Troy Daniels: The Unexpected Hero

The VCU Rams basketball program has taken incredible strides in the last decade. Not only have they obtained remarkable success in the college game, but they have begun to produce a brand of players who have been suitable to play at the next level. However, the least expected to have success may end up being the most successful after all.

It all started with Eric Maynor, who was picked 20th by the Utah Jazz in the 2009 NBA Draft. Maynor was believed to have incredible promise as he played solid minutes behind Russell Westbrook for the Oklahoma City Thunder, but a devastating knee injury has slowed him down quite a bit as his career seems to be coming to an abrupt halt. Maynor, the VCU record holder for assists and field-goals, is known as possibly the best player in the history of VCU basketball.

Next, it was the one and only Larry Sanders. During his time with the Rams, Larry made a monumental impact on the defensive end. Larry left after his junior year, (the year before the Final Four run) and he was drafted by the Milwaukee Bucks 15th overall in the 2010 draft. Larry has all the essentials to be successful in the NBA except for one thing: mental stability. Earlier this year, Sanders was out for 6 weeks with a broken thumb after a bar fight. Now, he has recently come out saying that he is a strong proponent of marijuana being legalized for all professional athletes. Come on, Larry. Larry still has plenty of potential if he settles down mentally and focuses on his game.

However, the crazy thing is, VCU’s best pro may not have been drafted at all. Troy Daniels went undrafted in this past NBA Draft, but instead of taking the often travelled path of playing in Europe, Daniels instead went the route of the D-League, playing with the Rio Grande Valley Vipers. In his first season with the Vipers, Daniels set the record for three-pointers made in a season. But here’s the fun part, he did it in half the season. It did not take long for the Rockets to see what Daniels brought to the table as he joined the team fully on April 12th playing limited minutes, until the final game of the regular season where he dropped 22 points. After seeing no minutes in the first two games of the Rockets’ playoff series with Portland, it took Chandler Parsons getting into foul trouble late in Game 3 that enabled Troy to step on the court late in overtime. That’s when the magic happened. Daniels hit the game-winning three in overtime to propel the Rockets to a miraculous victory.

While before this shot almost nobody knew the name Troy Daniels, he is now a household name among NBA followers. Still, people may look at Troy as simply having his 15 minutes of fame, but I firmly believe that Troy has a promising future in the NBA. First of all, he has the size. At 6’4, he can play shooting guard, and he is quick enough to guard both the shooting guard and point guard position. While his defense still needs work, he has shown ability to play successfully under Shaka Smart’s havoc defense. In addition, his greatest quality as a player is one that translates any level he plays at: he can shoot lights out from 3. When Daniels was at VCU, about 70% of the threes Daniels shot were from NBA range. He can shoot successfully from anywhere on the court, and with his quick release and incredible accuracy from 3-point land, Daniels is a reliable option for any team. He still needs to broaden his offensive game, but he is young, and I am confident he will continue to grow as a player.

For now, Troy is simply the hero of Game 3. Nevertheless, this is only the first chapter in what could be quite the story of the undrafted 3-point sharpshooter, Troy Daniels.

-Ben Greer

Your (quick) 2014 Masters Preview

Augusta won't be quite as good without Tiger Woods this year, but it's the Masters so expect fireworks nonetheless.
Rookie with the best shot: Billy Horschell
Patrick Reed might have three wins in the last calendar year, but does he have octopus pants? No. Billy Hoschell has got some swagger to go along with his octopus pants and the long bomber isn't afraid of the spotlight. He's got a win under his belt, and he contended in last years US Open. He needs to be better around and on the green, so don't expect a win, but don't be surprised if you see his name hangin' around the top of the leader board heading into the weekend.

Dark Horse: Angel (El pato) Cabrera
You can never count out the duck, even at the age of 54. This guy lives for the majors and he came rather close last year as he fell in a playoff to Adam Scott. I've got no good reason, other then the fact that he's just got this ability to show up in the big ones.

