Louisville's Peyton Siva unleashes 360 dunk — Part Deux

The first time Louisville's Peyton Siva threw down a tricky 360 dunk in a game this season, it came with the Cardinals up by 28 points in the closing minutes against overmatched Gardner-Webb.

The timing of his second such throw-down was a bit more risky, with the 16th-ranked Cards up 22-13 late in Friday night's first half on No. 13 UConn.

But the execution was as clean as it gets.

The night as complete as could be for Siva, who for the second time this season out-performed Huskies star junior Kemba Walker and came away with a 71-58 win, to boot. While Walker was just 3-of-10 from the floor and locked down for much of the night by Siva & Co., the Cards' sophomore dynamo had 15 points, four assists and six steals.

For whatever reason, Siva seems to save his best games for UConn. In this season's first meeting — a 79-78 double-overtime win — he provided multiple clutch buckets, scored 19 points and dished out seven assists.

Though this one wasn't nearly as close, a guy standing only 5-foot-11 executing a gorgeous 360 rubs a ltitle bit of extra salt into UConn's sixth Big East loss.

Ryan Greene also covers UNLV and the Mountain West Conference for the Las Vegas Sun. Read his Rebels coverage and follow him on Twitter.

Related: Louisville Cardinals

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Projecting the conference tournaments winners (part I of II)

What better way to celebrate the arrival of college basketball's showcase month than the start of conference tournament play Tuesday night?

To get you ready for the 12-day mad scramble for NCAA tournament berths leading up to Selection Sunday, my colleagues Ryan Greene, Chris Chase, Graham Watson and I got out our dartboards and our ouija boards and made some conference tourney picks.

Here's a quick breakdown of the 15 tournaments that begin this week including projected champions and dark horses from each of us. We'll have a second post on Monday for the tournaments that begin next week.

America East 

Dates: March 3, 5-6, 12

Site: Quarters, semis at Hartford's Chase Arena, title game at highest remaining seed 

Outlook: Even though Vermont won 13 of its first 14 league games on its way to the regular season championship, there's reason to be concerned about the Catamounts. They dropped their final two conference games and lost leading scorer Evan Fjeld and third-leading scorer Brendan Bald to ankle injuries in the process. Vermont's woes could open the door for second-place Boston University, which has won eight in a row to close the season and swept two meetings with the Catamounts. The Terriers also have an injury worry of their own as star John Holland (ankle) sat out the regular season finale.

Projected champion: Boston University (JE), Vermont (CC), Vermont (RG) Boston University (GW)

Dark horse: Maine (JE), Stony Brook (CC), Maine (RG), Albany (GW)

Atlantic Sun

Dates: March 2-5

Site: University Center (Macon, GA)

Outlook: No team more thoroughly dominated its league this season than Belmont, which went 19-1 in Atlantic Sun play and won 16 of its league games by double figures. The Bruins notched a pair of 10-point victories against second-place East Tennessee State, suffering their only loss at fourth-place Lipscomb on Jan. 25. If anyone can keep Belmont from the NCAA tournament, it's probably East Tennessee State or Lipscomb. The Bucs and Bison feature two of the three leading scorers in the conference in guard Mike Smith and forward Adnan Hodzic. 

Projected champion: Belmont (JE), Belmont (CC), Belmont (RG), Lipscomb (GW)

Dark horse: Lipscomb (JE), Lipscomb (CC), Lipscomb (RG), Mercer (GW)

Big Sky

Dates: March 5-9

Site: TBD

Outlook: If Northern Colorado defeats last-place Sacramento State on Wednesday night, the Bears will win the Big Sky title outright and earn the right to host the semifinals and finals of the conference tournament. That's crucial not just because of home court advantage – it also means avoiding fellow league powers Weber State and Montana until the title game. Even if the tournament is at Northern Colorado instead of Weber State, the Wildcats will not be an easy out. Weber State has won eight of nine to close the season despite losing star Damian Lillard for the season in December.  

Projected champion: Northern Colorado (JE), Weber State (CC), Montana (RG), Weber State (GW)

Dark horse: Montana (JE), Montana (CC), Montana (RG), Northern Arizona (GW) 

Big South

Dates: March 1, 3, 5

Site: Quarters at top four seeds, semis at Coastal Carolina, Finals at highest remaining seed 

Outlook: For a Coastal Carolina program that not long ago appeared destined to be one of the NCAA tournament's most charming underdog stories, the past few weeks have been a sobering reality check. The Chanticleers dominated much of the regular season, but injuries, disciplinary issues and an NCAA investigation have robbed them of three of their top players, making the Big South tournament far more wide open. Who can take advantage of Coastal Carolina's woes? Second-place Liberty staggered to the finish line with four straight losses, but third-seeded UNC Asheville and fourth-seeded VMI surged late and you can never count Winthrop out in the postseason.   

Projected champion: Coastal Carolina (JE), Liberty (CC), Liberty (RG), Winthrop (GW)

Dark horse: UNC Asheville (JE), Winthrop (CC), VMI (RG), Charleston Southern (GW)

Colonial Athletic Association

Dates: March 4-7

Site: Richmond, VA

Outlook: Top-seeded George Mason and second-seeded Old Dominion are both NCAA tournament locks, so that means some of the lesser teams may arrive in Richmond with greater motivation this week. Third-seeded Hofstra won six of seven to end the regular season and has the runaway player of the year in senior Charles Jenkins. Fourth-seeded VCU gets to play in Richmond but faded badly late in the season. And fifth-seeded Drexel has a non-conference win over Louisville and finished the season on a high note with three straight wins.

Projected champion: George Mason (JE), Drexel (CC), George Mason (RG), George Mason (GW)

Dark horse: Drexel (JE), James Madison (CC), Drexel (RG), Hofstra (GW)

Horizon League

Dates: March 1, 4-5, 8

Site: Milwaukee, Wisc.

Outlook: If Butler is even going to have an opportunity to make another memorable NCAA tournament run, the Bulldogs may need to win the Horizon League tournament. Butler could still earn an at-large bid thanks to non-league wins over Florida State and Washington State, but the Bulldogs certainly will not feel safe without the automatic bid. The trouble for Butler is that path will not be easy. Up first will likely be either conference player of the year favorite Norris Cole and Cleveland State or longtime nemesis Wright State, followed by perhaps host Wisconsin-Milwaukee in the title game.

Projected champion: Butler (JE), Butler (CC), Butler (RG), Cleveland State (GW)

Dark horse: Cleveland State (JE), Valparaiso (CC), Detroit (RG), Detroit (GW) 

Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference

Dates: March 4-7

Site: Fairfield, Conn.

Outlook: Just a few points shy of upsetting Siena in the MAAC title game last season, Fairfield enters this year's tournament in the role of favorite. Led by guard Derek Needham and big man Ryan Olander, the Stags won the league by two games and reeled off 11 wins in 12 games prior to a season-ending loss at second-place Iona. Does that mean Iona is Fairfield's greatest challenger? Most likely, yes. In fact, Ken Pomeroy's rankings actually suggest that the Gaels are a better team than the Stags, though Fairfield would have an edge being on its home court.  

Projected champion: Fairfield (JE), Fairfield (CC), Fairfield (RG), Rider (GW)

Dark horse: Rider (JE), St. Peter's (CC), Iona (RG), Iona (GW) 

Missouri Valley Conference

Dates: March 3-6

Site: St. Louis, Miss.  

Outlook: Arch Madness will be an all-or-nothing event for every team involved this season because a down year in the Missouri Valley has left the league without an at-large contender. Neither conference champion Missouri State nor runner-up Wichita State accomplished enough in non-league play to even be on the fringes of the bubble entering the conference tournament. Nonetheless, the Bears and Shockers enter the conference tournament as favorites to meet in the title game. Missouri State swept the season series, winning on the road by three in January and at home by five in the regular season finale. 

Projected champion: Missouri State (JE), Wichita State (CC), Wichita State (RG), Wichita State (GW)

Dark horse: Creighton (JE), Northern Iowa (CC), Northern Iowa (RG), Northern Iowa (GW)

Northeast Conference

Dates: March 3, 6, 9

Site: Highest seed hosts each game

Outlook: Outside of one inexplicable 15-point loss to eighth-place St. Francis (Pa.) six weeks ago, Long Island has been nearly flawless since New Year's Eve. The Blackbirds have won 18 of 19 games during that stretch, beating second-place Quinnipiac by 10 and third-place Robert Morris by 16 in the process. The only reason to be hesitant in projecting a Long Island title run is the Blackbirds' quarterfinal opponent will be the team that beat them. Can Long Island get revenge on St. Francis (Pa.) and earn an NCAA tournament berth? Don't bet against it. 

Projected champion: Long Island (JE), Long Island (CC), Quinnipiac (RG), Long Island (GW)

Dark horse: Robert Morris (JE), St. Francis (Pa) (CC), Robert Morris (RG), St. Francis NY (GW)

Ohio Valley Conference

Dates: March 2-5

Site: Nashville, Tenn.

