves. He emerged from the side of the stage, sporting a look that would make Cal Naughton Jr. proud, and a bright grin large enough to disarm even the most hostile audience member. He would open his mouth, and immediately the exotic South African accent he bears is evident to all in the theater. A South African flag is boldly elevated into the comedian's view off to my left. He notices, and responds to it how any native South African comedian who sees a bunch of likely Americans attention-whoring via national flag-waving: by jokingly chastising the assumed posers through the use of a friendly weirded-out routine. 

30 seconds into his set, Trevor Noah was already being put on the spot. His response had to be polite, funny, and politically correct all at the same time. Unfortunately for the dissenters, he was ready. Maybe not for this particular instance, but Noah seemed prepared for any challenge that could be thrown his way. After all, despite already being named to the position, the heir to the Daily Show throne had to go out on that stage, and all subsequent stages he'd be performing on until he takes his spot behind The Desk, and prove he deserves his job.

Social media has truly changed how opinions of people and events are formulated. I'm not disclosing anything revolutionary here, but it deserves to be reiterated. The insta-reaction world we live in discourages well-thought-out reactions to breaking news, whether it's a relatively trivial story, or if it's something that captures the attention of the nation, or the world for that matter. Ideas and opinions formed instantly don't contain the proper deliberation and context needed to properly address the latest media fodder.

As a result of the hot-take culture, the news of South African comedian Trevor Noah being named the successor to Jon Stewart as host of the satirical news program "The Daily Show" was met with wide-ranging, and mostly disapproving, fanfare. Off-hand remarks he made over 3 years ago on Twitter were instantly dissected and judged as sexist and anti-Semitic. Outrage over his selection only continued to build as negative reactions piled up. Before he even delivered his first punchline as anchor, Noah was somehow already a colossal failure as host of The Daily Show.

Those familiar with his work, like myself, were probably feeling a mix of elation that "our guy" has been rewarded for his relatively unnoticed talent, and surprise that he was actually chosen to deliver jokes about politicians, television personalities, and the other highfalutin figures of our society.

The reason I, for one, was fairly surprised that Noah was chosen was because the stand-up special of his that I watched, plus any other information I gathered on him, did not necessarily lead me to believe that he was a "Daily Show" kind of dude. He certainly was way off the radar of the various writers at different news outlets who were trying their respective hands at predicting Comedy Central's pick. SNL titans Tina Fey and Amy Poehler, while acknowledged by most to be unlikely choices, were quickly mentioned as logical fits. Others such as former Daily Show correspondent Jason Jones, as well as comedians Amy Schumer and Hannibal Burress, were also tossed around as possible selections. One-time stand-in host and unspoken host-in-waiting John Oliver is currently slaying the late-night satirical news game over at HBO on his show Last Week Tonight with John Oliver, so he wasn't going to be making any type of shocking return. Yet with all the names floating around the Internet, nowhere was there a writer putting in his 500 words to make the case for some light-skinned South African with the biblical name to be the next person making fun of everything Fox News says every Monday-Thursday.

Despite everything I just said, I eventually settled on a sense of excitement and satisfaction over Comedy Central's appointment of Noah. Unbeknownst to me at the time I first heard of the news, Noah actually had made 3 appearances as a correspondent on The Daily Show (my level of interest in the show has varied from casual to dedicated multiple times over the past couple years, but naturally the semi-shocking news of Stewart's retirement was going to get me fully invested again). 

Anyway, once I found out about this, I immediately went to watch them for myself, and the result was nothing but the reaffirmation of my previous thoughts. He was surprisingly, more so than his naming to the position, a natural. Albeit in a different role, Noah hit virtually every beat that veterans like the afore-mentioned Oliver and Jones, as well as others like Samantha Bee, Aasif Mandvi, and going way back, Stephen Colbert and Steve Carrell would hit. He was charming and hilarious in the same way he was in his stand-up act, yet he was able to transition it into more political material.

As I've been hinting at, his stand-up doesn't exactly lend itself to the brand of humor that The Daily Show typically employs. Noah's schtick early in his career as a comic was his desire to be black, as in "American black." This bit, along with his other muses on American society from his South African point of view, struck a chord with me immediately. I was enthralled by his ability to blend cultural critiques with smart, funny punchlines. Thinking back on it now, I'm not so sure why I was so blindsided by his promotion, as the previous sentence is a basic yet crucial skill in being a competent Daily Show host.

The announcement was made on March 30. Trevor Noah was performing at Levity Live comedy club in the Palisades Mall during the weekend of April 17-18. My dad, who happened to be a Noah fan despite me never recommending Noah to him, had the Saturday show marked as something he'd like to attend since it was released on the venue's website. He was able to secure tickets for the two of us prior to him being named host, so our excitement for the show was only heightened when we found out.

