Blog Announcement

So the handful of you that read this blog may have noticed that I haven't written anything in a couple of months now. My apologies. It's been a busy summer with vacations, European debauchery, bachelor parties, weddings, work and everything else.

I've decided to take the rest of the summer off. There's not a ton of sports to talk about now anyways, with just baseball going on. Once we hit September, and football takes over my life again, I'll get back to writing.

I'm not done with the Hip Hop writing either, as I'll continue the evaluation of current rappers and the Hip Hop landscape. Tons of good stuff in the future, I promise.

Until Fall though, I'm done. Enjoy your summers.

-Flavors of Lovelace

Ladies and Gentlemen, Your Conference Finals

When the playoffs started, most thought (including me) that it was a foregone conclusion that we'd see the Cavs vs. the Lakers in the Finals. It was believed that the two best players on the planet, and their respective talented teams, would coast to the Finals, setting up the best mano-a-mano Finals battle since Magic vs. Bird.

After a month of playoff basketball, LeBron's lived up to his end of the bargain. The Cavs look even more legit than we thought, and somehow King James actually looks better than he did during his MVP regular season.

And the Lakers? Not so much. The best adjective I've heard that describes L.A. is "bipolar." We really never know which team we're going to get with them.

So are we still headed for a LeBron and Kobe finale for the ages? Let's break down the conference championships and find out....

***

EASTERN CONFERENCE FINALS

Orlando Magic vs. Cleveland LeBro... er Cavaliers

Backcourt
The Magic did their best to shore up their point guard spot when Jameer Nelson went down, trading for Rafer Alston. "Skip to My Lou" is no Nelson, and was pretty terrible for the first six games of the Magic's last series against the Celtics. He showed up in a big way in Game 7, getting in the paint at will and making smart decisions, and he was one of the main reasons why the Celtics coasted. J.J. Redick has been starting in the other gaurd spot. Redick, everyone's favorite Dukie and D.U.I. dodger, has actually been playing half-decent defense in the playoffs, although his shooting has been suspect.

The Cavs backcourt is led by two great shooters in Mo Williams and Delonte West. Mo isn't your prototypical point guard, but he's been lights out all season. Adding Williams to the Cavs roster at the beginning of the season has turned them from a good team to an elite one. West can score and is a tough guy that can do a lot of good things on the floor. Plus, both guys have the ability to get into the paint and are underrated defenders. They're a bit undersized, but also completely legit.

ADV - Cavs

Frontcourt
The Magic feature the man-child that is Dwight Howard, who is capable of getting a 20-20 on just about every night. Hedo Turkoglu has proven that he can be a clutch scorer in the fourth quarter. Rashard Lewis is a matchup nightmare. At 6-10, Lewis can post up and bury three-poiners. All these guys have oodles of talent, but I still feel like Howard disappears for too long of stretches. At his size, that should never happen. And Lewis and Turkoglu are great, but they both tend to be streaky. If the threes aren't falling, they can definitely be taken out of the game.

Zydrunas Ilgauskus is frightenly effective for the Cavs. He can hit any open shot from 20-feet in and is a perfect pick-and-pop center. Anderson Varejao is the type of basketball player every coach wants. He gives heart, hustle, rebounds and energy. He tends to flop like a European soccer player, but whatever, at least he's effective. Oh, and the Cavs have that guy named LeBron. You can read gushing accounts of Bron-Bron just about everywhere on the internet, so let me just summarize by saying this. I thought King James was unstoppable last year. He somehow improved his game this season by becoming a lockdown defender, a better teammate and raising his overall basketball I.Q. I didn't think that LeBron could get much better than he was during the regular season.

Then the playoffs came around and he's been even better. I don't even think he's played his best game yet, because he hasn't had to. When he dropped his 47-12-8 masterpiece on the Hawks in Game 3, I realized that LeBron is playing in another stratosphere right now. So yeah, the Magic's frontcourt is nice, but they don't have the King.

ADV - Cavs

Bench
The Magic's bench has been a nice boost during the playoffs. Mickael Pietrus shoots well, plays solid D, and reminds me why I don't like the French everytime he does that cocky strut after he makes a shot. Courtney Lee has been a knockdown jump shooter, and is one of the few players on the Magic that can get to the rim consistenstly. Backup point gaurd Anthony Johnson actually outplayed Alston during most of the Celtics series and backup center Marcin Gorat has a little bit of game too. That's a solid rotation.

The Cavs bench is pretty good in its own right. Joe Smith is a veteran with playoff experience. Boobie Gibson and Wally Szczerbiak can both knock down open threes (and when you're playing with LeBron, that's all you really have to do), and Ben Wallace, once upon a time, was an important piece to a Championship team.

Cleveland's bench is servicable, but the Magic actually have guys coming off their bench that could start for a lot of teams in the league. And when you're a team like the Magic, that feature alot of streaky shooters, it's important to have guys to rotate in when other guy's shots aren't falling.

ADV - Magic

Perhaps the Cavs' bench would be a little more feared, if one
of their main contributors wasn't nicknamed "Boobie"

Coaching
I'll give Stan Van some credit, he made some nice adjustments in Game 6 and 7 to beat the Celtics. And anytime you can win a Game 7 on the road, a thing that only one in every five road teams are able to do, credit is due.

But it's tough to ignore that three different players this year have called out Van Gundy's coaching methods. I've also heard from some pretty credible sources in the know (yeah, that's right, I've got some "unnamed sources" of my own. How you like me now Chris Mortensen?) that say that no one on the roster takes Van Gundy seriously.

The Cav's Mike Brown has been criticized in the past for his style, but you have to give credit to him for instilling a defense-first system a few years ago, that is paying dividends now. It certainly doesn't hurt when your best players is LeBron - a team-first guy that is the best player in basketball right now. But Brown hasn't done anything wrong or stupid this season. Sometimes in the NBA, it's that simple. Just don't mess anything up. Brown's been able to quietly steer the Cavs into a position to succeed this year.

ADV - Cavs

Case for the Magic
Orlando's got arguably the best center in the league, surrounded by a bunch of dangerous 3-point shooters. There's no denying the Magic have an uphill battle, but if they can get white-hot in a couple of early games, they can make this a series. They beat Cleveland two out of three games during the regular season, including a dismantling on April 3rd, so I'm sure the Magic aren't scurred. Also, keep in mind that the Magic have been pushed in their first two series while the Cavs have been virtually untested. There's no telling how a team will change when it faces some adverse situations, especially when it hasn't had any trouble. Plus, Orlando seems to be (finally) gelling at the right time.

And hell, anything's possible right?