Oulook: Only one game separated first-place Murray State from Morehead State and Austin Peay, but winning the regular season title could loom large for the defending conference tournament champion Racers. Whereas Morehead State and Austin Peay will likely meet in one semifinal, Murray State will get either Tennessee State or Tennessee Tech, two teams the Racers swept during the regular season. Murray State returned the core of a team that nearly upset Butler to advance to the Sweet 16 last year, but the Racers did not fare well in non-conference play this year and only recently have begun to put it together against league competition. Both Morehead State and Austin Peay split with Murray State in the regular season.

Projected champion: Murray State (JE), Murray State (CC), Murray State (RG), Eastern Kentucky (GW)

Dark horse: Austin Peay (JE), Tennessee Tech (CC), Austin Peay (RG), Austin Peay (GW)

Patriot League 

Dates: March 2, 6, 11

Site: at highest seeded team

Outlook: Those who like seeing a lower-seeded team come from nowhere to make a run probably will not enjoy the Patriot League tournament because this has been a two-team league all season. Bucknell went 13-1 in league, American finished 11-3 and no other team won more than seven league games. Bucknell swept American during the regular season and would host a title game between the two if both advance that far. Really the only red flag for the Bison is their first-round opponent, last-place Army, which inexplicably handed Bucknell a 90-70 loss on Jan. 29. 

Projected champion: Bucknell (JE), Bucknell (CC), Bucknell (RG), Bucknell (GW)

Dark horse: Lehigh (JE), Navy (CC), None (RG), Lehigh (GW) 

Southern Conference

Dates: March 4-7 

Site: Chattanooga, Tenn.

Outlook: Even though College of Charleston dominated much of the regular season and boasts the league's best player in guard Andrew Goudelock, the way the Cougars ended the regular season has to give the rest of the league hope. Appalachian State and Western Carolina both upset College of Charleston last week, surprising results considering how well the Cougars had been playing. It would be a shame if Goudelock never gets the chance to showcase himself on the NCAA tournament stage, but there are a handful of teams capable of taking advantage if College of Charleston continues to falter. Defending champion Wofford tied the Cougars atop the South division standings behind the play of big man Noah Dahlman, while Western Carolina surged to the finish line with eight wins in nine games.

Projected champion: College of Charleston (JE), College of Charleston (CC), College of Charleston (RG), College of Charleston (GW)

Dark horse: Furman (JE), Furman (CC), Furman (RG), Davidson (GW)

Summit League

Dates: March 5-8

Site: Sioux Falls, S.D.

Outlook: Tested by a monumentally difficult non-conference schedule featuring the likes of Ohio State, Purdue and West Virginia, Oakland thrived once it began league play in January. Behind NBA prospect Keith Benson and veteran guard Reggie Hamilton, the Golden Grizzlies won 17 of 18 games against Summit League foes and won the regular season title by four games over Oral Roberts. Third-seeded IUPUI was the only team to beat Oakland in the regular season, but Oral Roberts may be the bigger threat to the Golden Grizzlies in the conference tournament. Oral Roberts swept IUPUI in the regular season, lost by single digits both times to Oakland and enters the tournament on an eight-game win streak.  

Projected champion: Oakland (JE), Oakland (CC), Oakland (RG), Oakland (GW)

Dark horse: South Dakota State (JE), North Dakota State (CC), IUPUI (RG), South Dakota State (GW)

Sun Belt

Dates: March 5-8

Site: Hot Springs, Ark. 

Outlook: Even though Isiah Thomas' last-place Florida International team receives by far the most publicity in this league, there's another well-known coach who has enjoyed far more success with his rebuilding project. Former St. John's and George Washington coach Mike Jarvis has led Florida Atlantic to a 21-9 overall record and a championship in the Sun Belt's East division. Expect FAU to be pushed by a handful of teams in what appears to be a wide-open field. Middle Tennessee and Arkansas State are two of the more obvious challengers, while further down the draw Western Kentucky and North Texas performed better in non-conference play than against Sun Belt foes. 

Projected champion: Florida Atlantic (JE), North Texas (CC), Florida Atlantic (RG), Louisiana-Lafayette (GW)

Dark horse: North Texas (JE), North Texas (CC), Louisiana-Lafayette (RG), Western Kentucky (GW)

West Coast

Dates: March 4-7

Site: Las Vegas, Nev.

Outlook: It appeared three weeks ago that Saint Mary's would be an-large lock and Gonzaga would need to win the conference tournament, but now the situation is almost completely reversed. The struggling Gaels likely cannot earn an at-large after late-February losses to San Diego, Utah State and Gonzaga. The Zags meanwhile would have a decent shot at hearing their name called on Selection Sunday as long as they make the WCC tournament title game. It's likely the title game will be a Gonzaga-Saint Mary's rubber match since both teams need just one victory to get there, but there are some potential spoilers. Fifth-seeded Portland, in particular, is dangerous because of its outside shooting prowess.

Projected champion: Gonzaga (JE), St. Mary's (CC), St. Mary's (RG), Portland (GW)

Dark horse: Portland (JE), Portland (CC), Portland (RG), Santa Clara (GW)

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Ask Alex: Will Neil Walker be a top-10 second baseman in 2011?

We all have questions about the 2011 season and Alex Remington luckily has some answers. The Stew's resident stats guru will address the big questions as opening day approaches.

The Situation: Neil Walker(notes) was one of the best rookies in the National League last year and it ended up landing him in a controversy over the Rookie of the Year vote. To recap: Pirates beat writer Dejan Kovacevic gave his first-place vote to eventual winner Buster Posey(notes), then snubbed Jason Heyward(notes) by giving his second- and third-place votes to Neil Walker and Jose Tabata(notes) of the Pirates, neither of whom received any other votes that high. Kovacevic explained that he was just trying to draw attention to Walker and Tabata and in another year, he might have gotten away with it. But Posey and Heyward were historically awesome rookies and the race was too tight for such a tactic to go unnoticed.

The sneering over Kovacevic's ploy is unfortunate, because Walker really did have a great year. His glove was fairly suspect, but that's unsurprising for a catcher-turned-third baseman who had never played second base in his professional career before 2010. But he was a top-10 hitter at his position, despite only playing 110 games. The Bucs have a lot of question marks in their lineup, but along with young stars Pedro Alvarez(notes) and Andrew McCutchen(notes), Walker is about as close to a cornerstone as Pittsburgh possesses.

The Question: Can Neil Walker shore up his defense and become one of the best second basemen in baseball?

The Analysis: In many ways, Walker is already a success story: A Pittsburgh native, he struggled in the minor leagues before breaking out in Triple-A in 2010, pushing his way to the major leagues, and keeping a hot bat the rest of the year. But his glove was below average and, as John Sickels pointed out in September, he had two offensive red flags in 2010: an "unattractive BB/K ratio of 24/76, and a high BABIP." (He ended the year with a 34/83 BB/K ratio and a .340 BABIP; his minor league BABIP was .302.)

After hitting .273/.322/.441 in 686 games in over 2,800 plate appearances in the minors, his .296/.349/.462 rookie mark was a very pleasant surprise, though the batting average was undoubtedly boosted by the unsustainably high BABIP that Sickels mentions.

If he can become a league-average defender and keep producing an .800 OPS, he'll be one of the better second basemen in the game. But if he remains as bad a fielder as he was last year, and he's unable to keep hitting at that rate because of his inability to walk and over-reliance on a high BABIP, he'll be more like the fringy non-prospect that he was in the minors from 2004 to 2009. That's a pretty wide gap between best-case and worst-case scenario. In order to assess Neil Walker's likelihood of building on his terrific 2010, I'll analyze his background, offense and defense, then look at his projections for 2011 from the Bill James Handbook and Dan Szymborski's ZiPS.

Background: Neil Walker has a baseball bloodline and pedigree: His father Tom Walker went 18-23 in six seasons as a reliever in the '70s, and Neil was drafted with the 11th overall pick of the 2004 amateur draft out of Pine-Richland High School, 15 miles north of Pittsburgh's PNC Park. He was a two-sport star in high school who passed up an opportunity to play football at Clemson to sign with his hometown baseball team. But he had a long road through the minors, reaching Triple-A for the first time in 2007 at the age of 21, but seemed to stall at that level, struggling there over the next two years. After the team drafted third baseman Pedro Alvarez with the second overall pick in 2008, it became clear that the team would not have an opening at third base any time soon, and Walker showed rumblings of frustration in 2009, saying, "This just might not be the place for me." After he switched to second base in 2010, though, everything finally clicked, and he won the major league job from the ineffective Akinori Iwamura in May.

