Oklahoma at 4 LSU NCAA Super Regional Game 1 Preview

Tonight at 6pm on ESPN, the Oklahoma Sooners (43-19, 13-11 Big 12) take on the 4 seeded LSU Tigers (55-9, 23-7 SEC) in an NCAA Super Regional at Alex Box Stadium in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. This is a best-of-3 series for a trip to Omaha, Nebraska for the NCAA College World Series. Game 1 will be tonight, Game 2 tomorrow night, and, if necessary, Game 3 on Monday night. Oklahoma punched their ticket to their third Super Regional appearance in four years by winning the Blacksburg Regional last weekend at Virginia Tech. The Sooners defeated Coastal Carolina, Connecticut, and Virginia Tech to claim the title. Junior Jonathan Gray will take the hill for the Sooners in this one. He has a record of 10-2 with an ERA of 1.59. He ranks second in the country with 138 strikeouts, and is one of 10 finalists for the National Pitcher of the Year. First baseman Matt Oberste is the team's top hitter with a batting average of .376. He also leads the team in home runs with 11 and RBI's with 60. LSU earned the right to advance to the Supers by winning their regional which was at Alex Box Stadium. They beat Jackson State, Sam Houston State, and Louisiana Lafayette to capture the regional championship. Aaron Nola, the ace for the Tigers, will be on the mound for LSU tonight. He has a perfect record of 11-0 and a team-leading ERA of 1.82. Alex Bregman is the team-leader in batting average, batting at a .385 clip. Mason Katz, the main power source for the Tigers, has 15 home runs, best on the team. He also leads the team with 68 RBI's. This should be a great game, but look for the Tigers at home to pull one step closer to Omaha with a win in Game 1.

Oklahoma City Thunder at Houston Rockets Western Conference First Round Game 3 Game Preview

Tonight at 8:30pm on ESPN, the Oklahoma City Thunder (60-22) take on the Houston Rockets (45-37) in a Western Conference First Round Game 3 matchup in Houston. OKC enters Game 3 on a two game winning streak after beating Houston 105-102 on Wednesday. Houston went on a 21-2 run only to be answered by a 12-3 run in the final three minutes to give the Thunder a 2-0 lead in the best-of-7 series. Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook each had 29 points. Westbrook was fouled by Patrick Beverley in the second quarter, tearing his lateral meniscus in his right knee. It will require surgery and he will miss the remainder of the postseason. Durant was the runner-up in the scoring title race, ending his three year reign atop the catigory. Carmelo Anthony of the New York Knicks won his first scoring title. Durant led the team in scoring at 28.1 points per game. Houston enters their first home playoff game on a four game losing streak dating back to the regular season. In Game 2, James Harden had a pair of postseason career-highs with 36 points and 11 rebounds. He was fifth in the NBA in scoring this season with 25.9 points per game. He played for the Thunder for his first three seasons in the league. This should be a classic postseason game in the Western Conference. Look for the Rockets to get back into this series and take advantage of the Westbrook injury with a big win tonight.

Pacers at Hawks Eastern Conference First Round Game 3 Game Preview

Tonight at 6pm on ESPN, the Indiana Pacers (49-32) take on the Atlanta Hawks (44-37) in an Eastern Conference First Round Game 3. The Pacers hold a 2-0 lead in the best-of-7 game series. Indiana comes into this game after defeating the Hawks at home on Wednesday night 113-98. The Pacers shot 47 percent from the field and outrebounded the Hawks 47-41 to go along with just 10 turnovers. Paul George was named the KIA NBA Most Improved Player this past week and is also the leading scorer for the Pacers at 17.4 points per game in the regular season. He had a triple-double in Game 1 and followed that up with a 27 point performance in Game 2. Atlanta enters their playoff home opener after losing their last four games of the regular season and playoffs. Devin Harris had a team-high 17 points in the Game 2 loss. Josh Smith led the Hawks in points per game this season with 17.5. These teams met four times during the regular season, with each team winning two at home. Look for the homecourt advantage of the Hawks to get them their first win of the postseason and put them right back into this series.

Warriors at Nuggets Western Conference First Round Game 1 Game Preview

Today at 4:30pm on ESPN, the Golden State Warriors (47-35) take on the Denver Nuggets (57-25) in a Western Conference First Round Game 1 matchup at the Pepsi Center in Denver. Golden State earned the 6 seed in the playoffs this season by beating the Portland Trail Blazers on Wednesday night 99-88. Stephen Curry, the team's leading scorer at 22.9 points per game, broke the all time single season three point record of Ray Allen in the win for coach Mark Jackson, a former ESPN NBA Analyst. Denver received the 3 seed by dispatching Phoenix 118-98 on Wednesday. Ty Lawson leads the team in points with 16.7 per game for coach George Karl. These teams met four times during the regular season, with Golden State winning three of them. This should be a very fun series to watch as both teams want to get out and push the ball up the court. Look for the homecourt of Denver to get the win for the hometown Nuggets in Game 1.