Case for the Cavs
The Cavs have been playing like a team on a mission for most of the second half of the regular season and for the entire playoffs so far. They play exceptionally well as a team, and genuinly like each other. They have the unquestioned best player in the NBA right now (sorry Kobe fans, but it's really not much of a debate anymore) who has been deep in the playoffs before. LeBron knows that he has to bring it every night to win a title.

Way back in November, I predicted that Lebron would go to New York when his current contract ends in 2010. Although I don't believe it's a certainty anymore, I still do believe it's going to happen. But Lebron doesn't want to leave his hometown without getting Cleveland a title. He knows this year is his best chance, and he's playing like it. For that reason alone, I don't know if any team or player will be able to stop him this season.

Prediction
Cavs in 5

***

WESTERN CONFERENCE FINALS

Denver Nuggets vs. Los Angeles Lakers

Backcourt
Chauncey Billups has been the single biggest acquisition of any team this year. He's helped turn a team that never played enough defense, rarely played together and always ended their season with a first round exit, to a team on the brink of the NBA Finals. His effect on this team can't be understated. He was a legitimate MVP candidate based on what he's done for this team. He hasn't slowed down in the playoffs, as he's been - in my opinion - the best point guard on any of the playoff teams thus far. The Nuggets shooting guard, Dahntay Jones, is a good defender and makes those ever-so-important hustle plays. With a team with as much offense as Denver, that's all he really has to give.

Kobe is one of the best players in the NBA to watch. His basketball IQ is so ridiculously high. He was born to score a basketball, and the effortlessness in which he does it is a real sight to see. That being said, for his team to win, he needs to keep his shot attempts down (somewhere around the 19-22 attempts range) and get the rest of his team involved for the Lakers to be as great as they can be. His defense is always stellar and he can simply rip the heart out of an opponent when he wants to.

The other guard spot for the Lakers hasn't been so hot. Derek Fisher has gotten old fast, as he was getting straight owned by Aaron Brooks in the Rockets series. It didn't help that on the offensive end he wasn't doing much better, as he shot just 31% from the field in the Houston series. Backup point guard Jordan Farmer might actually be a better option for the Lakers, but Phil Jackson doesn't want to stray away from a point guard he trusts. Kobe gives the Lakers the edge, but it's alot closer than you think.

ADV - Lakers

Frontcourt
Now here's an interesting matchup, as both teams have great players in the post. The Nuggets have a nice mix of great offense, defense and toughness. Nene, who had been playing better all season, has raised his game even more in the playoffs. His size makes it very dificult to defend him, and also to go against him when he's on defense. Kenyon Martin is a damn pitbull, who has an innate ability to scare the bejesus out of the guy he's covering. He had Nowitzki shook at times during the Dallas series, and he'll definitely be trying to do the same to the Lakers fancy bigs. Then there's Melo, one of the most pure scorers in this league.

Alot's been written and said (and deserverdly so) about Chauncey's effect on this team. What hasn't been covered as much is how 'Melo has sacrificed his scoring, matured, became a better teammate and took on a leadership role to help the Nuggets get to this point. There's no question that Billups has been the catalyst for the Denver's incredible play this year. But Anthony's still the best player on this team. Bron-Bron and DWade have both proven to be bonafide superstars. Anthony was supposed to be at their level, but hasn't been able to accomplish what they have yet. This is his best chance.

The Lakers featured a more talented frontcourt, when they started Pau Gasol and Lamar Odom, but coach Phil Jackson has been hell-bent on bringing Andrew Bynum back. Gasol demands a double-team every time down the floor, and he has such an array of offensive moves, that it's dizzying for most defenders. Bynum has never really looked the same since the regular season (although he did have a nice Game 7 last round) and I think he actually hinders the Lakers as they focus on trying to get him involved when they don't have to. Still, you can't teach size, and Bynum has a lot of it. If he can get back to his play earlier in the season, he can be a terror down low. Trevor Ariza has been a nice piece for L.A. this year, as he can cover the other team's best perimeter player, allowing Kobe to not have to do it and saving his energy for the offensive end. Ariza can occasionally knock down the open three as well. If Odom was still starting, I think this would be a lot closer, but I like Denver's bigs against L.A.'s with Lamar on the bench.

ADV - Nuggets

Something tells me this isn't a man that the Lakers' bigs
are too excited about seeing next round

Bench
The Nuggets have probably the best bench in the NBA. Anthony Carter is a very solid backup point guard, capable of scoring and running an offense. J.R. Smith is instant offense and is one of a handful of players that can come off the bench and score 30 points. Then there's "The Birdman" Chris Anderson. He's a crowd-pleaser that does all of the little things the Nuggets need. He doesn't score, but he doesn't have to. He's an awesome rebounder and shot-blocker and for 20 minutes a game, he can bring controlled chaos.

Now that Lamar Odom isn't starting, I guess that strengthens the Lakers bench. But I think Odom's actually more effective as a starter. Same with Jordan Farmer (that is, when he gets burn. It seems like Phil Jackson doesn't have complete confidence in the young point guard's ability). Shannon Brown, Luke Walton and Sasha Vujacic are all capable of having nice games... or really shitty ones. You never really know. And part of the reason the Lakers haven't been as good as they probably should be, is due to inconsistency from their bench.

ADV - Nuggets

Coaching
George Karl's playoff resume is a little suspect. He is the 12th winningest coach of all-time, but he also has the unfortunate distinction of being the only coach to have a 1-seeded team lose to an 8-seeded team, when his Sonics team managed this feat in 1994. He also coached the U.S National Team that got 6th in the 2002 Fiba World Championship. Oh, and he's also never won a Championship in his 21-year coaching career.

Still, he's helped morph a talented team into a Championship-caliber team, and he deserves credit for that. I'm not totally sold on him, but thus far he's proved me wrong.

The Lakers feature one of the best coaches of all time. The Zen-Master has nine titles. He's also coached some of the best players ever, in Michael Jordan, Scottie Pippen, Shaquille O'Neal and Kobe. It's hard to question Phil Jackson, but I have been puzzled by some of his moves. Why put Bynum back in the starting rotation when Odom has looked much more effective as a starter? Why not start Farmer, when Fisher is clearly a shell of his former self? They seem like uncharacteristic mistakes by Jackson.

You don't pick against nine titles though. You just don't.

ADV - Lakers

Case for the Nuggets
Other than the Cavs (hell, maybe even including the Cavs), no team is playing better than Denver right now. They have it all: high-octane offense, physical defense, veteran leadership, great bench and experienced (albeit probably overrated) coaching. What also works in their favor is the way the Celtics handled the Lakers in the Finals last year. They did it by outmuscling the Lakers soft bigs, something the Nuggets should have no trouble doing. K-Mart and Nene can take Odom and Gasol out of it and Bynum just hasn't been consistent enough to be much of a threat. I don't know who they have to cover Kobe, but if they can take care of everyone else, it may force Kobe to go for 40 every night. That actually favors the Nuggets.

