Out But Not Over

by Jay Kaplan, OTSL Writer/Analyst

Those of you who follow "On The Sportslines" know that I am a St. John's graduate. I was there back when the guy the on-campus arena is named for was still roaming the sidelines in his Cosby Show sweaters. I was there when basketball players from high schools all across the five boroughs still lined up around the block to wear the Red & White and play half their home games at The World's Most Famous Arena. I was there when THE college basketball program in the city that called basketball ITS game was still a fixture in both the Big East, the Top 25 and NCAA Tournament.

Lou Carneseca retired from coaching the Johnnies (sorry, those of us who were there back then will NEVER call the team by its current name - we absolutely HATE IT) the same year I graduated - 1992. Things were never quite the same after that.

Long-time right-hand man Brian Mahoney inherited the job but didn't do much with it - a .491 winning percentage (.397 in The Big East) though there were two NCAA appearances from '92-'96. Fran Frischilla followed and gave us hope that things would get better - a .613 winning percentage (.593 in-conference) and a trip to the Big Dance in 1998, but then he was fired amidst rumors that he was job hunting while still on the job at St. John's.

The Mike Jarvis era followed. From 1998-2003 St. John's seemed to be back. NCAA trips in '99, '00 and '02. A Big East Conference championship in 2000 and an NIT Crown in 2003. Then, like Frischilla, he was fired. In this case, more for losing control of the team which led to NCAA sanctions, including vacating of wins in the NCAA's and that 2003 NIT title.

I for one, was never a Jarvis fan. I blame him for the condition that the basketball program has been in for the last decade. I blame him and his ego and his grandiose ideas of recruiting the best players from all over for giving the best players in this city - a city filled to overflowing with great high school basketball players - no reason to stay home and play for New York's college basketball program. Why should they when the coach of that program ignores them. Jarvis just never understood the core recruiting principle for a St. John's coach - keep the kids from places like Rice, Christ the King, Boys & Girls and St. Raymond's at home.

Norm Roberts tried his best under very tough conditions. The NCAA sanctions made it hard to get players to come play at St. John's. But the guys he got stuck around because they believed in what Roberts was ultimately trying to do - return this city's college basketball team to prominence. Norm didn't get to finish what he started, but his kids did.

10 seniors, 9 who played four years, who suffered through a 44-53 stretch their first three years, who suffered through 37 conference losses over those three years finally got their moment in the sun.

They bought into new coach Steve Lavin's system hook, line and sinker. They knocked off 6 Top 25 teams - 4 in the Top 10 - en route to a 21-12 season that included a 12-6 record in the crucible that is the Big East. They returned to both the Top 25 and the NCAA's as the #6 seed in the Southeast Region.

Unfortunately, they would have to play their opening round game without Senior Swingman DJ Kennedy. Kennedy tore the ACL in his right knee during the Johnnies loss to Syracuse in the Big East Tournament. Would Kennedy's presence on the court have been the difference between a second-round game against Jimmer and BYU and last night's heart-breaking 86-71 loss to Gonzaga? Probably not.

St. John's did not play its best game last night. They got crushed on the glass (43-20); allowed the Zags to kill them from long-range (9-15 on 3's) and just couldn't seem to execute their game on either end. Once they fell behind by double-digits they just couldn't seem to find their way back against a tough, tournament-tested team like the Zags. It was a painful, tearful way to end what had been a season filled with smiles.

Those 10 seniors will never play another game in the Red & White. Never get a chance to feel the exhilaration that comes from a March Madness win. Never get to dream about what next season might bring. Last night's loss will no doubt stay with them for a long time.

They may remember the 2011 tournament only as a One-And-Done disappointment. The rest of us - Alumni like me and fellow OTSL panelists Scott Chapman (under-grad) and Sean Roman (law school), and all the St. John's basketball fans in New York and around the country - we will remember this tournament and this season as the one that returned the Johnnies to their rightful place in the college basketball landscape.

St. John's basketball may be out as far as this season goes, but thanks to the kids that Norm Roberts recruited and Steve Lavin turned into winners, things are far from over. In fact, you could say they've just begun and thus once again we can say it loud and say it proud: WE ARE...ST. JOHN'S!

The Rabbi's Conference Tournament Preview- Part 2

I am The Rabbi, Video Editor of "On The Sportslines". This is the greatest week of the college basketball year for a lot of people, and for me the greatest week on the sports calendar. No week has as much intrigue and action as the week before the NCAA tournament in college basketball. Over the next two days, all of the big conference tourneys kick off around the country. Here are nine big conference tournaments to get you ready for the big week in Part 2 of our championship week preview. I will be providing the brackets on each of these tournaments so click the link to play along.

Big East Tournament (Tuesday-Saturday, New York City)

http://www.cbssports.com/collegebasketball/tournaments/conference/BIGE/big-east-tournament-bracket

At-Large Locks: Pittsburgh, Notre Dame, Louisville, Syracuse, St. John's, West Virginia, Cincinnati, Georgetown, UCONN, Villanova

Looking Good, needs a win: Marquette

Game to watch: Wed, UCONN vs. Georgetown/DePaul

Unless the DePaul Blue Demons pull off the upset they did last year as a #16 seed, the opener on Wednesday will see two of the better teams in the country who have fallen on hard times lately. Both lost 4 out of their last 5 to end the season but are too talented to lose more momentum here. The loser here could be as low as a #7 seed in the NCAA tournament.

Honorable Mention: Thursday, Syracuse vs. St. John's/Seton Hall/Rutgers

Madison Square Garden loves a local match up, and anyway you slice it, they'll get one here. The match up we are all shooting for is Syracuse vs. St. John's. The only loss the Red Storm have at Madison Square Garden this season is against the Orange, and it wasn't even close. If Lavin's boys can get payback, they are looking at a top 4 seeding at come Selection Sunday.

Prediction: Notre Dame

The Fighting Irish have never actually made the tournament finals of the Big East. I think they'll get there for the first time, and beat Pitt in the finals, maybe making both teams #1 seeds when the brackets come out Sunday.

Atlantic 10 Tournament (Tuesday-Sunday, Atlantic City (Fri.-Sun.),

http://www.cbssports.com/collegebasketball/tournaments/conference/ATL10/atlantic-10--tournament-bracket

At-Large Locks: Xavier, Temple

Needs Work to get in: Richmond

Game To Watch: Friday, Rhode Island/St. Louis vs. Richmond

Richmond has played on the edge most of the season and each of their four losses in 2011 have put them closer and closer to losing out on an at-large. A win here on Friday should vault the Spiders into the field of 68 and probably keep them out of that First Four round in Dayton. Rhode Island is dangerous though, they beat Richmond in their only meeting this year 78-74.

Honorable Mention: Semifinal #1, March 12 1pm

Bubble teams all across the country will watch this game closely, because if #1 seed Xavier doesn't come out victorious in it, Sunday's final will have a lot of those "last team in" schools on pins and needles. If any of the other nine teams win this tourney outside of the ones mentioned here, the A-10 is most likely getting a 4th bid that they never would have gotten before.

Prediction: Xavier

Outside of a fluke loss against #11 seed Charlotte in February, the Musketeers are unblemished in the A-10. It stays that way after this week. They'll beat Temple in the finals.

Pac 10 Tournament (Wendesday- Saturday, Los Angeles)

http://www.cbssports.com/collegebasketball/tournaments/conference/PAC10/pac-10-tournament-bracket

At-Large Locks: Arizona, UCLA

Looking Good, Needs a win: Washington

Needs work to get in: USC, Washington State

Game To Watch: Washington vs. Washington State

The Apple Cup's third meeting takes place on Thursday, and it's an important one. A lot of people believe the Huskies are still an at-large lock, but I do not. The Cougars have beaten the Huskies in BOTH of their regular season meetings, and a 3rd win would give both teams at least 20 wins. There's no major difference in my opinion in the non-conference schedules, so why should Wazzou be put in a lesser standard if they sweep their rivals?