3 Michigan at Wisconsin Game Preview

Today at 11am on ESPN, the 3 Michigan Wolverines 21-2 (8-2) visit the Kohl Center to take on the Wisconsin Badgers 16-7 (7-3). Michigan comes into this game after a big home win against archrival and 10 Ohio State on Tuesday night. The Wolverines escaped at home by a final of 76-74 in overtime and avenged the loss in Columbus earlier this season that gave Michigan their first loss. Trey Burke, who is on the watch list for the Bob Cousy Award which is the best point guard in the country, did a terrific job of guarding one of the country's best point guards in Aaron Craft. Burke is leading the team averaging 18.1 points per game. The Wolverines are exceptionally balanced as they have four of five starters averaging in double figures. Wisconsin enters this one after knocking off Iowa in double overtime on Wednesday night, 74-70. They are currently on a two game win streak this week after beating Illinois on the road and then Iowa on Wednesday night. Jared Berggren leads the Badgers with 11.8 points per game. He is also second in the Big Ten in blocks and had seven against Iowa to go along with 14 rebounds and 16 points. Wisconsin has three starters averaging in double digits and also have a deep bench. This should be a good one but look for the Grateful Red at the Kohl Center to get a signature win for the Badgers.
Michigan Game Notes
Wisconsin Game Notes

25 Marquette at 12 Louisville Game Preview

Picture Source

Picture Source

Today at 1pm on ESPN, the 25 Marquette Golden Eagles 15-4 (6-1) visit the KFC Yum! Center to take on the 12 Louisville Cardinals 17-4 (5-3). Marquette is currently leading the Big East thanks to a Syracuse loss at Pittsburgh yesterday afternoon. The Golden Eagles enter this game on a two game win streak. Their latest win was a 63-50 home win against South Florida on Monday night. Marquette suffered their first and only Big East loss on January 19, a 63-61 overtime loss at Cincinnati. Vander Blue, the team's leading scorer with an average of 14.8 points per game, had a career high 30 points in the win against USF on Monday night. Louisville started the season 18-1, but have lost three of their las four conference games. Their only conference win since January 14 was a 64-61 squeaker at home against Pittsburgh on Monday night. They have been ranked number 1 this season, only to lose in their second game in that spot on January 19 against then 6 Syracuse. Russ Smith, one of the nation's best passers, leads the team with 18.4 points per game. Marquette is riding high and Louisville is looking to get back on track. This should be a good game but look for the Golden Eagles to get a big win on the road.

North Carolina at 18 NC State Game Preview

Picture Source

Picture Source

Tonight at 6pm on ESPN, the North Carolina Tar Heels 13-5 (3-2) travel to PNC Arena to take on instate rival 18 NC State 15-4 (4-2). The Tar Heels come into this game on a three game ACC winning streak after losing their first two, the lastest win being a 79-63 home win against Georgia Tech on Wednesday night. James Michale McAdoo leads North Carolina with an average of 14.7 points per game. He is a dynamic forward who can put the ball in many different ways, but is mostly effective when he faces up to the basket and his mid range jumpshot is silky smooth. The Wolfpack come into this game after a disappointing upset loss at Wake Forest on Wednesday night by a final of 86-84. C.J. Leslie continues to lead the team in points with an average of 15.3 a game. State needs a big game from their point guard position if they are going to com away with a win. Lorenzo Brown runs the show for the Wolfpack. He is averaging 12.8 points a game and 132 assists on the season. The key to this one is turnovers. Whoever does not give easy points in transition by turnovers will win this game. I think NC State will come away with a big home win.

17 Missouri at 10 Florida Game Preview

Picture Source

Picture Source

Today at 1pm on ESPN, the 17 Missouri Tigers 13-3 (2-1) visit the O'Connell Center to take on the 10 Florida Gators 13-2 (3-0). Mizzou comes into this one having won their last conference game after losing their second. They won their first ever SEC game. The Tigers defeated Georgia 79-62 at home on Wednesday night. Their leading scorer, Jabari Brown, has an average of 13.9 points per game. Phil Pressey is a dynamic point guard that makes this Tigers team go for coach Frank Haith. They also brought in a transfer from Connecticut, Alex Oriakhi. He is eligible to play this season because of the Huskies' postseason ban. Florida comes into this game having won their first three conference games, the most recent being a 68-47 win at Texas A&M on Thursday night. Kenny Boyton, one of the best point guards in the nation, leads the Gators with an average of 13.2 points per game for coach Billy Donovan. This is the first meeting between these teams. Look for this to be very close, but the homecourt of Florida should get them the win in this one.

