College basketball feature: My picks for conference champions

We're just about midway through the conference schedule in NCAA basketball, which means it's time for me to lay down my predictions for who will win the regular season title in each of the six major conferences. Tonight I will showcase the ACC and the Big East, tomorrow the Big Ten and Big 12, and then following that will be the SEC and Pac 10.

We start with the ACC. The ACC is undisputably one of the top conferences in the nation. Duke is currently at the top of the standings, but has arguably the toughest schedule of the remaining power teams, which include the Blue Devils, Wake Forest, North Carolina, and Clemson. They still have to play Clemson, an upstart Miami team, North Carolina twice, and Wake Forest again, the only team to beat them in coference play thus far. This being said, I don't see Duke staying atop the conference.

North Carolina and Wake Forest have the same amount of losses in conference play, two, and both have significantly easier schedules than Duke and only one more loss than the Blue Devils. With that, my pick is going to Wake Forest to the win the season title. The Deamon Deacons and the Tar Heels will likely win out the rest of the conference schedule, barring an upset. But since Wake Forest defeated North Carolina on January 11, they would win the tie breaker, giving them the ACC regular season title.

Now to the Big East. This is arguably the best conference in America, putting six teams in the current top 25. As many as 10 teams from the Big East could get in to the Big Dance.

Marquette is currently at the top of the conference, remaining unbeaten, with impressive wins over Villanova, West Virginia, Notre Dame, and Georgetown. However, their remaining schedule has them at Villanova, at Georgetown, at Louisville and Pittsburgh, a home game against Syracuse, and a battle againt Connecticut, the number one team in America. I don't see Marquette being able to hold on to their undefeated record much longer, especially against these teams.

With that being said, I think UCONN will win out the remainder of the conference season, retain their number one ranking, and be crowned Big East regular season champions. However, it won't be easy for the Huskies. They have a non conference battle with Michigan, and games against Marquette, Syracuse, Notre Dame, and Pittsburgh twice. But Hasheem Thabeet and Jeff Adrien are true leaders, and will continue to play like they did when they beat they beat seventh ranked Louisville by 18 points.

Favre Watch Resumes

The dust hasn't even settled from Super Bowl XLIII, yet Brett Favre is already finding his way back into football news. The NY Daily News is reporting that Favre will take "at least two to three weeks" before declaring his intentions for next season. The 39-year-old quarterback seems to be in constant flirtation with retirement, and this off season will be no different.

There's little doubt that Favre had a commendable season, but how long can he keep it up? Unfortunately for Favre, performance isn't the only issue. He made $13 million in 2009, but the Jets are already projected to be $10 million over the salary cap. Thus, in a theme all to familiar to the Packers, Favre's lingering decision will have a major impact on Jets personnel planning. Allegedly Jets general manager Mike Tannenbaum told Favre he could take "months," but one has to think that behind the scenes Jets management and Jets fans are fretting. Favre owes it to them to make a definitive decision, and make one soon.

Knight to Georgia?

ESPN's Bob Knight has reportedly shown interest in the coaching vacancy at Georgia.

Former head coach Dennis Felton was fired last Thursday, and assistant coach Pete Herrmann was named the interim coach for the remainder of the season.

However, Georgia officials cannot vouch for the validity of the reports surrounding Knight becoming the new coach of the team. According to them, no one has said whether or not the school has interest in Knight.

This story sounds a lot like a report I heard last year, when reports were swirling that Western Kentucky was interested in hiring Knight after former head coach Darrin Horn took a job at South Carolina.

Personally, I think this is a perfect fit for Knight. Knight has even mentioned that he would be "interested if the right situation came along." He would take over a struggling program that saw success last season, surprisingly winning the SEC Conference tournament. Before joining ESPN, Knight took over at Texas Tech in 2001. This Texas Tech program was also struggling, and had not been to the NCAA tournament since 1996. He ultimately rebuilt that program, leading them to the NCAA tournament four times in his six full seasons as head coach there, including a run to the Sweet 16 in 2005.

Also, Knight is winningest coach in men's basketball history! This is almost a no-brainer for me. Georgia has been struggling for years, despite their cinderalla run last season in the conference tournament. What they need is someone like Knight that can turn this program around.