Honorable Mention: USC vs. Cal

USC has sneaked up on some people lately. A win here in the 2nd quarterfinal on Thursday, along with a win versus what would most likely be Arizona on Friday, could give the Trojans a resume with enough wins (20) and victories (2) over likely Top 5 seeds in the NCAA tourney. That could be enough to sneak USC into the field of 68.

Prediction: UCLA

Since December, the Bruins have only lost once inside the state of California. I believe they beat USC in the final, and that BOTH teams make the tournament at the end of it all.

Conference USA (Wed.-Sat., El Paso, Tex,)

http://www.cbssports.com/collegebasketball/tournaments/conference/USA/conference-usa-tournament-bracket

Needs Work to get in: Memphis

Game To Watch: Friday, UAB-East Carolina/UCF vs. Memphis- Southern Miss/Tulane

Boy, that's a mouthful. If all holds form, UAB and Memphis will play in this C-USA semifinal on Friday, and it could be a highly competitive game. UAB won 7 out of their last 8 games to end the season. The only loss? Memphis, who boasts the only at-large chances for the conference, due to a strong non-conference schedule, despite losing most of their important non-conference games.

Honorable Mention: Thursday, Tulsa vs. SMU/Rice

Tulsa is a team who could be a problem on their side of the bracket, and this is their first chance to shine. An easy win here puts them into a possible match up in the semifinals with UTEP, who's on their home court for this tourney.

Prediction: UTEP

UTEP's only lost once at home in-conference this season. I believe the home court advantage of the Don Haskins Center will lead the Miners to a victory over Memphis in the finals, although it won't be as dominating as their 27-point victory less than two weeks ago over the Tigers.

Big 12 Tournament (Wed.- Sat., Kansas City, MO)

http://www.cbssports.com/collegebasketball/tournaments/conference/BIG12/big-12-tournament-bracket

At-Large Locks: Kansas, Texas, Texas A&M, Missouri, Kansas State

Needs Work: Colorado, Baylor, Nebraska

Game To Watch: Thur, Texas vs. Baylor/Oklahoma

As mentioned many times in this column, the Baylor Bears have totally underachieved this year and need to get a big time victory this week in Kansas City. If they get by the Sooners, will go up against Texas. Baylor has faced the Longhorns twice this season and been disappointed both times in the final minutes. A win here though could give the Bears what very few bubble teams can get this late in the season: a win over a top 10 team. Baylor may not even need to win their next game to make the tourney.

Honorable Mention: Thur, Kansas St. vs. Iowa St./Colorado

Out of the three teams that needs work to secure their spot in the field of 68, the team in the best shape is Colorado. That doesn't mean the margin for error isn't small for the Buffaloes. They definitely need a win this Wednesday against Iowa State, who they lost to just a week ago. Then, they'll need to beat Kansas State to make the Big 12 semifinals. While the Colorado swept K-State this season, both wins were before K-State destroyed Kansas in Manhattan on Valentine's Day. Kansas State has been a whole different animal since then, looking more like the preseason Top 5 team that a lot of people expected.

Prediction: Kansas

The Jayhawks have been a force in the Big 12 all year. In fact, I think the bigger challenge for Kansas will be in the semifinals, when Kansas State or Colorado should be waiting for them. The winner of that game will have a lot of momentum and give Kansas a great fight. However, I think Kansas prevails there and over Missouri in the Big 12 final, securing a #1 seed.

Mountain West Tournament (Wendesday-Saturday, Las Vegas)

http://www.cbssports.com/collegebasketball/tournaments/conference/MWC/mountain-west-tournament-bracket

At-Large Locks: UNLV, BYU, San Diego State

Needs Work: Colorado State

Game To Watch: Colorado St. vs. New Mexico

Colorado State struggled at the end of the season, but if the right games break their way, they could make it into the tourney with two wins. Unfortunately, momentum is certainly going against the Rams. They've lost 4 out of their last 5 and will certainly have to beat BYU and San Diego State to get a definite tourney spot. CSU is 0-4 against the MWC's big 2 this season.

Honorable mention: Wyoming/TCU-BYU vs. Colorado St./New Mexico

Assuming that BYU gets past their quarterfinal, which is very likely but certainly not a given with the indefinite suspension of F Brandon Davies, this is a great semifinal. On one hand if Colorado State wins, they may be playing for a tournament spot against the class of the MWC. If New Mexico wins, BYU will look for payback as the Cougars will face a team they've lost to twice this year, both games weren't even close.

Prediction: San Diego State

The combination of Brandon Davies not being there and the Aztecs wanting revenge for their two losses, I predict the boys from Cali beat BYU in the finals, assuring them of a #2 seed in the NCAA's, knocking down BYU to a #3 seed (cue the mid-major groaning).

Big 10 Tournament (Thursday-Sunday, Indianapolis)

http://www.cbssports.com/collegebasketball/tournaments/conference/BIG10/big-10-tournament-bracket

At-Large Locks: Ohio State, Purdue, Wisconsin, Illinois

Looking Good, Needs A Win: Michigan

Needs Work: Michigan State

Game To Watch: Michigan vs. Illinois

The fortunes of both of these teams have changed over the last few weeks. There is no team that has zoomed their way onto the bubble like Michigan. Even in my College Basketball Primer, they were an afterthought. Now, they are the only thought that teams have in the Big 10. The Wolverines won 6 out of their last 8, with the two losses in that streak coming by a combined three points. The Illini are one of the two teams to beat the Wolverines in that stretch. The winner of this Big 10 quarterfinal is in the tournament. While the loser may be in as well, they will be doing a lot of sweating till Sunday.

Honorable Mention: Michigan State-Iowa vs. Purdue

Michigan State HAS to beat Iowa. If not, there should be no logical reason why a 14 loss team like the Spartans - who will have lost twice to Iowa - should be in the field of 68. If MSU makes it to the quarters, this matchup is just as pivotal to their tourney hopes. Both of Purdue's victories over Michigan State have been by double digits, including a 20-point victory at East Lansing less than two weeks ago. Michigan State may have more to play for, but Purdue may be pissed after losing to Iowa this past Saturday.

Prediction: Ohio State

On a neutral court, no team in the country is better than the Buckeyes. They have veteran leadership that's been in the tourney before, they have a super freshman in Jared Sullinger who can dominate games just like Evan Turner and Greg Oden before him, and they have a team who is battle tested in big tourney games as well. I believe Ohio State beats Wisconsin in the finals of the Big 10 to secure the #1 overall seed.

SEC Tournament (Thursday-Sunday, Atlanta)

http://www.cbssports.com/collegebasketball/tournaments/conference/SEC/sec-tournament-bracket

At-Large Locks: Florida, Kentucky, Tennessee, Vanderbilt

Needs Work: Alabama, Georgia

Game To Watch: Alabama vs. Auburn-Georgia

Just like last year in the SEC, the SEC West champion is most certainly not guaranteed an SEC Tournament bid. The 4th seed in the SEC East, Georgia has had a nice year, but their lack of big victories is catching up to them. So, what's the only way to get a big victory? Beat your opponent on Friday. Alabama is guaranteed to be here, Georgia's gonna need to beat SEC West bottom resident Auburn. Whether it be for Alabama or Georgia, Friday is desperation day in this Quarterfinal opener.

Honorable Mention: Tennessee-Arkansas vs. Florida

Florida has a huge resume, that coupled with an SEC title, could seriously give them consideration for a #2 seed. Arkansas will be a decent challenge for Tennessee, and has actually win against them in their only match back in February. The winner of that game should be a good opener for Florida, despite Florida winning all three meetings against both the Vols and Razorbacks this year. If Florida gets upset here, watch out because that opens up the SEC tourney big time.

