Volume 39

Top Teams

Who is the best team in Men’s College Basketball? Is it the Arizona Wildcats? Or how about the Michigan Wolverines? Are the Iowa State Cyclones the best? What about the Duke Blue Devils? I’m comparing these four teams to answer the question: Who is the best Men’s College Basketball team?

Arizona Wildcats:

Record: 8-0

Quality Wins: 93-87 versus Florida; 69-65 versus UCLA; 71-67 versus UConn; 97-68 versus Auburn

Arizona has played great basketball and is currently the CT #1 team. But that doesn’t mean they're the best. Arizona has beaten Florida, UCLA, UConn, and Auburn. Their back-to-back wins versus UCLA and UConn are a great resume boost. Arizona is a great team with a bright rest of the season.

Michigan Wolverines:

Record: 9-0

Quality Wins: 102-72 versus Auburn; 101-61 versus Gonzaga;

Michigan crushed Auburn and Gonzaga back-to-back. The Wolverines haven’t faced anyone else that is ranked. Michigan is a heavy favorite to win the Big 10. They are in a great position to contend for a national title.

Duke Blue Devils:

Record: 10-0

Quality Wins: 78-66 versus Kansas; 80-71 versus Arkansas; 67-66 versus Florida; 66-60 versus Michigan State;

Duke is a great team led by Player of the Year favorite Cameron Boozer. The Blue Devils have gotten some great wins. Most notably, they’ve taken down Florida. The Blue Devils are ACC and National Championship contenders.

Iowa State Cyclones:

Record: 10-0

Quality Wins: 83-82 versus St John’s; 81-58 versus Purdue;

Iowa State crushed then No.1 Purdue by 23. The Cyclones are undefeated and have the best win of anyone so far this season.

So now that all four teams have been compared, we have an idea on who might be best. Who do you think is the best so far?

College Football Playoffs

The CFP bracket is out. 12 teams made it and are competing for the national title. Here are the teams:

#1 Indiana Hoosiers

13-0, Big 10 Champions

How they can win: not beating themselves

Indiana is better than any team in the country. To win, the Hoosiers just need to not beat themselves by turning it over and committing penalties.

#2 Ohio State Buckeyes

12-1, At large bid

How they can win: Playing good defense

Caleb Downs leads the Buckeyes’ defense. Downs is a projected top 15 pick in the next NFL draft. The rest of the defense for OSU is also very strong.

#3 Georgia Bulldogs

12-1, SEC Champions

How they can win: Staying ahead of the sticks

Stetson Bennet is not the best QB. So it will be very important for Georgia to have 3rd and manageable, not 3rd and long.

#4 Texas Tech Red Raiders

12-1, Big 12 Champions

How they can win: Getting good pressure and stopping the run

The run defense and pass rush are by far the best units on the Red Raiders. They are headlined by linebacker Jacob Rodriguez, who finished 5th in voting for the Heisman Trophy. The Red Raiders need to pressure the QB and stop the run if they want to win.

#5 Oregon Ducks

11-1, At large bid

How they can win: Making it easy for Dante Moore

Oregon doesn’t really have a strength or a weakness. They are just a well-rounded team. What they need to do to have a chance is simple: the skill players need to make it easy for their QB Dante Moore.

#6 Ole Miss Rebels

11-1, At large bid

How they can win: Getting chances for Trinidad Chambliss

Trinidad Chambliss is a playmaker. The Ole Miss QB can pass and use his legs. As long as his teammates can give him the chance, Trinidad Chambliss could lead Ole Miss to who knows where.

#7 Texas A&M Aggies

11-1, At large bid

How they can win: Not getting in early holes

The Aggies went 11-1, which is good for a team that was: down by ten versus Notre Dame in the 3rd quarter, nearly lost multiple double-digit leads versus Arkansas, and down 27 to South Carolina. They won all three of those games. But in their last game of the season, they held multiple leads before Texas took a ten-point lead at the start of the 4th quarter. Texas A&M has already peaked and should just hope not to be upset by the Miami Hurricanes.

#8 Oklahoma Sooners

10-2, At large bid

How they can win: Playing defense

Oklahoma has only allowed more than 20 points versus four teams, three of them currently ranked. They’ve held five teams to ten or less points, and seven teams to 13 or less points. Oklahoma has a great defense that will need to play well if the Sooners want a chance.

#9 Alabama Crimson Tide

10-3, At large bid

How they can win: Preventing Ty Simpson from being pressured

Ty Simpson is not good against pressure and the Crimson Tide need to protect him if they want to go on a run.

#10 Miami Hurricanes

10-2, At large bid

How they can win: Limit their opponents’ passing game

Miami needs to limit the damage opposing QBs do through the air. In Miami’s six-point loss to SMU, the Canes allowed SMU QB Kevin Jennings to throw for 365 yards. That was the highest amount of pass yards Miami gave up to a QB all season. In their only other loss versus Louisville, they allowed the fourth most passing yards to a QB on their season. Both of their losses were in the worst 33% of passing yards given up by Miami this season. They need to limit the pass.