Offense: Walker always had good power in the minors, as evidenced by his .168 minor league isolated power (ISO), which is above average for a third baseman and very good for a middle infielder. (Last year, major league 3B had an average ISO of .155, and major league 2B had an average ISO of .124.) His ISO in the majors last year was .167, virtually identical to the minor league rate. But his walks and strikeouts both increased. He struck out in 17.7 percent of his major league plate appearances, after striking out in 15.6 percent of plate appearances in the minors. After walking in just 6.4 percent of his minor league plate appearances, he walked in 7.3 percent of his major league plate appearances last year — still below average for a major league hitter, but a good step in the right direction. The increases in both were proportional, so his overall walk-to-strikeout ratio remained virtually unchanged from the minors to the majors. His ability to increase his walks while keeping his power constant (and learning an entirely new defensive position) is a good sign for the future, but an eye should be kept on his increased strikeouts. A 17.7 percent rate is fine for a power hitter, but power hitters need to walk more than Neil Walker currently does.

Defense: Can he stick at second? The advanced defensive stats uniformly pan his performance in 2010, but that's understandable considering that he'd never played second before, and Fangraphs' R.J. Anderson notes that he actually "excelled" at turning the double play. Charlie Wilmoth of SBNation isn't so sure:

I don't think Walker's poor defense at second this year was the result of his not understanding the position, but of him not quite having enough range. Walker is athletic, but he isn't fast.

Still, athletic might be enough. No one expects Walker to turn into a Gold Glover. Because his bat is so above-average for his position, it would be fine if he maintained a merely below-average glove. As long as he isn't atrocious, the Pirates will be willing to carry him at second. He was pretty close to atrocious in 2010, though, so definite improvement will be necessary, or he may need to make the third position change of his career.

Projections: Both Bill James and ZiPS believe that Walker will revert to his established minor league levels of on-base and slugging, rather than repeating or improving on his rookie numbers, and their projections are very close to one another. Bill James predicts a line of .270/.324/.438, with 16 homers, 73 RBIs, and 44 walks in 154 games; ZiPS predicts .271/.321/.453, with 18 homers, 94 RBIs, and 43 walks in 154 games. That would be very good for a full-time second baseman. Only seven second basemen produced a .750 OPS in 2010, and two of them, Dan Uggla(notes) and Martin Prado(notes), graded as below-average fielders like Walker. (Prado moved to left field this offseason to accommodate Uggla, the newest addition to Atlanta's lineup.) So, as I wrote above, Walker doesn't have to turn into a Gold Glover. He just needs to field as well as Dan Uggla.

The Forecast for 2011: James and ZiPS are remarkably consistent on Neil Walker, and their projection looks very plausible. The lower batting average accounts for Walker's unsustainably high BABIP in 2010, and the power is consistent with his major and minor league performance. So I agree with their predictions. Assuming he stays healthy, the second base job is his to lose, and if he plays 150 games he'll hit somewhere around .270/.325/.445, with homers in the teens. After all, he's already 25, older than most sophomores, and entering his offensive prime. The wild card in all of this, and the only thing that could keep him from being a top-10 second baseman would be his glove. With his athleticism — which made him one of the best high school quarterbacks in the state, and prompted the Pirates to believe that he could handle two separate position changes, he is a good bet to improve at his position. And if he can settle in as a solidly below-average second baseman, then he will be one of the best second basemen in the league. The bat is there already. He may not have been one of the best two rookies in the league in 2010, but he could be one of the better middle infielders in the league in the coming years.

Previous questions: Can the Red Sox win 100 games?, How many games will the Astros win?, Will the Phillies miss Jayson Werth?, Will Buster Posey experience a sophomore slump?, Will Trevor Cahill be a Cy Young contender?, Will Justin Upton solve his strikeout problem?

Related: Jose Tabata, Pedro Alvarez, Jason Heyward, Buster Posey, Neil Walker, Andrew McCutchen, Ask Alex

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Still much work to do for Burke to fulfill his master plan

Between Burke's stockpiling of draft picks and prospects, there's only hope ... hope that the likes of Joe Colborne(notes) and Jake Gardiner develop into quality NHL players and that the handful of picks Burke's collected can become valuable assets or valuable trading chips.

According to Burke, his plan is the "right way" to get to the playoffs and avoid a one-and-done April scenariol:

The National Post's Bruce Arthur writes that Burke now having these potential trading chips are fine, but being able to cash them in for their worth will be the biggest test of the Leafs' turnaround:

But with Burke, it's only partly about this move; it's about what he does with the next move. He is selling now, and buying later. He is trying to find young, promising, undervalued players, or restricted free agents, or young players whose teams can't afford them. Which means he is only trying to add the coin of the NHL realm, these days, plus probably Dallas's Brad Richards(notes) as a free agent July 1.

"It's not what we wanted precisely," Burke said. "But it's assets in the shopping cart and now we're going to see what we can turn them into. Ideally, we turn them into a young player."

Can he do it? Maybe. At least he is not in it for the extreme short term, but it just seems like the hardest possible route. Burke tried to pry big 21-year-old winger James van Riemsdyk(notes) from Philadelphia in the Versteeg deal, according to Tim Panaccio of Comcast Sports Net, but settled for a first-rounder which he will now try to flip.

More and more, teams are locking up the great young players before they ever hit the open market; you can get a Versteeg or even a Dustin Byfuglien(notes) in the right circumstances, and maybe better. But when free agency is dry and trades are blunted, how do you acquire the kind of centrepieces that make a Stanley Cup team? How do you filch crown jewels?

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Katie Holmes Suing Star Magazine for Calling her a Drug Addict

Katie Holmes has slapped a $50 million lawsuit on tabloid Star magazine over an article which suggested she was a drug addict.

The actress was appalled by the magazine's cover story, which featured the headline 'ADDICTION NIGHTMARE - Katie DRUG SHOCKER! - The Real Reason She Can't Leave Tom.'

The article does not allege any drug use by Holmes, but she still feels the suggestive cover is clearly defamatory, and she has instructed her lawyers to act.

A representative for the Batman Begins star tells TMZ.com, "Star Magazine's malicious claims about Katie are untrue, unethical and unlawful.

"Not only do they cruelly defame Katie, they play a cheap trick on the public, making ridiculously false claims on the cover unsupported by anything inside."

Tuesday March 1, 2011. Katie Holmes and a shy Suri head to Kaboodles toy store in Vancouver for some mother/daughter shopping.

Click for more great Katie Holmes pictures:

Photo Credits: © PacificCoastNews.com Steal Sandra Bullock's Oscar Updo Did Hosting the Oscars Create bad Blood Between James Franco & Anne Hathaway?

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QB Focus: Aaron Murray, Georgia's jack of all trades, master of none

Assessing 2011's field generals, in no particular order. Today: Georgia sophomore Aaron Murray.

• Typecasting. Unless you had a program and depth chart for easy reference, you probably wouldn't pick Murray out of the locker room or pregame warmups as a starting quarterback in the SEC: He's not particularly big (he's officially listed at 6-1, 209 pounds), not blindingly fast and not about to tear the gloves off his receivers' hands with any throws. He has average size, decent speed and an OK arm.

Add it up, though, along with good mechanics, a good head and an intangible feel for the game that makes an otherwise average-looking Sig Ep an athlete, man, and you have the most promising young starter in the SEC. In fact, with prototypical behemoths Cam Newton and Ryan Mallett moving on to the NFL, Murray entered with more recruiting hype – he was MVP at the "Elite 11" quarterback camp, a Parade and U.S. Army All-American, and a top-50 overall prospect by every major scouting service in 2009 – than any other starting quarterback in the conference, a distinction he seems more than likely to justify in his second season as a starter.

• At his best... Murray got more airtime in 2010 as Nick Fairley's personal punching bag in a 49-31 loss to Auburn than as a breakout passer, which is understandable for a redshirt freshman whose team opened 1-4 in a conference that also featured a) The eventual Heisman Trophy winner, b) Another future first-round draft pick and c) A would-be Rhodes scholar with a BCS championship ring at the same position, all for teams that spent nearly the entire season in the top 15 of the national polls. But Murray held his own statistically, completing upwards of 60 percent of his passes with highest efficiency rating in the country for a freshman.

Because of his size, penchant for play-action and mobility, Murray is generally relegated to the "game manager" category, which is unfair to his production as a downfield passer: He tied Ryan Mallett for the SEC lead and finished in the top 10 nationally with 35 completions covering at least 25 yards, and finished second only to Cam Newton for the best yards-per-completion average in the conference. Offensive coordinator Mike Bobo clearly was not afraid to let Murray put it up 40 to 50 yards downfield:

If that seems like high praise for a guy at the helm of Georgia's first losing season in 15 years, consider that Murray was generally pretty good even when the team was bad: He passed for at least 250 yards with an efficiency rating of at least 130 (a hair above the national average) in four of the Bulldogs' six regular season losses, and delivered three touchdown passes in each of the high-scoring defeats against Colorado, Florida and Auburn. Consider also that the UGA defense allowed 30.6 points per game in those six losses, while the offense scored at least 24 in four of them.