Prediction: Florida

Florida has won 8 out of their last 9 and only lost three games in SEC play. All three losses were by single digits. Florida is showing a bit of the magic that they showed in their back-to-back national title seasons. Remember, the Gators were a #3 seed when they won the tourney for the very first time. This could be the start of something special for Florida.

ACC Tournament (Thursday-Sunday, Greensboro)

http://www.cbssports.com/collegebasketball/tournaments/conference/ACC/acc-tournament-bracket

At-Large Locks: Duke, North Carolina, Florida State

Looking Good, but needs a win: Clemson

Needs Work: Boston College, Virginia Tech

Game To Watch: Clemson vs. Boston College-Wake Forest

The ACC has been a very weak conference this year outside of the Top Three, but if BC continues on to this quarterfinal, a very well defined 4th bid from the conference will be handed out right here. Clemson has a good resume, enhanced by the very thin bubble. Despite losses to both Yale AND Harvard, the Eagles have done better during the latter portion of conference season, winning 4 out of their last 6 and having a very close game at regular season champion North Carolina. Despite the youth of both sides this year, one rookie head coach: either BC's Steve Donohue or Clemson's Brad Brownell will be going dancing with a win here.

Honorable Mention: Virginia Tech/Georgia Tech vs. Florida State

The Hokies will need to win twice: their quarterfinal on Thursday and this possible game on Friday. Over the last two years, Virginia Tech has been the ultimate bubble team and this year is no different. After what could have been a season and program defining win against Duke, the Hokies lost twice in the last week in the regular season against Clemson and BC. If Seth Greenberg EVER wants to make a second tourney appearance, his boys will definitely have to win two and possibly three ACC tourney games.

Prediction: Virginia Tech

Going out on a HUGE limb here. The Hokies are gonna recognize the talent that made them a Top 25 team at season's beginning. They'll beat both Duke and UNC in consecutive days to put them off the bubble and very much IN the NCAA tourney.

So, happy watching to all this Conference Tournament Week. Selection Sunday is just days away so I urge you all to enjoy all the madness this week. Every moment you get this week as a fan to watch a conference tournament game, do it. This is truly the most wonderful time of the year, perhaps in all of sports. I am The Rabbi, and I am out.

What A Difference A Half Century Makes...Or Does it?

by Jay Kaplan, OTSL Head Writer/Analyst

Those of you who follow "On The Sportslines" have no doubt heard me say, on more than one occasion, that no sport is more tied to its history than baseball. None of the other sports compares players and records across eras than our National Pastime.

Normally when we look back on the anniversary of certain decades or records, those anniversaries happen on the zero. You know, 2010, 1990, 1980, etc. Thus it almost slipped by me that this baseball season marks the 50th anniversary of one of National Pastime's watershed seasons.

Fifty years ago our world was a decidedly different place. The Twin Towers weren't even a glimmer in an architect's eye. Facebook, iPads, DVRs, hybrid cars, reality TV, Osama Bin Laden, Al-Queda, the Taliban, Saddam Hussein, Free Agency, Labor disputes, night World Series games, steroids, contracts with enough money to cure the National debt (or at least put a dent in it), none of these things were a part of the American landscape.

Yes the Cold War was in full swing, but except for isolated incidents like the Bay of Pigs and the unrest in the former Belgian Congo, the world wasn't in a state of war. Vietnam was barely on our radar. The word terrorism wasn't really part of the national lexicon. The "ism" we were most afraid of was communism.

In 1961 JFK's Camelot had just begun; the Beattles got their first gig at a small club in London; the Civil Rights Movement was in its infancy and the Space Race had barely dropped the green flag. One thing was the same then as it is now, the Yankees were baseball's most prestigious franchise and claimed arguably the sport's most iconic player - Mickey Mantle - as their own.

The Yankees were coming off a heart-breaking loss in the 1960 World Series to the Pittsburgh Pirates on what would become one of baseball's most historic moments: Bill Mazeroski's series-clinching walk-off (a term not in our vocabulary yet) home run in Game 7.

1961 was the first year of the 162 game season (the National League still played 154 games in 1961, they made the switch in 1962). The Yankees, like the rest of the American League, were looking at having to play 8 more games than they had the season before. No one was thinking that the Yankees acquisition of Kansas City A's Outfielder and 1960 AL MVP Roger Maris would amount to anything other than the Bronx Bombers adding yet another potent bat to an already powerful lineup. The Yankees were, after all, the pre-season American League World Series favorite even before the trade. Nobody could have predicted what wound up happening.

Babe Ruth's single season record of 60 home runs had been challenged in the past. Jimmy Foxx in 1932 and Hank Greenberg in 1938 tallied 58. Even Mantle had taken a run at it, hitting 52 in his Triple Crown season of 1956. The prevailing opinion of baseball people everywhere was that if anyone was going to break George Herman's record it would be Mantle.

Mantle and Maris both got off to scorching starts homer-wise in 1961. By May Mantle had 14, Maris had 12. By the end of July Mantle had 39, Maris had 40 and by September Maris had 51, Mantle 48. The press attention the M&M boys got rivaled the type and hype we see today. Imagine if you will what the media coverage would be like if say Alex Rodriguez or Ryan Howard was chasing the single season home run record? Remember, even during the McGwire-Sosa race to 62 in 1998 the internet coverage was nothing like it would be today. There weren't any bloggers nor was there SportsCenter or Twitter in 1961, but New York had more newspapers than any state in the country at that time and they all had Yankee beat reporters.

The press assault on Maris was in many ways more epic than the Yankee Right Fielder's assault on Ruth's record. Maris was a very private person by nature. He didn't seek the spotlight like Mantle. That, coupled with the fact that he wasn't - in the minds of Yankee beat reporters or the fans - a "true" Yankee didn't make it easy for Maris. Then to make matters worse, Mantle got hurt in September, which shifted ALL the fan and media focus on Maris.

Yankee fans wanted Mantle to break the record, Commissioner Ford Frick didn't want ANYONE to break the record. Not surprising since he was close friends with Ruth. Hence he made the ridiculous edict that unless the record was broken in 154 games it didn't matter. As if Maris needed any more pressure than he was already under. There were reports that Maris was losing his hair over all the stress and the attention his season was getting.

We all know how it played out. On October 1, 1961, the final day of the regular season, Maris took Tracy Stallard deep for his 61st home run. Maris would wind up leading the league in Homers, RBI and Runs Scored and win his second straight AL MVP award.

Mantle would finish with 54, four other Yankees would hit 20 or more homers and the Bombers led the American League with 240. Whitey Ford would go 25-4 and five other Yankee pitchers would post 10 wins or more. The Yankees would go 103-59, win the American League by 8 games over the Detroit Tigers and win the World Series in 1961 in an easy 5 game set over the Cincinnati Reds.

A lot has changed in 50 years. A lot hasn't. Some of the changes have made America, the World and even Baseball much better. Some of the changes have made America, the World and even Baseball much worse.

What has stayed constant is that the Yankees are baseball's most prestigious franchise; they claim arguably the sport's most iconic player - Derek Jeter - as one of their own and 50 years later, despite Billy Crystal's best efforts (if you haven't seen "61*" shame on you), Roger Maris STILL hasn't gotten his due.

College Basketball Conference Tournament Preview- Part 1

I am The Rabbi, Video Editor of "On The Sportslines". Welcome everyone to the month of March! It has been a crazy ride to get to these last two weeks before March Madness. Conference tournaments begin this week, when the mid-majors kick their tournaments off. By this time next week, the tournament field will have at least 10 teams that have qualified with their automatic bids. This column is designed to give you a quick look at those conference tournaments.

Horizon Conference Tournament (At Home Sites, Now-March 8th)

#1 Seed: Milwaukee

Winners of 9 of their last 10, the Panthers have quietly made their way to the top of the Horizon Conference. With only 18 wins on the season, Milwaukee had to make a statement in conference play and they surely did that. Milwaukee has a season sweep of the #2 seed in the Horizon, Butler. The Butler Bulldogs have made a good run in the last few weeks. One win (which would get them to the finals in their conference tournament) COULD put the Dogs in the field of 68.