Upon arriving at the comedy club, there was a palpable buzz among the other people waiting outside. Everyone knew that we were very fortunate to be able to see such a (future) influential comedy figure in a suburban mall. I have no idea how many people there purchased their tickets solely off the name recognition from the news headlines, but I'm sure every single person there, true fan or not, was chomping at the bit to decide for themselves whether or not his prestigious career jump was warranted.

Quick note: Noah's opening act, current Daily Show writer and contributor Hasan Minhaj, was pretty damn hilarious in his own right. Minhaj, an seemingly first or second-generation Indian-American, had some truly great bits about how he is perceived as a divine entity whenever he returns to his family's hometown in India, including one joke where he introduces a cousin of his, ignorant to the fine pleasures of American sweets and, as a result, longing only for Hershey's chocolate, to nougat. Minhaj's delivery of the cousin's reaction (nougat? nougat! NOUGAAAAAAAAATTTTTTT!!!!!!) incited an explosion of laughter from the crowd. Be on the lookout for him as a rising star on the "Best F#@king News Team Ever" (the moniker for the collection of Daily Show correspondents).

Returning to the subject of this post, Trevor Noah's act was absolutely nothing like the hour special that endeared me to his comedy originally. That's not to say it was bad; in fact, I thought he was exceptional. I was LOL-ing the whole time, and by the end, I was convinced I could've sat and watched him perform for at least another hour, if not more. 

The overall quality of his show isn't what stuck out to me however. Instead, it was the topics he touched upon in his jokes. The overarching theme of his content signaled, at least in my mind, a comedian who was hyper-aware of the precarious situation his recent career move has placed him in. Obviously, I don't know whether or not he altered his set at all following his promotion, but one would have to assume he did after watching him that night.

The most prominent jokes he told involved white cop/black man interactions, ebola, and the ever-present threat of terrorism, which branched out into two separate ideas: the practice of profiling Middle Eastern people on airplanes and the Charlie Hedbo shooting. In the order that I listed these topics is the order in which the crowd's comfortability level went, in descending fashion. 

Police/black male relations have never been a more pressing issue than it has been in the past year, or at least since the aftermath of the Rodney King beating. Noah's willingness to share his experiences as a black man who is not entirely proficient in how he is supposed to act when pulled over was not line-crossing whatsoever. Like virtually all his jokes that night, they killed. With him hailing from Africa, ebola jokes were bound to come, and those were very solid as well. No problem there, but the hint of "Look at how I am opining about prominent societal issues in America" was certainly getting stronger.

(By the way, I'm not even bothering to paraphrase any jokes simply because I know they won't come off very funny as just words and out of context. Sorry, but it's for your own good. I don't want to make him seem not funny when I'm attempting to preach the opposite).

As he transitioned into the Charlie stuff, I began wondering how he was going to pull it off. The crowd seemed to mirror my sentiments, as early jokes were receiving very cautious laughter. He eventually settled into a nice rhythm, and as a good comedian will do, Noah eased the crowd and assured them that it's OK to laugh at the slightly controversial things he's saying.

Finally, the Middle East/airplane bit was pure gold. Noah revealed his secret for maximum confidence in not being the victim of a terrorist attack on your particular flight: Fly on a Middle Eastern airlines, such as Fly Emirates or Etihad Airways. Actually a pretty sound strategy right? He then went into a hilarious demonstration of how a non-terrorist Middle Eastern man would berate a terrorist into disarming himself by asserting, "We already know how great Allah is, there's no reason for you to blow this plane up to prove that." Yes, I'm aware I just tried re-creating a joke he told, which I said I wasn't going to do. To that, I respond with this.

I'm digressing. Also, I'm dragging this post on longer than it has to be. I generally don't like constructing non-organic endings to my writing, but to conclude my observations from my experience watching Trevor Noah perform stand-up under the specter of living up to the title "next host of The Daily Show", I'd just like to say that I was fascinated by the deliberateness of the Daily Show-ness of his jokes, almost like he was auditioning for a job he already had. More than anything, I hope everyone else in the audience that night came away as convinced as I was that he is the right man for the position, and that others can come around on him as well. He is an immense talent, and his best work is yet to come.