Majorless golfer who could have break through: SERGO!!!!!!
Dammit Sergio, get this one done. Because Tiger isn't here, I want Sergio to snag himself a major. He's 34 and his confidence is back up after last season and a Tigerless field might also benefit his confidence even more because it just seems like seeing Tiger Woods on the same course intimidates him. So come on Serg, Waddu say??

Who Puts on the green jacket?
Sergio Garcia, it is his time and he knows this. He's focused, he knows what to expect, and once again there is no Tiger. It also feels like there is no pressure on him to win because he has been somewhat forgotten. The golf world would benefit from Sergio Garcia victory at Augusta this weekend.

A new kind of monster: A trip to Donald Trump's New Doral

This past Sunday I was given the opportunity to travel to the Trump National Doral Golf Course just south of Miami, where the top 68 players in the world went to work in one of the most prestigious PGA events during the year. I received the opportunity to get extremely close to almost every single player, and the experiences around them were quite interesting to say the least. With the Masters commencing in less than a month, players need to be reaching the peaks of their game, hoping to ride some momentum into the season of majors. This being a tournament in which Tiger came out successful just a year ago, he came into this hoping that he could repeat this outcome; however, when he arrived at Doral this past week, the circumstances he was facing were nothing like a year past.

Let us preface with the Doral experience. Professional golf is unlike any other sport in which you can literally be just feet away from all of the top players out there throughout the day. In my time there, I was within reach of every single player that participated in the tournament. Regarding this never-ending close proximity, you can begin to obtain an idea of the type of character these players possess. One player that was particularly disappointing was Jim Furyk. Jim is often perceived as the family friendly fellow, but after his rather disappointing round, he threw a club, broke his tee, and said multiple expletives. The players I gained the most respect for were Phil Mickelson and Ernie Els, for opposite reasons. Ernie was playing with young Italian Mateo Mannessero, and both of them were well out of contention. However, Ernie approached the round with a light-hearted attitude, and in a sense, he took young Mateo under his wing. They were joking around, and simply enjoying their round of golf, which is beautiful to see in this day and age. On the other hand, Phil was very much in contention at the point in which he came across my path. However, he did not let this affect his personality, as he laughed and joked with the other player’s caddy continually. The most confusing player to me as to be Rickie Fowler. I think it is safe to say that Fowler had about the sixth largest following out of any player, which makes minimal sense considering Fowler has only won one tournament in his career and has never finished top 15 in a major.

When Tiger won this tournament a year ago, he shot 20 under par, and those who trailed him were not far behind. However, after the complete reconstruction of the course for 2014, success would not be as easily obtained. For all four rounds, the average score was above par, which is rarely seen outside of a major, especially with only the top 68 players in the world. Water was a tremendous hazard for a plethora of players including Sergio Garcia who could only manage a nine on hole number ten.  One player that fully encountered the difficulty provided by Doral was in fact Tiger. The combination of the increasingly difficult course with Tiger’s nagging back injury did not bode well for everyone’s favorite golfer. Although Tiger’s third round brought him into contention, it was clear he was not himself throughout. This fact was prominent during his final round 78 in which the sand and the water seemed to be the only places Tiger could consistently hit it. We can only hope that Tiger is able to get healthy before the Masters because there is nothing quite like Tiger in contention on Sunday in Augusta.

Often the victor is not overlooked in a golf tournament, but sadly for my main man Patrick Reed, he is flying under the radar. Going into this weekend at Doral, most golf fans wouldn’t know the name or the player. However, it was quite evident that there was no other golfer that close to Reed at Doral. The man navigated the course with brilliance, while others substantially more notable than he struggled continually. It does not matter that he is unknown at this point in time because with the way he is playing, he will be climbing the world ranks before we know it. With the core of the PGA year approaching along with the majors, Reed will face a battle he should be tested for. It is hard to imagine these players encountering a more difficult course than they faced at Doral, and if my man Patrick can play like he did at Doral, then get that green jacket ready my friends.