Surprise: Cleveland State

Three teams tied for the conference lead, but by virtue of tiebreakers, the Vikings will have to play a quarterfinal game on Friday to advance to Sunday's semifinals. That would put them into another matchup with Butler, who they lost to twice by double digits this season. Who knows what will happen if they play a third time, as the Bulldogs will not have played for a week.

Prediction: Milwaukee

I actually think the Horizon will be a 2-bid league, and one fringe bubble team from a big conference will be REALLY pissed when Butler loses to Milwaukee to the final.

Ohio Valley Conference Tournament (Now-March 5th)

#1 Seed: Murray State

Winners of 11 out of their last 12, the Racers go into the tournament on a hot streak. They have the experience as they have been in the tournament over the last few years, but #2 seed Morehead State and #3 seed Austin Peay have been in this tournament before too.

Surprise: Tennessee Tech

They could make their third tourney appearance if all breaks right. This team has won 5 in a row to end the regular season, and is seeded 4th in the conference tournament. They also have a regular season sweep of #3 seed Austin Peay on their resume.

Prediction: Morehead State

Winners of 9 out of their last 10 to end the season themselves, they'll avenge an 8 point loss back in late February to Murray State in the conference title game.

Missouri Valley Conference Tournament (St. Louis, MO, March 3rd-6th)

#1 Seed: Missouri State

The Bears have had a very good season so far, and have been consistent in conference play, winning 6 in a row. A win over #2 seed Wichita State this past Saturday gave the Bears the top seed. If it comes down to it, Missouri State has two close victories this year over the Shockers.

Surprise: Indiana State

In this one bid league, don't be shocked if the Sycamores, 12-6 in-conference this year, end up in the NCAA's. Indiana State has been the best of the middling bunch in the MVC and have a victory over Missouri State on their resume this year.

Prediction: Wichita State

I think it's hard to beat another team 3 times in one season. Here's a point where it bites the Bears in the butt.

West Coast Conference Tournament (Las Vegas, NV, March 4th-7th)

#1 Seed: St. Mary's

The Gaels faded late, losing twice at home (bracketbuster vs. Utah State and in the last week vs. Gonzaga), which forced them to share the conference title with the Zags. Gonzaga has the pedigree from years past, but remember the team who made the Sweet 16 last year was St. Mary's. If they face off in the final, a third matchup would be rather interesting site to see.

Surprise: Portland

Portland is a 20-win team, though most of their wins came in the first half of the season. They have a win over St. Mary's on their resume this year, so they can surprise in a possible semi-final matchup.

Prediction: Gonzaga

Been hotter than St. Mary's as of late, winning their last 7 in a row. The Bulldogs have zipped up from off the bubble to almost tournament lock in a quick amount of time, and I think that roll continues here.

Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference Tournament (Bridgeport, CT, March 4th-7th)

#1 Seed: Fairfield

The Stags, who will play in their home arena for the MAAC Tourney, only lost 3 games in conference play. They have winning streaks of 7, 6, and 5 games this season, and have only lost 3 games since December. Despite losing the season finale to Iona, all the Stags have to do is defend home court and they'll go dancing.

Surprise: Rider

OK, semi-surprise. Rider tied for second in conference with Iona and is very dangerous. They are the only conference team to win in the Arena at Harbor Yard all year, so a final between the Rider Broncos and the Fairfield Stags could be very even.

Prediction: Fairfield

Sorry. Best team + Home Court = Too much for the MAAC challengers. This Connecticut team is going dancing.

Colonial Athletic Association Tournament (Richmond, VA, March 4th-7th)

#1 Seed: George Mason

The Patriots have now won 15 games in a row. GMU Guard Cam Long and the rest of the team have been playing their best ball of the year. While the Patriots will be the overwhelming favorite down in Virginia, GMU and #2 seed Old Dominion might save a little something for the NCAA tournament coming up. Both teams are locks for the tourney and may play at a different gear as opposed to some of the other CAA top seeds who'll need the tournament win in order to have a chance at the dance.

Surprise: Hofstra

Surprise! My alma mater could shock some people in Richmond. Despite the fact that star G Charles Jenkins has never won on the road against top seeds in this tournament (VCU, Old Dominion, and George Mason), I believe the Pride can at least make the finals, like they did 5 years ago. I think the Top 4 in the CAA is so much stronger than the rest of the league, only they are the ones who can hold up the tournament trophy on Monday.

Prediction: George Mason is taking this one. They have too much firepower right now. They'll run their winning streak to 18 heading into the NCAA's.

Sun Belt Conference Tournament (Hot Springs, AR, March 5th-8th)

Favorite: Florida Atlantic

Started conference play 8-0, and are the only 20-win team in the Sun Belt Conference. Led in scoring by Sophomore G Greg Gantt, the Owls are looking for only the second tournament appearance in their program's history.

Surprise: Louisiana Lafayette

The Ragin' Cajuns are on a roll, having not lost since January 19th. After starting the season 2-5, ULL has won 11 games in a row, 9 of the 11 by single digits, proving they can win the close games. This team has gone from a 3-14 team to a 14-14 team and one of the hottest teams in the country.

Prediction: Louisiana Lafayette

They've beaten the top 2 teams in the Eastern Division of the Sun Belt, and almost beat conference co-champ Middle Tennessee, losing in OT. The Ragin' Cajuns are one of the only teams with a double digit win streak, and momentum can get you to the middle of March.

Summit League (Sioux Falls, SD, March 5th-8th)

#1 Seed: Oakland

With one league loss all year, they are the standard bearer of the conference. The Golden Grizzlies have only lost once in 2011. This team has been absolutely dominant in-conference and actually has a non-conference victory over Tennessee. They will be tough to beat.

Surprise: IUPUI

But on February 5th, IUPUI did defeat Oakland. The Jaguars are Top 30 in the nation in Field Goal percentage, so when they get hot they can beat any team in conference.

Prediction: Oakland

You can't be this dominant in conference and end up folding now. This is surely not the time to slip up, when there is an NCAA tournament spot on the line.

That's a little look at the mid-major conference tournaments. We'll switch up our focus next week when we get to the big boys. Tune in Monday for a special look at the Greatest Week of the Year. Until then, I am The Rabbi and I'm out.

College Basketball: What to watch for this week

I'm The Rabbi, Video Editor of "On The Sportslines". This is the last week of the regular season for the major conferences and for some mid-majors, the start of their conference tournaments. The results of these games will shape the field of 68. Today, we focus on the regular season games that will impact bubble teams and seeding in the marquee conference tourneys.

Monday, 2/28

Kansas State At Texas

Why to Watch: Since I made the College Basketball Primer a week and a half ago, the fortunes of these teams have reversed. K-State has won 4 in row, including a win over Kansas and doing what Texas didn't do in that same time span: beat Nebraska on the road. Now that the Wildcats have firmly positioned themselves in the NCAA's, maybe they can move their seeding up in the Big 12 tourney (they are currently 5th). Texas might be out of running for a #1 NCAA seed with a loss in this game. The Longhorns lost to Nebraska and Colorado in consecutive weeks, after having an undefeated record in-conference until that game in Lincoln.

Tuesday, 3/1

Vanderbilt At Kentucky

This will be a battle for 2nd place in the SEC East, which gets you a bye into the quarterfinals of the conference tournament. Kentucky got a huge victory today against Florida at home, and winning against Vandy will establish some good momentum going into the postseason. The Commodores have won 6 out of their last 7, with their only loss coming at home against Tennessee. Vandy and Kentucky are also fighting for a possible Top 4 seed in the NCAA tourney.

