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College football today is composed of countless teams using spread offenses and relying on passing games to rack up a load of points against opponents. Far from the old roots of football that was led by ground and pound rushing attacks. Today’s game is based mostly around teams that spread the field with 4 and 5 wide receivers and try to stretch out defenses before picking them apart. However, look at any championship caliber team and you can bet they have a strong running game. The rushing game will always be the best offense when used effectively because it allows a team to take control of the clock along with taking control of field position in tight games. Even though the hard core rushing offenses seem to have vanished in today’s game, there are still a load of players who have the ability to rack up big chunks of yards on every play. These players give their teams an edge that most do not possess; the ability to not only break big plays, but keep opposing offenses off the field. Keep your eyes on these guys for the upcoming football season as we break down the best running backs in the nation.

#1 Jahvid Best (California)

Jahvid Best is not only the best running back in college football, but he also has the best chance to be a big name at the next level. Best has a raw combination of quickness and immeasurable strength giving him the ability to run through defenses. Best was extremely impressive in his first full season as starter for the Golden Bears rushing for 1,580 yards to go along with 15 touchdowns as a sophomore. Best averaged a lucrative 8.1 yards per carry and broke California’s single game rushing record against Washington bulldozing his way to 311 yards. If it was not for Heisman winners Tim Tebow and Sam Bradford returning, Best would be right in the middle of the talk for winning the Heisman Trophy this season. Expect nothing less than a huge year from the Golden Bears running back as California makes a run at a Pac-10 title.

#2 Kendall Hunter (Oklahoma State)

Kendall Hunter had a big season in 2008 rushing for 1,555 yards and 16 scores making numerous big plays. Hunter who resides in the pass happy region of the college football world, led the Big 12 in rushing yards. Add to the fact, Hunter will be a part of one of the most explosive offenses in the nation this season and things are looking very promising. Hunter probably has the quickest cutback of any tailback on our board and can bust plays open quickly. Expect Hunter to be a big reason, the Cowboys have a lot of success in 2009 and just maybe come up with a big upset or two.

# 3 Jonathon Dwyer (Georgia Tech)

The option style offense the Yellow Jackets turned to last season may have been a nightmare if they did not have the talented Jonathon Dwyer in the backfield. Dwyer took over 200 carries cashing in for 1,395 yards and 12 touchdowns. The Yellow Jackets entire offense was based around the running game and defenses knew it making Dwyer’s numbers a bit more impressive. During the time that defenses keyed in on the running game, Dwyer’s numbers actually picked up during the latter part of the season giving promising hope to 2009. Dwyer who has a knack for shaking off tacklers led the ACC in rushing in 2008. Anticipating how many carries he is likely to get in 2009, it looks to be another big season for the Yellow Jackets star player.

# 4 Jacquizz Rodgers (Oregon State)

So who here remembers the Beavers upset over the USC Trojans last season? If you do then you probably remember a small freshman sensation by the name of Jacquizz Rodgers slicing through the best defense in the country. Rodgers had a big season in his freshman campaign rushing for 1,253 yards and 11 touchdowns. Possibly the best sophomore in the country heading into this season, Rodgers averaged 114 yards per game in his first year at Oregon State. Expect the 5’7 little guy to improve on those numbers this season and become one of the best tailbacks in the Pac 10.

# 5 Evan Royster (Penn State)

Evan Royster was a big part to the Nittany Lions success in 2009 that had them in National Title contention for the majority of the year. Royster exploded onto the scene racking up 6.5 yards per carry in route to a plus 1,200 yard season. The Nittany Lions offense was a well balanced machine last year with Royster in the back field and Daryll Clark delivering the air assault. However, Penn State lost big time receivers Deon Butler, Jordan Norwood, and Derrick Williams. The big losses at wide out means the Nittany Lions will give Royster a big increase in carries and we expect no less than 1,500 yards from the best back in the Big Ten.

#6 MiQuale Lewis (Ball State)

MiQuale Lewis is probably the least known name on our board, but surprisingly one of the best on the board as well. Lewis ranked 3rd individually last season tallying up 1,736 yards on the season. Lewis put up those impressive numbers as a junior and there will be big expectations for him again in 2009. The Cardinals running back already led the nation last year with 22 touchdowns. Imagine if those numbers were to improve. Some may argue that Lewis is in a weak defensive conference, but it’s hard to match those numbers regardless of who you are playing.