• At his worst... It's no coincidence that Georgia's fortunes changed with the return of spectacular receiver A.J. Green from a four-game suspension that cost him the entire month of September. Before his return, the Bulldogs averaged 14 points over the course of a three-game losing streak in their first three SEC games; after, they averaged slightly over 35 points in the process of going 5-3 over their last eight, including 40-point outbursts against Tennessee, Vanderbilt, Kentucky and Georgia Tech. That crutch is long gone, and while juniors-to-be Tavarres King and Orson Charles are reliable enough targets, they're not going to do anything like this to bring in a jump ball – with Green, Murray could sometimes get away with "in the vicinity," but the margin of error narrows considerably anytime a playmaker of Green's caliber (not to mention three starting offensive linemen) leaves the vicinity.

The other blaring red siren is the embarrassing, 10-6 Liberty Bowl loss to Central Florida, which played out like a slow-motion, three-hour car crash. Murray hit the wall personally with two interceptions, zero touchdowns, only one completion covering more than 20 yards and a meager 88.5 efficiency rating – the first time all season he finished with a rating below 130. It was his only truly bad game, but coming as it did on the heels his best game – a 15-of-19, 272-yard, three-touchdown effort in a 42-34 win over Georgia Tech – it was a mystifying regression.

• Fun Fact. Murray's older brother, Josh, also joined the team in 2009, seven years after he was drafted straight out of high school by the Milwaukee Brewers. Josh, a walk-on safety who saw the field last year in garbage time of blowout wins over Vanderbilt and Idaho State, will turn 27 in August, making him the oldest player in the SEC. The youngest Murray sibling, Stephanie, is also a player back in Tampa: She was quarterback of Plant High's flag football team for girls, which, as a sanctioned sport under the Florida High School Athletic Association, ain't for no powder puffs, a'ight? (And anyway, if you're going to make fun of the sporting pursuits of any of the Murrays, it's Aaron, for spraining his ankle in a pick-up soccer game last week.)

• What to expect in the fall. The Bulldogs' slow start ensured some degree of anonymity nationally, but Murray's debut was as good on paper as anyone's this side of Cam Newton: If he puts up identical numbers – 3,000 yards, 24 touchdowns, 154.5 efficiency rating – this fall, he'll be first-team All-SEC in a less QB-dominated league and well on his way to smashing all of Georgia's career passing records.

The two looming questions are a) Can he put up the same numbers without A.J. Green on the other end of eight to twelve passes per game, and b) Will the same stats be worth any more wins in a make-or-break year for head coach Mark Richt? The first number may depend on the starting cast: Will King and Charles step into the void at receiver? Will incoming freshman Isaiah Crowell provide the consistent rushing threat that's been glaringly absent the last two years? Will a retooled offensive line keep Murray comfortable in the pocket? The second may depend on the progress of the defense, which didn't improve at all in its first year under coordinator Todd Grantham.

But whatever the Bulldogs' larger issues, quarterback isn't likely to be one of them. Murray may not belong on any All-America lists at this phase of his career – in fact, in lieu of any single, mind-blowing quality that might send him flying up draft boards in another year or two, he seems like the type of quarterback who finds his stride early and rides that steady pace to the end. Based on the pace he set in his first season, though, he'd still get my vote as the best quarterback in the SEC going into the second.

- - -
Matt Hinton is on Twitter: Follow him @DrSaturday.

Related: Auburn Tigers, UCF Knights, Colorado Buffaloes, Florida Gators, Georgia Bulldogs, Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets, Kentucky Wildcats, Tennessee Volunteers, Vanderbilt Commodores

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Owners, players agree to extend CBA deadline 24 hours

In a development that indicates good news for all sides, the NFL owners and players have agreed to extend negotiations 24 hours beyond the previous end of the league year, which was to be 11:59 p.m. ET Thursday.

NFLPA executive director DeMaurice Smith made a very brief statement as he left the talks. "For all of our fans who dig our game -- we appreciate your patience as we work through this. We're gonna keep working, and we want to play football."

Both sides had been in negotiations for many days under the eye of federal mediator George Cohen, and according to several reports, the owners began Thursday's negotiations by putting a very favorable offer on the table -- an offer that apparently took the players aback and set the tone for positive discussions going forward. Most likely, the 24-hour window means that there will be further extensions and discussions as opposed to an automatic stalemate.

Several elements led to a more conciliatory tone from both sides. First, there was the ruling from Judge David Doty, reversing the previous ruling by Special Master Stephen Burbank that the owners were allowed to use the $4 billion in television money due them whether a season was played or not. Doty reversed the Burbank ruling with very specific language as to the nature of the NFL's dealings with several networks, including DIRECTV. And he was able to better understand the concept of "good faith."

And he very clearly stated that the owners did not act in the best interest of the players when they basically left money on the table, or extended current agreements without the opportunity to gain additional revenue, in exchange for loopholes allowing free money to go to the owners.

In addition to the loss of that revenue, the threat of decertification by the union was (and still is) a reality. The NFLPA must de-certify before the now-extended end of the league year, or it will lose its most effective weapon, because the CBA says that the union cannot de-certify for a period of six months after a lockout. They would also lose Doty as the arbiter of the de-certification case, which would throw their strategy into a series of legal uncertainties.

If Doty were to take the case before the end of the league year, he retains it no matter how long it goes. And this is where the decertification and subsequent antitrust suit becomes so very important -- if there is an antitrust suit, whoever the judge is would most likely rule that the two sides must keep their business going through the litigation process.

Decertification, and the loss of the subsequent lawsuit from the union, became much more of a threat when Doty ruled that the owners violated their fiduciary duty to the players by exchanging digital rights fees for lockout insurance, essentially proving that they sold the players short in exchange for money to find a lockout they had been planning all along. Once caught by a jurist with actual legal sense, the owners were in a real pickle, and they knew it. Now subject to all sorts of exposure and derision, and without the money budgeted to get them through a protracted labor battle, the owners had to take a different tone.

A longer extension allows for a few things. The owners can go back, take a breath, decide where they stand at this point, and allow the players to discuss the counter-offer now received. Most likely, the two sides are still too far apart on the primary issues to wrap everything up in the next 24 hours, but the fact that the two sides didn't just go back to their corners and declare war is the most encouraging sign we've seen in this process for a very long time.

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As deadline fades, which NHL teams moved closer to the Cup?

Every team approached the NHL trade deadline, and the days leading up to it, in a different way. Some buy. Some sell. Some pull the trigger late. Some choose to do most of their business weeks before the deadline because they're Brian Burke, and nobody puts Brian Burke in the corner.

Some stand pat, for the most part. The Philadelphia Flyers adding Kris Versteeg(notes) or the Vancouver Canucks adding Max Lapierre or the San Jose Sharks adding Ian White(notes) make teams with the Cup already in reach even better; the Detroit Red Wings holding their cards doesn't make them any better or worse.

But some know that with an aggressive move or two, they can solidify their Cup chances around the deadline. Here are a few teams that may have done just that.

Boston Bruins

The most glaring need was a puck-moving defenseman. The Bruins traded for Tomas Kaberle(notes), one of the elite members of the current class. In doing so, they cleared cap space and ended up with hard-working Rich Peverley(notes). They traded for Chris Kelly(notes) to help at center.

Was all of this enough?

Kevin Paul Dupont of the Boston Globe opines:

They are by no means Cup favorites. But, yes, they are decidedly in the hunt, perhaps more so now than they have been since Chiarelli was handed the Black and Gold keychain and clipboard in the summer of 2006. And that's the feeling despite the fact that No. 1 pivot Marc Savard(notes) won't be seen again until perhaps, well, September. Not many NHL teams would be gushing about postseason prospects with their top playmaker and point-getter designated for extended R&R, maybe even retirement, but the re-tooled Bruins are playing with confidence, speed, poise, and success, all of which rightly has them feeling very good about themselves.

He points to the loss of Marc Savard and the inconsistent play of David Krejci(notes), Nathan Horton(notes) and Michael Ryder(notes) as points of concern. The power play is middle of the pack (17.6 percent) but should improve. And then there's the goaltender whose save percentage (.939) is still close to an NHL record for a single season.

If the Philadelphia Flyers are looking for their main competition in the East, they should look no further than a team foaming at the mouth to earn some playoff redemption against the Bullies.

Washington Capitals

The Capitals did two things with the waiver claim on Marco Sturm(notes) and the deadline day acquisitions of Dennis Wideman(notes) and Jason Arnott(notes): Fill essential lineup needs for relatively low costs and change the dynamics of the roster with an infusion of veteran voices.

In nautical terms, GM George McPhee attempted to add a few reliable sails to a ship that's been adrift far too many times this season.

From On Frozen Blog:

The Capitals this morning are not a favorite per se for the Cup this spring. Instead, what seems to be fair to say about their newly re-engineered lineup is that, given decent health among the prized core, they are likely a seriously tough out this postseason. In this salary cap era of conspicuous parity, that's really all you can ask for. 

Marco Sturm, Dennis Wideman, and Jason Arnott are not All Star performers. They will not infiltrate the Capitals' lineup beginning Tuesday night and litter the scoresheet with goals and assists. In fact, Sturm and Arnott are likely in the twilight of their respective careers. They're rentals. But all three bring something of an imperative to a damaged product in red: street cred. Jason's Arnott's stick, for instance, is singularly responsible for his New Jersey Devils' club lifting Lord Stanley in 2000. 