I had a chance to watch this Georgia team play this season when they came to Western Kentucky. Their starting shooting guard, Terrance Woodbury, is one of finest shooters in the SEC, and being in a major power conference, Knight would have the luxury of being able to recruit some of the better players in the country.

However, University of Georgia president Michael Adams is a close friend on NCAA president Myles Brand, the man who fired Knight at Indiana.

But Knight's astonishing graduation rate, 902 career wins as a coach, three national championships, and 45 tournament wins eliminate all doubt and in my mind, and put him as a top candidate for the job.

National Signing Day on Wednesday

As an NCAA Football recruiting junkie and National Signing Day 2009 on Wednesday, I will be doing a special feature on some of the top teams. This leads me to this. What teams do you want me to cover for you? The only certain one is my beloved Notre Dame Fighting Irish. But other than that, give me some teams to cover.

NCAA Basketball Midseason

With March Madness coming up in four weeks, it's time to give out the best starting five so far.

Of course, every starting five has to have a great Center. In this case, it would be a sin if 6-10 240lb North Carolina's Tyler Hansbrough was not on this list. Hansbrough, bar none, is the finest Center NCAA Basketball has seen in quite sometime that has actually stuck around for 4 years. This season, Tyler has averaged 22.4 pts a game with 7.6 boards a game, and has been dominating the paint for the Tar Heels this season. He will be a finalist to win his second National Player of the Year award. But one thing is for sure. "Physco T" will have his #50 jersey up in the rafters of the Dean Smith Center when he graduates.

With Hansbrough in, who will be the Power Forward? This one is a no brainer. Look no further than 6-10, 250lb Oklahoma sophomore Blake Griffin. Griffin, in most cases, is the best player the Sooners have had since Wayman Tisdale back in the 1980's. This hoss of a man is unreal on the hardwood, averaging 22.4 pts a game and an astonishing 14.1 boards. He is on most watch lists for every major individual player award this season. Griffin will probrably go to the NBA after this season and likely be drafted #1 overall, but most NCAA Basketball fans want him to stay unless, that is, unless you're a Texas fan.

So far we've got the Center and Power Forward spots locked up with "Physco T" and Mr. Sooner. Now it's time for the wingman. Look no further than Junior Earl Clark out of Louisville. The 6-9 225lb Small Forward is a lethal weapon for the Cardinals this year, averaging 14 points a game, 9 boards, and 3.1 assists for the Rick Pitino led Cardinals. Clark is sure to be on everybody's All-American team after the season.

With Hansbrough, Griffin, and Clark, that's a great group of talent. But who will be the guard that can light up the net 24/7? There's only one guy that can claim that post. The 6-4 208lb Shooting Guard out of Kentucky who goes by the name of Jodie Meeks. Jodie is a SHOOTER and quite possibly, outside of Hansbrough and Griffin, the best player in college basketball right now. Jodie is averaging a whopping 25.5 points a game for the 'Cats this year and already has a few school records to his name. He is Mr. Everything for the 'Cats. Number 23 is what we call a sharp shooter from the land of 3, averaging 44.4% from outside. Jodie is the heart and soul of the Wildcats this year and is one heck of a guard.

We've got 4 of the 5 guys on the court so far. But who will lead the troops down the court all night long? We'll have to travel to North Carolina for that one in 5-11, 195lb floor general Ty Lawson. This kid is one of the best to ever play the position in quite sometime. His passing ability and great ball handling skills make him a must have for this team. This floor general is one of a kind, averaging 15.2 points a game and 6.5 assists a game, making him the best in the nation at this position. Look for Ty to be on every All-American team and take home some hardware as well this year.

But in the end, only one player can claim the best in the nation. My pick goes to Jodie Meeks, with Tyler Hansbrough coming in at a close second.

Coming soon is who will bring down the nets this year.

Which catch was better?

We as fans have been blessed to see two great Super Bowl games these past two years. In both of these games, we have also had the privilige to see two of the best catches in Super Bowl history.

We all remember David Tyree's catch in Super Bowl XLII. It started out with quarterback Eli Manning miraculously evading the Patriot defense, eventually heaving the ball down field to David Tyree. Who? That's right, David Tyree. This is a guy who caught four passes in the regular season, but on this night etched his name among the Super Bowl greats. Tyree leaped up over Patriots defender Rodney Harrison, grabbed the ball out of midair, pulled it down, and caught the ball on the top of his helmet.