#7 DeMarco Murray (Oklahoma)

DeMarco Murray and Chris Brown make up the best running back duo in the nation for Oklahoma. Murray received less hand offs in 2008 due to missing the last two games of the season with injury, but both backs averaged a strong 5.6 yards per carry. Murray was also able to post a 1,000 yard season despite missing those few games. If not for sharing carries with an equally talented Chris Brown, Murray could easily be one of the top rushers in the nation. However, the Sooners ability to rotate between the two may be more effective from a team’s standpoint. It is just amazing the numbers that the Sooners running backs are able to produce considering they are such an elite passing team.

#8 Noel Devine (West Virginia)

Noel Devine burst onto the scene at the beginning of 2008 as one of the hottest tailbacks in the nation. Devine averaged over 120 yards during the first 8 games of the season before fading a bit down the stretch. However, his numbers were very impressive considering running threat of Pat White accompanied him in the back field. Devine posted a 6.1 yards per carry average in 2008 despite the Mountaineers taking a step back as a team. However, Devine will be the best returning back in the Big East this season and will try to be the main guy in helping restore the explosiveness on the Mountaineers’ offense.

#9 Chris Brown (Oklahoma)

Another very impressive tailback that comes out of the Oklahoma stable, Brown was able to rush for 1,220 yards last season. Brown ranked 4th among running backs in college football producing 20 scores for the year. The senior tailback will enter 2009 with the expectations for another 1,000 yard plus performance. If not for sharing time with Murray, Brown could be one of the single best rushers in America. However, sharing carries in the back field may actually limit his chances of putting up ridiculous numbers.

#10 C.J Spiller (Clemson)

C.J Spiller perhaps is one of the most under rated backs in college football. However, those are not because he has put up any huge numbers. In fact, Spiller has never eclipsed the 1,000 yard barrier in his previous 3 seasons with the Tigers. Spiller has fell victim of an offense that simply has not allowed him to showcase his skills. One of the quickest backs on our board, Spiller has also had to share time with James Davis over the last 3 years. However, Spiller will be the lone back for the Tigers this season and there is no way he should not rack up well over 1,000 yards against the ACC defenses.

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10. Joe Maddon – Tampa Bay Rays.
Many call Maddon a state-of-the-art manager. He has shown a knack for being smart and innovative as well as an excellent communicator. The job he did taking the Tampa Bay Rays from the bottom of the American League East to the World Series will always be remembered. The 55 year old manager may not have the best record in baseball, but look for that to improve. Maddon was considered a front runner for the Boston Red Sox managerial job in 2004, which later went to Terry Francona. Maddon always seems to have a different lineup, and keeps his entire roster fresh. Maddon barely edges out a slew of others, due in large part to the memorable 2008 run. The up side for Maddon is, he has still has room to improve and move up the ranks, as this is only his fourth full season as a manager. Maddon went 27-24 in two interim stints with the Angels.     

9. Lou Piniella – Chicago Cubs
Piniella is one of the best motivators in the game of baseball. He also does not change his style no matter who he has on his roster. Has had an outburst or two that has sparked a team to an improvement in play. If you were to rank the managers and their press conferences and the comic relief they gave – Piniella would at the top. The 65 year old “Sweet Lou” came into the 2009 season ranking 14^th all time in managerial wins. Lou has won three manager of the year awards, two in the American League (1995 and 2001) with Seattle and in 2008 with the Cubs. Lou has been above .500 in four of his five managerial posts. His start in New York lasted 2.5 seasons where he went 224-193. He was then able to move to Cincinnati, winning the World Series in his first season. He finished 255-231 in three seasons at the helm of the Reds. Lou then spent ten seasons as the manager of the Seattle Mariners. In those ten years Lou won three AL West titles, and advanced as the wildcard in another season. Lou led the 2001 Mariners to 116 wins, falling short to the Yankees in the ALCS. Lou then spent three seasons in Tampa Bay, finishing 200-285. After taking the 2006 season off, Lou was announced as the new manager in Chicago, for the lovable Cubs, who haven’t won a World Series title since 1908. The Cubs went 85-77 in 2007 losing in the NLDS to Arizona, and 97-64 in 2008 losing to Los Angeles. Since coming to Chicago, Lou is 0-6 in the postseason. All time, Piniella has won 23 postseason games, a World Series title, and made the postseason six times.