-Ben Greer

NCAA Conference Tournament Previews Part 1

American Athletic Conference:
Overview: It's been a steel cage match when it comes to the top 5 of the AAC. Memphis, SMU, Cincinnati, Louisville, and UConn have just beat the absolute hell out each other in conference play and they will all be tournament bound next Sunday.

Player to Watch: Sean Kilpatrick. Cincinnati is the number 1 seed in this inaugural edition of the AAC tournament, and they are lead by senior guard Sean Kilpatrick who will take home conference player of the year averaging close to 21 points per game, 4.3 rebounds and 2.5 assists.

Winner: Louisville. The Bearcats are on a crash course with number two seed Louisville, but with the other three teams looming, you can never be to sure. I think the Bearcats meet up with the Cards and we see the number 2 seed Louisville take home the conference crown in what some call an upset.

Atlantic 10: 
Overview: Anyone who tries to tell you this isn't a power conference is kidding themselves, with locks in Saint Louis, VCU, UMass, George Washington, and a bubble insiders in Dayton and Saint Joesphs... 6 teams getting in, that's power conference material.

Player to Watch: Chazz Williams and Treyveon Graham: Anyone who has watched Chazz Williams knows how unique he is. The 5'9 (he's shorter) Point guard from UMass can be described in one word. Dynamite. He averages close to 16 points and 7 assists per contests. With blazing speed, an unbelievable motor, and a pretty jump shot Williams is the odds on favorite to take home the conference player of the year trophy, but VCU's Treyveon Graham has been awesome this year as well. He's had his biggest performances in some huge games this year for the Rams including a 22 point night capped off by a buzzer beater three in a huge road win against UVA, and a 34 point performance in a double OT win @ La Salle in which Graham went to the rack at will in the final 12 minutes of the game and only missed once. These two guys will be fun to watch here in the conference tournament.

Winner: VCU. Call me a homer, but Saint Louis hasn't been on their game lately, and I think the Rams have a favorable draw as it appears they will get University of Richmond in the 2nd round, and the Spiders are missing their best player in Cedric Lindsey. They are chalked to play GW, a team VCU crushed in their most recent meeting, but let's hope for a Saint Louis VCU final in Brooklyn.

ACC: 
Overview: The top four seeds are all locks for the NCAA tournament, and might present the strongest front 4 teams of any conference in the country with UVA, Duke, Syracuse, and North Carolina. Take
your pick out of those four teams, because no team outside the top four seeds(including 5th seeded Pittsburgh) is strong enough to win the entire thing.

Player to Watch: I can't say anything about Jabari Parker that hasn't already been said. I would like to say he reminds me of Rudy Gay with a higher basketball IQ( I'd like to be the first to make that comparison.) He does everything for Duke, he is their workhorse and they will look to ride him to a ACC title and a 1 seed.

Winner: I hate Duke, but Rodney Hood, Jabari Parker, and the clutch play of Rasheed Sulamon will put Duke in contention for another one seed.

photo credit ESPN.com

Dirk's Revival Spurring Mavericks Success

Many said his time had passed, he was done, his health and productivity were deteriorating in tandem. Dirk Nowitzki, former MVP and NBA champion is playing with a chip on his shoulder like an undrafted rookie. By doing so, he's had a Tim Duncan-esque revival and has spurred the Dallas Mavericks into the Western Conference playoff picture in an extremely competitive Western Conference.

Last season Nowitzki played 53 games last season and averaged his lowest point per game total since his rookie season at 17.3 points per game. He's started all 52 contests thus far and upped his scoring 21.8 points per contest and is shooting his 2nd best field goal percentage at 49.1% on the year. Nowitzki contributed 18 points and 6 rebounds while holding David West to only 12 points as the Mavericks topped the Indiana Pacers (81-73) in Indianapolis becoming only the third team to snag a W in Bankers Life Field House this season.

