OHHHHH the luck! “Hey kids, look it’s Jerry Sloan, how cool we get to sit right next to the bench”.........“WAIT, what did he just say, oh heavens, Norv, should we go sit somewhere else?” ” Oh calm down Darleen, the boy has to hear it sometime in his life.”  ” Hey Grandma, did he just use the Lords name in vein? And what was the word that came before and after it, and in between? Did he just tell the ref to truck himself to hell? Grandma, what does nutcracking time mean?” If there was one place I wouldn’t want my Grandma and son to be, it would be next to the Jazz bench on the back end of a back to back, facing The Trail Blazers on the road. That kid will have some new words for school. And I bet Grandma will have some new words for Grandpa.

20090330_NYKUTA_Book.pdf

STILL NOT AS GOOD AS HEIDI KLUM…BUT NOT BAD…...

THE LAKERS WILL EASILY WIN THE WEST & BY MY PREDICTION WILL FACE THE JAZZ IN THE FIRST ROUND.  AT LEAST WE’LL GET TO SEE THE LAKER GIRLS!

Here are my projections after breaking down each schedule.  It’s definitely not the spot the Jazz want to be in but it’s tough to argue based on the brutal schedule that is front of them…

1.  LAKERS (65-17):
-Lakers will go 9-3 the rest of the way with a chance to clinch the best record in the NBA.  The Jazz need to hope they clinch that early making the final game of the season in LA meaningless.

2.  SPURS   (55-27):
-Plays six teams with over .500 records and six teams under .500.  They’ll go 9-3 the rest of the way.

3.  ROCKETS (53-29):
-Houston has six teams left with over .500 records and just three under .500.  I have them projected at 5-4…just enough to hold onto the 3rd spot.

4.  NUGGETS (52-30):
-Denver has five games total, four on the road against over .500 teams.  Six games, five at home vs. under .500 teams.  I am projecting them to go 7-4. They’ll split the season series with Portland so they take the division title with a better division record (12-4 to 11-5).

5.  HORNETS (52-30):
-New Orleans has nine teams left with an over .500 record but will play five of those games at home.  Their four games against under .500 teams are on the road.  They’ll go 8-5 and get the 5th spot by having the best conference record at 34-18.

6.  MAVS (52-30):
-This is my shakiest prediction of the bunch having them go 10-2 the rest of the way.  This is doable as long as they win at home since eight of the final 12 are there.  In all they have eight games left against teams over .500…six will be played at home.  The remaining four are versus teams under .500 with only two at home.  Their conf. record would be 31-21 to claim the 6th seed.

7.  BLAZERS (52-30): 
-I have them going 8-3 the rest of the way playing six teams above .500 (four at home) and the remaining five under .500 (two at home). 

8.  JAZZ (50-32):
-Utah by far has the most difficult stretch playing eight teams above .500 with seven of those coming on the road.  The four below .500 games will all be played at home.  Obviously you would rather have those games played on the road with the tougher games scheduled for home.  Based on the difficulties the Jazz have had playing on the road I have them finishing 6-6.  That puts them in the 8-spot and most likely a first round exit to the Lakers.

Here is the remaining Jazz schedule and my predictions.  Let me know where you disagree at (JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address):
Wed, 3/25:  @Phx LOSS
Sat, 3/28:  vs. Phx WIN
Mon 3/30:  vs. NY WIN
Tue 3:31:  @Por LOSS
Thu, 4/2:    @Den LOSS
Fri, 4/3:   vs. Min WIN
Sun, 4/5:    @NO LOSS
Wed, 4/8:  @Dal LOSS
Fri, 4/10:  @SA LOSS
Sat, 4/11:  vs. GS WIN
Mon, 4/13:  vs. LAC WIN
Tue, 4/14:  @ LAL WIN

THE ORIGINAL…......