8. Charlie Manuel – Philadelphia Phillies
There is no denying Charlie Manuel’s offensive presence in the dugout in Philadelphia. His teams have absolutely been able to rake so much that the Phillies were able to win the 2008 World Series under his guidance. This season Manuel is dealing with a less than stellar starting rotation and continuing to keep them atop the National League East. May not be the best on field game decision maker, but as is a common theme with the top ten, knows how to get the best out of his players. His run-ins with Jimmy Rollins have been classic, and he has left no doubt who is in charge in the city of brotherly love. Don’t judge Charlie on his public speaking, as admittedly it is a weakness of his. The 65 year old manager got a late start in his managerial career, starting in 2000 with the Cleveland Indians. In 2.5 seasons Manuel led the Indians to a 220-191 record, including a postseason berth in 2001, only to fall to 116 game winner Seattle in the ALDS. Manuel has never finished a full season under .500, winning at least 85 games in all six of his seasons. Charlie is 13-9 in two postseason appearances as a manager.

7. Cito Gaston - Toronto Blue Jays
This year’s Blue Jays team has competed thus far in the brutal American League East. Gaston’s patient presence has been a staple from within his teams. After taking ten seasons off managing, Gaston took over for John Gibbons in the middle of the 2008 season, leading Toronto to a 51-37 finish. Toronto is Gaston’s only stop, leading the Blue Jays to two World Series titles in 1992 and 1993. His all time postseason record is 18-16, while his regular season record, coming into 2009 is 734-673. Gaston’s ball club in 2009 is low on talent, but high on energy which may allow them to compete with the big boys – Yankees, Red Sox and Rays.

6. Mike Scioscia - Los Angeles Angels
A guy that always is prepared for any occasion is Mike Scioscia. This year’s team has had to endure losing top free agents, losing key players to injury, and even dealing with an unfortunate death of a teammate. After his 12 year playing career that saw him catch 12 seasons, win two championships and play in two All Star games for the Los Angeles Dodgers, he became the manager of the Los Angeles (Anaheim) Angels in 2000. Scioscia has won 803 games, losing just 655 in his tenure as the head man in Anaheim. Five times his teams have reached the postseason, with a World Series title coming in 2002. Also in that season Scioscia was named the Manager of the Year. All time, Scioscia is 16-20 in postseason games. Anaheim front office understands the importance of having Scioscia lead the way for the team, in January of 2009 the team and Scioscia agreed to a new contract, which will keep him the manager through the year 2018. 

5. Jim Leyland – Detroit Tigers
A man that has been around baseball for 40+ years definitely knows how to win games. Jim Leyland, the manager of the Detroit Tigers has seen it all. Managing four different clubs with a seven year hiatus mixed in, Leyland has over 1,300 career wins. Known more commonly for his smoking habit, he got his kick start in the Major Leagues as Tony LaRussa’s third base coach in Chicago. He then went to Pittsburgh and was the manager of the Pirates for 11 seasons, seeing the postseason in three of those years. He won 851 games in Pittsburgh, and then took the managerial job in Miami as the top dog of the Florida Marlins. His first year was quite the success, as Florida reached the postseason via the wild card, later winning the World Series. After a horrible 1998 season Leyland resigned as the manager of Florida, only to take the Colorado Rockies post for the next season. 72 wins in Colorado was not enough to warrant a return, and that’s when Leyland was out of managing. In 2006 Leyland led the Detroit Tigers to a World Series berth, which saw them fall to the St. Louis Cardinals in five games. Leyland has 27 career postseason wins, and three ‘Manager of the Year’ awards – two in the National League and one in the American league.

4. Bobby Cox – Atlanta Braves
A guy that gets the most out of his players, and also demands fundamentals is Bobby Cox. In a recent poll of the players, Cox was voted as the most respected manager in all of baseball. Cox has been managing the Braves since 1990, which is his second stint with Atlanta. His 19 years in Atlanta is the longest running tenure for a manager in a city. Cox leads all of baseball with the most ejections, 143, a record he took from John McGraw. You would not know that Cox is prone for ejections by talking to him. He tends to have a knack with teaching youngsters patience and the true fundamentals of the game of baseball. His starting pitching staffs in the 90’s were among baseball’s best all time. Coming into the 2009 season Cox ranked fourth all time in wins by a manager. While Cox was manager, the Braves won 14 straight division titles, winning one world series within that time.  Four other times Atlanta came up short in the World Series. Cox has won 66 postseason games to go along with his 2,327 regular season wins.  1,972 of those wins have come with the Atlanta Braves, while his other 355 came from 1982-1985 with the Toronto Blue Jays.