Thank you for hopefully reading every word up to this point. I will reward you by ending this post with a personal favorite moment from Jon Stewart on The Daily Show, a genius triple-edged slamming of not only Brian Williams and his recent exaggeration scandal, but also of the media's coverage of the  situation as well as its decade-long coverage of the Iraqi War. Some have noted that Stewart's performance has slipped in recent months, but he sure did bring his A-game for this one. Enjoy

A Public Service Announcement to the Few 10 AM'ers Still Out There

I really had no idea what I was doing when I started this blog. No knowledge of HTML or web design. No clue how I was going to be able to produce interesting content (for me to write and for you to read) each week. No concrete plan for how I was going to make my little ol' blog different or better than the thousands of sports and pop culture blogs out there. I was scared I didn't possess the talent and creativity required to convince people to read my words. I still am.

It's truly an interesting concept upon further thought. With every post I publish on here, I'm really just  casting out my line, hoping a fish or two will look at my bait and decide "That's my kind of bait." Since I don't fish at all I probably mangled that analogy, but the point (hopefully) is clear: I'm tasked with stimulating your mind enough that your brain will seek to continue to attain the source of the stimulation. I may be making this all seem more complicated than it is, but that's my thing. I overthink, I exaggerate, I make every trivial subject out to be the Cuban Missile Crisis in my head. This level of over-introspection and extreme self-awareness constantly leads me to deter myself from acting off instinct.

I started this blog because I have a passion for writing about, well, what I'm passionate about. That would be sports, music, maybe some TV shows and movies, and anything else I'm oddly interested in, like how my friends' gridiron abilities would be quantified in terms of Madden ratings. My passion for putting my thoughts into words extends to songwriting, a hobby that, despite genuine compliments I receive from people, I consistently self-sabotage because I put in my head that I'm not writing anything close to the poetry I'm hearing in my headphones.

My other cherished hobby, poker, may soon fall victim to that very fate, if that's even possible. Lately I've been watching A LOT of professional poker, and who knows, perhaps soon I won't even want to play with my friends any more because I'm not making reads as proficiently as Daniel Negreanu or Phil Hellmuth, or because I don't have the stones to make a bold pre-flop raise out of position like Tom Dwan. I will never even begin to ever attempt to live up to the gold standards those guys set in the game of poker, but if the thought ever creeps into my head, it can invade and conquer like 16th century Spain in Latin America.

What I'm really getting at is that I'm fully aware that I haven't posted anything since Selection Sunday, about 5 weeks ago. I think about it every day. It weighs on me like a digital pile of cinderblocks.

I easily could've whipped up a post about Duke's incredible run to a championship, but Mark Titus of Grantland said everything that could've been said, and he did it way better than I could've.

I could've written a post about the NBA MVP race (which I finally settled on Curry as my pick after months of being on #TeamBeard), but that was everyone's favorite topic to discuss and analyze. I decided there was no fresh take I could've provided.

I even could've wrote up something on the McDonald's All-American game, the pinnacle of high school basketball All-star games. I mean, recruiting is my thing in the world of sports. None of my friends rival my knowledge in that area, and I rarely even see college basketball and NBA writers delve into recruiting past a one-sentence mention. Yet, I didn't even watch the damn thing. I barely even perused the highlights.

So, what's my problem? Why can't I simply write? Well, at every turn, I doubt myself. I doubt the words that I type into my laptop, and I doubt that more than maybe 10 people are actually reading all of them. That last part is likely true. I've finally come to a point where I've accepted that. I'd be crazy to expect each of my blog posts to garner triple-digit unique readers who read and appreciate everything I write in my first 9 months of the site's launch. That's just not realistic.

Why even post anything if I'm not receiving any type of recognition for it, even if I enjoy writing most of them? That was my mindset, a toxic one to say the least. I retreated into a self-imposed exile all over the pessimistic and cowardly thoughts that rattled around in my head. An uptick in school work also contributed to my extended hiatus, but in no way am I passing that off as an acceptable excuse.

Just today, I was reading Bill Simmons' latest column, a rarity in these days. Now that's a guy with legitimate excuses to slack off in his writing. He's got an entire multi-platform website to run, along with an award-winning documentary series to executive-produce. If it sounds like I'm being sarcastic, I am most certainly not. I have idolized Mr. Simmons, along with a couple of the talented writers that he has hired, for years now. His personable writing style and willingness to address less-publicized topics in an entertaining and relatable way has captivated me from the very first column of his that I read.

I've always wondered how he developed his style, and how he reached the enviable, and well-deserved, perch he now sits on. I never sought his life story, because any magazine feature or Wikipedia entry likely wouldn't given me the proper gratification. Imagine how pleasantly surprised I was when, while reading Simmons' mailbag today, came across a link in the middle of it to a B.S. Report podcast he held 3 weeks ago in which he takes 40 minutes to detail his journey from wide-eyed college graduate to rising star in the ESPN machine.