Dirk's performance this year is very similar to that of the 2010-2011 season in which he lead his Dallas Mavericks to their first NBA title. A series in which the German took home the Finals MVP award as well. Mark Cuban has made it clear he wants to get aging shooting guard Vince Carter a ring as bad as he wanted Nowitzki to get one, so let's not rule out the Mavericks making a big move before the deadline or in free agency this summer and make either this year or next Dirk's last playoff run.

Like Hakim with the dream shake, or Karim with the sky hook, Dirt Nowitzki's fadeaway jumper is one of those moves that when seen can be instantly identified with the player coined it. Never known as a great athlete, Dirk at 35 has continued to improve his already fantastic fines in order to keep his production up and the results have been fantastic. Nowitzki competed in his twelfth All Star game last night, once again reminding us why he will be a first ballot hall of famer and his performance this year at his age might be the most impressive part of his legacy.

Your Guide to the Battle In the Big Apple

Two number 1 seeds, both 13-3, 7-1 at home, 6-2 on the road, two very hot kickers, and the best offense versus the best defense. Yeah, it's the super bowl, and yeah Roger Goodell has attempted to ruin it by throwing it in damn 10 degree weather. When you throw Peyton Manning's touchdown factory in freezing conditions, it's advantage to the opponent and in this case the Seahawks. Why can't we see these two teams playing in 68 degrees in Miami? It just appears to be the most fair from the beginning of the season, but now we are faced with a matchup with one team relying on the pass with an okay defense squaring off against a dominant defense and an offense based on running the ball…. Why in the biggest game of the season does the weather have to be a factor in the game where we are trying to decide who the best team in the league is? Especially with Peyton's track record in the cold…. Anyway, let's get to the action, because it's going to be one hell of a game.

What's At Stake?: I mean this question in terms of beyond the rings. For Peyton Manning, whose future is in question due to his lingering neck issues, it's a chance to make his case for the greatest of all time by capping off a record setting season by topping one of the best defenses we've seen in the last decade. For Champ Bailey, it's a future hall of famer's chance to capture his first super bowl in his first trip. On the other side of the ball, this is the chance to start a dynasty. A few guys on that team are due for big paydays in two years(Wilson Sherman etc.) and a win here might convince some guys to take less money for a couple of years in order to possibly start a dynasty. For Pete Carroll, its a chance to win a title at the college and pro level, a feat only Jimmy Johnson and Barry Switzer have accomplished.

Where is the most important battle in terms of scheming?: Sheriff Manning will be using Omaha in an effort to confuse the extremely talented Seattle secondary highlighted by Richard Sherman. Peyton Manning loves mind games, but Sherman earlier in the week said "I think most of it is meaningless" well, come Sunday that theory will be put to the test as Manning loves to chatter on almost every snap.

Will Percy Harvin have a big impact? He's going to need to because this Seattle receiving core is pretty bad, Doug Baldwin, Golden Tate, and Jermaine Curse aren't the most talented receiving corse out there despite the immense praise Russell Wilson gives them. The answer is yes, but let's be honest he's probably going to get knocked out on the first play of the game.

Key Matchup: No surprise here, the boisterous Richard Sherman will be tasked with covering the extremely reserved Demaryius Thomas. The two have had words exemplifying nothing but respect for each other, but Thomas made a more surprising comment saying, "everyone has a weakness" and when asked what that weakness was he smiled and said "you will have to wait until Sunday to see." Look for a physical battle between two of the best athletes at their respective permission. Whichever player gives their team an edge will most likely come out on the winning side.

Prediction Time: I don't think the first quarter is going to be to high scoring, and I expect things to pick up as the game goes along. Russell Wilson will be looking to make plays because the Seahawks offense tends to stagnate at times and Wilson has the ability to escape the pocket and make plays that few guys in this league can make. Wilson's success will dictate the success of the Hawks offense due to the fact the Broncos are most likely going to sell out on the run and leave one-on-one match ups on the outside. But, Peyton Manning knows whats on the line and they have so many weapons. I know how elite this Seattle defense is, but the Broncos offense is slightly better. Peyton Wins MVP in a (26-22) victory in the Big Apple.-Josh Neighbors

Photo credit: ESPN, Si.com, CBS sports, and rantsports.com

Association Bound: A look at one of the deepest NBA drafts in history

The hype for the 2014 NBA Draft has been incredible, as there are 5 or 6 prospects that would be #1 selections in any other draft. All of these players have been under the microscope every game, and have not disappointed. Let's assess the performances of these players thus far and rank them where we think they will be selected in this years draft.