Chauncey should do well against either of the Lakers point guards, and he will be the calming, reassuring force that Denver needs in a series of this magnitude. And people seem to just ignore the fact that Kobe is going back to Colorado... just sayin.'

Denver can win this series. And the worst part for the Lakers is, they know they can.

Case for the Lakers
The Lakers have the most talent. When Kobe, Odom and Gasol are clicking, they may be the best big-3 in the NBA. They can score in bunches and their length disrupts most teams. They have a proven coach and a deep bench. Even though the bench has been a problem, they really only need to get production from 2 1/2 guys for the team to play well.

Then there's Kobe. Black Mamba knows that he'll soon be hitting the downside of his career. Remember that he's been in the NBA since he was 17. He's 30 now. He's running out of chances to win an NBA title.

Kobe is well aware of his place in history. If he doesn't win a title without Shaq, he'll always be remembered as the Robin to Shaq's Batman. Scottie Pippen was a helluva player, and a top-50 NBA player of all-time in his own right. But he's only remembered for being MJ's No. 2.

Kobe needs to win the title this year. I don't know if he can beat LeBron to get it, but I just can't bet against him at least getting to the Finals.

Prediction
Lakers in 7

***

So after a month of playoffs, I still think it'll be Cavs/Lakers in the Finals. It won't be the cakewalk I thought coming in, but we should still get the LeBron and Kobe battle that NBA fans are hoping for.

And since I can't come up with a clever ending, watch this highlight video of the game's two best players.

Photos Courtesy of Google Images and ESPN.com

Who Can Save Hip Hop?

"Cause if you're askin' - "Why is hip hop dead?" There's a pretty good chance you're the reason it died man. There's a pretty good chance your lame ass, corny ass, is the reason it died man. You don't give a fuck about it; you don't know nothin' about it. You want this paper, be a hustler. You a hustler, you ain't a rapper... get your paper man. You know what I'm sayin? But this rap shit is real. Bitch. This shit is real bitch." - Nas, "Hope" off the 2006 album, "Hip Hop Is Dead."

If you're a Hip Hop fan, you're probably a little upset about the state that the rap world is in right now.

Now, when I say Hip Hop fan, I mean real Hip Hop fan. I'm talking about the fans that appreciate more than just the music, but the craft. I'm talking about the ones who actually listen to the lyrics, and not just bob their heads to the beats.

Don't worry if you don't fall into this category. This decade, there's alot more casual fans than diehard ones.

And because of this, what once was Hip Hop music has morphed into pop songs over club beats, loud bass and autotune. When rappers like Soulja Boy, Slim Thug and Jim Jones are making multiple, popular albums, it should tell you all you need to know about the rap game.

The popular saying now is that Hip Hop is dead. I'm not as pessimistic, but I'd say the rap game is definitely on a respirator right now. It's in need of new life, and it needs it quickly.

So I've decided to take a look at some of the major players in Hip Hop right now and see which (if any) can be the saviors to bring Hip Hop back to the promised land. This will be an ongoing investigation that I hope to finish up by the end of the summer. Each installment will examine three or four rappers, break down their pros and cons, and offer analysis of their chances of being a savior.

Keep in mind that I'll only be examining artists with legitimate influence in Hip Hop. What that means is there may be some underground rapper that you love, but no one else knows about. As good as he is, if no one knows about him, he probably won't be changing the game anytime soon.

Think of it this way. Biggie and Pac are regarded as two of the best rappers to ever live. As good of rhymers as they were, they also sold millions of albums and had a very broad reach in society. That's why they were so important to Hip Hop; they appealed to the diehards and the casual fans, and allowed fans of all walks of life to enjoy rap music.

At the same time, rappers that aren't even trying to make any semblance of effort in there lyrics will not be considered. So the Cam'rons and Rick Ross's of the world... sorry. Put together a coherent analogy and then we'll talk.

This will be a work in progress, but I think a worthwhile exercise that (hopefully) will generate some discussion.

Alright, enough explanation. Let's get this started.

***

EMINEM

"See I'm a poet to some, a regular modern day Shakespeare
Jesus Christ, the King of these Latter Day Saints here
To shatter the picture in which that as they paint me
as a monger of hate and Satan, a scatter-brained atheist
But that ain't the case, see it's a matter of taste
We as a people decide if Shady's as bad as they say he is..."
- Eminem, "Renegade" off of Jay-Z's The Blueprint (2001)

Slim Shady seems like a good person to start this discussion with. I think it's safe to say he's got the influence to be considered. There are many people out right now that think Em's the best rapper in the game right now. And, after a lengthy hiatus, Mr. Mathers has a new album dropping soon.

PROS - Lyrically he's one of the best rappers of the last decade, and you could argue one of the best ever. Looking back at his catalog, and you can see that he has some trully remarkably lyrical songs ("The Way I Am," "Stan," "Sing For the Moment," "Lose Yourself," "Like Toy Soldiers" just to name a handful). Em also has the tendency to raise his game when rapping with other greats. His verse on Dr. Dre's "Forget About Dre," was unreal. He out-rapped Jay-Z on Renegade, even prompting Nas to bring this up in "Ether" during his battle with Jay ("And, Eminem murdered you on your own shit"). Eminem seems to have a firm grasp on the fact that he's one of the best, and seems to take the pressure of that seriously.

He's also become a pretty savvy producer and businessman, learning quite well from his mentor; Dre. He certainly has all the tools to bring good Hip Hop back....

CONS - ...But does he have the passion? Eminem has been one of the most recognizable rappers for 10 years now. And as good as he is, there has been noticabely slippage. His first two albums (The Slim Shady LP, The Marshall Mathers LP) were amazing. His third one (The Eminem Show) was great. His fourth one (Encore) was good (at best) and you could see by that album that Em had figured out exactly how to make a platinum record. He still had great songs on the album, but he also included too many songs that brought little to the table ("Puke," "Big Weenie," "Just Lose It," etc.).

Slim Shady also hasn't made a full-length album since 2005. During that hiatus he suffered through some personal issues - like prescription pill abuse and the loss of his best friend (and main person that got him into the rap game), Proof. So there's legitimate concern that Eminem may not just have the drive to be the best anymore.

ANALYSIS - In my opinion, Eminem is a Top-10, and possibly Top-5 rapper of my generation. He's got the full package - ridiculous rhymes, great flow, understanding of how to make a memorable song, tons of crossover appeal, etc. But the negative reports I've heard about him the last couple of years concern me. It's been these types of problems that made Eminem into the rapper he was. Unfortunately, they may also be the obstacles that prevent him from reaching the extremely high bar that he set for himself.