Let me start by saying I am more excited about this group than I was about last years group for the simple fact that age often makes you complacent. Don’t get me wrong, I liked last years group, but I can tell you with certainty that they were a lazy group of guys. I don’t see this being the case this year, a young group of guys, fresh legs and a good attitude makes for some hard work. I see this hard work being a benefit for the team and for Max Hall. Call me crazy, I think this unit will do just fine. Lets get started shall we.
What better place to start than Matt Reynolds? In my assessment this is the best of the Reynolds boys to this point. No offence to the others, they were good in their own ways, but this kid has NFL potential written all over him. This kid is 6’6, 330 pounds of stout blocking ability. I have watched him on many occasions get off balance and recover, that is hard to do at that size. He is also the most important guy on the field, he gives Max that backside cover that is so valuable. Not only is he the football package all in one, he is the kind of kid I would let date my daughter, provided she was older than six. I would put him against any defensive end in the country, and he is only a sophomore. I like him as the leader of this offensive line.  Grade- Feet: A, Hands: B, Size: A, Overall ability: A, Man crush: A+.........

Lets move on to the left guard spot for a second. Jason Speredon is a kid who has the size and presence to play in the NFL someday, but BYU will have to test his ability. At 6’5, 305 pounds he is a specimen as far as a guard is concerned. I don’t think he has an ounce of fat on him, and he is by far the most handsome of the group, not that this matters. I have watched him close now for a year, and I like his work ethic. I can tell he wants to work hard and get better, I couldn’t say that for last years group. He can pull well, he has good speed because of his low body fat. I can see BYU running a good amount of trap plays behind his ability to get down the line.  I think he also gives you an option for screen plays because he can get down the field so well. He is also another kid that you could take home to mom, provided you’re not a guy. Grade- Feet: B+, Hands: B+, Size: A-, Overall ability: B+,  Man Crush: B. (I need to see more from him in actual play).

Let’s get to R.J. Willing, shall we. Here is a kid that saw more off the bench action than John at a city league softball game. Other than Matt, this kid has the most experience of the group, which is a good thing because there is so much responsibility put on the center in this offense. He is a senior, so he should have a good understanding of the system, which in turn should help him with his reads, which in turn will put him and his line in good position. I hope to see some leadership out of him. You have to remember that teams are going to test this line by blitzing almost every down, and when you face a team like Wyoming that does it well and often, you better be in good position. He couldn’t pass an eyeball test from a blind man, but he does have skill. There is a reason he hasn’t started until now, but I think that has more to do with the talent in front of him. He has a great wife and family that will keep him focused, and that is a very good thing. Grade- Feet: B-,  Hands: B+,  Size: A-,  Overall ability: B-, Man Crush: C.

Terance Brown at the right guard spot has a huge question mark beside it for me????????????????  Off his mission and with a 2008 redshirt under his belt he has a ton to prove. He earned a letter his freshman year before his mission in 2005, and has put on size while he has waiting. I am yet to decide if it’s good size or bad. I will keep an eye on him through spring before I give you a honest assessment of him, but for now I am very skeptical. The boy does have some junk in his trunk. 6’3, 358 pounds is a load of a man. Grade- Feet, Hands, Size, Overall ability, is all yet to be determined.

And last but not least, could Nick Alleto be my night in shining armor? I hope he is the “72” that can take the number to the promise land and get it retired. I would ride those coat tails all the way home. But I will not hold my breath at this point. There are things I like about the kid, one is his size, 6’6, 320 pounds. He is keeping BYU O-line tradition alive. But I am nervous about his ability to block the edge. I’m not sure he has the speed to hook block, and I worry that he is vulnerable to a good inside pass rusher like Koa Misi who he will see from the U. He has a ton of work to do, but I stand firm in my belief that Mark Weber is a great coach, and will have this inexperienced group ready. Grade- Feet: C+, Hands: B-, Size: A, Overall ability: C+,  Man Crush: C.

Pre Season I will start this group with a B-, due to them all being new to each other, as time goes on, I am sure it will get better. So, you can suck it John Lund!