3. Terry Francona – Boston Red Sox
An excellent communicator, and also has been fantastic dealing with personalities of all sorts. The job he did with the “idiot” group in 2004 was masterful. After his playing days ended in 1990, Francona got his start as a MLB manager in 1997 with the Philadelphia Phillies. Francona spent four seasons in Philadelphia, with very little success. It has been in Boston where Francona has flourished, leading all sorts of different talent levels. Francona was noted as the “curse” stopper leading the Red Sox to the World Series title in 2004, to break the curse of the Bambino. In that season the Yankees led the Red Sox 3-0 in the ALCS, only to see Boston win the final four games, along with four straight over St. Louis to end an 86 year drought. In 2007 the Red Sox trailed Cleveland 3 games to 1 in the ALCS, only to win the final three, and then all four in the World Series to eliminate the Colorado Rockies. Coming into the 2009 season, Francona has a career record of 685-654 with one division title, four playoff appearances, two American League pennants, and two World Series rings.
 
2. Joe Torre – Los Angeles Dodgers
After playing in Major League baseball and compiling just short of a .300 batting average, and over 1000 runs batted in, Joe Torre began managing in 1977. Torre has had some bumps in the road during his managerial career, but has won 2,157 games, coming into the 2009 season. Torre is best known for his days with the New York Yankees, in which he led them to the postseason in every year he was in charge, and won ten American League East titles, six American League pennants, and four world series titles. Torre’s win percentage in New York was .605. Joe managerial style is very laid back, but extremely prepared. His teams not only have great talent, but they are always a couple steps ahead. Just like he has done with the 2009 Dodgers, Torre is excellent at taking adversity and turning it into a positive situation for his squad. Currently, his Dodgers have the best record in all of baseball, after reaching the National League Championship Series in 2008. Torre has won the manager of the year award in the American League twice. His first came in 1996, when he led the Yankees to a 92-70 regular season, and eventually a World Series title. The second award was in 1998 when New York won 114 games, and yet another World Series title.  All in all, Torre has won 80 postseason games, and four world championships.

1. Tony LaRussa – St. Louis Cardinals
Love or hate Anthony “Tony” LaRussa, no doubt the man knows how to lead teams to win baseball games. Despite injuries, ineffectiveness, and even (unfortunately) deaths, Tony LaRussa always keeps his teams in the postseason picture. LaRussa has won world series in both the American League and National League, with his most recent in 6 with St. Louis. LaRussa is the master of keeping everyone on the roster fresh, and always two steps ahead. LaRussa is criticized for his stance on batting the pitcher eighth, but his track record speaks for itself. Critics also point to his constant pitching changes as a negative, but again – the results he gets are outstanding. LaRussa has managed the third most games in history, and if he completes the entire 2009 season, he will move to #2, only behind Connie Mack. LaRussa has been awarded the manager of the year three times, including twice with the Athletics, 1983 and 1988. He has led teams to 100+ wins four times in his career, and has a 59-48 career record in postseason.

Other MLB managers worthy of consideration (in no particular order):

Ron Gardenhire – Minnesota Twins
Always seems to have Minnesota in the race, despite managing a small market club. His teams are always fundamentally sound and he seems to get the best out of his players. The lack of a “big” one is what is keeping him outside the top ten looking in.

Joe Girardi – New York Yankees
Too inexperience at this point to grab a spot in the top ten, but look for that to change over time. Girardi seems to be taking after his playing days which were playing hard and playing smart. If this was 2008, he would not be in consideration, but the first two months of 2009 have shown he can take a bad situation and make some positives out of it. There is no denying, he has a lot to work with. He also has a lot to prove.

Ozzie Guillen – Chicago White Sox
If we were talking about the most disliked, Ozzie would surely be within the top ten. Guillen is fiery, there is no doubt about that, but his attitude carries over to his players and he is able to find ways to win. This season he has had to deal with a lot of young kids along with some aging veterans. It will be interesting to see if he can get the Sox back to the postseason. The job he did in 2005, in taking Chicago to the World Series, and winning it was masterful.