Alabama At Florida

Tuesday is an SEC-fest in terms of tournament implications. Due to Georgia's struggles of late, Alabama has moved up in the SEC pecking order when it comes to who's making the tourney from there. However, the Crimson Tide aren't stable in their tournament position just yet, especially after a loss today at Ole Miss. A win over a Top 20 team on the road will create a ton of stability for their postseason spot. While Florida is assured the East's #1 seed in the upcoming SEC tournament, the Gators still have a trip at Vanderbilt in the wings next Saturday. A loss here could leave the SEC East regular-season champs with a 3 game losing streak going into the conference tourney.

Wednesday, 3/2

Cincinnati At Marquette

This week, both teams scored the marquee wins that make the possibility of 11 teams from the Big East getting into the tourney more likely. However, Guard Darius Johnson-Odom and the Golden Eagles need another statement victory this week. That statement is also needed by the road team, the Bearcats. Cincy has won 3 in a row, FINALLY getting one more big road win against Georgetown in that span. The winner here probably becomes the 10th lock from the Big East in the NCAA tournament, the loser may need a solid run in the Big East Tournament to become part of the field of 68.

Utah State At New Mexico State

Why is there a WAC game here in this post? It's because of the Utah State Aggies, that's why. At 25-3, Utah State has a marquee profile. However, they need every single win possible to make sure a conference tournament loss doesn't send them into the NIT. The New Mexico State Aggies want to sew up the #2 seed in the WAC conference tournament, and would make a huge statement to Utah State for a third possible meeting 10 days later in the WAC Tournament Final.

Thursday, 3/3

UCLA At Washington

There are 3 Pac-10 hopefuls for the NCAA's, and these are two of them. The Bruins had a win today over previously streaking Arizona by 22 points, putting them in a tie with the Wildcats for first in the Pac-10. To gain a #1 seed to the Pac-10 tournament at the Staples Center, the Bruins will need a win in order to downgrade the tourney hopes of the Huskies. Washington is still on the right side of the bubble....for now. A loss here will almost force Isaiah Thomas (no relation to you know who, thank God) and Washington to win at least one game in the Pac-10 tourney to cement their NCAA spot. The team from the Pacific Northwest does not want to leave anything to chance.

Saturday, 3/5

Michigan State At Michigan

The Spartans and Wolverines are natural basketball rivals, but they never have been good at the same time. That's still the case as they are both very mediocre. Despite a win today at Minnesota, there have been few times when Michigan has impressed the public with their victories this year. The Wolverines will need to win here and follow that with at least a semi-final run in the Big-10 tournament to give them bubble consideration. The Spartans are currently 16-11 and in my view, will need 20 wins to assure themselves a NCAA tourney spot. Michigan State's roller coaster ride has been up a little more lately, but the Spartans have lost the luster they came in with to start the season. They have Purdue at home tomorrow, Iowa on Wednesday, and this game on Saturday remaining. With a sweep of all three games, the Spartans can gain some shine back.

Texas At Baylor

As mentioned earlier, Texas has lost on the road the previous two Saturdays against inferior opponents. The Bears are a little stronger than Nebraska or Colorado, the two teams that beat Texas. Baylor is 6-7 in-conference (they play Texas A & M tonight) and can not afford to end up with a losing record in the Big 12, which is weaker than it was last year. The bubble may be weak, but if Baylor keeps stumbling (they've lost 3 of their last 4), the Bears will go from Elite 8 in 2010 to no dance in 2011. Baylor played Texas very close on the road in that early February loss. Perhaps with the scene changing to Waco, the result - for Baylor - will change as well.

Duke At North Carolina

Come on, it's the Blue Devils and the Tar Heels! You don't need a reason to watch! This network prime time game will match up the ACC's two best teams. Outside of a blemish at Georgia Tech, no one has figured out North Carolina....except Duke. The Blue Devils won the first matchup between the two back in the beginning of February, when Guard Nolan Smith went for 34 points in a 79-73 victory for the home team. Smith is starting to get mentioned in the national player of the year race. Duke overcame a 14 point deficit at halftime in the UNC game to get the victory that has kept them on top of the ACC for most of the season. A win at home by the Tar Heels will most likely give UNC a share of the ACC Title. I don't think Duke wants to share with anyone.

Sunday, 3/6

Wisconsin at Ohio State

One of the final games of college basketball's regular season will be one of the most intense. The Top 3 this season in the Big-10 (Wisconsin, OSU, and Purdue) have all stayed undefeated at home. The Badgers will try to continue the success they had back on February 12th at home against the Buckeyes. Badger Guard Jordan Taylor had 21 second half points in the Badgers 71-67 "upset". Ohio State remembers that game, and will be looking for payback on Sunday. While improving their NCAA resume is at stake for the Badgers, the Buckeyes will be playing for a #1 seed. Freshman Forward phenom Jared Sullinger and the Buckeyes have struggled a little bit since that game in Madison. A win in Columbus will bring back all the mojo for the Buckeyes, I believe.

Later this week, I will look at the mid-major conference tournaments. College Basketball's postseason will start up this week, and it will be glorious. I love this time of year more than any other. Until next time...I am The Rabbi.

The Biggest Storyline in Baseball for 2011

By Jay Kaplan, OTSL Analyst

As Grapefruit and Cactus League games get underway this weekend, it's time we take a look at what I feel will be the biggest storyline in baseball this season. For me, it will be how a trio of new managers fare stepping into some pretty big shoes left by their predecessors. The men in question are Fredi Gonzalez in Atlanta, Don Mattingly in Los Angeles and Mike Quade in Chicago. The shoes they are stepping into belonged to Bobby Cox, Joe Torre and Lou Piniella. Three of the most successful managers of this generation, World Series champions all.

Gonzalez is the only one with Major League level managerial experience, going 276-279 in 3 plus years with the Florida Marlins. Like Joe Girardi before him, there were issues with owner Jeffre Loria that led to his dismissal. The fact that he managed one of baseball’s lowest payrolls to a near .500 record working for as mercurial an owner as Loria is impressive. Being a Cox disciple (he was Atlanta’s 3rd Base Coach from 2003-2006 and a manager in their farm system before that) who is familiar with “The Braves Way” should make for an easy adjustment by the team. A healthy Chipper Jones will go a long way towards that as well.

Donnie Ballgame has never managed at any level. The Dodgers are no doubt hoping Torre’s long time apprentice (he has been both Hittiing Coach and Bench Coach for Torre) has soaked up everything required to finally sit in the Big Chair. Considering all that is going on with the Dodgers off the field, Mattingly will be under the radar unless the Dodgers get off to a horrific start. If that happens, even the McCourts very contentious and public divorce and fight over ownership of the team won’t shield Mattingly for very long.

That brings us to Mike Quade, who finally gets his shot at running an MLB team full time (he finished out the final 37 games of 2010 after Piniella stepped down). In the dictionary next to “Baseball Lifer” there is picture of Quade. He never played a single game at the Major League level but has managed over 2500 games in the minors over 27 years for five different organizations. Quade breaks a Cubs trend of hiring big name managers in this century – Don Baylor, Dusty Baker and Piniella come to mind – but of the three new guys in question, Quade may be on the shortest leash. Everyone knows the Cubs history: over a century since their last title and over 65 years since they last appeared in the Fall Classic (12 years before Quade was even born). It’s why almost everyone was expecting Cubbie legend Ryne Sandberg to get the nod. Quade’s 24-13 finish last year won him the chance to lead one of baseball’s most prestigious franchises, but he needs Carlos Zambrano and Matt Garza to anchor the rotation and Alfonso Soriano and Aramis Ramirez to drive in runs day in and day out for the Cubs to remain competitive and for him to be more than just a one-shot deal.

A storyline worth watching this season.