That was a while ago, yes, but Arnott knows where he is in his hockey career, knows what he can bring to a talented Capitals' club, and knows that he wants one more taste of hockey's greatest glory. And he waived his no movement clause to get here.

It doesn't make them a favorite in the East; not when their last good month was November, and not when the Flyers are better overall and the Bruins are better defensively. But these moves should put them back in the conversation for the Cup.

Los Angeles Kings

Yes, it's completely overrating the Dustin Penner(notes) trade to say that it elevated the Kings to Cup contender status, right? The price was a bit rich, right? The Kings celebrated by getting their asses handed to them by Detroit, right?

The bottom line is that Penner was exactly what the Kings need: a veteran, goal-scoring winger who could reinvigorate Anze Kopitar(notes) and who has skated the Cup. Let's not make this out to be the Messier trade for the Rangers or anything. But as Dean Lombardi said Monday on LA Kings Insider, he's the right fit for this team:

"Yeah. I think you know him here. That's the other thing that's attractive about him. Whenever you get a guy that has a Stanley Cup ring - and was a big part of that team, in his own way -- that certainly bodes well for somebody that has been through the wars and understands what it takes in the playoffs. But you know, you hit the nail on the head. That's his strength, his size. The one thing we've prided ourselves on here is becoming a team that's hard to play against. That's also why sometimes, when you go to the marketplace, I'm skeptical of certain things. This is a guy that would certainly fit that definition, of being hard to play against. You know, you're also banking on the whole Edmonton experience. You see this in the other sports at times. He comes off a big season, and there's a lot of pressure that comes with that big contract and expectations. I think, here, he can just come in and fit in."

And he's a great fit: For the lineup, for the city and for this team's burgeoning Cup chances.

Tampa Bay Lightning

Lost in all the shuffling and reshuffling around the deadline, and especially around the St. Louis Blues, was the trade of Eric Brewer(notes) to the Tampa Bay Lightning.

It's a significant name player added to a room that, frankly, had earned the right to have GM Steve Yzerman bolster their chances. But more than that, according to the St. Pete Times, Brewer's a top-pairing defenseman who can match up against the top lines in the East and reset the Bolts' blue line to coach Guy Boucher's liking:

His presence has a domino effect on the rest of the blue line with Randy Jones(notes) moving back with regular partner Pavel Kubina(notes) and Brett Clark(notes) and Victor Hedman(notes) staying together. In addition, Marc-Andre Bergeron(notes), with his great shot, can focus on one of his primary roles, sparking the power play. 

"It's like the forwards. When everyone is in their chair, it relieves some pressure off some guys to do what they do best," Boucher said. "It gives us an opportunity to get some chemistry back on defense."

The Tampa Bay Lightning are one of those teams that isn't, for some reason, listed among the serious Cup contenders the way the Flyers or Canucks or Red Wings are. Yet they've added a significant veteran goalie and a former captain to their defense in the last two months. And, checking the standings, they appear ready to challenge for the Chalice.

Related: Jason Arnott, Rich Peverley, Kris Versteeg, David Krejci, Anze Kopitar, Dustin Penner, Dennis Wideman, Nathan Horton, Randy Jones, Ian White, Chris Kelly, Marc-Andre Bergeron, Michael Ryder, Eric Brewer, Tomas Kaberle, Marco Sturm, Marc Savard, Boston Bruins, Detroit Red Wings, Los Angeles Kings, New Jersey Devils, Philadelphia Flyers, San Jose Sharks, St. Louis Blues, Tampa Bay Lightning, Vancouver Canucks, Washington Capitals

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Days of NBA Lives: Wherein Nazr Mohammed reveals the dark side of trades

 

At this point, seemingly half the NBA is on Twitter. It's a wild world of training updates, questions as to which movies they should go see, and explanations of their Call of Duty prowess. Every so often, though, you also get a picture into the more interesting aspects of NBA life. This feature is your window into that world.

Corey Brewer: Can't sleep so much going thru my head its tough right now. Thanks to all the people following me for all the support

Brandon Jennings: Men who got a good woman stop being so insecure..... JUST LOVE HER!!!

Kevin Johnson: Feels like old times watching the kings! The entire stadium is on their feet! If you don't like this, you don't like kings basketball!

Anthony Morrow: Ima have to take DWill to dinner my treat for makin my life easier, no homo tho lolol

Nazr Mohammed: Damn I miss my DVR. I was so behind on my TV shows already. Don't know what I'm going to do to catch up. ... Maybe I can get the #GeekSquad to go to my house in Charlotte and hook up my #SlingBox. I'm miserable without my shows. #TvWithdrawal

You can also follow Eric Freeman on Twitter at @freemaneric.

Related: Nazr Mohammed

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Steal Sandra Bullock's Oscar Updo

Not only did stylist to the stars David Babaii create Nicole Kidman's ponytail for the Academy Awards, he also achieved red carpet perfection with Sandra Bullock.

Here are David's steps below for creating his "Texture Infusion" updo for Sandra's 2011 Oscar style:

Start with a clean canvas by rinsing all the shampoo and conditioner from the hair. After gently towel drying, David applied Couture Colour Pequi Oil Treatment from Sephora to the hair, using a wide tooth comb to evenly distribute the product. Then, he dried her hair with a round brush for a smooth finish.  Once dry, David applied additional Pequi Oil and  brushed her hair straight back. With the IT&LY HAIRFASHION Digital Styling Iron, he took random half inch sections starting at the front and twisted the hair. Once the strand is twisted, take your flat iron and press down the entire length of the strand to set a wavy texture in. Allow each strand to cool and release itself naturally. David continued taking half inch sections throughout the front half of her head until he achieved enough texture. When complete, additional Pequi Oil was added to his hands to finger comb the hair back into a ponytail above the nape area. He then wrapped her hair around the band and secured with bobby pins allowing any loose hairs to fall naturally.  

We Heart Ashley Greene Katie Holmes Suing Star Magazine for Calling her a Drug Addict

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Puck Headlines: Patrick Kane's 'hangover'; Jovanovski out for weeks

Here are your Puck Headlines: a glorious collection of news and views collected from the greatest blogosphere in sports and the few, the proud, the mainstream hockey media.

• Remember earlier this week when flu-ridden Patrick Kane(notes) needed a "couple bags of IV fluids" to get back into the Chicago Blackhawks' lineup after suffering "flu-like symptoms"? Deadspin's sources allege that he was also taking in some fluids in "closing down a Chicago bar Sunday night" and wonders if he had a "a two-day hangover." Memo to Patty: Cell phones now have cameras in them. They are not your friend. For realz. [Deadspin]

• We'll have a full roundup of news and views on the Tomas Kaberle(notes) trade and the Bruins' subsequent deal with Atlanta coming up. Here's a look at the prospect the Toronto Maple Leafs received, Joe Colborne(notes). [Toronto Sun]

• Here's Bourne's take: "That’s some terrific return right there.  But, it makes sense - cornerstone defensemen are tough to come by, and those that are acquired are getting a healthy chunk of money (as Dustin Byfuglien’s(notes) new 5-year 26 million dollar deal would attest)." [JB]

• Matt Kalman offers a glimpse at the Boston Bruins' new lineup after today's trades. [The Bruins Blog]

• GM George McPhee on the Washington Capitals and their struggles offensively: "We have the same people [as last season] and it's not happening for them. It's the last thing that we thought we would have to be concerned about, and given the way this team performed in the past...we believed the offense would be there. We've worked on it but the offense has slipped. I know the individuals are frustrated but we can get better." [Capitals Insider]

• Yeah, come to think of it, Jarkko Ruutu(notes) and Maxim Lapierre(notes) were never tea and crumpets buddies on their former teams. Should make for an interesting Anaheim Ducks locker room. [Ducks Blog]

• Not to overstate the obvious, but "Los Angeles filmmaker and Atlanta native Stephen Rollins" is not a viable candidate to purchase the team, according to the AJC's sources. [AJC]

• Rod Brind'Amour(notes) gets his No. 17 lifted to the RBC Center rafters tonight for the Carolina Hurricanes, and the visiting Philadelphia Flyers will wear No. 17 jerseys during warm-ups. Does his career merit a spot in the Hockey Hall of Fame? Said Philadelphia Flyers coach Peter Laviolette: "I believe it does. He played a long time. He did things the right way. He has the points, he captained a Stanley Cup champion. And he always treated the game with great respect." [Charlotte Observer]

• The San Jose Sharks are closing in on some deals. First one announced: Derek Joslin to the Hurricanes for "future considerations." Word is Ian White(notes) could be headed there, that word from Bob McKenzie. [Working The Corners]

• If you missed it last night, a recap of the bizarre and awesome "Threat Level Midnight" episode of "The Office," which Secret Agent Michael Scarn attempts to save the NHL All-Star Game from Goldenface. [TWOP]

• Ales Kotalik(notes) said he offered the Calgary Flames "some solutions that they didn't take" before his demotion to the AHL. We can only assume he means faking his own death and then returning as a masked player. [Gazette]

• Several 1989 Flames players are pumped up for their old-timers's game ... er, "alumni" game as part of the Heritage Classic on Saturday. [NHL]

• Still no timetable for the return of Coach Joel Quenneville to the Chicago Blackhawks. Said assistant Mike Haviland: "He's in great spirits and is actually going a little stir crazy there. We talked a little bit about Columbus tonight and said we'd talk maybe this afternoon or even after the game for sure. He didn't say anything about when he's getting out." [Between the Circles]

• The New Jersey Devils activate Martin Brodeur(notes), and he'll be Johan Hedberg's(notes) backup tonight and could start on Saturday. [Fire & Ice]

• Meanwhile, Henrik Lundqvist(notes) starts against the Devils and "will be looking to end a streak of six straight appearances in which he has allowed three or more goals, the worst such run in his career." [NYDN]

• Tonight is Tulsa Oilers military night jersey night for the CHL team, and while we'd like to be snarky about the look of this sweater, there's an umarked van outside the office and our phones keep clicking ...