At first glance, more than anything, I was stunned that I didn't see this when it originally went up on Grantland. I keep a firm look-out for new Simmons content, and I don't know how this one got past me. Anyway, I immediately listened to it, of course, and honestly, it may end up changing my life. At least I truly, truly hope it does. Simmons painstakingly described each professional phase of his life post-graudation. From Boston Herald lackey to part-time bartender to AOL upstart to ESPN's "Page 2", Simmons opened himself up completely to his loyal listeners in a truly admirable gesture from him to aspiring sports writers, or any young person who is struggling over whether to continue the pursuit of his/her dream or "give up" and settle for a less fulfilling occupation.

I swear I'm not an impressionable person. I don't really get inspired unless I come into contact with something I undeniably connect with on a extraordinary level. The overwhelming optimism and hope for a purely love-and-passion-filled life of J. Cole's 2014 Forest Hills Drive probably only rates like a 7 out of 10 on the scale that I just created that determines how inspired I get by something. Childish Gambino's astounding world creation/critique on modern human interaction otherwise known as Because the Internet generated a comparable level of inspiration.

In terms of resonating with the specific struggles I am currently dealing with pertaining to my future career, Simmons' 40-minute reminiscing session had an unparalleled effect on my psyche. His detailing of how he came to acquire each job was compelling, sure, but his final advice is what stuck with me the most:

"There's really no way to help anybody. There's no magic sentence to tell somebody. Really it comes down to 'Are you willing to outwork everybody else? Are you willing to do whatever it takes to get a chance? And if you get that chance, how hard are you gonna work once you get it?'"

I've always known this to be true. It's a quite generic and oft-repeated set of rhetorical questions that can be applied to almost any field. Yet, I heard them coming from one of my largest writing influences, the man who brought my absolute favorite website/sports and pop culture content provider into existence. Something just kinda went off inside me. Something long repressed and nearly forgotten.

Drive. Ambition. Fire. True Fucking PASSION.

In my twisted logic, I generally assumed that with a really good GPA, a degree from Temple University, and the writing talent that I know I have but don't often showcase, I'll land a job writing for Grantland, or a similar publication, within a couple years of graduation.

"Yeah, I know I won't get it right out of college. But I'll get there soon enough. What could stop me?"

Myself, that's what. I never really possessed the right work ethic. I'm lazy, I'm a know-it-all, I'm apprehensive and prone to second-guessing. I may never overcome any of those deficiencies.

After hearing Simmons' advice, though, I realized that I can still make something of myself. Through all my difficulties, I've surprisingly never lost confidence in my ability to write. Sure, I'm not good enough at this very moment to start working for Grantland or a newspaper or anywhere really, but I have a knack for this that is readily apparent in the projects that I pour my heart into. I'm going to continue to improve and hone my skills, because that's what any other 18-year-old would do.

From now on, however, I'm going to work harder than any other 18-year-old, though. There's no way to quantify this (which is something I'm going to have to repeatedly remind myself), so basically it's all on me. I'm up for the challenge, because there's no one I'd rather bet on than myself.

This doesn't necessarily mean I'm going to start posting every day, or spend every hour of free time I have working on my blog. I'm still going to enjoy my hobbies, like songwriting and poker, as well as watch all the sports, TV shows, and movies I usually do. However, I believe that I'm finally ready and willing to put in the work necessary to reach the professional success I envision for myself.

Regular blog posts will resume starting tomorrow, with a post about my recent experience at a Trevor Noah (the next host of The Daily Show) stand-up show and how he used his act to retroactively audition for the job he already has. That may have sounded confusing, so be sure to read the post to gain clarification.

But for right now, I'm going to watch my Yankees hopefully end the Mets' 11-game winning streak, because I'm an 18-year-old kid who enjoys sports more than almost anything in this world. Just don't say I don't work hard enough from now on simply because I decided to watch sports rather than write about them.

To the few 10 AM'ers I may have, thanks for reading. You guys are the real MVP.

College Basketball Notebook: IT'S TOURNEY TIME MOTHERF*****S

You may think that March Madness derives its name from the frenetic first weekend of the NCAA Tournament, where 48 games are played in a 96-hour period. In other words, a game every 2 hours. That certainly qualifies as madness.

Perhaps the name comes from the actual intensity of the games, especially as teams get closer to the Final Four. Everyone elevates their game to a different level as they begin to feel a trip to the Final Four is within their grips. This makes for some incredible, even unpredictable, basketball. Certainly seems like a source of "madness" to me.

Well, those two theories would be wrong. The real reason we refer to the NCAA Tournament as "March Madness" is because this time of the year drives me absolutely insane. It's like my brain can't handle this much competitive basketball in such a short period of time. Throw in the fact that I'm wagering money on my ability to predict all these games, and I'm basically transported to another world from the middle of March to the end of the first week of April.

