My Final Four predictions for this year's NCAA tournament are Wisconsin, Duke, Kentucky, and Iowa State. All four of these teams have a legitimate chance at making it to the Final Four, they each are a well-rounded team, and they each have star players on their roster that could be the difference makers during a high intensity tournament game, on the biggest stage in college basketball.
Wisconsin, in my opinion, is one of the most dangerous teams in the entire tournament this year because of how well they space the floor on offense, creating scoring opportunities for everyone on the floor. The Badgers are led by Frank Kaminski, a 7'0 foot forward who is a contender for the national player of the year award, he can score from anywhere on the court, is a strong presence in the paint on defense, and is essentially an unstoppable offensive and defensive force for Wisconsin.
Junior forward Sam Dekker and Senior guard Traevon Jackson are also key players for the Badgers, and provide Wisconsin with more offensive scoring ability. Wisconsin is a very sound team defensively, which is an absolute necessity in the NCAA tournament, and with an almost identical starting line-up to the Wisconsin team that made a Final Four run last year, the Badgers are coming in as one of the most experienced teams in the tournament.
The Duke Blue Devils are another team I expect to make a deep run into the tournament this year. The Blue Devils had a serious letdown last year in the tournament, falling to Mercer in the first round, so coach Mike Krzyzewski and his team are poised and determined to do some damage this year. Duke has a formidable starting lineup, including the front runner for the national player of the year award, Freshman center Jahlil Okafor. Okafor is on the best post-up players in the nation, and provides Duke with the rebounding ability needed to get wins in the tournament. Also in the starting lineup are Tyus Jones, a guard with incredible dribble-drive ability who performs very well in big games, and Justice Winslow, a tenacious rebounder and another offensive weapon for the Blue Devils. Duke plays better against better teams, and I think that Okafor can lead Duke to victory against any team they might come across in the tournament.
Iowa State is my underdog pick to make it to the Final Four this year, and for good reason. Iowa State is often overlooked each year, because they are not a traditional basketball powerhouse like Duke or North Carolina, but this year they have a great chance to make a name for themselves. The Cyclones have a team that can spread the floor well because they are excellent from three-point range, and have six players that average over 10 points per game. Georges Niang, the Cyclones leading scorer, is a 6'8 forward who can drive, shoot from three, and is a good passer averaging 4 assists per game, and Niang will be deciding factor for the Cyclones. If Niang plays to his full potential, I believe that Iowa State will be serious contender.
Kentucky is, for most people, the favorite to win it all this year, and although I hate to jump on the bandwagon, I also believe that Kentucky will without question be in the Final Four. Kentucky has by far the deepest and most talented roster of any team in the country, and their undefeated season is further proof that they are absolutely capable of being the best in the tournament. Led by Sophomore guards Andrew and Aaron Harrison, the Wildcats have a group of players that could be considered one of the greatest college basketball teams of all time. Although the Wildcats have barely survived a few close games this season, and they will be truly tested at some point during the tournament, the leadership of the Harrison twins and senior center Willie Cauley-Stein, and the explosive playmaking brought by Tyler Ulis and Alex Poythress will be enough to lead Kentucky past any team they face on the road to the Final Four.
Thursday, March 12, 2015
Thursday, February 26, 2015
My favorite athlete
Joe Collamore 10th grade
Norton High School
2015 Will McDonough writing
contest
Russell Westbrook: My favorite athlete
My favorite athlete is Russell Westbrook. Russell is point
guard on the Oklahoma City Thunder and is one of the elite guards in the NBA. Russell is not my favorite athlete because he is a great basketball player,
there are plenty of great athletes on Boston sports team whom I also love, like
Tom Brady, however I picked Russell as my favorite because basketball is my
favorite sport, and I love the way Russell plays basketball. He is a constant
threat on the basketball court, never breaking his focus, which is why he is
such a relentless defender, and such a great leader on the basketball
court. The way Russell plays is a
product of how hard he had to work in order to make it to the NBA, because
Russell was not always seen as one of the world’s elite basketball players.
Russell was born on November 12, 1988 in Long Beach, California.
Russell grew up in Hawthorne, California, and he also grew up playing basketball, playing his first game in elementary school. Russell was a talented basketball player throughout middle school, as was his close friend Khelcey Barrs. Russell and his friend Barrs both attended Leuzinger High school in Lawndale, California, where Barrs became a standout player. Barrs was already receiving college recruiting letters as a sophomore, but died suddenly from cardiomegaly after a series of late night basketball games. The loss of his friend devastated Russell, but he used it to fuel him to become a better basketball player. Westbrook did not start on his varsity team until he was a junior, but quickly became the best player on the Leuzinger high school team, showing off his incredible athleticism and explosive scoring ability. After his senior year, when he averaged 25.1 points, 8.7 rebounds, 3.1 steals, and 2.1 assists, Westbrook was offered a scholarship to play for UCLA, and he decided to attend.