In-Game blog, Knicks vs. Bucks (aka Melo's Knick Debut)

By Jay Kaplan, OTSL Analyst

For those of you who weren't following my in-game updates on Facebook, here are my quarter by quarter posts for the Knicks debuts of Carmelo Anthony and Chauncey Billups, plus my finally analysis.

FIRST QUARTER:

My take on the First Quarter of the 'Melo era: he and Billups will adjust, but it will take a while before they figure out/learn where to be on the floor. The Knicks starting 5 will be solid every game, but they have practically no depth. Walsh needs to make another deal to get some size. Either way, the Knicks are in trouble if the key cogs in the 2nd unit are Bill Walker and Shawne Williams.

SECOND QUARTER:

Ragged Second Quarter. 'Melo seems to be pressing. The Knicks weren't a good rebounding team before the trade, tonight they seem even worse. When one of the worst shooting teams in the NBA and THE worst scoring team in the NBA is shooting like this against you, that's bad. This is downside of the trade - a bad defense got worse. Brewer and Balkman (who actually can defend perimeter scorers) will rarely play because they have ZERO offensive skills.

HALFTIME NOTES:

Proof that the Knicks new Three Musketeers will need a few games to find some chemistry: they shot a combined 9-26 from the floor. Proof that stars find ways to score even when they don't have their A-

Game: they shot a combined 12-13 from the line.

THIRD QUARTER:

Low scoring Third Quarter. 'Melo forcing it a bit. Billups needs to jack up bricks from beyond the arc less and take it to the cup more. (Billups is a great post-up guard, D'Antoni needs to work that into the 1/2 court sets) STAT taking too many 15-18 foot jumpshots. Fields needs more touches. Defense needs to close out on shooters: Bucks are 9-18 from three and keep the Bucks off the Offensive Boards (they have 11). Douglas has been best Knick tonight: 9-10 FG, 20 points in 18 minutes.

FOURTH QUARTER:

Knicks go almost exclusively with a small lineup to some succes (Amare at the 5, Anthony at the 4, Fields at the 3 with Billups and Toney at the Guards). Amare fouling out hurt. His 5th foul was an ill-advised foray to the hole that resulted in a charge. Help Defense is STILL non-existent. Melo with two HUGE scores late (11points in Quarter). Billups still taking ill-advised 3's, but always clutch at the stripe to ice the game (team goes 12-12 on FT's in 4th). An ugly win to be sure, but a win nonetheless.

FINAL ANALYSIS:

Overall, I give the team a B for their first game with Anthony and Billups. Amare seemed a little out of sorts. Only 19 points - well be low his 26 per game average - and only 13 FGA's. Billups shot selection was questionable (4-12; 1-6 from 3), but as always he was automatic from the line (12-12). Overall, 21 points, 6 rebounds and 8 assists (against only 2 turnovers) is a solid game from the Knicks new PG. Anthony was a little erratic through the first 3 quarters, but he came up big in the 4th scoring 11 of his 27 in the final stanza. 10-25 isn't a great shooting night, but the 10 rebounds is nice for a team that doesn't rebound well.

The Defense gets a D- (the only reason it's not an F is because they won). Allowing the NBA's lowest scoring team and one of its worst scoring teams to get 108 points and shoot 11-23 from downtown is terrible, but to allow them 13 offensive rebounds just adds insult to injury. A performance like this against the Milwaukees and Clevelands (the Knicks next opponent) of the league can still result in a win (as we saw tonight), but it will SO NOT fly against a team like the Heat who the Knicks will face on Sunday.

Finally tonight, A+ to Toney Douglas, without whom the Knicks SURELY would have lost. Douglas went 10-12 from the field (3-5 from beyond the arc) scoring 23 points in 29 minutes. Douglas figures to get at least five more minutes per game with Billups now the starting Point Guard. Raymond Felton was averaging 38 minutes per game, Billups will likely average the 33 he played tonight. Billups, unlike Felton, can guard some 2-Guards, so chances are good you'll see Billups and Douglas playing side by side more often as the season goes on. The Knicks small unit (Billups, Douglas, Fields, Anthony and Stoudemire) played well together tonight and could be a nice option against teams without height or that aren't physical.

The newcomers will be learning the Knicks offense on the fly as there isn't going to be much practice time to integrate them, but Anthony and Billups are smart, veteran players who will adapt quickly. It will take at least 10 games for everyone to get comfortable playing together, but it will happen.

That said, no matter how well the offense improves with Billups and Anthony riding shotgun with Amare, until and unless this team acquires some height, some usable depth and a defensive identity they are still a one and done as far as the postseason goes.

College Basketball Primer – Part 5

I am The Rabbi, Video Editor of On The Sportslines. This is the final installment of my 5-part series looking at the world of college basketball, one major conference at a time.

Today, we remind you that there are more than just the Big 6 conferences (someone needs to tell college football that), and focus on the other guys. We are going to take a look at some of the teams that can be considered “Bracketbusters”, and the ones that can actually be a champion just like Butler almost was a year ago.

To be considered here you must have two things going for you: a) a chance to make a legit impact in March or b) a past where everyone knows who you are now, even if you aren’t as good this year. The mid-majors are weaker, so I will be profiling a ton of conference champions of smaller conferences that are performing better than expected.

Gonzaga (19-9, 9-3, RPI 69, Best win Dec 22 Vs. Xavier 64-54, Worst Loss Jan 20 At Santa Clara 85-71)
Standard #1 of thinking is this: Gonzaga always needs to play a hard out-of-conference schedule and pays for it with wear and tear during conference season. Standard #2: You have to play big when you’re in a weak conference, and the 3 straight losses the Bulldogs had in conference play is not acceptable. With Gonzaga and Butler on the bubble, we could see an ultimate ruling on mid-majors scheduling hard opponents. If both make it, maybe pedigree helps. If they don’t, no mid-major is going to impulsively schedule anymore. I think the Zags make it in. To do so they will have to beat conference leader St. Mary’s once, in the regular season or in the conference tourney.

Butler (20-9, 12-5, RPI 44, Best win Dec 23 Vs. Florida St 67-64, Worst Loss Jan 3 At Milwaukee 76-52)
Can Butler’s pedigree get them in the field? It just might. The darlings of last year’s tourney had only 3 losses in conference play last year, but now they have 5. Kind of surprising since returning starters Matt Howard and Shelvin Mack were leaders last year. The Bulldogs still have a chance to make the NCAA tournament though, having won 6 in a row. The overwhelming feeling in most circles though, is Butler will have to make it as an automatic bid. That’s not a given this year for sure.

Conference USA Roundup
This used to be Memphis’ conference, but not anymore. The Tigers have needed a win versus a legit tourney team out of conference, and they just haven’t done that. UAB had built a good conference profile, but when Memphis finished a season sweep of them last week, it brought them a rung down on the bubble ladder. Southern Miss has never won a tournament game. There is a possibility the Golden Eagles could make a return to the tourney to get that elusive win but they need to win out to even have a chance at an at-large. UTEP has used a surprise tourney appearance a year ago to make them the class of the league this year. The Miners may be the best of a bad bunch of mediocre teams. That formula could make the C-USA a one bid league.

Missouri Valley Conference Roundup
The Missouri Valley Conference has produced a lot of legit tourney teams, but for the third straight year this conference is lacking a little something. The top 2 teams are the only teams who could be even considered for an at-large spot. Missouri State had a win streak of 9, and then lost 3 of 5, then won 4 in a row, before a back breaking loss a day ago against Valparaiso (one of the teams ahead of Butler in the Horizon). As for the other team, Wichita State has only losses versus UCONN and San Diego State in non-conference play. The 3 conference losses were all down to the wire as well. Why is Wichita State is not a guaranteed at-large? It is because of a bracket buster loss this weekend versus VCU, the 3rd best team in the CAA. Which leads us to….