• SORTA HOCKEY: Dan Shanoff on Bill "Sports Guy" Simmons and his new ESPN sports/pop culture website. [Quickish]

• Mile High Hockey on the Craig Anderson(notes) swap for Brian Elliott(notes): "I think it's a great trade from the Sens' perspective. Andy may never regain that form, but they don't lose much on the other end. From the Avs' side of things, I think it's an "okay" deal. Anderson was going to be moved and the market for goalies is never incredibly strong, especially goalies who are struggling. It's possible Elliott exceeds expectations, but this is more likely a case of GM Greg Sherman getting the best possible return for a player that was going to be moved regardless." [MHH]

• Are you Down With the Crown? [Life On Hockeywood]

• The Los Angeles Kings have been playing well offensively, so why not re-scramble the lines, right? [Kings Insider]

• A full transcript of Gary Bettman's comments to the media yesterday in Tampa Bay, including this on the All-Star Game: "We think the experience was terrific. The feedback was great but we haven't actually sat down to have a conversation about what we can do to even make it better or what changes we might want to make. As soon as the events people got done in Carolina they started heading toward Calgary. So when you think about the number of major events we're putting on in less than two months it's absolutely incredible. So, worrying about out next year we don't have the luxury of that until we get through this weekend and we give the people in events at least 24 hours off to catch their breath." [Lightning Strikes]

• NSFW content, but a funny video about the NHLPA respect seminar from Bloge Salming, which apparently knows how to use echo effect on audio. Lindros joke at the end is spectacular. [HOTH]

• Finally, so not-so-good news for the Phoenix Coyotes and their fans: "Coyotes defenseman Ed Jovanovski(notes) was scheduled to undergo surgery Friday for an orbital bone fracture he suffered in Thursday night's game against Atlanta. Jovanovski and the Thrashers' Patrice Cormier(notes) collided, face to face, as the second period was coming to an end." They say he's out "several" weeks. The collision is below; thankfully, this isn't the NFL, because helmet to helmet hits ... [AZ Central]

Related: Martin Brodeur, Patrice Cormier, Rod Brind'Amour, Joe Colborne, Patrick Kane, Brian Elliott, Dustin Byfuglien, Maxim Lapierre, Ian White, Craig Anderson, Ales Kotalik, Johan Hedberg, Henrik Lundqvist, Jarkko Ruutu, Tomas Kaberle, Anaheim Ducks, Boston Bruins, Carolina Hurricanes, Calgary Flames, Chicago Blackhawks, Los Angeles Kings, New Jersey Devils, Philadelphia Flyers, Phoenix Coyotes, San Jose Sharks, Toronto Maple Leafs, Washington Capitals

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Meet the New Boss: Grading the long-in-coming coaching hires

Wrapping up the weeklong grade book for the offseason coaching hires. Part One: Established head coaches moving up the career ladder. Part Two: Old faces resurfacing in new places. Part Three: Longtime assistants moving into their first Division I head-coaching gigs, wherever they can find them.

• MARK HUDSPETH (Louisiana-Lafayette).
Age (years as assistant): 42 (12 years as an assistant, most recently as wide receivers coach at Mississippi State under Dan Mullen.)
Replacing: Rickey Bustle, who finally lost a nine-year battle to keep his head above water with a 3-9 flop in 2010. The Ragin' Cajuns won exactly six games in four of Bustle's final six seasons, but never more, and still have never been to a bowl game.
Best resumé line: Hudspeth is an outlier on this list because he does have relevant head-coaching experience, as the top man at Division II power North Alabama from 2002-08. The Lions were 66-21 with a pair of undefeated regular seasons on Hudspeth's watch, and earned a spot in the D-II playoffs four times.
Why here, why now? Save one season as offensive coordinator at Navy, Hudspeth's entire career has been spent in Alabama, Arkansas, Louisiana and Mississippi. With an SEC interlude under his belt, the Lafayette gig was the next rung on the ladder.
Grade: A–. Hudspeth has already won big on the college level, and comes from one of the most dynamic coaching staffs in the country last year. Even if ULL is a stepping stone, a bid to the GoDaddy.com Bowl will buy the locals' enduring affection.

• DON TREADWELL (Miami, Ohio).
Age (years as assistant): 50 (25 years, most recently as offensive coordinator at Michigan State.)
Replacing: Mike Haywood, who left for his ill-fated adventure at Pitt after leading the RedHawks to the MAC championship and the best single-season turnaround in the nation in his second year.
Best resumé line: Treadwell was one of the keys to Michigan State's breakthrough last year, taking over as interim head coach in the wake of boss Mark Dantonio's post-victory heart attack in September. The Spartans were 4-0 on Treadwell's watch, including the biggest win of the season, a 34-24 win over eventual Big Ten co-champ Wisconsin in the conference opener, and a convincing thumping of Michigan in Ann Arbor the following week.
Why here, why now? Treadwell played at Miami and returned briefly for a two-year stop as an offensive assistant in 1992-93; his Midwestern travels have also taken him to other schools in Ohio (Youngstown State, Cincinnati), in the MAC (Ball State) and the Big Ten (Michigan State). If Miami didn't hire him, the question would be why not?
Grade: A–. Treadwell's offenses have never set the stat sheet on fire in nearly a decade as an offensive coordinator, but he's been around the block, and after successfully keeping the Spartans on track in Dantonio's absence toward one of the best seasons in school history, the opening at his alma mater was the next logical step.

• KEVIN WILSON (Indiana).
Age (years as assistant): 49 (27 years, most recently as offensive coordinator at Oklahoma.)
Replacing: Bill Lynch, who was sacked after a last-place finish in the Big Ten last November, the 16th consecutive Hoosier head coach to leave Bloomington with a losing overall record.
Best resumé line(s): Wilson coordinated the highest-scoring offense in Division I history in '08, led by Heisman hero Sam Bradford. But his most enduring contribution may be his key role in the spread revolution as offensive coordinator at Northwestern, where he and head coach Randy Walker introduced the read option to smashing success in 2000.
Why here, why now? After failing to parlay the Sooners' success in 2008 into a head coaching gig (he was reportedly a serious candidate at Clemson and Mississippi State), Wilson may have felt it was time to jump while the window was still open. I'm not sure why else he'd take a job that's been stopping careers in their tracks for 60 years, unless he's just jonesing that hard to get back to the Midwest.
Grade: B+. For the Hoosiers, it's a clear win: Wilson has been one of the most respected and productive offensive minds in the country for years – so much so, in fact, that he seemed destined for a better gig when his time came. Indiana is a graveyard. Then again, any signs of life could be his ticket to the next rung up the ladder.

• STEVE ADDAZIO (Temple).
Age (years as assistant): 51 (16 years, most recently as offensive coordinator at Florida.) Replacing: Al Golden, on his way to bigger things at Miami after raising the Owls from perennial doormats – they were 0-11 before his arrival in 2004 and 1-11 his first season – to serious MAC contenders with 17 wins over the last two years, Temple's best two-year stretch since 1978-79.
Best resumé line(s): Addazio's spent 13 of the last 16 years at Syracuse, Notre Dame and Florida, coaching in six BCS bowls and earning a pair of national championship rings as Florida's offensive line coach in 2006 and 2008.
Why here, why now? Addazio is a native Northeasterner: He grew up in Connecticut and built a high school powerhouse there during a seven-year stint as head coach of Cheshire High before moving into the college ranks at Syracuse in the mid-90s. His six-year tenure at Florida is his only venture into the South, and with Urban Meyer's retirement almost certainly leaving Addazio without a job in the transition to the Will Muschamp administration, the Northward migration is a logical move.
Grade: B. Gator fans still mourning over the corpse of one of the nation's most fearsome offenses may think that mark's a little high. But the expectations aren't high at Temple, and he's certainly not going to be rattled or overwhelmed by the pressure after his prior stops, especially compared to the castigation he endured in 2010. Consistent mediocrity can keep him in good standing in Philly for a good long while.