Future top pick Jabari Parker throws down nasty between the legs jam. (photo credit NCAA.com)

#1 Jabari Parker: 6-8 Forward, Duke: grade A

Jabari established himself as the most NBA ready player in early November as he scored over 20 points each of his first 7 games. With his incredible size, offensive versatility, solid defense, and leadership Parker is an NBA coaches dream. He's struggled thus far in ACC play, but you can't expect him to be lights out in every game. The ideal situation for him would be going to Utah, and yes that is partially because he is mormon. Also because Utah needs a guy like this, and building between Gordon Hayward and Jabari Parker will be very easy. That is a tandem that will be a force to be reckoned with in a few years. Parker, if he stays healthy, is going to be at worse a very productive NBA player, but his potential…. wow.

#2 Joel Embiid: 7-0 Center, Kansas: grade A-

Andrew Wiggins was all they could talk about in Lawrence Kansas heading into this season, but the real star has been the 7 foot monster from Cameroon, Joel Embiid. Thanks to Luke Richard Mbah-Moute, he came to America to play for the Jayhawks and NBA scouts cannot get enough of this guy. He's got the post moves, he's got the 2nd highest shooting percentage in the country, he hits his free throws and he is developing an outside game. He does struggle with foul issues, and always with big men injuries are a concern, but Embiid has some real potential. I was most impressed with his game recently against Iowa State, a game in which he scored 16 points, grabbed 9 boards, and had 5 blocks. His best moment was when he stepped out to defend the Cyclones best play DeAndre Cane with a minute left to go. He used great footwork, forcing Cane left, and keeping his arms straight up, ultimately causing Cane to throw a brick off the backboard. The best fit for him would be the Celtics, who are very undersized with Jared Sullinger and Brandon Bass. If the Celtics can retain Rondo, I'd love to see the pick and roll develop between those two guys. Big men are always a risk, but I feel defensive players are bust proof and Embiid can at least be a very effective rim protector and shot alterer.

#3 Andrew Wiggins: 6-8 Forward, Kansas: grade B+

Frosh sensation Andrew Wiggins has raw talent NBA coaches can;t wait to get their hands on(photo credit ESPN.com)

By far the most hyped player coming into this season, and he's played really well. Looking at the team he is on, it's not his job to score 30 points every night. With guys like Nadier Tharpe, Joel Embiid, Perry Ellis, and Wayne Selden it doesn't have to be the Andrew Wiggins show every night as much as we'd all like to see that. He's a prolific scorer, a fantastic rebounder, and a great defender due to his athleticism. I would like to see him distribute the basketball more often, but that starts with head coach Bill Self giving Wiggins ball handling responsibilities. This is another guy with an incredible ceiling, but I think it might take him a little longer in the NBA. One thing is for sure, once he does get it, this kid will explode on the NBA scene. Definitely a player a team like Utah could use.

#4 Julius Randle 6-9 Power Forward, Kentucky: grade A-

When I see Julius Randle play, his tenacity, hustle, power, and will to win stick out to me. He isn't the most polished post player, when he gets to the NBA he's undersized, but he does a lot of little things really well. When it comes to boxing out, Randle is the best in the NCAA. He's had double digit rebounds in all but 4 of 16 games this season. His power and ability to embrace contact gives him the ability to get to the line over 10 times a game each night. A couple issues I have with Randle is that he can be reckless and guys who play his style are injury pone. Also, Randle tends to get caught with his hands down on defense which Coach John Calapari has addressed several time. Yet, I have never seen a guy with the combination of leadership and heart Randle possesses. NBA GM's are in love with the mental edge Randle has, and its abundantly clear that this freshman is the leader of the Kentucky Wildcats. Averaging 17 and 11, Randle is establishing himself as a power in the SEC and you can see the fear in defenders eyes when he comes barreling down the lane. The Orlando Magic could definitely use Randle as a compliment to Nikola Vucevic.