This catch kept the drive alive, and was anything but an easy catch. If Tyree did not make this play, we would be looking at the Patriots possibly completing the first undefeated season since the the 1972 Dolphins.

However, Tyree made the play, and the Giants eventually scored on a Plaxico Burress touchdown, winning the game and ending the Patriots hopes of an undefeated season.

Last night, in Super Bowl XLIII, Santonio Holmes also made one of the best catches in Super Bowl History. The Cardinals took the lead off of a Larry Fitzgerald touchdown, and the Steelers had 2:37 to get the ball down the field and score. Roethlisberger somehow found Holmes in the corner of the endzone. Holmes made the amazing catch among three Cardinals defenders, keeping both feet in bounds, with just 42 seconds left, to give the Steelers the lead 26-23.

But which was the better catch?

To me, there is really no question at all. It is still David Tyree's catch, and here's why. What makes that catch amazing is what was on the line for him to catch this pass. The Giants were the true definition of underdog in this game. They were matched up against one of the best teams in the recent memory, the 2007 Patriots. It's the whole package that makes this catch better, with the game winning drive to defeat the undefeated Patriots, Eli Manning's Superman heroics, and David Tyree's improbable catch to keep the drive alive, eventually allowing the Giants to score and win the game.

In my opinion, David Tyree's catch in Super Bowl XLII is among the top 5 catches in not just Super Bowl history, but NFL history.

Steelers Claim 6th Super Bowl Title

Super Bowl XLIII was one of the finest Super Bowls in recent memory. It featured two outstanding quarterbacks in 37 year old Kurt Warner, a 2 time NFL MVP and winner of Super Bowl XXXIV with the "Greatest Show on Turf," and 26 year old "Big" Ben Roethlisberger, winner of Super Bowl XL as the youngest quarterback ever to win a Super Bowl.

But this night helped "Big" Ben grow even closer to famed Steeler quarterback Terry Bradshaw, from the 1970's Chuck Noll years with 4 rings to his name. The Mike Tomlin lead Steelers came in with a gameplan to do what the Steelers do best: Control the ball with that always good 3-4 defense. Pittsburgh, from the start of the game, wanted to control the game with the offense bh using Roethlisberger's talents to the best of his ability. It included using Super Bowl MVP Santonio Holmes, who had 9 catches for 131 yards and the game winning touchdown, and Tight End Heath Miller for 5 catches and 57 yards. Roethlisberger also made plays with his feet to keep the play alive.

Defensively, the Dick Lebeau patented 3-4 defense, which is ranked #1 in the NFL, used a lot of blitzing. NFL Defensive Player of the Year James Harrison and rookie linebacker LaMarr Woodley disrupted the potent Cardinal offense by getting to Warner and stopping the running game of Edgerrin James and Tim Hightower with the help of All-Pro nosetackle Casey Hampton clogging up the middle.

But this night was all about James Harrison, who looked like a whirlwind when he ran a 100 yard interception back for a touchdown, which was the longest in Super Bowl history. He was in Warners face all night to say the least.

The Cardinals, on the other hand, looked like a team that did not have experience from the get go. The first 3 quarters they looked lethargic, out manned, and out gunned. Who would expect that from a team that has All-Pro recievers Larry Fitzgerald and Anquan Boldin? They did not use them effectively at all which was surprising. They never attempted a pass longer than 10 yards it seemed like. But they looked like the Cardinals we've seen in the 4th quarter, using Larry Fitzgerald for 7 catches for 127 yards and 2 touchdowns. The Steelers completely shut down Fitzgerald by double covering him with Troy Polamalu and Ike Taylor. But eventually the great ones break out in which Fitzgerald did in the 4th quarter, coming up with 2 touchdowns. The 4th quarter was the best the Cardinals played all game.

The Cardinals sure had plenty of stupid schemes, i.e. not DOUBLE TEAMING SANTONIO HOLMES! Especially on the game winning drive and not going deep to Boldin and Fitzgerald. The Cardinals game plan was conservative for the most part of the game until the 4th quarter. The Steelers really had it going on all night which ultimately lead them to a 27-23 victory and their 6th Super Bowl Title. The city of Pittsburgh will be drinking the Iron City Beer long into the night.