NCAA Regionals

Cal's Powe hires agent, will take injury concerns into draft

2006-05-23T16:27:00.000-07:00

California forward Leon Powe said Tuesday he would go ahead with his plans to be part of the NBA Draft and hire an agent.Powe said last month he would likely make himself eligible for the draft, but waited to sign with an agent to keep open the possibility of returning for his two years of college.
Powe, who missed the 2004-05 season following two operations on his troublesome left knee, told the Cal coaching staff of his decision Tuesday.
The 6-foot-8, 240-pound Powe is projected as a middle-to-late first-round pick or early second-round selection. He had hinted he would make the jump if he were expected to be a first-round choice.
He led Cal to its first NCAA Tournament bid in three years this past season, but the Bears lost in the first round to North Carolina State. Cal went 20-11 and finished third in the Pac-10.
He earned second-team All-America honors after averaging Pac-10 bests of 20.5 points and 10.1 rebounds in his first season back following a serious knee injury that sidelined him for all the 2004-05 season.

Bowl predictions

2005-11-23T02:40:00.000-08:00

Barring a USC upset to UCLA or a Texas loss to Texas A&M or in the Big 12 title game, the Rose Bowl is set. Now the lobbying for the seventh and eighth spots begins.

Notre Dame will get one slot from its No. 8 ranking, as long as there isn't a hiccup at Stanford, while Ohio State is in line for the other one, as the Buckeyes are ranked one spot ahead of Oregon. However, the Fiesta Bowl might choose Oregon over Ohio State; expect some furious arguing from the Pac-10 over the next few weeks.

Don't forget that the BCS takes the entire season into account, so there will be wild changes from the computers as the year goes on, but the two human polls will be the biggest factors. Whatever the human polls are, that'll likely be the final outcome.

1. USC
BCS Average: 0.9807 Previous Ranking: 1 Not only is UCS locked in at the one spot, despite being ranked second by all the computers but one, but it might be able to afford a loss to UCLA and still get in the Rose Bowl. To get jumped, it appears USC would have to lose, LSU would have to lose, and Penn State would have to move into the number two spot in the human polls. Predicted wins: UCLA Predicted losses: None Predicted record: 12-0 Predicted bowl: Rose Bowl

2. Texas
BCS Average: 0.9791 Previous Ranking: 2 Oh those computers do love that Texas team. Being ranked No. 1 by five of the six computers has helped the Longhorns pull just a slim 0.0016 behind USC for the top spot. In this race, coming in second is just as good as first. Texas can, most likely, afford a loss in the Big 12 title game and still play for the national title, but a loss to a struggling Texas A&M team would probably ruin any national title hopes. Predicted wins: at Texas A&M, Big 12 Championship Predicted losses: None Predicted record: 12-0 Predicted bowl: Rose Bowl

3. Penn State
BCS Average: 0.8900 Previous Ranking: 4 Penn State just can't get enough love from the humans. Ranked fourth behind LSU in the human polls, and third in the computers, the Nittany Lions are still in the prime spot to sneak into the Rose Bowl if all the breaks go their way. In any event, they're in the big dance after beating Michigan State and will likely be in the Fiesta Bowl. Regular Season Finished: 10-1 Predicted bowl: Fiesta Bowl

4. LSU
BCS Average: 0.8372 Previous Ranking: 5 LSU will get a wee bit more love from the computers over the last few weeks by beating Arkansas and winning the SEC title game, but it still might not be enough to overcome a relatively large margin for the No. 3 spot. The computers have the Tigers firmly eighth with Virginia Tech, Ohio State and Oregon unlikely to budge. The Rose Bowl appears out of the question in any scenario. Predicted wins: Arkansas, SEC Championship Predicted losses: None Predicted record: 11-1 Predicted bowl: Sugar Bowl