ARIZONA MUSCLED AND RAN THEIR WAY TO A VICTORY OVER THE UTES

IN UTAH’S LOSS, BOYLEN OUTCOACHED?
-I’ve given a lot of credit to Jim Boylen for his coaching ability in turning this team of losers into winners this season but he definitely was outcoached by Arizona interim coach Russ Pennell.  By choosing to attack with the press it exposed Utah’s weak guard play which resulted in too many turnovers.  No shock since this team has been turnover prone all season.
-The up-tempo style also was not suited to Nevill’s play resulting in the early foul trouble.  That game could cost Nevill something more than just a tourney loss.  If could cost a few draft spots and the thousands of dollars that go along with it.
-This loss was also bad for the conference.  The 5-seed was the highest the MWC ever received and many of the experts questioned whether it was too high.  Obviously it was and that will be remembered by Tournament committee’s in the future.
-Now we get to see how good of a recruiter Boylen is.  This team was full of Giacoletti players but with four starters leaving we now get to see Boylen coach his own talent.

WILL BYU EVER WIN A TOURNAMENT GAME?
-I half-joked Thursday on the show they will never win a tourney game in my lifetime.  As I also stated on the air Thursday I see only two ways they can ever be a factor nationally…get more athletic or find that stand alone “star” player.  Due to everything we have talked about in the past… church owned school, honor code etc; it will be difficult to get a bunch of athletes to come to BYU.  They could find that one star though, surround him with good role players and maybe finally make a run.  But that’s easier said than done since the last “star” they had was Danny Ainge.

MESSAGE FOR USU’S STU MORRILL…SCHEDULE UP!
-After Utah State’s gritty loss, Morrill said his team was stunned by Marquette’s speed and athleticism which contributed to the team’s poor start.  Coach, it’s pretty simple…instead of playing non-conference cream puffs, schedule up and play some of the big boys.  I know Morrill doesn’t think it’s fair to have to play these teams on the road without them coming back to the Spectrum or cutting two for one deals but that’s life.  The Aggies were 30-4 this year which only got them an 11-seed.  Say you go 26-8 with a tougher non-conference schedule. Don’t you think the team would have been less likely to be stunned by one’s speed in the tourney?  There also would have been a chance they wouldn’t have had to play a team as talented as Marquette because they might have received an even higher seed.

SOMETHING’S MISSING FROM THIS YEAR’S TOURNEY:
-The Cinderella.  I’m all for the best teams getting into the tourney and not one to say that more Cinderella’s should get in just because.  But it is disappointing that most of the underdogs that did get in failed to reach the Sweet 16 (I’m not counting Arizona).  It does take some of the fun and intrigue out of the tourney. 
-One other random note is that it’s clear the economy has affected this year’s Big Dance.  I noticed a lot of empty seats in most arenas which also resulted in more of a sterile atmosphere at many of the venues.  In these tight times I don’t blame people for not going, but you can definitely tell the impact even watching on TV. 
-After the first weekend of the tourney it appears UCONN is the team to beat.  Pitt (my pick to win it all) seems to be the most shaky of the #1 seeds.  The team to watch out for is Michigan State.  If they can get past Kansas and then most likely Louisville they will essentially be playing the Final Four at home in Detroit. 

MY BRACKET…GOOD TIMES & BAD TIMES:
-After posting my best start in my life after day one (missed just one), my bracket has tailed off a tad getting 12 of the 16 left correct (my outs include WF, WVU, Wash, Marquette).  West Virginia is my only Elite 8 team out.  While I dropped in our P1 Fiddler’s Elbow bracket I believe I still lead the rest of the 1280 staff.  I at least have that going for me.

TWITTER:
-1280 The Zone is now on twitter.  Once I figure out how to set up our page I’ll give you more details on how you can receive, what do they call them, tweets?  Won’t that be exciting!  Like the NBA players are doing at halftime, I can twitter while I sit in boring 1280 meetings.  Good times!

Don’t be suckered by the look-a-likes, they can be very deceiving. Good luck and have fun spotting John Lund. I like to call this game, Where in the World is Carmen Johnny Lundo.