The Colonial Athletic Association, the non-Patriot division
Four teams in the CAA have stood out among the rest. My alma mater Hofstra has had their best year since the almost tournament run of 2006. They for sure have one of the 10 best players in the nation in Senior Charles Jenkins (23 ppg and not a single game under 13 points all year), but the resume lacks the big road or non-conference victory needed for an at-large bid. Virginia Commonwealth University got a huge win on Friday against Wichita State, which took the sting out of back to back losses at home versus Old Dominion and George Mason. They have a faint at-large possibility, but only if they make the finals of the CAA. Old Dominion is the reigning conference champ and is a good possibility to make the NCAA’s even if they lose in the conference tourney. Their victory over Horizon Conference leader Cleveland State in today’s bracket buster game could cement that at-large spot.

George Mason (23-5, 14-2, RPI 20, Best Win Feb 15 at VCU 71-51, Worst Loss Nov 21 Vs. Wofford 82-79 (OT))
When someone asks you the question of which team has the longest winning streak in America, this is the answer. George Mason is rolling along, winning THIRTEEN in a row. The Patriots right now have a much stronger resume (due to talent and their own competition) then they had when they got an at-large berth in 2006. 11 of those 13 victories are by double digits as well. GMU, with Senior Cam Long and Junior Ryan Peterson, could be a definite second week team in the NCAA tournament. Could they be more than that? Don’t ask a jaded Hofstra fan that question when he’s still bitter about Hofstra’s exclusion and GMU’s inclusion to the NCAA’s in 2006! I just present the facts.

The Atlantic 10 brings us our next 3 teams. These are the ones who have been the top 3 in the conference all year and are the same 3 who ruled this conference a year ago.

Richmond (20-7, 9-3, RPI 68, Best Win Nov 27 Vs. Purdue 65-54, Worst Loss Nov 18 at Iona 81-77)

This team wouldn’t get a sniff of the tourney under the old format in my book. Having 3 extra teams this year makes a huge difference. The Spiders have a very marginal resume. Their RPI is almost too high, the losses to Iona and Bucknell are hard to ignore and they haven’t beaten any of the Top 5 teams in their conference this season. This team is sorely lacking that signature win they have been looking for. They need to get it soon or they’ll be in the NIT.

Temple (20-5, 10-2, RPI 31, Best win Dec 9 Vs. Georgetown 68-65, Worst Loss Jan 15 At Duquesne 78-66)
Junior Ramone Moore has blossomed into a star this year for the Owls, who look like a comfortable mid-range seed in March. Can they get to the 3rd round or the regionals? Very likely. They played Big East powers Villanova and Georgetown this year, going 1-1. The experience in December could help them get at least one victory in March.

Xavier (20-6, 11-1, RPI 19, Best win Jan 29 At Richmond 85-62, Worst Loss Dec 1 At Miami (OH) 75-64)
The Musketeers were decent, but nowhere near spectacular in non-conference play, going 9-5. Since then, they have won 12 of their last 13. It’s been that run that has made Xavier the power that we have known them to be in late winter/early spring. Tu Holloway, who’s going to be Atlantic 10 player of the year, averages 20+ points and 5+ rebounds a game. Holloway is one of the best sophomores in the game and has raised his play to a high level this year.

The best of the best of the non-Big 6 conferences is the Mountain West, with 3 true tourney teams and 2 beasts. The one team on the outside looking in right now is Colorado State. Their loss Saturday against UNLV may have been a killer, but if they beat either BYU or San Diego State on the road, they’ll definitely be reconsidered. Yeah, good luck. Speaking of UNLV….

UNLV (20-7, 8-5, RPI 26, Best win Dec 21 At Kansas St 63-59, Worst Loss Dec 15 At UC Santa Barbara 68-62)
The Rebels are the forgotten team in this conference, and with good reason (San Diego State and BYU). However, the wins out of conference are impressive. They’ve won at Kansas State, and have beaten Wisconsin and Virginia Tech, both are NCAA tournament teams. Despite their 0-4 record against the Top 2 in their conference, it’s not as bad as it looks. The Runnin’ Rebels have a surprisingly strong profile (thanks to the very strong MWC), to warrant more playing time in March.

BYU (25-2, 11-1, RPI 2 (yes, 2), Best win Jan 26 Vs. San Diego St 71-58, Worst Loss Jan 29 At New Mexico 86-77)
San Diego State may be the better team, but the better player in this conference and maybe the best player on the other side of the Mississippi is Jimmer Fredette. A man who was THIS close to going to the NBA last year but decided to go back to school and has become a legend at BYU. The 2011 version of the Cougars could be the best since Danny Ainge went to school there. This team has some of the best wins of any Western-based school, still has to get over the hump that is their conference rival San Diego State. If they don’t, they’re going to have a tough road to Houston, even with a high seed.

San Diego State (27-1, 12-1, RPI 3, Best Win Dec 1 Vs. St Mary’s 69-55, Worst (only) Loss Jan 26 At BYU 71-58)
They started the year 20-0, and despite the barrage they had to endure from Jimmer Mania in late January, the Aztecs still are fighting for a #1 seed! They can do it too. This team – which leads the nation in wins with 27 – is loaded, with Sophomore F Kawhi Leonard, Senior G D.J. Gay, and Senior F Malcolm Thomas. They have only beaten a single team that has been in the Top 25 all year (Gonzaga), but the Aztecs really can make a run in the NCAA’s. Their coach, Steve Fischer, knows all about great teams getting to the summit of college basketball, like his former team Michigan.

This primer would not be complete without mentioning the teams that are the class of West Coast and Western Athletic conferences.

West Coast Conference

St. Mary’s (22-6, 10-2, RPI 40, Best Win Jan 27 At Gonzaga 73-71, Worst Loss Feb 16 At San Diego 74-66)
The Gaels were almost an at-large shoe-in a week ago. Now, maybe not so much after 2 straight losses to San Diego and Utah State this week. St. Mary’s does have the pedigree of last year’s Sweet 16 run to hang their hat on, but remember, they got excluded from the tourney 2 years ago. Senior Mickey McConnell has gone through both seasons, and he’s hoping this year goes more like last.

Western Athletic Conference

Utah State (25-3, 12-1, RPI 25, Best Win Feb 19 At St Mary’s 75-65, Worst Loss Feb 9 At Idaho 64-56)
The Aggies huge road win over St. Mary’s on Saturday probably cemented their tournament spot. The Aggies wouldn’t be a surprise Sweet 16 team; they have been to the dance before. The 2 losses the Aggies had in non-conference play – to Georgetown and BYU – were amazingly close. This team is one that you should try to see during championship week, because they’re going to be seen a lot in March.

Thanks for reading through this 5-part series. I’ll be checking in often as we head into what is my greatest month of the year, March. Happy Madness to all!

College Basketball Primer- Part 4

I am The Rabbi, video editor of "On The Sportslines". Welcome back to what's been your obsession. If it hasn't, what's wrong with you? This is the latest installment of the College Basketball Primer. Part 4 focuses on the Big 10 and Pac 10, but first, let's recap on what went on this week, as of the first writing....

- UCONN held serve at home against Georgetown, Louisville held serve at home against UCONN, and most surprisingly, West Virginia held serve at home against Notre Dame to get themselves close to being a tournament lock.

- St. John's beat Pitt on a last second runner by Dwight Hardy, giving the Red Storm their FOURTH victory against Top 10 teams at home, and a victory against each of the Top 3 in their conference. Almost time to put them in the field of 68.

- Nebraska got the Big 12 major victory they needed, giving Texas their first Big 12 loss this season. Back to the right side of the bubble for the Huskers? We'll see.

Now, we move on to the Big 10. This is an interesting conference. It's good, but could be much better due to the two major disappointments that have fallen during conference season.

