Davidson sparks major upset against Georgetown

The underdog reigned supreme Sunday as Davidson fought off the Hoyas 74-70. Few small teams such as Davidson has shown the tenacity to overcome huge obstacles. Delivering the offensive punch Stephen Curry paved the way, scoring 30 points. His efforts helped the Wildcats rally from a 17-point deficit. Now they go on to the Sweet 16 joining a talented pack of talent. No one can underestimate their sharp shooting and ability to go on wild streaks. Guard Jason Richards also notched 20 points in the win as a complimentary effort.

Nobody can dare say Davidson isn't a threat in the tournament. With a 28-6 record overall their competition better take them dead serious. They look on to higher horizons as they will hook up with Wisconsin (3) which shapes up to be a tremendous game. I think it will come down to a 2-3 point game and Wisconsin will get the victory. It wouldn't be out of the ordinary though if the Wildcats headed into the Elite 8. I just think their opponent has a more high powered scoring starting lineup. Stephen Curry will make it interesting with his sweet shooting touch. Best luck to both teams.

UNC ready to do battle against Mount St. Mary's

The Tarheels look to pick up where they left off and enter the NCAA tournament with a burst of energy. Winning the ACC championship against Clemson proved to be fruitful, earning a no. 1 seed. They have to get out early against Mount St. Mary's and don't let up on the defensive pressure. Everyone rooting for the Heels will have high expectations for Tyler Hansbrough as he's delivered so many times in the clutch this season. With UNC's two main point guards got injured the hard-nosed, tenacious junior carried the team on his shoulders. A new challenge awaits them tonight. They can't get too comfortable in this first round matchup because it could come back to bite them.

Learning from the Duke vs. Belmont game, avoiding the same mistakes as their rival, UNC can be better prepared by studing game film. I have a feeling Coach Roy Williams will have his troops charged up with strategies all laid out. The Tarheels though will be responsible for executing these plays. North Carolina thrives on fast-break chances and ought to run as often as possible. Since the Tarheels only allow around 69 points on average by their opponents they shouldn't face a scare against the Mountaineers who held a 11-7 record in the Northeast conference and are 19-14 overall. The action gets underway tonight at 7 p.m. ET on CBS.

Alex Gordon aims to improve performance in Spring Training

I have never been a Kansas City Royals fan. They're just not appealing to me. The franchise has hit new record lows in overall losses in the past 5 years. They have yet to reel in the pool of talent which will make them a winning team. Last year's rookie Alex Gordon was drafted as a top pick hoping to change the Royals outlook. He's looking for a fresh start in Spring Training. Too many veterans have bounced around on this team leaving the young blood on the roster to fend for themselves. I know scouts and the Royals had high expectations for the rookie third baseman. His numbers weren't bad at all: 15 homeruns, 60 RBIs, .247 average, and 12 SB.

It's still going to be a disappointing season for KC. They added a few new additions in outfielder Jose Guillen and starting pitcher Bret Tomko. The last time the Royals won 70 or more games was in 2000 when they finished with a 77-85 record. If Gordon gets lucky he'll become a free agent after his contract expires and move on elsewhere. He's too talented to stay on such a horrible team which usually finishes dead last in the American League. Spring Training will at least give the young guys like Gordon chances to hone their skills, get fundamentals down pat, and improve their overall game. After all the players will learn it's too bad that the Royals will suck again anyway.

Tarheels become ACC champions, gain top seed in tournament

How about them Tarheels! What a splendid finish to the regular season. Winning the ACC tournament on Sunday was icing on the cake and a great highlight to another special season. Clemson battled them and made it close down to the final minute. UNC slowed down the Clemson offense and hit the big shots in the waning shots. A three-pointer by Marcus Ginyard put the game out of reach. Tyler Hansbrough's contributions and hard work were huge, not for just the championship yet the whole ACC tournament. His game-winning shot against Virginia Tech was stunning.

With the Tarheel's 32-2 record they advance into the NCAA tournament as a no. 1 seed scheduled to play most of their games in Charlotte, North Carolina. Coach Roy Williams doesn't believe they have a distinct advantage with the home court to their credit. He thinks it's all about how successful they are on the court, speaking from experience as his 1995 Kansas team made to the 3rd round in Kansas City and lost to Virginia. It really comes down to momentum in the second half unless a team is getting blown out and has no chance at a comeback. The Tarheels will have plenty of supporters packed in the seats. Energy from the crowd won't be a problem.