Maryland at North Carolina Game Preview

Picture Source

Picture Source

Today at 11am on ESPN, the Maryland Terrapins 14-3 (2-2) will travel to Chapel Hill to take on the North Carolina Tar Heels 11-5 (1-2). Maryland comes into this game on a high note, after beating number 14 NC State at home on Wednesday night 51-50. That was their second ACC win after having lost their middle two after winning the first one. Their leading scorer, Alex Len, scored the winning tip-in with 00.9 seconds left in the waning second on Wednesday night against the Wolfpack. He is averaging 13.5 points per game. North Carolina has not played in a week after going to Florida State on Saturday and winning 77-72. That was their first conference win after losing the first two, very uncharacteristic of a Roy Williams team. Their are led by James Michael McAdoo, who is their leading scorer averaging 14.4 points per game. The Tar Heels are very young and McAdoo is only a sophmore, so that shows the future is bright for Roy Williams. This should be close, but I think Maryland is motivated to get another big win and I think they will.

1 Duke at 20 NC State Game Preview

Today at 11am on ESPN, the number 1 team in the country, the Duke Blue Devils 15-0 (2-0) visit Raleigh to take on the number 20 team in the country, NC State Wolfpack 13-2 (2-0). Duke has won its first 15 games behind the stellar play of forward Mason Plumlee, who is averaging 17.7 points per game and 11.4 rebounds per game, both team highs. The Blue Devils are looking to go 16-0 to start the season for the fourth time under the winningest coach in Division 1 history, Mike Krzyzewski. Duke is also 8-1 against the Wolfpack when ranked number 1. The Cameron Crazies are coming off of a 68-40 win against Clemson on Tuesday night. NC State is coming off of a closer than expected win at home against Georgia Tech by a final of 83-70 on Wednesday night. They are led by their leading scorer, C.J. Leslie, who is averaging 15.6 points per game. The Wolfpack are quite balanced as they have five players averaging in double figures. This should be a good one as inticipated, but look for the experience, depth, and coaching to propel the Blue Devils to victory.

NBA Christmas Day Nuggets vs. Clippers Preview

Picture Source

Tonight at 9:30 on ESPN the 15-13 Denver Nuggets visit the Staples Center to take on the 21-6 Los Angeles Clippers and Lob City. The Nuggets come into LA having won their last game on Saturday night against the Charlotte Bobcats, 110-88 in Denver. They are led by guard Danilo Gallinari, who is averaging 15.6 points a game this season  for coach George Karl. The white-hot Clippers come into this game having won a whopping 13 straight games, with their last loss coming on November 26. They are led by forward Blake Griffin, who is putting up 18.3 points per game, and 8.9 rebounds a game. He is also second in leading the league in dunks, with 71 dunks this season. The league leader in dunks, JaVale McGee, is a reserve center for the Nuggets. Don't expect the winning streak to end for LA now, as they should come out with an easy win tonight to run their win streak to 14.

NBA Christmas Day Rockets vs. Bulls Preview

Tonight on ESPN at 7pm, the 14-12 Houston Rockets visit the 15-11 Chicago Bulls at the United Center. The Rockets are coming off of an impressive 25 point win at home against one of the best teams in the West, the Memphis Grizzlies. Houston will be coming to Chicago for the one and only time this season, but they met in Houston back in November, when the Rockets escaped with a 93-89 win. They are led by guard James Harden, who is averaging 25.6 points a game this season, his first since being traded from Oklahoma City on October 27. Chicago is doing very well without their MVP point guard, Derrick Rose, who is recovering from a torn ACL in the playoffs last April.They are coming off of a disappointing 92-75 loss at the Atlanta Hawks. They are led by guard Luol Deng, who is averaging 17.8 points per game. Despite the way that Chicago is playing without their leader, I still expect Houston's duo of James Harden and Jeremy Lin to play up to expectations, and to take this Christmas Day matchup over the Chicago Bulls.

R+L Carriers Bowl

Picture Source

The R+L Carries Bowl between the East Carolina Pirates and the Louisiana-Lafayette Ragin' Cajuns was a high scoring affair. I thought the way that the Cajuns started strong, were tested by the high octane offense of ECU, and then came back for a 43-34 win was very impressive. ULL was going back and forth between the incumbent quarterback, Terrence Broadway, and the challenger Blaine Gautier.