caulfield12

Guess there are no MSU fans around SoxTalk.

That was the least shocking of the 2/15 defeats in NCAA history. With GU now losing four consecutive times to double digit seeds, it seems surprising now when they don't lose those games (ever since the Final 4 team).

•Infielder/outfielder Cody Puckett has been traded from the Reds, with whom he has spent his entire career, to the White Sox, Puckett himself tweeted. In return, the Reds will receive a player to be named later, tweets John Fay of the Cincinnati Enquirer. Splitting last season between Double-A and Triple-A, Puckett saw time in the infield (mostly at second) and corner outfield, and hit .233/.306/.390 with 16 home runs over 488 plate appearances. More depth for the AAA roster. Seems like he's got some pop. Not sure how good his IF defense is...

Josh Pastner=Cillian Murphy's half-brother Wow, the B10 is just on fire so far, with the exception of WI (normal for them in the post-season recently). MI and MSU both playing like Final 4 teams. Memphis just doesn't have that one player who can take over a game offensively and roll up 30 points. Can't believe Iowa had MSU down 13 points in the B10 Tourney....Harris wasn't playing as well last weekend as he has been so far today. And Stephens has to have a high 40's vertical. Hope he makes it in the NBA or with the Globetrotters, he's fun to watch and 100% energy despite the asthma problems.

If McGary keeps playing this well, he's going to be getting a lot of NBA attention. Seems like the type of kid who will stick around at least one more year, if not two.

Why would there be a "conspiracy" to prove that John Danks is actually healthy when he's not healthy? To sell more tickets? C'mon, the fact of the matter is that there's a decent chance that Santiago or Axelrod could put up similar numbers to Danks in April...if Danks isn't yet 100% comfortable. The fact of the matter is that this coaching and training/conditioning staff has the best track record in the business with pitchers. Sure, we can all retroactively launch "fire KW" threads a year from now when/if John Danks is pitching more like Jim Parque, but, until that happens...we just have to wait and cross our fingers that he'll return to the pitcher he once was, and hopefully more like the 2008 version.

QUOTE (southside_hitman @ Mar 23, 2013 -> 12:27 PM) False. Those are not my words. That is a quote I cited from an article which pertained to actual capsule injuries to other major league pitchers. The man who used those words was none other than Mets medical director Dr. David Altchek, the surgeon who operated on Saberhagen at the Hospital for Special Surgery in Manhattan and who also did Santana's repair. Want to apologize now? Interesting to see that you insist on engaging me on what is really, a non-issue, especially when it seems like you as well as a few others have not bothered to read the article I cited. This is information from a surgeon who has actually done these surgeries on pitchers like Santana, not an unnamed, anonymous physical therapist professing to be an expert in a highly specialized area. Meanwhile I have had another legitimate new thread removed by someone. What is up with that? What is going on here with this kind of nonsense? Is this a forum for genuine Sox fans like myself or a den for trolls? It wasn't nearly as exciting as signing Mitch Mustain, Juan Silverio or Anderson Gomes.

You wonder how long Michigan can keep it going. Michigan's athleticism is really bothering VCU...every shot is contested, although the Rams have missed quite a few open looks. There probably will be at least 2-3 runs in the 2nd half. The old cliché about the first five minutes after halftime being critical. McGary looks like a beast. If he keeps playing this well, he might start considering the NBA option. Michigan's made a lot more turnovers than normal (almost their game average in one half) and they've still blown the game wide open. Impressive.

You wonder how long Michigan can keep it going. Michigan's athleticism is really bothering VCU...every shot is contested, although the Rams have missed quite a few open looks. There probably will be at least 2-3 runs in the 2nd half. The old cliché about the first five minutes after halftime being critical. McGary looks like a beast. If he keeps playing this well, he might start considering the NBA option. Michigan's made a lot more turnovers than normal (almost their game average in one half) and they've still blown the game wide open. Impressive.

I don't really root actively against Illinois or Iowa State or WI or Creighton (probably the one I'd root for hardest), because basketball thriving in the Midwest is going to be good in general for Iowa Hawkeye BB too, but it's easier to at least not to root against those teams in the NCAA tournament than it would be to root for the Cubs in the World Series. Iowa State's had a very impressive run, Hoiberg's done great (especially recruiting) and so has McDermott. And it's nice to see Larry Eustachy back on his feet and doing well. He also took Southern Miss to the NCAA's, and it will be interesting to see if he can ever get another offer with a major conference team again. Losing those games to Hampton and MSU were killers, back a decade ago.