UNC joins Memphis, Kansas, and UCLA as no. 1 seeds entering the tournament. I know there will be a couple of big upsets. I'll have to look over the bracket again to make my picks since there are some tough matchups. I don't see the Heels running into any major challenges until at the least the Sweet Sixteen. With Ty Lawson back running the offense and the bench playing well I like their chances. One thing I'd like to see more of though is Hansbrough getting more foul called in the paint. He's got whacked several times and not be granted trips to the free-throw line. The refs better call it like they see it in the tournament or else they should be thrown out the game.

A one in a lifetime at-bat for Billy Crystal

I didn't know Major League Baseball made miracles happen for celebrities. I guess it also helps if you attend most of your favorite team's home games, publicly support that team, and have a crap load of cash. The New York Yankees keep surprising people with their recent generous ways. First with announcing they will have a special event next week at Virginia Tech and then allowing actor Billy Crystal to play in a spring training game as the first inning DH. George Steinbreiner really wants to be endearing to fans. He sure doesn't have a problem filling seats in Yankee Stadium every year. I'm glad to see the Yanks extend favors and special opportunities.

Getting to make a debut as a Yankee at any age is a one in a lifetime chance. Just be allowed to step into the batters box and take some hacks seemed to be good enough for Billy Crystal. Sure he struck out, but it was a memorable moment not just for him though also for baseball fans. The Pirates pitcher he faced didn't float any pitches in the zone for him. I'm sure at the next All-Star celebrity and Old Timers game everyone will be ribbing Crystal about his performance. Many fans thought he should have retired before being cut by the team. That way he'd leave the game with dignity. Now if he had the bases loaded and went down on strikes it would've been one of the worst debuts of all-time.

Excited fan manages to greet Lebron on court

I know maintaing security everywhere is more of a concern than it ever. In sports arenas it was should be a top priority. The recent publicity exploit at Madison Square Garden involving a determined basketball fan to race onto the court and shake Lebron James' hand calls their security into question. In today's world this could be potentially disastrous or just plain unsafe. I realize the Knicks have grown accustomed to the fights among fans and their bitterness towards losing, but unauthorized people can't just roam the court to ask for an autograph or greet a favorite player up close. This guy who managed to slip by security probably had no intentions other than to congratulate Lebron on his scoring performance and let him know he was a big fan.

This story would've created a real scare and probably caused the media to blow a gasket if the enthusiastic fan asked the Cavs superstar to sign his shoes and jersey and all of a sudden a handgun fell out of his pants. The same would go for any character who dashed to the sidelines with a wild look on their face and started hollering, "OH SNAP! LEBRON THAT DUNK WAS OFF THE HIZZLE FOR REAL!" Such random outbursts (even though maybe affectionate) shouldn't be allowed at sporting events. I'm not sure what Lebron was thinking when he invited this fan to a later game between the Cavs and Nets. I really like Lebron and admire him, but he may have opened the flood gates to fan interference.

The NBA needs to intervene into this arrangement because it will give other fans the idea this sort of behavior is okay and is rewarded. I know King James cares about his fans and want to keep them satisfied, but buying them tickets as a special gift isn't the answer. He also has to take his own safety into consideration. Fans can enjoy the game from their seats and send shoutouts or boo whomever they want from there. The whole walking on court and getting up close with the players will cause panic and pose a distraction if it's not stopped.

Doc Rivers not satisfied with Celtics' 50 wins

Sitting on top of the East the Boston Celtics are on a 9-game winning streak. To an already stellar star-studded lineup a new veteran guard joins the team in Sam Cassell. He cut ties with the Clippers (real smart move) to play for a contender. With all the positives surrounding the franchise they still aren't content with their 50-12 record. I know they don't want to be too cocky or take the rest of season for granted, but the Celtics don't have to be concerned about the playoffs until that time comes. The only team close to them is the Pistons. Both teams have clinched their divisions.

Doc Rivers was interviewed after the Celtics' 100-86 win over the Sixers. He commented about how the Celtics aren't going to bask in the glory of 50 wins and they have loftier goals to achieve. I understand he wants his players focused and not to get carried away with their success. That doesn't mean his team can't celebrate a little and get excited, come on Doc where is your spirit? With Garnett, Pierce, Allen, and Cassell healthy Boston will be a scary team to face in the playoffs. When a starter like Garnett can hit 11-of-14 field goals for 26 points as he did last night other teams will have a tough time containing their offense.