I think it's very important for both Eminem and the Hip-Hop game, for his newest album, Relapse to be good. There have already been some leaked songs on the internet. I have yet to hear them (I prefer to listen once the finished product is ready), but from what I've heard, impressions have been mixed. That being said, Eminem is trying his damndest to keep these tracks under wraps until the official release date, so who knows if the songs on the internet are even legit? His first single, "We Made it," is terrible (but it's always been Em's style is to put out a catchy, pop first single). I, along with millions of other fans, will be buying his album on May 19th. Unlike others, I'll be listening to see which Eminem we'll be getting - 1999 to 2002 Em, or 2003-2008 Em. If it's the latter, Hip-Hop won't be leaving its death bed anytime soon.

50 CENT
"Momma said, everything that happened to us was part of God's plan
So at night when I talk him, I got my gun in my hand
Don't think I'm crazy, cause I don't fear man
Cause I feel when I kill a man, God won't understand"
-50 Cent, "U Not Like Me" off of 2002's Guess Who's Back?

The next candidate is Em's protege and everyone's favorite beef-starter, 50 Cent. I first heard 50 back in 2000. He recorded a song called "How to Rob" that was played on Hot 97 in New York, that talked about him robbing every relevant rapper at the time. Back then, 50's main concern was getting rich. He's managed to keep that theme for his entire decade-long career.

PROS - First and foremost, he has the public's attention. Ever since his first commercial release - 2003's Get Rich or Die Trying - 50's been a household name. For good reason, as that album was great - mixing club songs, thug songs and surprisingly witty lyricism. 50 has a knack for making the simplest lines come off as funny and sharp. Although his persona is revolves around him being a thug, he's actually a very intelligent rapper and businessman. The above lyric is from his 2002 album Guess Who's Back?, which is what started his accent to the top of the rap game. I actually had that album, and it was very good, and from then I expected big things from 50. Apparently Eminem did too, because after hearing it, he signed 50 and the rest is history.

What works in 50's favor is that his rhymes are authentic; he lived the lifestyle he's rapping about. Having sold drugs, gotten shot nine times and lived to tell about it is capitivating to fans. He's got a little 'Pac in him in that way (minus the astute lyrical talent). He also can absolutely kill a club song (hate him or love him, but you can't tell me you weren't bumping "In the Club," or "Outta Control"). He's even got some acting chops, making his marketability one of the highest in the game right now.

CONS - Let's just say he learned quite well from Mr. Shady when it comes to learning how to make hit songs and records. I mean, take a listen to "Magic Stick" and "Candy Shop." Same style and flow, and basically the same song re-packaged. And both did very well.

From a pure lyrical standpoint, 50 ain't the greatest. All the trully great MC's have always had a great deal of lyrical talent (Biggie, Nas, Rakim, 'Pac, etc.) and 50 just doesn't have it. He's also fairly one dimensional - how many times can we hear about how much bling you have, cars you drive and hos you bang? And don't get me wrong, getting shot nine times and surviving is nothing short of remarkable. But do we have to hear about it all the time. You're a tough guy. We get it. You also lived in Connecticut for a while but I notice you never seem to bring that up.

ANALYSIS - 50 always has and always will care solely about making money. Hey, there's nothing wrong with that. Like Nas said - you want this paper, be a hustler. But I don't consider 50 an MC anymore. He's an entertainer. His best talent lies in writing singles and catchy songs. If you need anymore evidence, just know that before blowing up, he was a ghostwriter for Diddy.

The problem here is fairly obvious. It's hard to save Hip Hop when your main concern is going triple-platinum. This is the same guy that started a fake fued with Kanye West, just to build hype for the release of his album (Curtis).

Curtis Jackson is a helluva businessman. Unfortunately, most businessmen could care less about real Hip Hop.

JAY-Z

Too much West coast dick-lickin, and too many niggaz on a mission
Doin your best Jay-Z rendition
Too many rough motherfuckers, I got my suspicions
that you're just a fish in a pool of sharks nigga, listen...
...I don't follow any guidelines
cause too many niggaz ride mine
so I change styles every two rhymes
-Jay-Z, "22 Two's" off of 1996's Reasonable Doubt

PROS - Talk about longevity. Jay-Z's been going strong since 1996. That's incredible, especially when you consider that he can put out an album today and it'll still go double platinum. The guy's nearly 40 and can still make quality Hip Hop music. Amazing.

Scanning his extensive catalog and there's really not many of his solo albums that I don't like (with the exceptions being The Blueprint 2: The Gift & The Curse and Kingdom Come). Jay-Z's a good lyricist, with a great feel for songs. Such a good feel that supposedly Jay freestyles his lyrics, remembers them and goes straight in the booth to record. Now that's talent.

It goes without saying that Jay is an incredible businessman. He started Roc-A-Fella back when he released his first album (Reasonable Doubt) and made millions with the label. The various ways he's made money is extensive (and will take too much research to figure out). Let's just say that Jay has had arguably the most successful career of any rapper. Ever.

Jay "retired" a few years ago but has since made a comeback. Although Kingdom Come was a disappointment, I thought that his 2007 concept album American Gangster was extremely well done, and proves that Jay still has the ability to bring his A-game. He's the Godfather of Hip Hop right now. He demands and receives respect, which is well deserved, considering how much he's done for the rap game.

When examining his whole career, Jay-Z is one of the best rappers of all time.

CONS - Notice in the "Pros" section that I said Jay-Z was a "good lyricist." I like Jay, but it's time to take a closer examination of his career.

It can't be overstated that he got killed by Eminem on that "Renegade" song. When rapping with the best, you have to hold your own. Same thing with "Brooklyn's Finest" - a song featuring Biggie off his first album. Jay was good, but Biggie outshined him.

Then there was the much publicized beef with Nas. If you want the full background, click HERE, but I'll just give you the pertinent details. Jay-Z basically started the fued, and came out with a great diss song, "The Takeover." At that point, everyone was loving Jay since the song was so well done. Then Nas released "Ether," and in my opinion (and just about every other true Hip Hoppers opinion) annihilated Jay and won the battle, proving once and for all who the best rapper since Biggie and 'Pac's death was.

Jay-Z has had an amazing career. But it's hard to be considered the best when you can't step up with other greats. When the biggest criticism that can be levied against you is that you may not be as good as Biggie, Nas or Eminem, I think you're doing all right. But when you're being asked to save Hip Hop, it becomes a legitimate concern.

ANALYSIS - Bottomline, Jay doesn't have to save Hip Hop. The guys' weathly beyond anyone's wildest dreams. He's probably the most widely respected MC in the game. When he does decide to make albums, everyone buys them. Oh, and he's banging Beyonce. I'd say life's pretty good for Jigga.