5. Virginia Tech
BCS Average: 0.8294 Previous Ranking: 6 That little loss to Miami appears to be wiped off the books as the Hokies move back up in prime position to be in the Rose Bowl mix if disaster strikes USC and Texas. Unlike LSU, who's buried in the computer rankings, Virginia Tech is fourth and could move up big-time in the human polls with impressive wins to close out the season and an LSU stumble. Predicted wins: North Carolina, ACC Championship Predicted losses: None Predicted record: 11-1 Predicted bowl: Orange Bowl

6. Ohio State
BCS Average: 0.7841 Previous Ranking: 7 Ohio State has the coveted top spot among teams who won't, or can't, win their conference championships. In the argument between Ohio State and Oregon over who should get the at-large bid, OSU's ranking is the Buckeyes' justification. If Fiesta Bowl officials get their way and have a Notre Dame-Penn State matchup, Ohio State will go to the Orange Bowl. If the Orange Bowl takes Penn State, then the Fiesta might opt for Oregon. Regular Season Finished: 9-2 Predicted bowl: Orange Bowl

7. Oregon
BCS Average: 0.7340 Previous Ranking: 10 The computers have the Ducks sixth, the humans have them eighth, and all polls have them behind Ohio State. Oregon might be able to slip into the Fiesta Bowl if the Pac-10 is able to throw the proper hissy fit, but it's going to be a tough sell when a Notre Dame-Penn State matchup is possible. Regular Season Finished: 10-1 Predicted bowl: Pacific Life Holiday Bowl

8. Notre Dame
BCS Average: 0.6908 Previous Ranking: 9 Thanks to those Irish-loving humans, Notre Dame is in the top eight and in the BCS with a win over Stanford. The computers aren't as kind, putting the Irish 12th. Even so, Fiesta Bowl officials are holding candlelight prayer sessions hoping Stanford doesn't pull off a shocker. Predicted wins: at Stanford Predicted losses: None Predicted record: 9-2 Predicted bowl: Fiesta Bowl

9. Miami (FL)
BCS Average: 0.6718 Previous Ranking: 3 Miami goes from a mortal lock to win the ACC title to an also-ran after a poor performance against Georgia Tech. The BCS is out of the picture now even though the computers still have the 'Canes seventh. Predicted wins: Virginia Predicted losses: None Predicted record: 9-2 Predicted bowl: Gator Bowl

10. Auburn
BCS Average: 0.6333 Previous Ranking: 13 Auburn jumps into the top 10 after an impressive win over Alabama, but its only shot at the BCS is to win the SEC title game. Tigers fans will have their Arkansas pom-poms out this weekend. Interestingly enough, Georgia, the SEC East winner, is ranked 15th behind LSU, Auburn, and Alabama. Regular Season Finished: 9-2 Predicted bowl: Capital One Bowl

who's got the bowl?

2005-11-19T02:43:00.000-08:00

A weekly look at which teams still have a shot at a BCS bowl.

Week 12 Quality Wins: USC, Virginia Tech, Ohio State and Auburn

Week 12 Crippling Losses: Miami, Virginia, Michigan and Alabama

The Rationale:

1. Members of the ACC, Big Ten, Big XII, Pac 10 and SEC plus Notre Dame remain eligible for the Rose Bowl until they suffer their second loss. While not impossible, history shows that two-loss teams won’t finish as high as No. 2 in the BCS rankings.

2. Members of the six remaining conferences—Big East, C-USA, Mountain West, MAC, Sun Belt and WAC—must remain flawless to keep their remote hopes for Pasadena alive. While the Big East winner does earn a BCS bowl berth, the level of competition within the league would prevent a one-loss team from playing in the title game. BCS Bowl Bound (2)

USC (11-0) No matter what happens vs. UCLA in two weeks, USC has already secured a reservation in one of the four BCS bowl games. In the event of a three-way tie involving the Bruins, Trojans and Oregon, the reigning champs hold the tiebreaker. A seventh consecutive win over their rivals from Westwood will give USC an opportunity to defend its national championship, presumably against Texas. In a season of close calls, the Trojans almost lost it all late Saturday night to a game and confident group of Fresno State Bulldogs. Up Next: UCLA (Dec. 3)