Conventional wisdom says that when you've got a whole bunch of crazy being shacked up inside of you, the best course is to tread lightly, er, I mean let it out. Sorry about that, I couldn't help myself. Anyway, I'm doing everyone reading this a favor by expunging myself of all my college basketball-related craziness. You're getting picks, sleepers, upsets, biased opinions, and maybe even some bad jokes if you're lucky. So basically, it's like any other post, just with less eloquent writing and more basketball jargon than you can keep up with. Sounds like a great time to me.

I'm beginning writing this about 30 minutes after the entirety of the bracket was unveiled, so the opinions and picks I have here could very possibly change by the time I lock them in as my official selections come Thursday. That being said, I consider myself as a gut-feeling type of guy, so my initial thoughts and reactions to each matchup are the ones I typically stick with. Also, I will only be breaking down the first round. After that, you're on your own. One more thing, for the most part, my opinions won't be supported by much stats. You're just going to have to take a leap of faith and believe me when I say that I watch a good deal of college basketball, and any decent game I'm not watching I'm still checking box scores and recaps. I know my stuff, even if I may not prove it with numbers and thorough research.

Without further ado, here is the most comprehensive, yet completely impromptu, NCAA Tournament guide you will be reading this week:

Midwest Region

1 Kentucky vs. 16 Manhattan/Hampton

Kentucky fans, or people who are simply on the fence about whether or not they should pick UK to win it all, will be disappointed to see that I won't go into detail about why I think Kentucky will win. This is a cakewalk for the Wildcats, and you're likely going to get this type of spiel for every 1-16 and 2-15 matchup.

The Pick: Kentucky

8 Cincinnati vs. 9 Purdue

Bearcats vs. Boilermakers - quick sidebar: anyone know what a Boilermaker is by the way? The Purdue logo shows a train, but that just seems misleading, like how the mascot of North Rockland High School (my alma mater) is a panther, yet they are called the "Red Raiders". Shout out to NoRock for being the best at confusing the shit out of everyone. Back to the matchup, Cincy is one of many offensively challenged yet defensively stout teams that are in the tourney, in fact that description can pretty much be applied to the majority of teams in college basketball today. Anyway, lone true big man Octavius Ellis should have his hands full with Purdue C A.J. Hammonds, a former top 100 recruit who is a load to handle on the block, as well as an extremely intimidating force on defense (averaged 3 blocks per game over the past two seasons). On the perimeter, both teams lack explosive scorers and knock-down shooters, so most likely this game will be won or lost at the free throw line, where Purdue holds a narrow edge in team percentage. This, along with my feeling that Hammonds outplays Ellis, is the reason I am currently leaning towards Purdue.

The Pick: Purdue

5 West Virgina vs. 12 Buffalo

One member of the CBS crew (I forget if it was Seth Davis or Doug Gottlieb) was showing some major Buffalo love as they were reviewing this region. As much as I do respect both those gentlemen's opinions, West Virginia's full court press will be too much for Buffalo to handle. In addition, Juwan Staten should be healthy enough to penetrate and get into the lane at will, while Devin Williams controls the glass down low. The Bisons, coached by Duke legend Bobby Hurley, do boast a very solid big man in Justin Moss, but I just don't see him being able to "get his" against a rough-and-tumble Mountaineer front line.

The Pick: WVU

4 Maryland vs. 13 Valparaiso

In their first year in the Big Ten, the Terrapins had their most successful season since the days of Greivis Vasquez, and its due in large part to the fact that this team doesn't rely on one player like the Vasquez squads did. The trio of Dez Wells, Melo Trimble, and Jake Layman, in addition to Evan Smotrcyz off the bench, leads a balanced Maryland attack where anyone one of those first three names can lead the team in scoring in any given game. Trimble, a true freshman, has been exceptional this season, just a notch below fellow superstar Big 10 freshman, D'Angelo Russell. This type of talent will be just too overwhelming for the Valpo Crusaders.

The Pick: Maryland

6 Butler vs. 11 Texas

Uh-oh. All those who know me or have read my previous college basketball post know that I am a Texas Longhorns fan, so there's a slight possibility of some bias coming up. However, I like to think that I'm a detached, objective college bask-...who am I kidding? I'm going Texas here because I still believe in my Horns. As recently as about a week ago (WEEK AGO), I likely would have automatically picked against Texas based on how badly they were playing throughout the Big 12 schedule. Funny thing happened though, they looked really good their last 3 games, even in the horror that was the Iowa State collapse. Texas still possesses the talent to make a legitimate run, so I'm going to stick with my boys. Butler is no easy matchup however. Kellen Dunham easily makes the 2014-2015 NCAA White Guy All-Star team, and Roosevelt Jones is a tough, versatile guard/forward type who makes plays in a variety of ways. Dunham's shooting is certainly going to give Texas trouble, but the Bulldogs simply can't match up with the plethora of Horns' big men. Hook 'em