I don't really root actively against Illinois or Iowa State or WI or Creighton (probably the one I'd root for hardest), because basketball thriving in the Midwest is going to be good in general for Iowa Hawkeye BB too, but it's easier to at least not to root against those teams in the NCAA tournament than it would be to root for the Cubs in the World Series. Iowa State's had a very impressive run, Hoiberg's done great (especially recruiting) and so has McDermott. And it's nice to see Larry Eustachy back on his feet and doing well. He also took Southern Miss to the NCAA's, and it will be interesting to see if he can ever get another offer with a major conference team again.

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Mar 23, 2013 -> 07:56 AM) This VCU game has trap written all over it. Michigan has got to defend better than usual. I think we're past the point of calling games against the likes of VCU, Butler, Creighton, Wichita State, Gonzaga or SLU "traps" because nobody would be at all surprised if VCU won.

QUOTE (GreatScott82 @ Mar 23, 2013 -> 06:12 AM) I'll take 2 out of 3! The Royals looks to be pretty darn competitive in 2013. I love what they did with there rotation. Except you're not getting the Santana of 3-4 years ago. His stuff is fading/diminished.

QUOTE (SexiAlexei @ Mar 23, 2013 -> 02:27 AM) This is where I get lost. Is this sarcasm? I guess it's because the Mountain West Conference had the highest RPI rating this year...? Should have been the A10 or Big 10.

Ramirez had a chance to win the game in the top of the 9th, but couldn't come through with two outs and runners on 2nd and 3rd. Quintana had 9 K's, Santiago 5 in 3 innings. Troncoso rocked.

Iowa defeats Stony Brook handily at home, waiting to see whether they'll play UVA (1 seed) or St. John's next. Those two teams play Saturday. Will be interesting to see if UVA gets the home game over Iowa, and 2) whether Iowa can knock off an NCAA-caliber, ACC team on the road. Marble's really becoming quite the player. Not the dominant athlete his father was, but a much more versatile and well-rounded game.

UNM BB beat writer can't take it anymore after 33 years, gives up. Dennis Latta Loboland.com Editor I really thought that the University of New Mexico finally had a men's basketball team that earned the loyalty of their fans. I was wrong. I've been around Lobo basketball for 33 seasons. For 32 of those seasons, I knew that UNM had a team that could fold and lose to anyone at any time. I never got my expectations too high because a collapse was possible anytime they walked out on that floor. I thought this team was different. I was convinced that this Lobo team was for real. It had experience, a good front line and a good backcourt and good chemistry and was smart. I was wrong. The main difference between these Lobos and the others who fell flat was that the 2012-13 team played defense. New Mexico forced opponents to take bad shots and actually guarded. This team had real potential. I was wrong. This was a team that had the MWC Player of the Year in Kendall Williams and the MWC Tournament MVP in Tony Snell and two big men who had been outstanding at times and a point guard who had developed quickly. I never expected the Player of the Year to be absolutely invisible when he was needed most or that the tournament MVP couldn't hit a 3-pointer on a bet. I was wrong. I thought this team had accomplished something by winning the Mountain West Conference during the regular season and in the tournament. A win over UNLV on its home floor was impressive. Beating San Diego State and Colorado State and Boise State was the sign of success because the conference and these teams were so good. I was wrong. Now, the mighty MWC is 1-3 in the NCAA, and has not lost to any team seeded above a 13. It's not like they lost to Indiana or Louisville or even Georgetown or Michigan State. No, the losses were to the traditional powerhouses of LaSalle, California and Harvard. The league I thought was so good turns out to be so bad. I was wrong. I was disappointed when New Mexico was seeded a lowly third. I truly believed UNM would prove the committee wrong and thought that going to the Final Four was a realistic possibility. This was going to be the Year of the Lobo. New Mexico was finally going to get the credit, the respect and the attention it deserved. I was wrong. I thought that coach Steve Alford and athletic director Paul Krebbs were smart to announce a new 10-year contract the day before the Lobos started their march through the NCAA. No one would complain about the big dollars because UNM was on the road to glory. I was wrong. But I won't be wrong again. It was a lot easier to take when expectations were lower. Losing was acceptable because UNM had almost always lost when it really counted. You didn't have visions of greatness, only to have them dashed. After the pitiful performance UNM put up against a team that doesn't even offer scholarships, I've given up. Having all five starters back next season means nothing on a team that can just disappear like that. I'd be back to wondering when it would collapse, have a terrible game and lose to an inferior team again. No, I've had it. I've been to my last Lobo basketball game after covering the team for much of the last 33 years. Good-bye Lobo basketball. At first, it was confusing a bit, because LaSalle beat Boise State in the First 8 game...thought he was confusing KSU with being in the MWC. So now they're 2-3 in the tourney, with SDSU beating Oklahoma, but UNM and UNLV both out.