Jay may not be able to save Hip Hop, but he definitely can use his influence to steer it in the right direction. Stop doing songs like "Swagger Like Us," and start telling the current crop of rappers to step their game up. Jay would be lying if he said he thinks Hip Hop is good right now. He was coming up in the heyday's of Biggie and Pac's careers. He also said when Biggie passed that he was the new King of New York. Well part of sitting on the throne involves giving a shit when the rap game is in disarray. I'm not sure if Jay really does.

That being said, Jay-Z is still making better albums than 90% of the rappers out right now. Who knows? Maybe a few more Jigga classics could go a long way in starting to move Hip Hop back in the right direction.

***

So that concludes our first installment of "Who Can Save Hip Hop?" I hope to continue these periodically for three reasons. 1) To really examine the rap game and its major players. 2) To see if Hip Hop is really dead and 3) If it is dead, can it be saved?

And if you hated this post, don't worry. We'll be going back to sports for the next blog post.



Photos Courtesy of Google Images

2009 NCAA Tournament Awards

So that's it. March Madness is over. Your bracket burned two rounds ago and all you were hoping to see was a competitive championship game. Carolina was the Goliath, filled with NBA first round players and having just come off a Final Four run last season. And Michigan State was the perfect David, seizing the moment during the last two weeks, gelling together and playing with unmatched confidence. On top of that, they were playing in Detroit, which was pretty much a home game for them.

The hype was high and after last year's spectacular final, there was hope that last night would provide similar theatrics.

Instead, the game was over by halftime. And for the second time in five years, we had this...


As a Carolina fan, I was thrilled by the result. But if you were just a fan of basketball, last night's final, in a word; sucked.

So to make up for the lackluster final, we'll give out some Flavors of Lovelace Tournament Awards and put a final bow on the college basketball season.

***

BEST TEAM - North Carolina

Fairly easy pick here. The Tarheels were clicking on all cylinders for nearly the entire tournament and showed the talent and firepower that made them the preseason No. 1. When they really got going, there was no one on their team you could stop on the offensive end. Wayne Ellington couldn't miss. Ty Lawson was unstoppable. Tyler Hansbrough was Tyler Hansbrough and the rest of the team all did their part.

What put the team over the top though, was their commitment on the defensive end. They played with a sense of urgency, and were swarming to the ball. They finally figured out that scoring 100 points, but giving up close to 90 would catch up to them if they didn't dig in on defense. If you watched the Oklahoma game, you saw this first-hand. Blake Griffin still got his stats, but he was facing double-teams and traps every time he touched the ball. They made him uncomfortable, which is all you could do when you're facing a future NBA All-Star.

Whether you like North Carolina or not, if you're a basketball fan you have to appreciate just how good this team was. You just do.


BEST COACH - Tom Izzo

I admit, I didn't see Michigan State coming. I saw a team that was good, but was very beatable, and I thought that they just didn't have the talent to beat the top-tier teams.

And looking at the team, I still don't think they had the talent. But what I forgot to consider was just how good a coach Tom Izzo was. He made up for the team's shortcomings by getting his team to play efficiently, controlling the pace and getting them to run when they had openings. They played great team defense and believed that they were a Championship-caliber team.

In the three games before the final, Sparty knocked off the defending champion (Kansas), the No. 1 seed in the tournament (Louisville) and the most dominant team in the tournament going into the Final Four (UConn).

You don't get lucky three times. Credit goes to Izzo.

Feel free to brush your shoulders off, Tommy.
You earned it with this year's Tournament run.

BEST PLAYER - Ty Lawson

An injury about a big toe was the dominant story of the first two rounds. That's how important Ty Lawson was to a Carolina team stocked with talent.

And when he came back, he showed why he was so important. Lawson was the best player on the floor every time he was out there. His ability of being able to play 100 miles-per-hour, while still being able to stay completely in control made him absolutely deadly in the open floor. It got to a point where every time he rose up for a three, you expected it to go in. Every time he drove the floor and drew contact for a foul, you expected him to make the lay-up for a three-point play. Plus he didn't make many mistakes, posting a nearly 5 to 1 assist to turnover ratio in the tournament.

Ellington and Green were great in this tournament. If you think that's not a direct correlation to Lawson's play, than you're not watching the same game I am. Hansbrough will be higher regarded in Carolina lore, but Lawson's the reason this team won the title.


BEST OVERACHIEVER - Villanova

In a chalk-filled tourney, 'Nova provided us our best glimpse of a true Cinderella. They were scrappy. They played with heart. And most importantly, they played smart. Scotty Reynolds didn't shoot the ball that well, but the guy's a gamer and Dante Cunningham, at times, looked like a star.

I think what was most impressive by the Wildcats is how physical they played. Their tallest guy was 6'8", but they were deceptively hard to score on in the post. It wasn't the 1985 team, but this 'Nova team was still plenty impressive.

Dante Cunningham, Scotty Reynolds and Co. made this
a season to remember for the Wildcats

MOST DISAPPOINTING TEAM - Memphis

Memphis started out the tournament by terrifying the entire nation in their first-round, near defeat to Cal State Northridge. At the time, that game looked like just a minor scare. In hindsight, that game told the whole story.

Not playing anyone during the season caught up with the Tigers this year. I'm not saying that as an indictment on the team or their scheduling; they played who they had to play. The problem is, they weren't truly tested enough, and when they faced some adversity in the tournament, they didn't respond well.

Sure, they destroyed a Maryland team with far inferior talent, but they looked completely outmatched against Mizzou. Memphis was a favorite to make the Final Four, and a darkhorse to win it all. Instead, they bowed out in the Sweet 16. For a team with such talent and lofty expectations, that's a failure of a season.


BEST SURPRISE PLAYER - Cole Aldrich

Maybe Cole's play shouldn't have been much of a surprise. I mean, the guy averaged a 15 and 11 during the season and was the second best player on Kansas all year.

But Aldrich was a beast in the tournament. Check out his stat line: 17.7 points, 15.7 boards, 5.3 blocks. That's putting in serious work. And in the words of the infamous Ice Cube, Cole even "fucked around and got a triple double," dropping a 13-point, 20-rebound and 10-block performance against Dayton in the second round.

He seemed to get better every game he played in the tourney, and if he and Sherron Collins return, Kansas should be right in the mix for a National Championship next year.

Nothing against Cole, but I figured you rather see
these Kansas cheerleaders. You're welcome.

MOST DISAPPOINTING PLAYER - James Harden

I don't know if you knew this, but apparently James Harden is a legit high lottery pick. No, seriously.