There is a good chance Oklahoma State's Marcus Smart will be the first point guard drafted in the 2014 NBA Draft. (photo credit ESPN.com)

#5 Marcus Smart 6-4 Point Guard, Oklahoma State: grade B+

I love big point guards, and at 6-4 220 Marcus Smart is a big point guard. He does a little bit of everything, he can handle the ball, drive, shoot from deep, distribute, rebound, and he's not a bad defender. In a game against Memphis this season, Smart scored 39 points, went 5-10 from behind the arc, went to the free throw line 16 times, and managed to rack up 4 assists, 4 rebounds, and 5 steals. That's what scouts love most about Smart, his ability to have huge nights is very appealing to scouts. Also, with the recent success of bigger point guards like Michael Carter Williams, Grevious Vasquez, Saun Livingston(recently), and Steph Curry have seen scouts change the way they look at the point guard position. Smart also has the versatility to play some shooting guard and small forward. I could see Smart falling to a team like the Lakers, a team in need of fresh blood at the point guard position.

Honorable Mention:

 Aaron Gordon is the player everyone loves to compare to Blake Griffin. The 6-9 225 lb forward for the Arizona Wildcats has been incredibly solid this year for the #1 ranked team in the country. Shooting over 50% from the floor, scoring 12.4 points per game, and averaging close to 8 rebounds per contest Gordon is a smart big man who sees the talent around him and knows there is no need for him to score 2o points a night. Senior guard Nick Johnson and Gordon are by far the best 1-2 scoring punch in the Pac-12 and arguably the country. Effective, efficient, and intelligent is how I would describe those two especially Gordon. Although he only averages 1.2 assists per game, you can see that he has really worked on his ability to pass out of the post. Gordon might not make an instant impact in the association, but he will be consistent in his production and his development in the NBA.

Australian teenager Dante Exum is poised to be the next big point guard in the NBA (photo credit kpopstarz.com)

Dante Exum is another one of those tall point guards that are becoming very coveted in the NBA. With a 6-6 188 lb build, he is much like Michael Carter Williams in stature. His father played on Michael Jordan's UNC team,so basketball is in this kids genes. Anyone who has seen this kid talk knows he is intelligent and incredibly humble. The 18 year old Australian is considering coming to the states for a year of college ball instead of jumping straight to the pros. With smarts, size, and versatility, Exum is a lock to be a top 7 guy, the only knock against him is the fact he's from a foreign country which means less exposure.

Dario Saric is the player who scares the most GMs in this draft because European big men are very hit or miss. The 6-10 225 lb Croatian teenager considers himself a small forward, which was shocking when I first heard it but after watching him play he can do things only guys like Dirk Nowitski can do. Incredibly versatile, incredibly smart, and surprisingly strong are three of the attributes I like best about Saric. He's not soft and embraces contact. He knows how to position himself against different defensive looks and plays with a high basketball IQ offensively. The big question is how will he make the switch from the Croatian league to the NBA where he will be checking the worlds most superior athletes. He would be a top 10 pick, but his defensive and character flaws are well noted by NBA scouts. He needs a team with solid veteran leadership and someone who can take him under their wing to guide this potential star. Saric has an incredibly high ceiling, and is one of the top 5 most talented guys in the draft, but like many european bigs before him he is defined by the questions which arise from his game.

Before the year is done the order in which these prospects will shift, sometimes it changes daily. One thing is for sure, this draft is going to produce multiple superstars in the NBA. Come march in this college basketball season I expect each of these stars to rise to the occasion and put their incredible talent on full display.