Ken Macha – Milwaukee Brewers
Always was solid in Oakland, and now in the National League, he has the Brewers playing well with less than great starting pitching. His calm demeanor may be something Milwaukee lacked the last couple years when it seemed Ned Yost and company would fold down the stretch.

Who is the best manager in Major League Baseball?

• Joe Maddon
• Lou Piniella
• Charlie Manuel
• Cito Gaston
• Mike Scioscia
• Jim Leyland
• Bobby Cox
• Terry Francona
• Joe Torre
• Tony LaRussa
• Ron Gardenhire
• Joe Girardi
• Ozzie Guillen
• Ken Macha
• Any Other Manager

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The NBA lottery selection for the 2009 NBA Draft took place Tuesday night from Secaucus, New Jersey. The selection show officially molded what order the teams would select their picks for the festivities that will take place on June 25th. The Los Angeles Clippers came out smelling like a rose after landing the overall first pick in this year’s draft. The Clippers were held at 17% chance to win the overall pick and the luck just happened to fall their way. Now since we know the orders the teams will select their picks we can now break down how the NBA Draft could shape out with our own 2009 mock draft. We break down the top 10 picks and how we expect them to turn out on June 25th in New York.

1. L.A Clippers – Blake Griffin (Oklahoma)

Blake Griffin is the extreme overwhelming favorite to be taken first overall this year by the Clippers. Griffin dominated the college ranks last season like no other sophomore in recent memory. Griffin averaged 22.7 points per game for the season which led the Big 12. Griffin perhaps was even more impressive in the way he dominated the glass. The 6’10 sophomore led the nation averaging 14.4 rebounds per game. The LA Clippers will jump on the opportunity to grab Griffin who has all the expectations to be among the best in the NBA in a very short time.

2. Memphis Grizzlies – Ricky Rubio (International)

The Grizzlies major need is a guard mainly someone to handle the basketball. Ricky Rubio will likely be the selection to fill that desperation. Rubio is a gifted young 17 year old who has a ton of upside. The point guard out of El Masnou, Spain has great ball handling, strong defense, and can shoot the ball fairly well. The Grizzlies will likely bypass the opportunity to grab Hasheem Thabeet and grab Rubio to control the ball. However, not exactly sure how big of a scoring threat Rubio will develop into. He has all the makings of a solid guard, but perhaps not a great one.

3. Oklahoma City – Hasheem Thabeet (Connecticut)

Oklahoma City would love to add a huge scorer to the lineup. However, they simply can not afford to lead Hasheem Thabeet slip by. The 7’3 center out of Connecticut is a beast on the defensive side of the ball. The junior averaged 4.5 blocks this season. Thabeet also averaged stout double-double type numbers with 13.8 points and 10.8 rebounds per game. The tall center may not be an immediate huge threat on the offensive side of the ball, but could become a Kevin Garnett type of defensive player and surely the scoring will develop as time passes.

4. Sacramento Kings – Jordan Hill (Arizona)

Many people think the Kings may go after a guard in this position, but there may be more need from some strength in the paint. Jordan Hill was a player who really came on strong for the Arizona Wildcats through the end of the season. The junior forward averaged 18 points on the season along with a strong 11 boards. Hill could give the Kings some depth on the inside and become an eventual playmaker on the inside. Sacramento already has a solid scorer in Kevin Martin on the outside and believes they will give up the opportunity to go after a guard.

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5. Washington Wizards – James Harden (Arizona State)

The Washington Wizards owned the worse record in the Eastern Conference this season and will get the chance to add some strength to the lineup with the 5th overall pick. The Wizards likely seek a guard preferably someone that can knock down shots in this position. Caron Butler and Antawn Jamison were very effective at the forward positions this year, but they really lacked the outside scoring threat. James Harden could fill that void at the shooting guard position. Harden averaged 20 points per game this season while shooting just under 50% on the season. Harden can also shot the ball from behind the arc rather well which should make him a perfect fit for the Wizards at the number 5 selection.