The Pick: Texas \m/

3 Notre Dame vs. 14 Northeastern

Much to my father's chagrin, the Irish might hang 100 on Northeastern, as ND is most likely the best shooting team in the nation. Pat Connaughton, Demetrius Jackson, and, most importantly, Jerian Grant are high-impact players who put the ball in the basket at a high clip. Grant is the centerpiece of the team though. If he catches fire a la Shabazz Napier last year, the Irish could be looking at a deep tourney run despite their complete lack of any real big men not named Zach Auguste.

The Pick: Notre Dame

7 Wichita State vs. 10 Indiana

An extremely intriguing matchup. Wichita lost its crown as top mid-major this season to the same team that dethroned the Shockers in their own conference, Northern Iowa (more on them later). Minus Garbage-time King of New York Cleanthony Early, Wichita carries over much of the same major contributors that led the team to the Final Four just two years ago. Fred Van Vleet, Ron Baker, and Tekele Cotton are an extremely formidable backcourt, and they certainly carry the load for the Shockers. The Hoosiers are back in the tourney after a one-year hiatus, and 3rd-best-freshman-guard-in-the-Big-10 James Blackmon Jr. has teamed with incumbent point guard Yogi Ferrell to make up a feisty tandem. Both shoot the ball well as well as get to the line. Ferrell is the X-factor here, if he can play a complete game with limited turnovers, Indiana stands a good chance. Personally, I'm not banking on this, which is why I'm going with the Shockers.

The Pick: Wichita State

2 Kansas vs. 15 New Mexico State

Even if the NCAA allowed former NMSU Aggie Sim Bhullar to suit up, Kansas would still roll over them. Despite being bounced early last year even with Andrew Wiggins, Kansas is a good bet to win a couple games this time around.

The Pick: Kansas

West Region

1 Wisconsin vs. 16 Coastal Carolina

National Player of the Year co-favorite Frank Kaminsky could probably sit this one out and the Badgers would still win by 20+. Wisconsin looks even scarier than they did last year. Watch out.

The Pick: Wisconsin

8 Oregon vs. 9 Oklahoma State

This just feels like the annual 8-9 matchup that look so easy to pick yet I always pick wrong. Oregon is the better team, led by Joseph Young, a highly efficient scorer/shooter, while Ok. St. seems to be over seeded as a 9, plus they haven't looked so great leading into the tournament. Yet I have this terrible feeling that the Cowboys will somehow get the W. Not enough for me to actually pick them, but enough for me to be completely unsurprised if the Ducks lay an egg come game time.

The Pick: Oregon

5 Arkansas vs. 12 Wofford

Wofford is likely to garner some attention as a possible upset here, and I do see the angle for that argument. That being said, I'm taking the Razorbacks. Bobby Portis is a future NBA power forward, and at the college game, he dominates the low post against any non-Kentucky big man he faces. Wofford has essentially no size, and the extra bodies they're going to be forced to throw at Portis will open up the floor for guys like Michael Qualls and Anthlon Bell to create shots for themselves. This ain't the Southern conference, Wofford. They just don't make 'em like Bobby Portis where you come from.

The Pick: Arkansas

4 North Carolina vs. 13 Harvard

Harvard lives for this. Last year, the Ivy League champs knocked off the 5-seed Cincinnati. The year before that they upset a New Mexico squad that, if I remember correctly, had slated to make it to the Elite Eight. If UNC hadn't impressed me as much as they have during the ACC tournament, I very well might have taken Harvard. But I am not, because Marcus Paige is one of those classic guards who carries his team during the tournament. Plus, complimentary guys such as Kennedy Meeks, Brice Johnson, and J.P. Tokoto seem to be finding their rhythm as well. Go Heels

The Pick: UNC

6 Xavier vs. 11 BYU/Ole Miss

Barring both BYU and Ole Miss looking terrible in their play-in game, I'm leaning toward taking the winner to top Xavier. In my opinion, Xavier is an overrated team that could possibly greatly struggle containing either BYU's Tyler Haws or the Ole Miss combo of Jarvis Summers and Stefan Moody. I'm hoping BYU beats Ole Miss so I'll feel more confident in this pick, but I could still see Ole Miss beating Xavier. I recommend waiting until after it is decided who Xavier's opponent will be to pick this matchup, but my feeling is that Xavier will not be able to defeat either prospective challenger.