#11 Tulane Green Wave

11-2, American Champions

How they can win: Stopping QBs from making big plays

Tulane plays Ole Miss in the first round of the playoffs. When the Green Wave and Rebels met earlier in the season, Tulane gave up 419 total yards (passing and rushing) to Trinidad Chambliss. If Tualne wants to win the rematch, they need to stop Chambliss from doing whatever he wants. In Tulane’s other loss versus UTSA, they gave up 370 yards to the QB. Tulane needs to limit the QBs from making huge plays if they want a chance.

#12 James Madison Dukes

12-1, Sun Belt Champions

How can they win: Controlling the football

James Madison can score quick and often. But to beat better contenders, the Dukes are going to need long, clock-chewing drives where they control the ball and pace of the game, not giving other teams alot of time on offense.

Quinn Hughes Trade

Quinn Hughes is one of the best defenders in the NHL and he was just moved in a seismic, landscape-shifting trade. Hughes is a 26-year-old Norris Trophy winning, former team captain, and former first round draft pick defenseman. Hughes played for the Vancouver Canucks for the first seven years of his career before being traded yesterday to the Minnesota Wild. The Wild sent Zeev Buium, Marco Rossi, Liam Ohgren, and a 1st round pick to Vancouver in return. The three players Minnesota gave up are all former first round picks who are 24 years old or younger. This trade is between two teams in totally different situations. Minnesota is going all-in trying to win now. Vancouver is building for the future with these new young, former first rounders.

MLB Offseason

There have been many big moves so far this MLB offseason after the league’s recent winter meetings. 

-Josh Naylor re-signed with the Seattle Mariners. That was huge for the Mariners, as they got a key contributor back.

-The Orioles and Angels made a deal to swap Grayson Rodriguez and Taylor Ward. The Angels got a great starter and the O’s got a helpful veteran. Angels win the trade. What were the Orioles thinking?

-The Mets and Rangers swapped Brandon Nimmo and Marcus Semien. Two veterans swapping teams. Nothing like solid players you’ve heard of getting traded. This should help both teams, as they each got a decent player.

-The Red Sox and Cardinals made a pretty even trade. Boston got Sonny Gray and cash, while St. Louis got Brandon Clarke and Richard Fitts in return.

-The Blue Jays signed Dylan Cease to a seven-year $210 million deal. This is a huge grab for Toronto, as they try to remain on top of the AL.

-Devin Williams went from the Bronx to Queens. The Mets got the star reliever from their crosstown rivals after a down year from Williams.

-The Dodgers signed star pitcher Edwin Diaz to a huge deal to bolster their weak bullpen.

-The Philadelphia Phillies re-signed Kyle Schwarber on a five-year $150 million deal. Schwarber is great and the Philies will love having him back.

-The Baltimore Orioles got long time Mets star Pete Alonso. Alonso is the all time franchise leader in HRs and will be missed.

NFL Week 14

• The Detroit Lions beat the Dallas Cowboys 44-30

  • Jahmyr Gibbs rushed for three TDs

• The Seattle Seahawks beat the Atlanta Falcons 37-9

  • Rashid Shaheed had a 100-yard kick return TD

• The Buffalo Bills beat the Cincinnati Bengals 39-34

  • Josh Alllen had four TDs

• The Tennessee Titans beat the Cleveland Browns 31-29

  • Tony Pollard had 161 yards and 2 TDs

• The Minnesota Vikings beat the Washington Commanders 31-0

  • The Vikings lost in a shutout, then won in a shutout one week later

• The Miami Dolphins beat the New York Jets 34-10

  • Miami won their fourth straight game

• The New Orleans Saints beat the Tampa Bay Buccaneers 24-20

  • Tampa Bay became tied with Carolina for first place in the NFC South

• The Jacksonville Jaguars beat the Indianapolis Colts 36-19

  • Colts starting QB Daniel Jones is out for the season after tearing his ACL

  • The Jaguars got their 11th straight home win versus the Colts

  • The Colts signed retired QB Philip Rivers to their practice squad; He may start in Week 15

• The Pittsburgh Steelers beat the Baltimore Ravens 27-22

  • Pittsburgh has sole possession of first place in the AFC North

• The Denver Broncos beat the Las Vegas Raiders 24-17

  • Denver extended their win streak to ten games

• The Green Bay Packers beat the Chicago Bears 28-21

• The Los Angeles Rams beat the Arizona Cardinals 45-17

• The Houston Texans beat the Kansas City Chiefs 20-10

  • The Chiefs are out of the race for the AFC West crown

  • The Chiefs making the postseason seems less and less likely

• The Los Angeles Chargers beat the Philadelphia Eagles 22-19

• The New England Patriots, Carolina Panthers, San Francisco 49ers, and New York Giants were on bye