The First Six

Although they had a victory vs Alabama in the early part of the season, teams are embarrassed when they lose to Iowa. Indiana has seen themselves beat two Top 25 teams at home, but they still may not even be NIT material. Northwestern started 8-0 and has since gone 7-10. Not good. Michigan has an overtime loss at Kansas and two single digit losses against Ohio State. Winning 5 of their last 6 can't make up for that bad non-conference schedule for the Wolverines. Penn State may be .500 in conference, but they are just not on the radar for a spot on the bubble.

Minnesota (17-9, 6-8, Real Time RPI 41, Best win Nov 19 Vs. UNC 72-67, Worst Loss Feb 2 At Indiana 60-57)

You need an owner's manual to understand the Gophers. Their 11-1 start included wins over UNC and West Virginia. They lost 3 consecutive road games versus Ohio St., Michigan St., and Wisconsin, then rattled off 4 straight W's. But, once again they fell in the tank losing 5 of their last 6. With the (and I hate to repeat it) weak bubble in 2011, the Gophers are still on the right side of it...for now. With 3 out of their last 4 at home (And the road game being Northwestern), one slip up and we won't see Tubby Smith in a familiar place... March.

Michigan State (14-11, 6-7, RPI 48, Best win Dec 31 Vs. Minnesota 71-62, Worst Loss Feb 2 at Iowa 72-52)

Tom Petty's Free Fallin is becoming the team anthem for the Michigan State Spartans. Can you believe this is the same team that was ranked #2 in the pre-season? This team had Kalin Lucas, Draymond Green, Darell Summers, and ALL the players who went to back to back final fours. Just like Korey Lucious on the court, this team has truly disappeared (well, Lucious got booted off....). The Spartans have looked like a champion on the court, but played like a chump. Why they are still in the mix for an at-large is any one's guess, but they don't have too long to go before they fall out of the conversation.

Illinois (17-9, 7-6, RPI 38, Best Win Jan 2 Vs. Wisconsin 69-61, Worst Loss Dec 18 Vs. UIC 57-54)

For those who care, UIC is the University of Illinois at Chicago. They're 7-21 right now. But now to the true rose of Illinois, the Illini have been a mild disappointment, well actually more of a level 3 disappointment this year. What could have easily been a dark horse final four candidate is barely holding on to relevance in the national scene. Senior Demetri McCamey is kind of the leader and represents this team as a whole. He has shown signs of promise early, but has tailed off throughout the conference season despite still putting up pretty good numbers. Illinois, losers of 6 of their last 9, has better profiles than the other 2 teams above them. However, that's saying very little.

Wisconsin (19-6, 9-4, RPI 18, Best win Feb 12 Vs. Ohio St 71-67, Worst Loss Jan 29 At Penn St 56-52)

When everybody picks their favorites in the Big 10 every year, the Badgers are not there. We're virtually surprised every single year when we see the Badgers have a sustained run at the top of the conference. When will it stop? Not this year, the Badgers with the combo of G Jordan Taylor and F Jon Leuer can give them enough big shots to get to the 2nd weekend of the tournament. A lot of the teams who will get into this tourney have done it on signature home victories...but I do think Wisconsin has enough talent to win at any site in March.

Purdue (21-5, 10-3, RPI 9, Best win Feb 16 Vs. Wisconsin 70-62, Worst Loss Nov 27 Vs. Richmond 65-54)

Purdue is cursed. The Boilemakers were poised for a huge tourney run when star Robbie Hummel went down right near tourney time last year. Purdue was a Sweet 16 team but it could have been more. Purdue was poised for even more this season, then Hummel's pre-season injury turned a Top 5 team to a Top 15 team. I will give this team some credit though, the 'Makers are a very tough team, as seniors Juwan Johnson and E'Twaun Moore have proved to us with their 20 point games night in and night out. However, unlike the unlimited potential of Purdue with Hummel, there is a ceiling with this version of Purdue. Probably another Sweet 16 appearance.

Ohio State (25-1, 12-1, RPI 4, Best win Nov 16 At Florida 93-75, Worst Loss (and only one) Feb 16 Vs. Wisconsin 70-62)

Simply put, I think Ohio State has played like the best team in the country this year. Can they sustain this with the lack of depth on their bench? I have no idea whatsoever. But I do know this fact, there is no player that has impressed me more this year than Jared Sullinger. In the beginning of the season, Sullinger was breaking down D's with 30+ ppg performances. In, conference season Sullinger has been playing like a great teammate and has shown flashes of brilliance to be my player of the year. Sorry Jimmer Fredette, but Sullinger is someone you FEAR when he steps onto the court. The one downside about Ohio State is this: they get tired, and get tired fast. I hope to God this team keeps up their performance all the way to the Final Four in Houston.

And now the Pac-10. The league is not as weak as it was last year, but it's still a distant 6th when it comes to the Big 6 conferences and could be behind conferences this year like the MWC.

The Pretenders

Arizona State has fallen far from the James Harden days, despite getting a big victory today against Washington State. Oregon State has lost 10 out of their last 12 (not like they had a chance at an at-large anyway). Cal has followed 4 straight victories with 4 straight losses as of this writing and they are fighting for .500 and an NIT berth. Stanford beat DePaul in OT and they are not a team you should struggle to beat. USC has lost by 20 to Rider, almost beat Kansas at Lawrence, and actually DID blowout #1 ranked Texas. Yeah, that's a little schizo. Oregon had a small run as a power in basketball, but that was a while ago.

Washington State (17-10, 7-8, RPI 73, Best win Jan 30 Vs. Washington 87-80, Worst Loss Feb 3 At Oregon 69-43)

I'm only putting them on here cause it would have been depressing to put 3 teams for a major conference. The Cougars, who beat a team with a lot of pre-season hype in Baylor during their non-conference season, have tailed off since they started Pac- 10 play. Like it or not West Coasters, a sub .500 record in a 7th or 8th best conference does nothing to get you an at-large. This team could easily win the Pac-10 tournament, but if they don't, it's NIT city for Wazzou.

Washington (18-8, 10-5, RPI 37, Best win Dec 31 At UCLA 74-63, Worst Loss Feb 3 At Oregon State 68-56)

The Huskies are in a major state of limbo. Before the season began, this former Pac-10 favorite has seen both Arizona and UCLA leap over them, and the traditional Pac-10 powers are the only ones solidly in the field of 68. The small wonder, Junior G Isiah Thomas, has led this team in points per game. The Huskies had a bad stretch of losing 3 straight road games against a Pac-10 murderers row: Washington State and the Oregon's (that sarcastic enough?). Washington could be one of the bigger disappointments if they continue on their roller coaster into mid-March.

UCLA (19-7, 10-3, RPI 36, Best win Dec 18 86-79 Vs. BYU, Worst Loss Dec 5 66-57 Vs. Montana)

UCLA has had a very surprising season this year. They are loaded with youth in sophomore Reeves Nelson; they have experience in Junior Malcolm Lee and they have a Final Four veteran at coach in Ben Howland. Winners of 10 of their last 11, they have improved in-season at all positions and have taken what could have been an ultimate bubble team into a tourney team. UCLA looks to me like an #8 or #9 seed that could put the fear of God in a #1 seed in the 2nd, excuse me, now 3rd round of the NCAA tourney.

Arizona (23-4, 12-2, RPI 17, Best win Jan 27 Vs. UCLA 85-74, Worst Loss Jan 2 at Oregon St 76-75)

Sophomore Derrick Williams, with 19 points and 8 rebounds a game, has led this Wildcat team BACK into the tournament picture. They may not be as strong as other conference leaders, but all Arizona seems to do is win lately. They've won 8 straight, 11 of their last 12 and had a non-conference season where they only led twice. Not a lot of people expected somebody like Derrick Williams to be the leader for Pac-10 Player of the Year, and no one expected Arizona to be this strong in conference. I wouldn't pick against this team in the first weekend of the tourney.

Tomorrow, our college basketball preview concludes when we look at 12 teams to look for in March. These smaller conference teams could be shooting up (or down) to Houston in March.