QUOTE (mataipaepae @ Mar 22, 2013 -> 10:31 PM) when your the 4th outfielder you play more than just sundays. that is why it would make sense for one of the younger kids to play. both mitchell and danks can play all three outfield positions. and like i said if they fail i would almost be positive wise or player of similar skill would be available still. You can argue Danks or Tekotte against Wise, but not that Mitchell should be the 4th. He needs to play everyday. And Mitchell doesn't have the arm for RF.

The last time we had a player like that on the major league roster was Rodney McCray.

QUOTE (witesoxfan @ Mar 21, 2013 -> 10:26 PM) SDSU outplayed Michigan in the first half, but Michigan absolutely crushed them in the second. That is going to be a dangerous team, especially if they can keep shooting. McGary was the biggest difference though. Just a force down low on both ends of the court. He's a real nice player. That could very easily be a Final Four team. Oh, and it was amazing how terrible Wolters looked. Michigan's entire goal was to keep him from doing anything, and they did a pretty damn good job of it. Almost as bad as the vaunted Muscala looked in his game.

QUOTE (LittleHurt05 @ Mar 22, 2013 -> 05:24 AM) So much for my survivor pool. My mistake for betting on Alford as a 3 seed. Who can forget ? Gee, thanks. At least McCaffrey, while they were one half of closing any number of B10 games out from getting into the tournament, is doing things the right way. That game was more comparable to Davidson/Marquette, in the sense that Iowa was up 20 or 18 at one point, led almost the entire game until that last moment. Harvard was in command from the get-go, trailed for just a bit i the 2nd half, but it wasn't as heartbreaking or gut-wrenching for fans as the Davidson game yesterday or 2006 for Iowa. Just when you think he's got things turned around and 100% going in a positive direction, he'll make them regret giving him that long-term deal at UNM.

Danks has been throwing 88-89-90 already. If he was like Jim Parque after injury and now throwing in the low 80's, then we would have a REAL reason to worry. He's probably rushing to come back, he's losing his release point, his mechanics are a bit of a mess or maybe he's battling some scar tissue issues or even a "dead arm" from not having thrown for 9 months and then hitting that first wall in the comeback. Patience, young Jedi.

Yep, these smart kids really can play. "We battled a really good basketball team in a tough environment," coach Tommy Amaker said. "I'm very proud of our guys." Amaker outcoached his contemporary, Steve Alford, exacting revenge of sorts for the time Alford's Indiana team beat Amaker and Duke back in the 1987 regional semifinals. "I commend Tommy and his staff and his players," Alford said. "They made shots. We dodged this bullet a lot this year and were still able to get wins." Based on their regular-season and conference tournament victories, the Lobos were a popular pick to head to the Final Four this season. The school even gave Alford a new, 10-year contract Wednesday that called for a $125,000 bonus for a Final Four trip. They'll save the money but feel the pain. The Mountain West Conference, judged one of the top two leagues in college basketball all season, fell to 1/3 so far this week. And Harvard -- yes, that school we've all heard of, but not usually this time of year -- is moving on. The university that gave us Jeremy Lin -- are we ready now for Crimsanity? -- plays Arizona on Saturday. "YYYYYEEEEESSSSSSSSS!!! HARVARD winssss!!! hahahahhah i told you.... (hash)threepointgoggles (hash)bracketbusters," was Lin's Tweet shortly after the victory. But this year's Harvard story is not all about the warm-and-fuzzies. The team lost its two co-captains before the season began because of an academic scandal that involved more than 100 students. Amaker, who had plenty of experience in rebuilding projects when he coached a Michigan team recovering from NCAA violations, didn't wave the white flag. He simply asked his team for more. In stepped freshman point guard Siyani Chambers, who played like a veteran. He wasn't great against the Lobos, finishing with five points and seven assists, but he kept his team under control, poised and found open players. Suck it, AlFRAUD. You did the exact same thing to Iowa when you had a 3 seed seven years ago on the first round.

MSU and Memphis is going to be a battle of athleticism as well. Hope that prick Alford gets beaten by Harvard, that would be hilarious. Harvard's supposedly one year away from being a very dangerous team under Amaker.

Memphis missed way too many free throws down the stretch. Not unlike the national title they gave away to KU. Can't believe that 3 point banker went in and then the quick turnover. Didn't see that coming.