Penn State (10-1) Even though it still hasn’t completely sunk in that Penn State, picked by most back in August to finish in the middle of the pack, is the Big Ten champ, the Lions have qualified for the school’s first BCS bowl game. They’ll either be playing in the Fiesta or Orange Bowl, with the latter being the more likely scenario. A Florida State victory in the ACC title game could set up a tantalizing matchup between JoePa and Bobby Bowden, the two winningest coaches in I-A history. Up Next: Regular Season Over BCS Bowl Hopefuls (17)

Texas (10-0) Turkey will be on the menu Thursday, however, the leftovers might include an extra helping of Aggies on Friday. The ‘Horns return to work after a week off to play rival Texas A&M in a game that looked like a dangerous landmine when the season began, but not today. The Aggies have the Big 12’s worst defense, which could present a major problem once QB Vince Young begins performing his athletic wizardry. Up Next: at Texas A&M (Fri.)

LSU (9-1) There’s been little certainty in this mixed up, emotionally draining season for LSU, but one thing they know for sure is that one more win sets up a date with Georgia in the Georgia Dome to see who’ll qualify for the Sugar Bowl, ironically also in the Georgia Dome. Since allowing at least 30 points in the first two games, the Tiger D has been ferocious, giving up 300 yards just once and holding opponents to an average of only nine points a game. Up Next: Arkansas (Fri.)

Virginia Tech (9-1) Two weeks ago this didn’t seem possible, but a Georgia Tech upset of Miami in the Orange Bowl has juxtaposed the Hurricanes and the Hokies in the ACC Coastal division. Reeling after a devastating loss to Miami earlier this month, all Virginia Tech has to do now is defeat North Carolina in Blacksburg, and they’ll meet Florida State for the first time since the 2001 Gator Bowl with the conference title on the line. Up Next: North Carolina Ohio State (9-2) Since the 17-10 loss to Penn State almost two months ago, the Buckeyes did all they could to position themselves for a shot at a major bowl game. Now all they can do is patiently wait to learn their fate on Dec. 4. Ohio State’s thrilling come-from-behind win over Michigan earned them a share of the Big Ten crown and the inside track on one of the two at-large openings. Plan B would have the Bucks meeting one of the SEC’s elite teams in the Capital One Bowl.
Up Next: Regular Season Over

Notre Dame (8-2) The worst kept secret in college football is that the Golden Domers are headed to the Fiesta Bowl with a win on the Farm this weekend. They’ll have the required nine wins and the Fiesta committee will have first choice of available programs if Texas gets scooped up by the Rose Bowl. There are other terrific options, but the Irish, with its rich tradition and massive national following will be impossible to bypass. Up Next: at Stanford

Oregon (10-1) All the posturing that’s been done and likely will be done over the next two weeks probably won’t be enough to get the Ducks a spot in the Fiesta Bowl. A Stanford upset of Notre Dame sure would help the cause, but don’t count on it. Playing with a chip on its shoulder, Oregon staked its claim to a BCS invite with a 56-14 mauling of Oregon State, but still appear destined for San Diego and the Holiday Bowl.Up Next: Regular Season Over

UCLA (9-1) The Bruins are faced with quite a conundrum these days. Even if they beat USC in two weeks, it’s still possible they’ll ascend no higher than the Holiday or Sun Bowl, despite being 10-1. The Trojans have already sewn up the Pac-10’s BCS bid, and unless UCLA can somehow rise to No. 4 with a win, an at-large berth would still be an uncertainty. Would the Fiesta Bowl tab 9-2 Ohio State or a 10-1 UCLA team that snapped USC’s 33-game winning streak and would travel well to Tempe? Hmmm. Up Next: at USC (Dec. 3)

West Virginia (8-1) The Mountaineers’ magic number for clinching the Big East is two. Any combination of two West Virginia or South Florida losses and the Mounties will likely be paired up with the SEC champ in the Sugar Bowl. West Virginia has been improving each week, and is one of just four teams in the country yet to taste a league defeat. Up Next: Pittsburgh (Thurs.)