The Pick: BYU (hopefully)/Ole Miss (begrudgingly)

3 Baylor vs. 14 Georgia State

Oh man I wish Georgia State could have been a 13 seed matched up with a weaker 4 seed like Louisville or Georgetown. I fully believe I would have pulled the trigger on the upset. R.J. Hunter and Ryan Harrow are the best backcourt you've never heard of, and they lead a high-scoring Georgia State offense that would give a lot of teams trouble. Alas, GSU got stuck with Baylor, so I'm stuck with picking the Bears. I can't lie, Baylor is playing some of its best ball right now despite losing in the semifinals of the Big 12 Tournament. Baylor has multiple wing players who can shoot the 3, a rock solid point guard in Kenny Chery, and the best rebounder in the country in Rico Gathers.

The Pick: Baylor

7 VCU vs. 10 Ohio State

The VCU Rams simply have not been the same since point guard/leader of the Havoc defense Briante Weber went down with a torn ACL. The team still has a bevy of talent, including Treveon Graham and Melvin Johnson, but without Weber their a lost team. Don't get me wrong, their wins over Davidson and Dayton en route to an A10 Championship made me reconsider writing them off, but I'm right back to thinking this is a one-and-done team solely because of the team they got matched up against. That's right, it's D'Angelo Russell time! OSU's do-it-all guard is perhaps the best scorer in the nation, is a willing passer, and possess the size, length, and quickness to guard multiple positions. He's a top 5 pick in the 2015 NBA Draft, but before that, I expect him to lead the Buckeyes to at least one NCAA Tournament win.

The Pick: Ohio State

2 Arizona vs. 15 Texas Southern

Texas Southern should consider it a win if they hit 50 points. Arizona, along with Kentucky and Virginia, fields perhaps the stingiest defense in the nation.

The Pick: Arizona

East Region

1 Villanova vs. 16 Lafayette

'Nova has 6 guys who can go off for 20 any game, and they all play very well together. Unselfish, efficient, and dominant. Wildcats look primed for a Final Four run.

The Pick: Villanova

8 NC State vs. 9 LSU

The alma mater of Nyquillus Dillwad, LSU, trots out two big men in Jordan Mickey and Jarrell Martin that are a hell of a duo to defend for any front court. NC State seems ill-prepared to handle these two, as BeeJay Anya, Abdul Malik-Abu, and Lennard Freeman lack the length and athleticism to corral the shot-swatting Mickey and the versatile Martin. Add in guards Tim Quarterman and Keith Hornsby, and you got an LSU squad that looks, to me, like an overqualified 9 seed. Anthony "Cat" Barber will keep it close for NC State, but he won't be enough to topple the Tigers.

The Pick: LSU

5 Northern Iowa vs. 12 Wyoming

You know how every year there seems to be that highly-seeded mid-major team that isn't as good as their record and hype? Well, Northern Iowa is not one of those teams. Of course, now that I framed UNI's introduction like that, Wyoming is going to upset them, but I'm going to try not to get too superstitious. Seth Tuttle should finish top 5 in National Player of the Year voting, as he is a punishing, yet skilled, forward who gets buckets whenever he wants. Wyoming needs a miracle to keep Tuttle from running rampant over their frontcourt.

The Pick: Northern Iowa

4 Louisville vs. 13 UC Irvine

UC Irvine has a 7'6" player on its roster named Mamadou N'diaye. He averages over 10 PPG, 5 RPG, and 1.7 BPG. Not mind-blowing numbers by any means, but...7'6" though. Just this fact should make you at least consider the Anteaters for the upset. Louisville is not as good as they usually are, and a better 13 seed probably could have pushed me to send the Cardinals home. Rick Pitino can still coax enough out of his team to pull out a W. I don't mess around with the ferocity of Montrezl Harrell, even if there is a 7'6" behemoth standing between him and the hoop.

The Pick: Louisville

6 Providence vs. 11 Boise State/Dayton

It doesn't matter who wins the play-in game, Providence is taking the "dub". Kris Dunn and LaDontae Henton are top-top-flight players who can ball against anyone. Boise has Derrick Marks, who is a very talented scorer in his own right, and Dayton's Jordan Sibert fills it up, as we saw last year when the Flyers made an Elite Eight run. Despite this, Providence is a team I like a lot and, frankly, you should too.

The Pick: Providence

3 Oklahoma vs. 14 Albany

Sorry, Albany. You got a great story about how you got into the tournament, and the guy who sent you there, but Oklahoma can Flat. Out. Ball. My pick for the Big 12's 3rd best team (a bigger honor than you may think) is led by Big 12 leading scorer Buddy Hield, who scared me more when Texas played him than any other player in the conference. Flanked by Jordan Woodard, Isaiah Cousins, Ryan Spangler, and Tashawn Thomas, the Sooners' starting 5 is stacked. This will be enough to roll over Albany. Oklahoma's lack of depth may hurt them in their next game, but that's for you to decide...