You'd never have guessed after watching him in the tournament. He averaged 20 points, five boards and four assists during the season - in the soft Pac-10 - and then i have no idea what the hell happened to his game. He scoring dropped dramatically, as he scored 10, nine and 10 in his three tournament games. He couldn't throw the ball in the ocean either, shooting a stellar 19% from the field.

Is that what you want for from a guy you're taking with a Top-5 pick? Didn't think so.


MOST EXCITING TEAM - Missouri

Missouri's style of play was thoroughly entertaining and head coach Mike Anderson deserves most of the credit here. A disciple of Nolan Richardson, Anderson had his players play a frenetic press-defense that led to more turnovers, more Tiger possessions and more easy points.

And since I don't know what else to say about Mizzou, just enjoy these highlights of their Elite 8 run.

"THE MELO AWARD" - Tyreke Evans

Named after Carmelo Anthony, who was awesome as a freshman and raised his game in the tournament, taking Syracuse to the National Championship. So why am I picking Evans, who clearly didn't lift Memphis (who, coincidentally, was the most disappointing team)?

Because Evans was the only Tiger player who showed up, that's why. It's pretty impressive when a 6'6" freshman, that's built like a prototypical shooting guard, can move over to the 1-spot and run point for a team that won 27 straight games.

In the Mizzou disaster, he was still great, dropping 33 points. The kid can fill it up with ease, and he has such great control over his body. He doesn't really blow by you, but always knows exactly how to maneuver around his defender to score. He'll be a great NBA player.


"MEA CULPA AWARD" - (tie) Danny Green and Michigan State

"It takes a big man to admit his mistakes, and I am that big man." - Michael Scott

Even here at Flavors of Lovelace, we make mistakes. I owe apologies to both Danny Green and Michigan State. Let's start with Green. In my Sweet 16 Power Poll, I wrote:

"North Carolina tends to go through long stretches where all they want to do is score, score, score. The best example of this is Danny Green. Last year he came off the bench and provided energy, scoring punch and rock-solid, perimeter defense. Now? I can't tell you how many times I see him play lazy on defense, then jack up a bad three-point shot in transition on the other end."

Well all Danny Green did in Carolina's run to the Championship is morph into the most versatile player on the Carolina roster. He made threes in transition, made smart decisions and was a force on the glass. What was even more important is that he started to commit on the defensive end again. He did all the little things that a Championship team needs. My bad Danny.

This is what I wrote about Sparty in that same post:

"But it's hard for me to take a team seriously that nearly lost to Penn State the first time they played, then got beat by the Nittany Lions at home. I've seen first-hand that Sparty can go down. I don't think they can get enough scoring if they get caught in a high-scoring affair..."

I thought they couldn't win in a high-scoring game, and at first, maybe they couldn't. But instead of trying to outscore opponents, they controlled the pace and forced teams to play their game. They completely owned Louisville, holding them to just 52 points. Then, they showed that when forced to score, they can, dropping 82 on a UConn team that almost everyone had penciled into the final. So yeah, sorry Michigan State.

Pop that jersey Danny. You earned it.

BEST PLAY

This tournament, for the most part, was pretty uneventful. But one play easily stands out as the sickest of the tournament; if not the year.

So enjoy your last bit of college basketball. You may not admit it now, but when it's July and baseball is the only sport on, you're damn sure going to miss it.

Photos Courtesy of Sports Illustrated's John Biever and Google Images

The Sweet 16 Power Poll

We watch nearly four months of college basketball. We pick apart the mid-majors, pay attention to conference tournament winners and carefully choose our super, secret sleepers. We pick and prod our brackets when we should be working, thinking we have the tournament all figured out. We submit our brackets confidently, and anxiously await collecting a big score after winning our office pools.

And after four days of basketball, what do we have?

Chalk. God damn chalk.

After the first two rounds of the NCAA tournament, all the one seeds are left. All the two seeds are left. All the three seeds are left. Two fours and a five are left. And the highest seed left, twelve-seed Arizona, isn't exactly your small-school Cinderella.

Last year all the No. 1 seeds made the Final Four, but that was supposed to be an aberration, not the norm. But this year proved again that the good teams are the ones advancing, while the major upsets are getting fewer and farther in between.

Is this a good thing? It's tough to say. It's great seeing the best teams compete, but its fun rooting for the underdog to make a run.

But let's focus on the positives. With all the good teams advancing, this weekend's games should be memorable, well-played and exciting.

So let's break out a power poll, separated by tiers, based on how the team's are playing. Keep in mind that this isn't necessarily ranked by how good I think the teams are, or where I think they'll finish, but is more just a ranking of how they're currently playing. (Similar to the NFL Power Poll I did last year). Afterwards, I'll give my predictions for the rest of the tourney.

Without further ado...

***

THANKS FOR PLAYING, BUT YOUR RUN WILL BE ENDING SHORTLY

16) Arizona
I hate the Wildcats. They shouldn't have gotten in, then they band together and win two rounds. Now people are lauding their run, even though they feature two potential NBA first round picks and beat Cleveland State in the second round to get this far. And we're supposed to be impressed?

I think the Wildcats run ends against Louisville next round. But if someone steps on Chase Budinger's face during the game, all bets are off.

15) Gonzaga
The 'Zags were a darkhorse pick to make a deep run before the tournament started, with people (including myself) thinking they could upset North Carolina next round. They have the talent and the horses to do so, but based on what I've seen in their first two games, I'm not seeing it. They get contributions from a variety of places and can really hurt you on the offensive end. Because of that, they actually could pose a tough matchup for the Tarheels (since North Carolina's Achilles Heel all year has been its defense).

But I don't see how Gonzaga deals with Carolina's scorers. The 'Zags almost blew their last game against Western Kentucky, needing a Demetri Goodson layup with a second left (where the Hilltoppers inexplicably decided not to play any defense) to survive. Orlando Valdez-Mendez made the 'Zags D look like a JV squad. That can't happen against North Carolina.

14) Xavier
Xavier limped into the tournament, losing four of their last eight regular season games, but got lucky to get a good draw. They easily thwarted Portland State before getting Wisconsin in the second round. Had they played Florida State in the second round instead, Xavier may not have even gotten this far, but Wisconsin just didn't have enough firepower to pose much of a problem.

Xavier has experience going deep, making two elite eights in the last five years, and are led by upperclassmen in B.J. Raymond, Derrick Brown and C.J. Anderson (although I'm not crazy about the idea of two of your senior leaders having initial first names. You really want to go to war with B.J. and C.J? Yeah, didn't think so).

I don't think Xavier's got the talent to play with the big dogs though and sweet 16's as far as they get.