6. Minnesota Timberwolves – Brandon Jennings (International)

Minnesota has plenty of needs on the court and could go in many different directions with their selection. However, we expect Brandon Jennings to be the most suitable expectation. Al Jefferson holds down the middle fairly strong for the Timberwolves and they may look to add an outside threat to take some pressure off Randy Foye. Brandon Jennings has great speed and a knack for getting to the basket. Jennings should become a solid player who can beat most defenders off the dribble right away.

7. Golden State Warriors – DeMar DeRozan (USC)

DeMar DeRozan does not have overpowering qualities that some of our previous selections maintain, however he is perhaps one of the most solid all around players on the board. DeRozan averaged 14 points in his freshman campaign at USC as he matured throughout the season. DeRozan knocked down 52% of his shots on the season. The big thing surround DeRozan is perhaps need a good bit of time to develop. We don’t expect the 19 year old to come in the league dominating, but expect him to be a solid starter in a year or two.

8. New York Knicks – Stephen Curry (Davidson)

The New York Knicks made a lot of early season moves to try and grab some up and coming talent to the roster. The Knicks will get their chance at another up and coming star if Stephen Curry is still on the board at the number 8 selection. Curry led the nation this season with averaging a lucrative 28.6 points per game. Curry made a name for himself when he led a less than talented Davidson team to the sweet sixteen in 2008. Curry has the best shooting stroke of anyone in the 2009 class. If someone does not take a chance at him, surely New York will at the number 8 pick.

9. Toronto Raptors – Gerald Henderson (Duke)

Gerald Henderson is among the latest entries to add themselves to the 2009 NBA Draft. Henderson exploded in the second half of the season at Duke. Henderson actually tied with Kyle Singler at exactly 16.5 points per game this season to lead the Blue Devils. Henderson has molded into a Grant Hill type of star that also came out of Duke and entered the NBA. The junior has a solid shooting strong and some descent size that will probably take a small forward position. Henderson could find his way into the starting lineup in Toronto considering they have a need for scorers. However, after a big improvement in his junior season we wonder how much growing potential is left?

10. Milwaukee Bucks – DeJuan Blair (Pittsburgh)

The Bucks could surprise a lot of people with this selection, but we have them taking the young sophomore talent out of Pittsburgh in DeJuan Blair. The Bucks are a team that was really beaten up against the glass last season. Andrew Bogut averaged 10.3 rebounds for Milwaukee but there many are some issues with how he will hold up in the future. DeJuan Blair is a big strong forward who can not only chance a game on the boards, but also a rather solid scorer as well. Blair has the strength to overpower defenders and make an early impact in this league. While many will have Blair going around the mid first round range, we think there could be a surprise at the number 10 pick.

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The month of April is here and that means one thing for big football fans and that is NFL Draft Time. The one part of the off-season that really can make or break team’s chances to succeed next season. While many may be aware of the biggest names entering the NFL Draft, we will break down one of the most exciting positions on the field at wide receiver. Take a look as we rank the top ten wide outs in the 2009 class and their chances to make an impact on Sundays. This year’s receiving class is very talented and loaded with speed. The 2008 WR core was the only in nearly 20 years to not have at least one receiver drafted in the first round. However, the chances of that happening again this year are absolutely none as up to around 4-5 college standouts have the opportunity to be selected in the first round. Take a look at the biggest names on the board at the wide receiver position.

1. Michael Crabtree (Texas Tech)
Crabtree exploded onto the college football scene last year with help of the Red Raiders early season success. The sensational sophomore really became a household name when he caught the game winning touchdown over Texas in the final two seconds of the ball game while tight roping the sidelines. However, Crabtree had long established his playmaking ability before the season defying play. The sophomore racked up over 3,000 yards in just two seasons at Texas Tech with a combination of strength, speed and size that makes him extremely difficult to defend. Crabtree has been hampered by injuries all during the NFL workout sessions, but is widely declared as the best receiver in the draft and will likely be gone if the first 4 selections.

2. Jeremy Maclin (Missouri)
Maclin will likely be the number two receiver to go in the 2009 class. The red-shirt sophomore out of Missouri terrorized the Big 12 this season in many different ways. Maclin set an NCAA record as a freshman posting over 2700 all-purpose yards. Maclin has great mobility, but only stands at 6’0 even. However, he could be a great fit to make an immediate impact for teams as a lookdown receiver and possibly be a potential returner on special teams as well. Look for the star receiver out of Missouri to go around the number 10 overall selection range.