I think coming down to the final week of the regular season schedule Boston can relax because there will be no point in overextending themselves and risking injury to one of their stars. I can't say they're the best team in the East, but they sure look like it right now. Their real competition in the conference will be the Pistons, Cavaliers, and Magic. As a team the Celts average 101 points per game (allow 90 by opponents) and shoots 39% on three-pointers. Their defense will be tested to great lengths though, and is a weakness they can improve upon. They may not have the long incredible streak of the Houston Rockets, but are well on their way to a fantastic finish.

Rockets on fire with 17-game win streak

One thing is certain in the NBA Western conference, it's going to be a fight to the finish. The Houston Rockets expect to give the other contenders a run for their money. Losing the injured Yao Ming for the rest of the year hasn't slowed down the streaky Rockets. They're riding a 17-game win streak. They've come off an impressive 113-98 win over the Mavs on Thursday night. Tracy McGrady fueled the offense, leading his team to a comeback against a conference opponent they had lost their last 10-of-11 meetings against. McGrady churned out 31 points, delivering in the clutch while adding 9 assists.

Houston is coping well without their star center and have achieved a 41-20 mark, placing them 3rd in the Southwest division, 2.5 games out of first. The starting lineup is playing at another level since Yao went on the shelf and believe they can endure the remainder of the season schedule to clinch the playoffs. It's going to be a bummer for those teams in the West who will win 50 games and still won't enter the playoffs. With the defensive strength supplied through starters Shane Battier and Rafer Alston combined with McGrady timely, consistent scoring the Rockets are well on their way to late season success. Houston will be okay if the bench continues to make solid contributions. They will try to extend their win streak against the Hornets on Saturday.

Tarheels back to no. 1, prevail over FSU 90-77

There is a new no. 1 team in the land and the North Carolina Tarheels couldn't be happier to be in the driver's seat again. They have to also be pleased that star point guard Ty Lawson is back on the court. Though, he's not at 100% he's presence and ability to keep the offense flowing is pivotal to UNC's success. Last night in Chapel Hill the Tarheels made the most of Senior Night and put on a great show. Florida State forced the Heels to work for leads in the first half. The hot shooting from the field did the Seminoles in and their inability to make defensive stops in the final 10 minutes.

North Carolina shot 54% in the game to Florida State's 43%. The dominant force once again inside was Tyler Hansbrough. He was the top scorer with 20 points while pulling down 9 rebounds. The Carolina Seniors, Quinton Thomas and Surly Wood got their moments of glory, leading the floor in the second half to standing ovations. It's good to see the seniors get their chance to shine and play well on a special night. Points off second chance offensive boards was put for the Tarheels. They out rebounded their opponent 41-27. With the win wrapped up the Heels look to get the no. 1 seed in the ACC tournament.

The end of the regular season schedule is most anticipated for UNC as they'll square off with the nemesis on Saturday in an ACC showdown. I know this game has potential for greatness and usually comes down to the final possession or goes into overtime. If the Tarheels head into the tournament with a 29-2 (counting on a victory over Duke) that will be awesome. I have to believe when the Tarheels are at full speed and strength they're one of the toughest teams to beat in the nation. Now suck on that Blue Devils! Woooooooooo! GO TARHEELS!!

Wizards knock off hot Hornets, Jamison flourishes with big game

The New Orleans Hornet took the Western conference by surprise. With a 1.5 games behind the Spurs in the Southwest division. they came into Washington last night coming off a big win against the Utah Jazz over the weekend. Unfortunately, the Wizards refused to become another one of their victims. The offensive firepower wasn't there for the Hornets who normally play with high energy and offensive intensity. Without Gilbert Arenas or Caron Butler on the court Washington found their scoring solution in Antawn Jamison. He lead them to a 101-84 victory scoring 28 points and grabbing 9 rebounds.

Washington took a lead into halftime and continued to build upon it. The guys off the bench chipped in well to help out with 35 points. The deciding factor down the stretch was made free-throws. Back-to-back threes late in the 4th quarter put the game out of reach. Although the Wizards are a game below .500 they won 4 of their last 5 games without their 2 central pieces to their offense. They really have to push and play like there is no tomorrow to earn a final playoff seed in the East. When and if they get Caron Butler back some serious ground could be gained in their division. For now the young guys filling temporary starting roles and more minutes off the bench will have to step up their game.