• DARRELL HAZELL (Kent State).
Age (years as assistant): 46 (25 years, most recently as receivers coach and assistant head coach at Ohio State.)
Replacing: Doug Martin, who resigned after seven years of trying (and mostly failing) to turn Kent's perennially wayward ship.
Best resumé line: The consistent upward trajectory: Like the guy who turned a paper clip into a car by trading up, each of Hazell's eight moves over the last quarter-century have taken him to a marginally better post, from a humble start as running backs coach at tiny Oberlin (Ohio) College in 1986 to Ohio State for the last seven years.
Why here, why now? Including his playing days at Muskingum College, Hazell has spent more than half of his football career in Ohio, and all of it in potentially key recruiting areas throughout the Midwest and Northeast.
Grade: C+ Hazell is another blank slate from a resumé standpoint because he hasn't been specifically in charge of anything since serving as Oberlin's offensive coordinator from 1989-91. But frankly, the main qualifications for overseeing one of Division I's most enduring black holes – Kent State has appeared in one bowl game in its history, under future Washington legend Don James in 1972 – are patience and enthusiasm.

• JON EMBREE (Colorado).
Age (years as assistant): 45 (18 years, most recently as tight ends coach with the Washington Redskins.)
Replacing: Dan Hawkins, who cleaned up CU's outlaw image but got the boot last season with one bowl game, zero winning seasons and a very memorable rant to show for it after five years.
Best resumé line: "Tight ends coach" doesn't carry much cachet, but Embree has played position coach for three All-Americans (Christian Fauria and Daniel Graham at Colorado, Marcedes Lewis at UCLA), two Mackey Award winners (Graham and Lewis) and one future Hall-of-Famer (Tony Gonzalez, during Embree's three-year stint with the Kansas City Chiefs).
Why here, why now? Embree is at the head of a concerted revival of the halcyon Buffs of the late 80s and early 90s, teams that put together six straight top-20 seasons with a pair of Big 8 championships and a national championship under coach Bill McCartney. The result is an organization that's "Colorado to the core": Embree played for McCartney in the mid-eighties and returned as an assistant in 1993; his staff includes five new coaches who either played or coached under McCartney, including both coordinators, Eric Bieniemy (an All-American running back on the 1990 national title team) and Greg Brown (secondary coach from 1991-93). Two other staffers, Steve Marshall and Jashon Sykes, were part of the program under Hawkins' predecessor, Gary Barnett. Even Embree's sons, Taylor and Connor, are both playing for former Colorado coaches at UCLA and UNLV, respectively.
Grade: C. Embree brings an "All in the Family/Return to Glory" vision and some NFL chops, for whatever that's worth. But he's never been a coordinator at any level, much less a head coach. If he wasn't an alum, he'd be Tim Brewster.

• BILL BLANKENSHIP (Tulsa).
Age (years as assistant): 56 (Four years as an assistant, all at Tulsa.)
Replacing: Todd Graham, who left for Pittsburgh after guiding the Golden Hurricane to their third 10-win season in his four-year tenure.
Best resumé line: Blankenship is a local legend for building Tulsa's Union High into a perennial Oklahoma power, racking up 14 straight playoff appearances, eight district championships and finally three state championships in Blankenship's final four years at the school. He quit after the third title in 2005 to pursue his goal of
Why here, why now? See above. Blankenship was a starting quarterback at Tulsa in the late 70s, has spent most of his coaching career in Tulsa and is arguably the biggest gridiron name in the community. He probably also came significantly cheaper than another homegrown candidate, former Oklahoma quarterback/current Arkansas offensive coordinator Garrick McGee, though Tulsa is private and doesn't release salaries.
Grade: C–. High school coaches aren't automatically doomed to failure, but the track record for into-the-deep-end plunges like this one isn't very encouraging. (Most recently, North Texas flamed out in three-and-a-half years under local high school baron Todd Dodge.) On one hand, his resumé says Blankenship is a proven winner. On the other, the most relevant section of his resumé barely exists.

- - -
Matt Hinton is on Twitter: Follow him @DrSaturday.

Related: Arkansas Razorbacks, Ball State Cardinals, Cincinnati Bearcats, Clemson Tigers, Colorado Buffaloes, Florida Gators, Indiana Hoosiers, Miami (FL) Hurricanes, Michigan Wolverines, Michigan State Spartans, Mississippi Rebels, Mississippi State Bulldogs, Navy Midshipmen, UNLV Rebels, North Texas Mean Green, Northwestern Wildcats, Notre Dame Fighting Irish, Ohio Bobcats, Ohio State Buckeyes, Oklahoma Sooners, Pittsburgh Panthers, Syracuse Orange, Temple Owls, Tulsa Golden Hurricane, UCLA Bruins, Washington Huskies, Wisconsin Badgers

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Carey Price's creepy Jacques Plante Heritage Classic tribute mask

Sorry, I could not read the content fromt this page.

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Video: Alex Ovechkin's tremendous OT goal vs. Islanders

This sort of goal has been far too infrequent for Alex Ovechkin(notes) this season, which is one of the reasons why Sports Illustrated labeled him a "Falling Star" in its latest issue.

But in overtime against the New York Islanders on Tuesday night, the Washington Capitals captain finally added another clip to the highlight reel, going end-to-end and spinning Frans Nielsen(notes) around like a top before scoring on the backhand.

Ovechkin made mention of the booing in Verizon Center during postgame comments, and for 59 minutes the Capitals looked like the same offensively nurtured team they were prior to the trade deadline.

Then Jason Arnott(notes), acquired from the New Jersey Devils on Monday, set up Brooks Laich(notes) in front of the Islanders' goal for the game-tying tally with 48 seconds left in the game. Then Ovechkin decided to get vintage on the Isles for the 2-1 victory, the seventh OT goal of his career. 

Eight short of an Ovechtrick tonight, but it'll do.

Related: Brooks Laich, Jason Arnott, Alex Ovechkin, Frans Nielsen, New Jersey Devils, New York Islanders, Washington Capitals, Puck Videos, Crosby vs. Ovechkin vs. Malkin

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Lindsay Lohan Will be 'Fully Clothed' in Fashion Photographer's new Book

Lindsay Lohan has dismissed reports she'll be baring all in fashion photographer Terry Richardson's new book, insisting she'll be fully clothed for the shoot.

A British tabloid suggested the troubled actress has signed a deal worth $3.4 million to appear unclothed in shots, alongside Oscars co-host James Franco, for the book.

But Lohan has called the story "absurd", stating, "I'm fully clothed in it."

She has also denied reports the tome will feature controversial images like those in Madonna's book, "Sex."

The actress adds, "It's not even close to a sex book."

Click for more great Lindsay Lohan pictures:

Photo Credits: © PacificCoastNews.com, David Tonnessen Did Hosting the Oscars Create bad Blood Between James Franco & Anne Hathaway? Reba McEntire Getting Inducted Into Country Music Hall of Fame

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NCAA interviews, slightly intimidates De'Anthony Thomas (UPDATED)

Oh, celebrated cornerback/running back recruit De'Anthony Thomas, why must you hurt USC so? First, you spurn the hometown Trojans for an ascendant conference rival, Oregon, at the last minute. Now you employ social media to

The first message came in the middle of the night, around 11 p.m. Pacific; the second came this morning, around 8 a.m., after the first missive began making the rounds. On Twitter, too, "Black Mamba" is a showman, coyly leaking just enough information – INTERVIEWED BY NCAA ABOUT USC – to grab the college football Twitter-sphere's attention, but not nearly enough for anyone to draw any conclusions. ("I'M NOT EVEN GOING THERE.")

Why should you care about the vague tweets of an 18-year-old nicknamed for a venomous snake? For one thing, whatever your opinion of vague tweets, any acknowledgement of actual activity by a first-person source is about as much information about an ongoing NCAA investigation as we're going to get. Both programs have also been a little on edge lately. For Oregon, it comes less than 48 hours after the school felt compelled to pointedly deny rumors that NCAA investigators were lurking around campus. For USC, it comes not only a) During the probationary period for the most heavy-handed NCAA sanctions in a decade, but also b) While the NCAA is hot on coach Lane Kiffin's heels for repeated recruiting violations at Tennessee in 2009. It probably doesn't help that ESPN's Shelley Smith reported in the run-up to Thomas' decision for Oregon on Feb. 2 that USC alumni had been making person appeals for his services on behalf of the Trojans – a relatively minor violation under most circumstances, unless your program is on probation and your head coach is being specifically targeted for a history of such ticky-tack fouls.

Of course, that's assuming that the NCAA's questions were more than due diligence on a late, surprising, high profile de-commitment, and that Thomas doesn't play us instant news-cyclers for fools with a tweet this afternoon that says "AW, JUS KIDDING ERRYBODY!" Until then, we have to assume one of the most hyped freshman in the country has revealed a piece of a legitimate probe of undermined severity. Isn't social media fun?