3. Kenny Britt (Rutgers)
Britt may be the underdog in consideration of popularity, but he has been very impressive in the months leading up to the NFL draft through the workout sessions. Britt may be the best receiver in terms of long-term tenure to the NFL. The Rutgers standout has a considerable size advantage over the other top choices in the draft. Britt also contains very strong acceleration and catching ability which could make him a big play threat.

4. Darious Heyward-Bey (Maryland)
Heyward-Bey may be the most unpolished receiver in the draft with so much potential in store. The sophomore out of Maryland only caught a little over 600 yards last season for the Terrapins, but that was from an offense who struggled in the passing department. Heyward-Bey may have some issues with actually catching the ball, but his speed will be the big eye opener. The potential superstar posted one of the fastest NFL combine times at a 4.3 flat in his very first attempt, and if he can work on the route running along with other areas then he can definitely become a big time player.

5. Percy Harvin (Florida)
If you kept up with the Florida Gators National Championship season, then you can make a legitimate argument that Percy Harvin was possibly the biggest asset to the Gators offense and not the more popular Tim Tebow. Harvin was used in many different type scenarios and even lined up in the back field for some plays meaning his versatility is superior most others receivers. Game-breaking speed and play making ability jump right out, but his durability and size could hold him back a few spots despite his play at the college level.

6. Hakeem Nicks (North Carolina)
Hakeem Nicks led the ACC in total yards this season with over 1,200 receiving yards while adding 12 touchdowns. Nicks will be the first Tarheel selected in the NFL draft with other star wide out Brandon Tate likely to coming shortly after. Nicks ability to turn plays from nothing into something were a highlight of his college career. After a breakout junior season campaign, Nicks could possibly go as high as the late first round but will probably end up as a 2nd round selection.

7. Brandon Tate (North Carolina)
North Carolina will put their 2nd receiver in the draft with standout Brandon Tate given the slight chance Tate is selected ahead of Nicks. The downside to Brandon Tate is he suffered a season ending injury that needed surgery to repair an ACL and MCL. The electrifying wide receiver may have been a top 5 pick among wide outs in the draft if not for that injury, and the question everyone has is how will the injury affect him in the future?

8. Derrick Williams (Penn State)
Williams may well be the only receiver on the board drafted solely for being a returner on special teams. The former Nittany Lions return specialist averaged 18.5 yards in his career in Happy Valley on kick returns. Williams posted some disappointing 40 times in the NFL workouts and will likely not be used in the primary receiver role. However, his return skills may be enough for a team to gamble on in hopes to improve special teams play.

9. Brian Robiskie (Ohio State)
Brian Robiskie is one of those receivers in the draft that you just may not be able to measure the amount of potential. Robiskie was apart of the heavily run favored offense from the Buckeyes and there may be some talent just waiting to explode. The Ohio State senior has solid size, but the questionable aspect may be his speed. After some slower than average times at the combines, Robiskie could fall downwards.

10. Louis Murphy (Florida)
Louis Murphy was one of the lost names among the National Title roster that just may have been in the shadow of Percy Harvin and Tim Tebow. However, Murphy was a solid threat for the Gators passing attack and has the potential to become an NFL starter as well. Great size and speed give him lots of room to develop. Anybody not needing any direct impact on the field this year, may target Murphy as he appears to have a tremendous room to grow in the years to come.

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1. Wake Forest Demon Deacons (16-0)
Wake Forest is doing everything right on both ends of the court. The Demon Deacons rank in the top 5 in scoring, rebounding, and shooting percentage becoming one of the first teams to be ranked in the top 5 in those 3 major categories in some time. Wake Forest 85 points per game have proven to be too strong for the rest of the ACC at this point in the season. Sophomore Guard Jeff Teague leads the team in scoring with 21.4 points per game and is averaging 30 points in his last 4 outings making the Demon Deacons that much tougher to beat.

2. Duke Blue Devils (16-1)
Duke has dominated more quality opponents than any other team this season. The Blue Devils blew at the time top ten teams Purdue and Xavier by an average of 17 points. In recent weeks the convincing wins have been from weaker ACC schools, but that all changed with a big win over Georgetown last Saturday 76-67. The Blue Devils defense may be superb to any other team in our power rankings and that makes it very difficult to not give Coach K and company national attention. With the emergence of Gerald Henderson, Duke could be forming into another championship caliber team.