Auburn (9-2) After beating Georgia and Alabama in consecutive games, Auburn finished the regular season as hot as anyone, but a shocking loss to Georgia Tech in the opener has haunted them all year. Barring a shocking loss by LSU to Arkansas this Friday or a surprise at-large invite to the Fiesta Bowl, the Tigers are likely to put a bow on a terrific season in either the Outback or Capital One Bowl. Up Next: Regular Season Over

Georgia (8-2) Georgia came out of the gate a little sluggish, but quickly took command of Kentucky to finally wrap up the SEC East. Before the Dawgs meet either LSU or Auburn in the league title game, they’ll renew acquaintances with long-time rival Georgia Tech, who stunned Miami a week ago, but has yet to beat a Mark Richt-led Georgia team in four tries. Up Next: at Georgia Tech

Florida State (7-3) By the time the ‘Noles square off with the Coastal champ in the ACC championship game, they’ll have gone four weeks without playing a game of importance to the division race. Two weeks off and this Saturday’s game with the hated Gators will be used to address concerns on both sides of the ball that have led to back-to-back losses. Up Next: at Florida

Miami (8-2) Miami still might have a game in Jacksonville, but the Jan. 2 Gator Bowl is a far cry from the inaugural ACC title game on Dec. 3. A couple of season-long bugaboos — offensive consistency and pass protection — came back to haunt the ‘Canes, who lost to Georgia Tech Saturday and ceded control of the Coastal division back to Virginia Tech. Just two weeks after destroying the Hokies, they’re likely facing a second straight postseason in a non-BCS game.Up Next: Virginia

Colorado (7-3) With a win this Friday over Nebraska, Colorado takes the Big 12 North title and earns a second chance to upset Texas. The Buffs are winning behind the steady hand of QB Joel Klatt and an underrated defense, but their secret weapons reside in the kicking game. John Torp is No. 7 in the country in punting and Mason Crosby is unanimously recognized as the premier kicker in the game. Up Next: Nebraska (Fri.)

South Florida (6-3) As hard as this is to process, two wins separate South Florida from a BCS bowl game before the school even celebrates its 10-year anniversary with a football program. The architect of this miraculous rise has been head coach Jim Leavitt, who, not coincidentally, learned under Bill Snyder, one of the game’s greatest all-time miracle workers. A showdown with West Virginia awaits, however, the Bulls cannot look past a UConn team that’s as healthy as it's been in a while. Up Next: at UConn

Pittsburgh (5-5) The Panthers need lots of help, but first they’ll have to hand West Virginia its first conference loss in the Thanksgiving edition of the Backyard Brawl. Basically, Pittsburgh has to have a logjam at the top of the league in order to represent the Big East in the BCS. That means South Florida has to stumble to UConn this week and knock off West Virginia the following Saturday. Since Pitt would have defeated both the Mountaineers and the Bulls, they’d control all tiebreakers. Up Next: at West Virginia (Thurs.)

Iowa State (7-3) Iowa State faces a three-step process for earning a berth in the Fiesta Bowl: Root for a Nebraska upset of Colorado this Friday. Handle Kansas Saturday afternoon. And then shock the world by beating South champ Texas in the Dec. 3 title game. It’s not likely, but it says something about the job Dan McCarney’s done this fall that the Cyclones are one of just three remaining Big 12 teams with a BCS prayer. Up Next: at Kansas

new rules for the new season....