[UPDATE, 2:58 p.m. ET] Shockingly, Thomas told CBS Sports' Bryan Fischer this afternoon that the Twitter account cited below isn't his and denied any contact with the NCAA. Of course, it's not shocking at all: The story lives on a single source – one that was not taken for granted: Thomas originally linked to the @TheBlaccster Twitter account as his own on his Facebook page on Feb. 24 – under the informal label "might be something, might be nothing." Unless someone can now prove Thomas made the posts and later reneged under pressure, it dies (for now) as nothing. Isn't social media fun?

[UPDATE, 5:02 p.m. ET] In addition to Thomas' Facebook post directing friends to follow him at the @TheBlaccster Twitter account, Fischer – to whom Thomas denied being behind @TheBlaccster earlier today – has also confirmed that Thomas has personally used the account.

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Matt Hinton is on Twitter: Follow him @DrSaturday.

Related: Oregon Ducks, Tennessee Volunteers, USC Trojans

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Farrelly Brothers May Do 'Dumb And Dumber' Sequel

Filmmaking siblings Peter and Bob Farrelly are in secret talks to revive the "Dumb And Dumber" comedy franchise - with Jim Carrey and Jeff Daniels returning as dimwitted best pals Harry and Lloyd.
The brothers admit they're continually approached by fans of the 1994 movie, who quote lines to them, and now they're seriously considering bringing their madcap creations back for a sequel.
Bob Farrelly tells MovieHole.net, "Dumb and Dumber has run a bunch of times on TV in the States, and kids will come up and they'll be able to quote lines from that - lines that I've long forgotten.
"If we could get those two guys back together, Jim Carrey and Jeff Daniels, that might be a worthwhile sequel - and that ball is in motion. We're starting to think about what those two dimwits would be doing 20 years later in life."
The original film spawned a poorly-received prequel, "Dumb and Dumberer: When Harry Met Lloyd," which featured Eric Christian Olsen and Derek Richardson in the roles made famous by Carrey and Daniels.

Photo Credits: New Line Home Entertainment Corey Feldman Upset Oscar Bosses Snubbed Corey Haim Jennifer Lopez's Twins Celebrate Birthday With Celebrities

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Friday's Three Stars: Bert nets pair; Canes retire Brind'Amour's 17

No. 1 Star: Todd Bertuzzi(notes), Detroit Red Wings

Three minutes after Stephen Weiss(notes) brought the Florida Panthers back from a 3-1 deficit in the third period, Bertuzzi took the lead back for Detroit en route to a 4-3 win. It was the third time in four games that Bertuzzi finished with two goals. Joey MacDonald(notes) made 29 saves and Pavel Datsyuk(notes) scored his ninth goal in 14 games.

No. 2 Star: Kyle Brodziak(notes), Minnesota Wild

After scoring just twice in their previous two games, the Wild broke out with a five-goal night during a 5-1 win over the Anaheim Ducks. Brodziak led the way with a goal and two assists, while Niklas Backstrom(notes) stopped 29 shots for his third win in four starts. 

No. 3 Star: Ty Conklin(notes), St. Louis Blues

Filling in while Jaroslav Halak(notes) heals on the IR, Conklin notched his 16th career shutout with a 25-save performance during a 3-0 win over the Buffalo Sabres. T.J. Oshie(notes) and and David Backes(notes) scored in the second period as the Blues won just hours after their captain Eric Brewer(notes) was dealt to Tampa Bay.

Honorable mention: Corey Perry(notes) extended his point streak to seven games with his 30th goal of the year ... Brad Marchand(notes) scored his 17th and 18th goals of the season and Tuukka Rask(notes) made 32 stops as the Boston Bruins won 4-2 over the Ottawa Senators. Making his Bruins debut, Tomas Kaberle(notes) finished a minus-1 with 19:34 of ice time ... All the New Jersey Devils needed was one goal and 16 saves from Johan Hedberg(notes) to shutout the New York Rangers 1-0 for their sixth straight victory. New Jersey is now 8-0-1 in their past nine games. The lone tally came from the red-hot Ilya Kovalchuk(notes), who scored in his fourth straight game to extend his point streak to nine games:

On the night they raised Rod Brind'Amour's(notes) No. 17 to the rafters at RBC Center, Erik Cole(notes) provided some late dramatics as the Carolina Hurricanes slipped past the Philadelphia Flyers 3-2. Cole's winner with 3:03 left in the game came just a little over two minutes after Braydon Coburn(notes) had tied things at two. A pre-game ceremony honored Brind'Amour, with both teams wearing jerseys with his name and number on them during warmups:

Steve Mason's(notes) 37 saves and Columbus' success on the power play (2-for-4) buoyed them past the Chicago Blackhawks 4-3 to improve to 6-1-1 in their last eight games. Matt Calvert(notes) recorded two points and opened the scoring with this pretty individual effort:

Did you know? Detroit is now 22-0-2 when leading after two periods. (AP)

Dishonorable mention: The Ducks saw their six-game road winning streak come to an end ... The Rangers saw their own four-game road win streak end as well ... Ryan Miller(notes) lost his third straight start.

Related: Rod Brind'Amour, Brad Marchand, Steve Mason, Niklas Backstrom, David Backes, T.J. Oshie, Tuukka Rask, Jaroslav Halak, Kyle Brodziak, Corey Perry, Joey MacDonald, Braydon Coburn, Stephen Weiss, Ilya Kovalchuk, Ty Conklin, Pavel Datsyuk, Johan Hedberg, Ryan Miller, Erik Cole, Eric Brewer, Tomas Kaberle, Todd Bertuzzi, Anaheim Ducks, Boston Bruins, Buffalo Sabres, Carolina Hurricanes, Chicago Blackhawks, Detroit Red Wings, Florida Panthers, Minnesota Wild, New Jersey Devils, New York Rangers, Ottawa Senators, Philadelphia Flyers, St. Louis Blues, 3 Stars, Puck Videos

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Calgary legends rekindle the Flames, crack wise about age

CALGARY, Alberta -- After their 5-3 defeat in McMahon Stadium to the Montreal Canadiens on Saturday night, Calgary Flames Coach Terry Crisp tore into his team and put them through a grueling ... aw, who are we kidding? They hugged, signed autographs and attempted to warm their bodies after two periods of nostalgia in the frigid air.

This was about old friends and family coming together to celebrate a championship legacy for Flames hockey, as well as the team's earliest years in Calgary through players like Ken Houston and Brad Marsh.

"You go around, you talk to everybody, you rehash old stories ... and lies," defenseman Al MacInnis said, drawing laughs.

It was also a time to gracefully accept that most of the players were a little slower, some were a little rounder and everyone was a bit older; which is where Lanny MacDonald felt the Canadiens had the advantage.

"I think they must be younger. That's all I can figure out," he said after the loss.

Forward Gary Roberts(notes) had another theory about this rematch of the 1989 Stanley Cup Finals: "Montreal wanted redemption. We could tell."

"It's just one of those days," said Roberts, ever the competitor. "We didn't get to do a proper warm-up. Getting on a bus, where the average age is almost 50 for our team."

Said MacInnis: "You also have to look at a guy like Ric Nattress, who didn't have much to begin with."

Good times. Camaraderie. The type of bonds formed through a championship season, and the type of bonds many of the players said is impossible to maintain in today's NHL.

"You spent a lot of time together. Gary Suter was my roommate for nine or 10 years. That doesn't happen in today's game very often any more," said MacInnis.

"General managers were able to have patience, and you grew like brothers.  That's hard to do because the window in today's game for a team to win is such a short little window, because of the salary cap and because guys are moving on at such a young age."

MacInnis is currently the Vice President of Hockey Operations for the St. Louis Blues, who yesterday made the type of difficult decision with a young player MacInnis was talking about: Trading defenseman and former No. 1 overall pick Erik Johnson(notes) to the Colorado Avalanche.

"When you make a trade like that, it's a long process. He was going to be a big part of our building process and our future, but things can change," said MacInnis.

"When you have an abundance of defensemen ... we needed forwards. We needed size and we needed grit," he said. "You to give up something to get something. At the end of the day, we hope it's an even trade for both teams."

Maybe Chris Stewart(notes) and Kevin Shattenkirk(notes) grow up with the Blues the way MacInnis and so many players in the room grew up with the Flames. Maybe, in a few decades, they'll be the ones poking fun and catching up with old friends. 

And in some cases, old furry friends.

"I haven't seen Harvey The Hound up close like this [in years]," said Joe Nieuwendyk, as the Flames mascot kicked over his shoes so Nieuwendyk could walk over and sign autographs for fans born well over a decade after the he and the Flames skated the Cup.

But tonight, their generation finally had a chance to cheer them on. 

Related: Erik Johnson, Chris Stewart, Kevin Shattenkirk, Gary Roberts, Calgary Flames, Colorado Avalanche, Montreal Canadiens, St. Louis Blues

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Fight Video: The many punches of Rosehill vs. Lessard

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Elizabeth Hurley to Play the Villain in Pilot for 'Wonder Woman'

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