3. Connecticut Huskies (16-1)
Connecticut may not be getting as much national attention as some of the other schools, but beyond the tough loss to Georgetown the Huskies have not done much wrong. All five starters are averaging double figures lead by the huge center Hasheem Thabeet who is averaging a double-double with 14 points and 11 boards per contest. Connecticut will host no. 20 Villanova on Wednesday night with the opportunity to grab their 5^th victory over the top 25 this season. The Huskies have beaten more quality opponents than anybody on the board and if the NCAA Tournament was to start today they would be a lock for a number 1 seed.

4. Pittsburgh Panthers (16-1)
Pittsburgh was dominate and impressive before meeting a surging Louisville team. The Panthers sophomore DeJuan Blair is one of the best young talents in the country. Blair’s success in the paint and against the boards runs parallel with Pittsburgh’s success. The Panthers will get a test tonight against #8 Syracuse tonight in yet another huge Big East match-up. The Panthers absolutely can not afford to drop their 2^nd conference game in a row and get behind two games in the conference.

5. Oklahoma Sooners (17-1)
No doubt the Sooners are the class of the Big 12 this season. Oklahoma sophomore forward Blake Griffin leads the nation with 13.4 rebounds per game while adding 22 points per contest to support the cause. Oklahoma has got a deep bench with some stellar talent to keep the momentum rolling this season. With one of the easiest remaining schedules of the top teams, Oklahoma has a great chance to capture a Big 12 Title and become a number 1 seed come time for March Madness

6. North Carolina Tarheels (16-2)
The Tarheels may have looked like one of the best teams in the nation earlier this season, but that has been overshadowed by two losses to Boston College and top ranked Wake Forest. With a slow performance in the first half against Miami, I am still not sold the Tarheels are playing up to their capability. North Carolina will play host to the previously unbeaten #9 Clemson Tigers on Wednesday. The Tarheels will have to avoid in sluggish performance when they take on a Talented Clemson team to prevent from losing their 3^rd ACC game this season.

7. Michigan State Spartans (15-2)
The Spartans dropped two games to ACC opponents Maryland and North Carolina earlier this year. However, the Spartans have rattled off 11 straight victories since their last loss to the Tarheels. The wins have not been blowout performances, but the streak involves wins over Texas, Minnesota, and Illinois proving the Spartans are among the best around. The Spartans have a fairly light stretch coming up in the next few weeks and the streak will likely continue. Considering the teams ranked ahead of them with tough match-ups, Michigan State will likely climb the ladder over the next few weeks barring any upsets.

8. Louisville Cardinals (13-3)
I know the Cardinals have lost 3 games this season and this ranking seems way too high. Louisville lost to some weaker teams in UNLV, Western Kentucky, and Minnesota. However, pay attention to how they have been playing more recently. The Cardinals have knocked off 3 straight top 20 teams including previous no. 1 Pittsburgh last Saturday and are among only two schools that are undefeated in the Big East. This is the same team that was pre-season ranked no. 3 in the nation, perhaps it just took some time for them to get it together. The Cardinals have taken on some of the most talented scoring teams in American yet still have held opponents to 60 points per game on the season placing them as one of the best scoring defenses across the country. The Cardinals recent surge has grabbed some attention and they have the chance to make a run at the Big East Title.

9. Marquette Golden Eagles (16-2)
The Golden Eagles are a top the standings in the Big East powerhouse with a conference record of 5-0. Marquette may not be as good as UConn or Pittsburgh, but I believe they have the talent to beat any team on any given night. Wesley Matthews, Lazar Hayward, and Jerel McNeal are among the biggest triple threats in the Big East. The schedule does not get really tough until the last 3 weeks of the season. However, they can really rack up some style points with wins over no. 19 Notre Dame and no. 13 Georgetown in the next two weeks.Wake Forest last Saturday 78-68. Clemson will get the chance to redeem their selves with a big match-up with North Carolina on Wednesday night. Trevor Booker is the foundation for the team holding down 15 points and 9 rebounds each outing. Clemson has a chance to prove their national status if they can pull out the victory over North Carolina this Wednesday.

10. Clemson Tigers (16-1)
Clemson may be the surprise team in the ACC this season and they got off to a perfect 16-0 start. The Tigers fell victim to top ranked