C.J. making it look easy. It won't be so easy with
Pitt's Dejuan Blair's dense frame patrolling the paint

PROBABLY WON'T WIN IT, BUT CAN DEFINITELY DERAIL ANOTHER TEAM'S TITLE CHANCES

13) Purdue
The Boilermakers were a sleeper in the beginning of the year to make a Final Four run, and now they're in the position to do so. They gelled at the perfect time, including winning the Big Ten Tournament, and their win over Pac-10 regular season champion Washington in the second round was impressive.

Their next game against UConn could prove interesting. The Huskies haven't had a tough game yet and Purdue's a complete team. What sticks out about Purdue is how smart they play. They rarely rush shots, run their offense and always get good looks. That's a rare talent to have in college basketball, and if the Huskies don't bring their A-game, they could be in for a long night.

I think the key might be sophomore center JaJuan Johnson's play. Against Washington, he was great on the offensive end, but was getting absolutely worked on the defensive end against Jon Brockman (Brockman was something like 7-of-7 on field goal attempts in the second half). If he lets UConn's Hasheem Thabeet go off for that type of production, Purdue won't pose much of a threat.

12) Missouri
The Tigers would probably be much higher had they not barely survived against Marquette on Sunday. You can't blow a 16-point lead against a team that hasn't looked the same since Dominic James's injury. And I know James came back against Missouri, but I don't think a 17-minute, zero-point performance made much of a difference.

Mizzou's uptempo style should make for a very exciting game against Memphis. They can turn the game into a track meet, and the Tigers certainly can score with any team in the country. If they can play the way they've played in the first three halves of the tournament, they can advance. If they play like their last half against Marquette, it won't be close.

11) Kansas
I have to (begrudingly) give Bill Self credit. I've made fun of his coaching deficiencies and tendency to bow out of tournaments early, prior to last season's championship run. Since last season's championship though, Self has shown he can coach, and what he did with this year's team - which lost 7 of its top 9 scorers from last year - is nothing short of astounding. Kansas has looked great in its first two games, surviving a 37-point scoring barrage from North Dakota State's Ben Woodside and easily dismantling Dayton. At the same time, those two teams aren't exactly title contenders.

Their next game against Michigan State is a toss-up. Sherron Collins is a beast and Cole Aldrich seems to get better every game. If the Jayhawks can get those guys just a little help, Self may get Kansas to its third elite eight in five years.

10) Duke
How bad did you want to see Texas pull out that victory over the Blue Devils? I was at a bar watching the game and everyone was rooting for Duke to lose. I hate Duke, and there's probably no way I can write about them objectively, but here goes...

Gerald Henderson at times is unstoppable on the basketball court, even though he's a cheap-shotting bitch. The last couple of seasons, Duke has been a team that kills you from the three-point line. Playing against them used to be simple; if they went cold from the arc, you could beat them. But Henderson gives them someone that can get to the rim whenever he wants and force the defense to adjust to him. That leaves these ugly, doofuses open for treys. Add in the fact that the Dukies are incredibly disruptive on the defensive end and that gives them a shot to get to the Final Four.

What hurts them is they've never really solved their inside problems (Brian Zoubek and Lance Thomas aren't scaring anybody). Scheyer's played well at point guard, but I think he can make mistakes if pressured. Those weaknesses, in my mind, will ultimately do the Blue Devils in and hurt their chances of advancing much further.

9) Michigan State
Sparty had a bit of a scare from USC last round, but I give them credit for vanquishing a hot Trojans team. What helps Michigan State is that they've been banged up all year and have finally got their team healthy. What hurts them is that although they're talented, I don't know if it's enough to win it all.

Coach Izzo is great and Michigan State has been consistently good all year. But it's hard for me to take a team seriously that nearly lost to Penn State the first time they played, then got beat by the Nittany Lions at home. I've seen first-hand that Sparty can go down. I don't think they can get enough scoring if they get caught in a high-scoring affair (their tournament scoring leaders are Kalin Lucas and Draymond Green, who both are averaging just 11.5 points per game thus far). Sparty might advance another round, but will probably bow out after that.

Sherron Collins and Co. may be able to keep the
Jayhawks dancing in the Tournament

DANGEROUS, BUT PROBABLY DON'T HAVE ENOUGH

8) Villanova
Nova had a pretty embarrassing scare against American in their first game. I mean, they were playing in Philly, their hometown, for God sake. Some small D.C. school should not be forcing you to play your starters well into the last few minutes of the contest.

But the Wildcats bounced back big against UCLA, making the Bruins - who made the Final Four the last three years - look silly. Nova's tested from playing in the Big East, have one of the best coaches in the business in Jay Wright and have great perimeter play. Scottie Reynolds is a gamer and senior forward Dante Cunningham can do work inside. The Wildcats occasionally go in spurts where they struggle to score, but are a complete team and have already beat the top seat in the region. They may be the favorite to win the East bracket.

7) Oklahoma
The Sooners have a chance to win it all for three reasons. 1) Blake Griffin. 2) Team Spirit. 3) Blake Griffin.

Griffin's looked like a man among boys in the first two rounds and is no question the best NBA prospect in college basketball right now. The Sooners can go as far as Griffin takes them.

The problem is Oklahoma's supporting cast. Willie Warren's legit, but no one else on Oklahoma scares me. If you throw double and triple teams at Griffin and watch Warren, I think you can beat Oklahoma. Michigan gave them a scare, and I think Syracuse's suffocating 2-3 zone could blanket Griffin enough to make him, at the very least, human. I also think you can get physical with Griffin a bit to get him a little off his game. If the Orange bang on him early, I think they'll disrupt the Sooners offense enough to advance.

But if Griffin explodes for a 30 and 15 next game, pretend you didn't read this.

6) Pittsburgh
What a difference a weekend makes. Before the tournament started, Pitt was a trendy pick to win the whole thing. After two too-close-for-comfort games against inferior opponents, most don't think the Panthers survive this weekend.

If Pitt plays the way they did in the first two rounds, they won't. Blair always bring his A-game, but Pitt isn't particularly big down-low (Tyrell Biggs is their tallest contributor at 6'8"). Sam Young needs to continue to play great and Pitt's key will be the play of Levance Fields. He's smart, has great vision and can knock down outside shots, but he's susceptible to getting beat by quicker point guards. I still think Pitt's got a puncher's chance for the title, but there are too many variables against them. Not to mention that if an opposing team's big man can get Blair in foul trouble (see 'Nova's Dante Cunningham) then there's no way Pitt even has a chance of winning (they're 0-4 when Blair fouls out of the game).

In the Jamie Dixon era, the Panthers have never been further than the Sweet 16. I think they get a round further this time around, but the Panthers run may end there.

5) Syracuse
The 'Cuse looked great in the Big East tournament and went from "sleeper" to "team everyone says is a sleeper, making them now a favorite." The Orange have delivered in their first two games though, and look to be the real deal.