The Pick: Oklahoma

7 Michigan State vs. 10 Georgia

This matchup requires very little analysis, much less than the other 7-10's. Tom Izzo doesn't play around in March, and any team that can take Wisconsin to OT (even though they lost) is going to beat Georgia, who doesn't overly impress me in any one facet of the game. Sparty FTW

The Pick: Michigan State

2 Virginia vs. 15 Belmont

The Cavaliers (no, not those Cavaliers), coached by Tony Bennett (no, not that Tony Bennett), has the best scoring defense in Division I at 50.7 PPG against. Belmont has no chance.

The Pick: Virginia

South Region

1 Duke vs. 16 Robert Morris/North Florida

Duke will put up 100 on either team. Jahlil Okafor will be laughing at the opposing team's big men all the way to 25 points and 10 rebounds.

The Pick: Duke

8 San Diego State vs. 9 St. John's

Tough draw for the Red Storm. SDSU might prove to be just too damn tough on defense, and without Chris Obekpa holding down the paint for the Johnnies, I think San Diego State will be able to find easy looks around the rim, or at least easier looks than if Obekpa was there patrolling the middle. Winston Shepard is an athletic slasher that should lead the Aztecs to a win over St. John's, despite the Red Storm's two talented scoring guards, D'Angelo Harrison and Rysheed Jordan.

The Pick: SDSU

5 Utah vs. 12 Stephen F. Austin

My love for the Utes will likely be my bracket's downfall. I've yet to truly look at who Utah will be matched up against in the later rounds, but I like this team to go FAR. So obviously I have them beating SFA, though it might not be an easy win. The Lumberjacks went 29-4 this season while averaging 79.5 PPG, good for 9th in the nation. This is a talented team that will goad a decent percentage of people to pick them for the upset. Just not me.

The Pick: Utah

4 Georgetown vs. 13 Eastern Washington

Full disclosure, I have no idea about anything related to Eastern Washington. I didn't even know they won their conference. I'm hearing a couple "experts" on ESPN or CBS picking EWU over Georgetown, but more based off Georgetown's recent history of getting upset than EWU's ability to really beat them. For now, I'm going to side with the D'Vauntes Smith-Rivera and the Hoyas, but possibly, upon further research, this could be a pick that I change.

The Pick: Georgetown

6 SMU vs. 11 UCLA

The Bruins seem to have taken the title for "Most Controversial Team that made it into the Tournament", yet I can't help but think they got a real shot at defeating HOF coach Larry Brown and the Mustangs. Bryce Alford is a very good point guard, Kevon Looney is a future lottery pick, and upperclassmen like Norman Powell and Tony Parker are major contributors as well. They even have a Hamilton brother! That's gotta count for something. However, SMU is so defensively sound that at least half of the guys I just mentioned for UCLA are going to have off games. This all makes for a very difficult choice. With much hesitation, I'm going with SMU here, though, like the Ok. St.-Oregon game, I wouldn't be surprised if the team I did not pick ends up advancing.

3 Iowa State vs. 14 UAB

The Cyclones are going to rain 3's on UAB with precision that the Blazers are just not used to. Plus, Jameel McKay has been a true bruiser down low for Iowa State, which is something that they have lacked in previous years.

The Pick: Iowa State

7 Iowa vs. 10 Davidson

This looks to shape up as a highly entertaining game. Davidson's offense, led by Tyler Kalinoski, is very pleasant to watch, and Iowa's Aaron White can put the ball in the basket all over the floor, whether it's at the rim, from the outside, or at the free throw line. The difference may be in the big men, where White, Adam Woodbury, and Gabriel Olaseni form an imposing front line. Add in Jarred Uthoff, an sweet-shooting forward, and I'm just not sure if Davidson's big men will be able to hold their own. Likely high-scoring and close, but Iowa edges Davidson.

The Pick: Iowa

2 Gonzaga vs. 15 North Dakota State

The final game of the Round of 64. Gonzaga should have absolutely no problem in disposing of the Bison. Kyle Wiltjer, Kevin Pangos, Gary Bell Jr., Domantas Sabonis...the list goes on. The Zags are loaded with talented offensive players and are seeking to finally shed the label of "Most Disappointing Tourney Team".

The Pick: Gonzaga

If you're dying to find out who my Final Four/champion is, I'll tweet it out after I officially fill out my bracket. Twitter handle is @AMednick10, so be on the lookout for my picks. Thanks for reading, and good luck with your brackets!