2005-11-04T02:28:00.000-08:00

2005-06 Rules Changes

Nov. 4, 2005

INDIANAPOLIS -- NCAA coaches and student-athletes will be adjusting to only a few competition rules changes for the 2005-06 basketball season. The most significant of the new rules deals with the kicked-ball violation.
Violations when the ball has been intentionally kicked will no longer result in the reset of the shot clock to either 30 seconds (women) or 35 seconds (men). When the violation occurs with 15 or fewer seconds remaining, the shot clock will be set to 15 seconds. Otherwise, when the violation occurs with more than 15 seconds remaining, the shot clock shall not be reset.
"We thought the penalty was too severe for the violation,” Ronda Seagraves, Women’s Basketball Rules Committee chair and assistant athletics director at Southwestern University (Texas) said. “If a team is playing great defense and the shot clock is running down, it does not seem fair to completely reset it. This takes into account the defensive effort.”
The amount of time allowed to replace a disqualified player is reduced from 30 seconds to 20 seconds starting this season. The warning signal will be sounded with five seconds remaining in the 20-second period.
"The time to replace a disqualified player was never meant to be used as an additional timeout,” Larry Keating, Men’s Basketball Rules Committee chair and senior associate athletics director at the University of Kansas, said. “Twenty seconds will allow for coaches to make personnel changes, give instructions, and keep the game moving.”
Uniformity of uniforms has been addressed in the new rules. Head bands and wrist bands must be the same color as the dominant color of the game jersey and the same for all players choosing to wear these uniform extras. Only one logo, either one manufacturer’s logo or one institutional logo or mascot logo is allowed on these uniform extras.
The use of the monitor was expanded to allow officials to use the courtside television monitor to determine whether a foul committed at or near the expiration of time in the first half or second half (when it affects the outcome of the game) occurred before the reading of 0.00 on the game clock. After ruling that the foul was committed before the expiration of time, officials shall now be permitted to put time back on the clock when it is determined that time remained after the foul.
Previously, officials were allowed to use the official courtside television monitor to ascertain if a try for goal was attempted before the expiration of time, 0:00, at the end of the first half or at the end of the game or any extra period when it determines the outcome of the game. After ruling that the try for goal was successful, officials shall now be permitted to put time back on the clock when it is determined that time remained after the ball passed through the net.
"Officials were able to use the monitor to check if the shot beat the clock, but this allows them to correct the time, when applicable,” Keating said. “In many games, we have the ability to determine down to 10ths-of-a-second how much time should remain on the clock. We need to utilize it.”
The time frame to fix a timer’s mistake has been expanded. Previously, such a mistake was to be corrected only during the first dead ball after the game clock should have started or stopped or once the ball is in play before the second live ball when the clock should have been running and while the ball is dead. Now, in both cases, the mistake may be fixed before the ball is touched inbounds or illegally out-of-bounds by a player.
--NCAA