I love Johnny Flynn's game, and having a great point guard is one of the greatest attributes you can have in the NCAA tournament. The Syracuse's 2-3 zone is frustrating for most offenses to prepare for and Eric Devendorf, when not slugging coeds, provides great outside shooting. Their bigs are playing better and they've got one of the best coaches in the tournament in Jim Boeheim. No one wants to play the 'Cuse right now.

The last time Syracuse was a No. 3, they won the whole thing. I don't think they'll get that far this year, but they've got a great shot at the Final Four.

One of the most important things an NCAA tournament team can
have is a great point guard. Johnny Flynn certainly fits the bill.

LEGIT CHAMPIONSHIP CONTENDERS

4) Memphis
Memphis provided our first top-team scare of the tournament, and it took them a solid 35 minutes to realize they were supposed to win. It was a cause for concern, but their thrashing of Maryland shows exactly what this team is capable of.

The Tigers have athletes at every position on the floor. They can lock up on D (allowing just a 37% opponent field goal percentage per game during the regular season). John Calipari is a proven coach, who may have made the best (and most obvious?) coaching move of the year, when he moved freshmen phenom Tyreke Evans to the point. The Tigers are hungry, after losing the championship last year, and Calipari has been using the "No One Respects Us" rallying cry all year.

They'll have their hands full against Missouri and the winner of UConn/Purdue will be a tough game as well. But this team has confidence. Winning 27 straight D-1 games will do that.

Everyone points to the fact that Memphis plays in a weak conference. But every year they go deep in the tournament. The Tigers are built for March and April and this particular team is plenty dangerous. If things fall right, they can win the title.

3) Louisville
Louisville would probably be higher, if Siena hadn't given them such a scare last round. Still, the Cardinals have talent. Forward Earl Clark is a very nice player and, when focused, Terrence Williams is capable of taking over games with his versatility. Louisville's been arguably the most consistent of the big-conference teams all year, and as the No 1 seed, face the easiest road to the Final Four. Once they get there, anything's possible.

Louisville also can lock up on D (sensing a theme here?) and have one of the best coaches in the business in Rick Pitino (who rocks some of the best suits in college basketball). My concern with Louisville is I still don't know how they tussle with the best of teams. They won the Big East regular season and conference crowns, but those accomplishments are deceiving. Both Pitt and UConn lost early in the tournament, so the Cardinals didn't have to play either team. Louisville only played each of those teams once during the regular season, beating Pitt by six, and getting routed by UConn by 17. This is also the same team that got embarrased by Notre Dame - whose playing in the NIT right now - by 33 points (though, to be fair, Louisville has won 12 straight since that defeat).

I think the Cardinals have a great chance to win the whole thing. But that doesn't mean I'm totally confident in them. I feel like Louisville is a great team, but not an elite team. Is that enough to win the title? Yes.

Will it win the title this year? The jury's still out.

2) North Carolina
The Tarheels have the most talent of any of the teams in the tournament. LSU gave North Carolina all they could handle in the second round, but when you have as many options as UNC, a close game can turn into a double digit lead in a hurry.

You already know who the X-factor is for North Carolina. Ty Lawson was incredible in the LSU game. All we've heard about is his toe, but in the regular season finale against Duke and his last game against the Tigers, he was the best player on the court. In the second half, did he look anything less than 100% to you?

Wayne Ellington has also really raised his game, averaging 24 points per in the tournament and doing everything you want from your shooting guard (draining threes, driving the lane and making smart decisions). Hansborough is Hansborough and Roy Williams has proven he can win a championship with talented players (winning in 2004-05).

What will ultimately decide if Carolina can go all the way is if they commit to the defensive end. What was surprising about their second round game wasn't that LSU was staying close; but why they were. They were getting open and uncontested shots. North Carolina tends to go through long stretches where all they want to do is score, score, score. The best example of this is Danny Green. Last year he came off the bench and provided energy, scoring punch and rock-solid, perimeter defense. Now? I can't tell you how many times I see him play lazy on defense, then jack up a bad three-point shot in transition on the other end.

If Lawson's healthy and UNC plays some defense, they'll win the whole thing. If they don't, they'll lose. They won't be able to win it all on talent alone. Final Fours are nice, but for a team that brought back basically the entire Final Four team from last year, anything less than a championship has to be considered a disappointment.

1) UConn
The Huskies have unquestionably looked like the best team in the tournament so far. They've run their first two opponents out of the gym, and are again looking like the team that was plugged as the favorite to win it all back in December and January.

I'm still worried about Jerome Dyson being out for the rest of the season though. It ain't easy replacing a junior guard who plays great perimeter defense. But thus far, UConn has't appeared to lose a step.

A big reason has been the play of A.J. Price. He's been lights-out in the first two games and is straight torching teams who dare give him a little bit of space. His shooting has been dead on and he can get to the basket at will. Add in the fact that he's completely made people forget about that whole stealing laptops thing a couple years ago, and I'd say A.J. is having himself quite a year.

I think UConn's biggest concern is the fact that they haven't played a close game yet. Blowouts are great, but every other team has been able to respond to a little adversity, against teams that they know they should beat. What happens when the Huskies face that adversity against a team they can lose to? I think Purdue will give UConn a game, and if they advance past them, the winner of Missouri/Memphis could really give UConn trouble.

The recent recruiting scandal news comes at the worst possible time, and can only add as a distraction. And it can't be comforting that Hasheem Thabeet was almost a non-factor last game. I know they blew out Texas A&M, but when your 7' 3" center shoots two shots and picks up four fouls in just 20 minutes, you can't be happy.

UConn is clearly the best team playing right now. But like every other team in the tournament, they're flawed. If they can stay hot, their a championship team, no question. But it'll be interesting to see what happens when they get in a close game that's going back-and-forth in the last two minutes. How will they respond?

A.J. Price is great, but UConn's only going as far
as Thabeet can take them

Alright, enough information and speculation; let's get to the picks.

SWEET 16
(1) Louisville over (12) Arizona
(2) Michigan State over (3) Kansas
(1) UConn over (5) Purdue
(2) Memphis over (3) Missouri
(1) Pitt over (4) Xavier
(3) Villanova over (2) Duke
(1) UNC over (4) Gonzaga
(3) Syracuse over (2) Oklahoma

ELITE 8
(1) Louisville over (2) Michigan State
(2) Memphis over (1) UConn
(3) Villanova over (1) Pitt
(1) North Carolina over (3) Syracuse

FINAL FOUR
(1) Louisville over (2) Memphis
(1) North Carolina over (3) Villanova

CHAMPIONSHIP
North Carolina 76, Louisville 67



Photos Courtesy of Sports Illustrated's Kohjiro Kinno, David E. Klutho, John Biever, Bill Frakes