Russell did not see very much playing time as a freshman, only being put in if someone was in foul trouble, or if some tenacious defense was needed. As a sophomore Russell became one of the key players in the UCLA starting five, bringing energy and leadership whenever it was needed. Russell helped carry UCLA all the way to the Final Four of the NCAA tournament, but fell to the University of Memphis. Westbrook received widespread recognition for his superb season, averaging 12.7 points, 3.9 rebounds, 4.7 assists, and 1.6 steals, and also winning the Pac-10 Defensive Player of the Year award. After his storied season at UCLA, Russell decided to enter the 2008 NBA draft, and was selected 4th overall by the Seattle Supersonics.
Westbrook had an impressive rookie season, averaging 15.3 points, 5.3 assists, 4.9 rebounds, and 1.3 steals and also was named to the All-Rookie First Team. Since his rookie season, Russell has been a 4 time All-Star and made it to the NBA Finals in 2012, and is considered by many, including me, to be the best guard in the NBA. Russell does have some flaws, just as every athlete does, his biggest being his preference to shoot rather than pass. Some people consider Russell to be a selfish player, but I wouldn’t go that far. Russell plays as hard as he can for his team, and has carried the Thunder this season while Kevin Durant deals with injuries. To me, what makes Russell such a special player is how hard he works to win, never backing down and bringing constant energy, and Westbrook embodies, what I believe, the NBA should stand for.
Russell grew up in Hawthorne, California, and he also grew up playing basketball, playing his first game in elementary school. Russell was a talented basketball player throughout middle school, as was his close friend Khelcey Barrs. Russell and his friend Barrs both attended Leuzinger High school in Lawndale, California, where Barrs became a standout player. Barrs was already receiving college recruiting letters as a sophomore, but died suddenly from cardiomegaly after a series of late night basketball games. The loss of his friend devastated Russell, but he used it to fuel him to become a better basketball player. Westbrook did not start on his varsity team until he was a junior, but quickly became the best player on the Leuzinger high school team, showing off his incredible athleticism and explosive scoring ability. After his senior year, when he averaged 25.1 points, 8.7 rebounds, 3.1 steals, and 2.1 assists, Westbrook was offered a scholarship to play for UCLA, and he decided to attend.
Russell did not see very much playing time as a freshman, only being put in if someone was in foul trouble, or if some tenacious defense was needed. As a sophomore Russell became one of the key players in the UCLA starting five, bringing energy and leadership whenever it was needed. Russell helped carry UCLA all the way to the Final Four of the NCAA tournament, but fell to the University of Memphis. Westbrook received widespread recognition for his superb season, averaging 12.7 points, 3.9 rebounds, 4.7 assists, and 1.6 steals, and also winning the Pac-10 Defensive Player of the Year award. After his storied season at UCLA, Russell decided to enter the 2008 NBA draft, and was selected 4th overall by the Seattle Supersonics.
Westbrook had an impressive rookie season, averaging 15.3 points, 5.3 assists, 4.9 rebounds, and 1.3 steals and also was named to the All-Rookie First Team. Since his rookie season, Russell has been a 4 time All-Star and made it to the NBA Finals in 2012, and is considered by many, including me, to be the best guard in the NBA. Russell does have some flaws, just as every athlete does, his biggest being his preference to shoot rather than pass. Some people consider Russell to be a selfish player, but I wouldn’t go that far. Russell plays as hard as he can for his team, and has carried the Thunder this season while Kevin Durant deals with injuries. To me, what makes Russell such a special player is how hard he works to win, never backing down and bringing constant energy, and Westbrook embodies, what I believe, the NBA should stand for.
Thursday, January 29, 2015
"Sacking the Super Bowl"- Should we watch football?
"Sacking the Super Bowl" by Steve Almond was a very interesting article, because Steve brought up many parts of the negative side of the NFL, such as player safety and taxpayer money being used to pay for NFL stadiums. While these factors that Steve brought up are legitimate and could be perceived by many as having a negative effect on society, I personally believe that the NFL does not deserve to be boycotted or supported any less, simply because danger and high prices are simply a natural part of the league, and it has always been that way. NFL players know that they are putting their bodies at risk every single time they step out on the field, and they also know that concussions and other injuries are just a result of the physicality of football. These NFL players who risk brain damage are also being payed millions of dollars to play a sport, and they are playing a sport they love to play. As far as taxpayer money goes, I believe that it is morally wrong for fans to pay for the team, but these fans love their teams, and I know that if the Patriots were using taxpayer money to renovate Gillette Stadium, I would have no problem with it, and neither would most NFL fans anywhere in the country. The game of football is so appealing to people because of the constant tension and violence every NFL game brings, and the way football can bring people together is amazing. In my opinion, football is loved by too many people nationwide for a large number of people to ever stop watching football, and I don't think the NFL deserves to be, or ever will be, boycotted.
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