Midnight Madness

2005-10-23T02:32:00.000-07:00

LEXINGTON, Ky. (AP) -- More than 23,000 fans filled Rupp Arena on Friday night for Kentucky's Big Blue Madness, the party that signals the start of college basketball practice.
The turnout by Kentucky fans meant the university set an attendance record for one these events. The previous record was held by North Carolina, which drew more than 21,700 fans to the Smith Center in Chapel Hill, N.C., in October 2003 for the Tar Heels' first practice under coach Roy Williams.
"If we would build a bigger building, we would get more people, and I think we would sell it out, even if it was 50,000," Kentucky coach Tubby Smith said. "We have a great audience, we have a great product and we have a great tradition here at Kentucky."
That opinion was seconded by one of Smith's predecessors, Joe B. Hall, who proposed using an even larger venue -- the Wildcats' football field.
"This is fantastic," Hall told the crowd. "Next year, I suggest we go to Commonwealth Stadium."
Since the inception of Big Blue Madness in 1982, it had been held in on-campus Memorial Coliseum, where the Wildcats played their home games during the tenure of legendary coach Adolph Rupp. That facility has about 8,700 seats, but its capacity now is limited to 5,600 because of ongoing construction of an adjacent practice facility.
The move to Rupp Arena -- where Kentucky plays its home games -- coincides with the 30th anniversary of the downtown facility.
Kentucky began distributing the free tickets for Big Blue Madness on Oct. 1, and about 20,000 tickets were claimed during the first 35 minutes of availability. It took a little more than 48 hours to distribute the rest of the tickets, athletic department spokesman Scott Stricklin said.
Kentucky has drawn as many as 24,459 fans to Rupp Arena for a game, but Stricklin said the university wanted to limit the number of tickets distributed to the arena's official capacity, which is 23,000.
"It really is madness," Kentucky women's coach Mickie DeMoss said. "This is the standard everyone measures their opening practice by."
A number of Division I programs held similar events, although they all had a head start. The NCAA passed a rule this year that allowed the festivities to get under way a few hours earlier than the traditional midnight start for the sake of fans.
Kentucky, which spends the vast majority of its men's basketball marketing budget on the event, included touches like a propane torch that shot fireballs 30 feet into the air during player introductions. The school also brought in Jon Mason, the public address announcer for the NBA's Detroit Pistons, to handle the introductions. (Former Kentucky standout Tayshaun Prince plays for the Pistons.)
Smith called it more of an "opening ceremony" than a practice but acknowledged a little bit of anxiousness. Asked if his new players were ready for the event, Smith quipped, "I don't know if I'm ready."
Stricklin said it hasn't been decided whether to keep the event at Rupp Arena, but "it's being talked about. We'll probably do whatever the fans want. It's the ultimate fan event. You don't charge for tickets and there's not a whole lot accomplished other than showing the fans a good time."
•Louisville, which reached the Final Four last season didn't have lights or pyrotechnics, for its first practice. The Cardinals held their first workout in Cardinal Arena, the team's 850-seat practice facility.
Coach Rick Pitino warned those in attendance that the event was a practice, not a show, and that he might use some words that might not be suitable for young children.
Tickets to the practice were $50 and proceeds went to the Derek Smith Fund. Smith, a member of Louisville's 1980 NCAA championship team, died in 1996.
•Connecticut coach Jim Calhoun was working right away as well since he'll be without a veteran backcourt because of off-court troubles.
"We've got an awful lot of stuff to cram in," Calhoun said although the 7,000 fans at Gampel Pavilion were still treated to a dunking contest and 3-point shootout.
•There were 10,000 people in Assembly Hall for Indiana's opening practice and Marco Killingsworth, now eligible after sitting a season after transferring from Auburn, got them going with a one-handed dunk during a scrimmage.
"I was saying to myself 'Was this the right decision I made?"' Killingsworth said of transferring. "Now that I'm playing, I feel like this was the best thing I've done in my life."
•Kansas fans came to see their Jayhawks and renovated Allen Fieldhouse in the 21st annual `'Late Night at the Phog." The players drew a standing ovation when they entered the court dressed in tuxedos and tennis shoes. They treated the fans to a step routine in which seniors Christian Moody and Jeff Hawkins took the microphones and led the team.
•Maryland had its usual alumni game, spotlights, laser beams, over-the-top introductions and scrimmage as part of a 2 1/2-hour program that delighted a packed house at the Comcast Center.
Terrapins coach Gary Williams sounded like his usual self, too.
"It's kind of a thank-you type of thing for our fans," he said. "It's all about practice tomorrow. Tonight, it's just a good time for everybody."
•Michigan State held "A Spartan Salute," honoring who coach Tom Izzo called "the nation's true heroes."
"We wanted to honor all the people who keep us out of harm's way every day," Izzo said. "That's why we recognized our military, the Army and Navy, the Red Cross and emergency medical technicians. They're the ones who deserve the applause."
A near-capacity crowd of about 12,000 saw a remote feed from soldiers in Kuwait who returned the Spartans' thanks.
•Illinois unfurled a 2005 Final Four banner during its madness. More than 13,000 people filled Assembly Hall and saw highlights of last season when the Illini reached No. 1 and finished 37-2.